Sun worshippers, outdoorsy types and party people – holidays to Tenerife are staple for all kinds of travel lovers.
Canary Island classic
Think of the Canaries and you’ll probably think of Tenerife. It’s been serving serious sun, sea and sand to Brits since the seventies, and it’s still a go-to for a classic fly-and-flop today. Year-round rays keep everyone coming back, even in the winter, and it’s got some other strong stats to back its rep, too. We’re talking 15 Blue Flag beaches, Spain’s tallest mountain and the second-biggest carnival in the world – the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival in the island’s capital city. It’s no surprise that it draws in all kinds of travel lovers, from families and outdoorsy types to party people.
Multi-coloured coastline
The sweeps here don’t come in just one style. If you like that cliché white-sand aesthetic, Costa Adeje’s where you want to be – they went above and beyond to create the perfect beach here by pulling white sand from the seabed, and the clear water and swaying palms look like they’re straight from the Caribbean. Playa de las Teresitas’ golden sands have come all the way from the Sahara Desert, or you’ve still got the cool volcanic beaches with their OG black sand, like the ones in Playa de la Arena and El Medano.
Naturally beaut
There’s more to Tenerife than topping up your tan, like lacing up your walking boots and going for an epic hike. Teide National Park is packed full of trails and routes that weave around craters, rocks and cacti. The winding roads here are also pretty legendary for road cyclists, and there are plenty of places to hire a bike from down in the resorts. Or, skip the sweat sesh and catch the cable car up Mount Teide for unreal views across the island. Want to check out a different Canary Island? Take the ferry from Los Cristianos over to lush La Gomera.
Family fave
This island’s always a win for a family trip. Buzzing resorts like Playa de Las Americas bring the holiday vibes all day long with daytime activities, massive shopping malls and evening entertainment, as well as bars and restaurants with every kind of cuisine you can think of. The main event for families, though, is Siam Park – AKA the biggest waterpark in Europe. Everything’s Thai-themed, so expect to see lots of dragons and colourful temples on the rides and slides. The wave pool gets a special mention and so does the lazy river, which is the longest one in the world.
Best time to go to Tenerife
With its edge-of-the-tropics setting, Tenerife gets a generous supply of sun all year round. Visit between June and August and you’ll be treated to up to 11 hours of sunshine a day. Summer temperatures in the south can soar to the low 30s, and in winter, you’ll rarely see the mercury dip below 19°C. That said, go north and things are a little more humid, with occasional showers thrown into the mix.
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