The best things to do in Tenerife are to see Teide’s volcanic landscape, take a responsible whale-watching trip, walk in Anaga’s laurel forest and spend time in a historic town or on the coast. For a first visit, choose one mountain day, one ocean day and one flexible local day instead of racing through a list of landmarks.
Written by Mihail Schwarz. This guide keeps useful material from the original 2022 article and was fact-checked on 11 September 2026 against official park, trail, attraction and tourism sources. Prices and access rules can change, so follow the linked source before booking.
At a glance: choose by the kind of day you want
These choices cover nature, the ocean, active travel, family days, culture and food. Use the filters to build a balanced itinerary rather than repeat the same coach trip in different directions.
| Activity | Type | Allow | Best base | Plan ahead? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teide National Park | Nature | Half/full day | South or north | Yes for cable car or summit trail |
| Whale watching | Ocean | 1.5–3 hrs | South-west coast | Yes for smaller boats |
| Anaga | Nature/active | Half/full day | La Laguna or Santa Cruz | Check trail rules |
| La Laguna | Culture | Half day | North or Santa Cruz | No |
| Siam Park | Family | Full day | Costa Adeje | Buy dated tickets |
| Las Teresitas | Ocean | Half day | Santa Cruz | No |
| Los Gigantes | Ocean/nature | Half day | West coast | Yes for boat trips |
| Natural pools | Ocean | 2–4 hrs | North or west | Check sea conditions |
| Wine and local food | Culture/food | Half day | North or east | Book cellar visits |
| Masca Gorge | Active | Most of a day | West coast | Essential |
1. See the volcanic landscape of Mount Teide
Start with Teide National Park if this is your first trip. You do not need to reach the summit to make the day worthwhile: the caldera, Roques de García and high-altitude views provide the real sense of scale. The cable car’s advertised non-resident return fare starts at €42 in 2026, but it does not include permission for the final Telesforo Bravo summit trail. That permit is managed through Tenerife ON, and weather can stop the cable car at short notice.
Wear proper shoes, carry warm layers even when the coast is hot and do not stack Teide with another long cross-island activity. Without a car, a transfer tour is the cleaner choice.
2. Take a responsible whale-watching trip
Boats leave from Los Cristianos, Puerto Colón and other south-west ports for the Teno-Rasca marine area. A short trip is enough for most people; longer is not automatically better if you are prone to seasickness. Tenerife Tourism advises choosing a boat that displays the official blue flag, which identifies operators meeting the legal whale-watching requirements.
Treat any promise of a guaranteed species with suspicion. For formats, ports and ethical checks, compare the dedicated Tenerife excursions guide.
3. Walk through Anaga’s laurel forest
Anaga Rural Park is the strongest contrast to Tenerife’s dry south: sharp ridges, laurel forest, small hamlets and roads that demand attention. Start at Cruz del Carmen for a short forest walk, or plan a longer route only after checking Tenerife ON for current restrictions. The official tourism site lists bus links from La Laguna and Santa Cruz, so a car is useful rather than compulsory for the main access points.
Do not combine a serious Anaga hike with Teide on the same day. The map makes them look manageable; mountain roads make the plan tiring.
4. Explore historic San Cristóbal de La Laguna
La Laguna works when you want culture without another high-effort day. Its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the useful pleasure is simple: walk the pedestrian streets, look into the courtyards and stop for lunch rather than ticking off every building. Pair it with Santa Cruz or Las Teresitas, not with Masca on the opposite side of the island.
5. Give Siam Park a full day
Siam Park is the easy family choice if fast water slides are genuinely part of the holiday. It is in Costa Adeje, so travellers staying in the south lose little time to transfers. The official 2026 ticket page lists general admission at €44 for adults aged 12 and over, €32 for children aged 3–11, and free entry for ages 0–2.
Arrive near opening and check the current height rules for the rides your children care about. A water-park ticket is poor value if most of the group does not enjoy slides.
6. Swim or pause at Playa de Las Teresitas
Las Teresitas is not the island’s wildest beach, and that is precisely its advantage. Choose Benijo for a dramatic Anaga setting; choose Las Teresitas for simpler access and a less complicated beach day after Santa Cruz or La Laguna.
7. See Los Gigantes from the water
Los Gigantes belongs in the top ten because the cliffs change the scale of the coast. A boat or kayak puts you beneath the rock face; a viewpoint suits anyone who would rather stay on land. Pair the stop with a west-coast pool or village, and leave enough time for the winding roads.
8. Try a natural rock pool — when the sea allows it
Tenerife’s charcos are lava-built or adapted sea pools rather than interchangeable swimming baths. Garachico, Bajamar and west-coast pools all have different access and exposure. Check local signs and sea conditions when you arrive; waves can make an inviting pool unsafe, and a closure is not an invitation to climb around the barrier.
This is one of the best free things to do in Tenerife, but it should stay flexible in the itinerary. Have a town, café or coastal walk as the fallback.
9. Make time for Canarian wine and food
Use one slower day for a bodega, a guachinche-style meal or the Casa del Vino in El Sauzal. Book winery visits rather than assuming a cellar is open for drop-ins, and decide who is driving before the tasting starts. This is a better counterweight to Teide than another attraction with queues.
10. Hike Masca Gorge only if the rules and effort suit you
The official descent is about 5 km and roughly four hours, but the logistics make it a longer day. At the time of checking, entry started at €40.66; children under eight were not admitted. You must book the trail, use the required public transport from Santiago del Teide, carry the separate boat ticket and arrive in closed mountain footwear. Staff can refuse entry without a refund if the documents, timing or equipment are wrong.
Sea conditions can close the jetty, which may require a return hike. If that possibility exceeds your fitness or confidence, enjoy Masca village and the viewpoints instead.
A simple Tenerife route map
Use the map as a grouping tool, not turn-by-turn navigation. Teide deserves its own day. Combine La Laguna, Las Teresitas and a light Anaga stop; combine Los Gigantes with the west coast; keep Siam Park or a boat trip anchored to the south.
Where to stay for your plans
- Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos or Playa de las Américas: easiest for Siam Park, beaches and boat departures, but farther from Anaga and the north.
- Puerto de la Cruz or La Orotava: stronger for greenery, wine, historic towns and north-coast pools.
- La Laguna or Santa Cruz: best for urban culture, Anaga and Las Teresitas, especially without a resort base.
- Los Gigantes or Puerto de Santiago: sensible for cliffs and a quieter west-coast stay; less convenient for island-wide exploring.
When to go and how to combine activities
Tenerife works year-round, but coast and altitude can feel like different seasons on the same day. Use a forecast for the exact place, bring a layer for Teide and Anaga, and leave regulated activities on dates with workable cancellation terms.
For three days, use day one for Teide, day two for a south-coast boat trip plus an easy beach, and day three for La Laguna and Anaga. With five days, add Siam Park or a family day, then a west-coast route. A seven-day trip can absorb a weather change without sacrificing Masca, stargazing or a bodega visit.
Book only the parts that remove friction
Mount Teide with cable car and transfer
From around €92
About 7 hours · island pickup points · cable-car ticket included. The summit permit is not included.
Check availabilityWhale and dolphin safari from Los Cristianos
From around €30
About 1.5 hours · harbour departure · swim stop if conditions allow. Sightings are not guaranteed.
Check availabilityTeide sunset and stargazing
From around €40
3–6.5 hours · selected southern pickup with the transport option · meal depends on the option.
Check availabilityCheck the final product page. Starting prices, pickup zones, ratings, accessibility and cancellation deadlines are snapshots, not promises for your date. Weather can change Teide, boat and stargazing plans even after booking.
Frequently asked questions
What should I not miss in Tenerife?
For a first trip, do not miss Teide, one ocean experience and one north or north-east day around La Laguna and Anaga. That combination shows the volcanic interior, the Atlantic coast and the greener historic side of the island without turning the holiday into a checklist.
What are the best things to do in Tenerife without a car?
Base yourself in Costa Adeje or Los Cristianos for Siam Park, beaches and boat departures, then book transport for Teide. La Laguna and Santa Cruz are easier by public transport than remote viewpoints. Avoid building a car-free plan around several rural stops in one day.
How many days do I need in Tenerife?
Five days covers Teide, an ocean trip, a family or beach day, La Laguna and Anaga, and one west-coast route. Seven days is more comfortable because it leaves room for mountain weather, sea conditions and a genuinely slow day.
Is Masca Gorge suitable for children?
It is not suitable for children under eight, and older children still need the fitness, footwear and concentration for a high-difficulty descent. The trail is regulated and may require hiking back if the jetty closes. Masca village is the safer alternative for many families.
Sources and final checks
- Official Tenerife Tourism must-see places
- Official Teide cable-car prices and opening times
- Official Teide summit permit information
- Official Anaga access and transport guidance
- Official whale-watching guidance
- Official Siam Park ticket page
- Official Masca booking, equipment and cancellation rules
Choose the three days that matter most, group them by part of the island and keep one day movable. If a guide, timed ticket or transfer genuinely removes a problem, use the Tenerife excursions comparison; otherwise, keep the day independent and spend the saved money on lunch.
