Los Cristianos Holidays

A century ago Los Cristianos was little more than a sleepy fishing village on Tenerife. Now, thanks to a swanky new harbour built in the 1970s, it’s one of the busiest ports on the island. Ferries run gaggles of tourists across to neighbouring La Gomera, and the bay has become popular with sun worshippers and shoppers alike.

The main beach is a curvy strip of dark gold sand, just a stone’s throw from the harbour’s bobbing masts and anchored ships. There’s bags of room for throwing down a towel, and the mountain backdrop makes for pretty holiday snaps. Snorkelling is a popular pastime here, too, and the sheltered bay means the sea stays nice and calm while you’re taking a dip.

Put on your exploring hat, and you’ll see the streets are a hotchpotch of colourful Canarian buildings and trendy boutiques. The beach is framed by a long boardwalk, where the tourist boom has sparked a lively line-up of bars and restaurants. During the day, you’ll see pavement cafes brimming with people, and when the sun goes down it becomes the nerve centre of the town’s nightlife.

According to the history books, Los Cristianos has Sweden to thank for its present day popularity. When a Swedish celebrity came to Los Cristianos in the 1950s, he sang the town’s praises to people back home. From there, things snowballed and the resort became the holiday hotspot you see today. As a token of thanks, there’s a street called Avenida de Suecia – Avenue of Sweden.