By air
Tenerife South (TFS) or Tenerife North (TFN), island airports at both ends
Europe · Spain
Tenerife, Spain
A volcano above year-round sun
Getting there
Best time to visit
All year — mild; spring for wildflowers
Don't miss
Mount Teide
Masca
The Los Gigantes cliffs
La Laguna
Things to do
The Teide cable car and stargazing
Whale watching
The Anaga forests
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de · CC BY-SA 3.0 de
What to pack
Layers for Teide, swimwear
A quieter corner
Masca village in its gorge
Questions travellers ask
Can I visit Tenerife at any time of year?
Yes, it's mild all year, and spring brings wildflowers. Pack swimwear, plus layers for Teide.
What can I do on Tenerife?
Ride the Teide cable car, go stargazing and whale watching, and explore the Anaga forests. See Masca village in its gorge, the Los Gigantes cliffs and La Laguna.
What's the local dish to try in Tenerife?
Try papas arrugadas with mojo.
Which airport should I use for Tenerife?
The island has airports at both ends: Tenerife South (TFS) and Tenerife North (TFN).
About Tenerife
- Island
- Mountains
Where it is
Tenerife is the largest and most populous of Spain's Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean off the north-west coast of Africa; at its centre rises the volcano Teide, at about 3,700 m the highest point in Spain.
History
Before the Spanish conquest the Guanches, the island's indigenous people, lived in kingdoms called menceyatos, each ruled by a mencey. Castile conquered Tenerife between 1494 and 1496 under Alonso Fernández de Lugo, despite a Guanche victory at the First Battle of Acentejo, and San Cristóbal de La Laguna became the island's first capital.
People
Tinerfeños speak Canarian Spanish, and Guanche words survive in many place names. The Carnival of Santa Cruz is one of the largest in the world, and local kitchens serve papas arrugadas, small potatoes boiled in salty water, with spicy mojo sauces and gofio, a toasted-grain flour inherited from the Guanches.
Known for
- Mount Teide and its national park
- The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
- The old town of San Cristóbal de La Laguna
- Whale and dolphin watching
- The laurel forests of the Anaga mountains
Did you know?
In 1797 Horatio Nelson led a failed British attack on Santa Cruz de Tenerife and was so badly wounded that most of his right arm had to be amputated.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.