Top 30 Attractions in Tenerife

The Canary Islands is a beach pearl of the Atlantic, a great place to relax in the bosom of pristine nature. Tenerife is the largest island in the archipelago. It has numerous national parks, coastlines covered with colorful sand, and the majestic volcano Teide.

The swimming season lasts in Tenerife until November. At this time, the gentle waters of the Atlantic Ocean still retain summer heat, even despite the decrease in air temperature. The natural attractions of the island are so numerous and varied that it will take more than one week to visit them.

Tenerife is perfect for a wellness holiday. Picturesque hiking trails are laid among its gorges, relict forests allow you to breathe in the healing air to the fullest, and sunbathing energizes you for many months to come.

What to see and where to go in Tenerife?

The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.

Teide Volcano

The volcano is the highest peak in Spain (3718 meters). It is located in the center of the Teide National Park. At an altitude of 3555 meters there is an observation deck from where almost all the Canary Islands are visible. The volcano is the most popular natural attraction in Tenerife. A cable car connected to the highway leads to its top.

City of San Cristobal de la Laguna

The city is located in the northern part of Tenerife near the capital of the island - the city of Santa Cruz. San Cristobal de la Laguna was founded in the 15th century by the military leader F. de Lugo after the conquest of Tenerife. Until 1723 it was the capital of the island. Now the city is the cultural and spiritual center of Tenerife. Since 1999, it has been listed by UNESCO thanks to its unique colonial architecture, which has survived almost unchanged.

loro park

A natural and entertaining park in the northern part of the island, on the territory of which up to 500 species of parrots live, as well as dolphins, killer whales, penguins, sea lions, turtles, tigers and other animals. Loro Park combines a zoo, a dolphinarium, a botanical garden and an aquarium on its territory. Visitors can not only look at animals, but also visit various shows with their participation.

Siam Park water park

Siam Park is considered the largest European water park. This is a popular place for families with children. On the territory of the water park there are 25 slides of varying difficulty. Siam Park is decorated in Thai style, as the owners have a special reverence for the culture of the states of Southeast Asia. There is an impromptu floating market, Thai restaurants, statues of fabulous creatures from the Thai epic. The royal family of Thailand was invited to the opening of the park.

Menagerie of Tenerife "Monkey Park"

A small zoo in the south of Tenerife, where, in addition to monkeys, reptiles, panthers, jaguars, exotic birds and even domestic animals live. But the main inhabitants of the park are still primates, there are about 20 species of them. For visitors, there is an opportunity to go into the cages of some monkeys, communicate with them and feed them. Since 1991, the park has been functioning as a breeding center for primates.

Lago Martianez

A unique park consisting of a system of artificial islands and reservoirs located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. The fact is that the northern part of Tenerife is less suitable for swimming due to the constant waves, so the creation of such a place was fully justified. On the skeletons of the park there are restaurants, beaches, swimming pools and view terraces from where you can explore the picturesque surroundings. Lago Martianez was designed by the architect S. Manrique in 1971.

Auditorio de Tenerife

Concert hall located in Santa Cruz - the capital of the island. It was built in 2003 by S. Calatrava Vallas. The building is a picturesque example of modern architecture. The large hall of the Auditorio de Tenerife is designed for 1616 spectators, the chamber hall - for 422 people. Outside there are terraces with views of the Atlantic. From afar, the silhouettes of the building resemble the outlines of the Sydney Opera House.

Museum of Nature and Man

The museum is located in the city of Santa Cruz, it was founded in 1958. The collection consists of archaeological, botanical, paleontological and other artifacts found on the territory of Tenerife and other islands of the Canary archipelago. The museum has a natural science library with an impressive book fund. The exposition is located in the neoclassical building of the former college.

Nuestra Señora de Africa Market

The market is located near the bus station of the capital of Tenerife, it is well known outside the Canary Islands. It sells local delicacies, seafood, exotic fruits and vegetables, as well as Spanish traditional products. On Sundays, a flea market opens in the market, selling souvenirs and antiques. The retail space is located in a building built in a typical North African style.

Basilica of Candelaria

The basilica is located in the town of Candelaria, 20 km. from the capital of the island. Nine statues of the leaders of the Guanches tribe, the indigenous inhabitants of the Canary Islands, are installed around the church. The main shrine of the temple is a wooden statue of the Virgin of Candelaria. The monastic complex of the Dominican order adjoins the building of the basilica. Together they form a single architectural ensemble.

Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The church houses the Holy Cross of the Conquistadors, which was brought to Tenerife by the Spanish conqueror F. de Lugo in the 15th century. The temple played a big role in the spread of the Christian religion on the island, so it bears the official title of "Mother Church" and is popularly considered the main city cathedral. Until 1638, the church was called the "Temple of the Holy Cross", from where the name of the whole city came from.

Pyramids of Guimar

The pyramids of Tenerife are low stepped mounds, whose origin is still shrouded in mystery. It is believed that they appeared long before the settlement of the island by the Guanches tribe. For a long time, the pyramids were not of great interest to researchers, until their relative similarity with similar buildings in Mexico, Peru, Mesopotamia and a certain astronomical orientation were discovered.

Wind Cave

The underground part of Tenerife is replete with a large number of caves, galleries and passages created by the movements of volcanic lava. The Wind Cave is the largest in Europe (administratively, the Canary Islands belong to Europe, despite the location). It was formed more than 27 thousand years ago as a result of the eruption of one of the island volcanoes. The cave is an underground complex with stone cascades, terraces and lava lakes.

Mask Gorge

Masca is a mountain village located at an altitude of 650 meters on the slopes of Masiso de Teno. The village is surrounded by picturesque cypress groves and palm thickets, from here the gorge of the same name originates, along which a hiking trail is laid to the ocean coast. In the 15th century, the village became the last refuge of the indigenous population, who were fleeing from the Spanish conquistadors. Up until the 70s. In the 20th century, it remained practically isolated from the outside world.

Infierno Gorge

The gorge is located on the territory of the national park of the same name. Due to the unique geographical position, endemic fauna and flora are still preserved here. The gorge is covered with bright tropical vegetation, its appearance does not at all correspond to the frightening name. A 6.5 km long hiking trail has been laid through the mountainous area.

Rocks de Garcia

The rocks are located within the Teide National Park. It is impossible to pass them by if you are heading to the cable car to the volcano. There are a lot of hiking trails in the area that lead to natural viewing points. The Cliffs de Garcia is a fairly deserted stone landscape, contrasting rather sharply with the lush tropical vegetation of other parts of the island.

Rocks of Los Gigantes

Los Gigantes are located on the western slope of the Teide volcano. They represent an almost sheer wall of stone, which looks picturesque and impressive from the sea. Near the rocks is the small town of Los Gigantes, where there are exotic beaches of black volcanic sand. The indisputable advantage of this place is the small number of tourists and the possibility of a relaxing holiday.

Orotava Valley

On the territory of Orotava, before the arrival of the Spaniards, there was a kingdom of Guanches called Taoro. The place was not chosen in vain - the valley is surrounded by fertile lands and provided with a large number of fresh water sources. Wealthy settlers from Europe built magnificent baroque mansions here, and the mountain slopes were planted with sugar cane. Gradually, a city was formed, which in our time has become a tourist attraction of the island.

Esperanza Forest

Dense coniferous forest, where the unique Canarian pine, eucalyptus and cedar grow. The locals consider these forests a "place of power", as the air here has healing properties and a unique coniferous smell. In the mornings, a thick fog descends on the trees and the incredible aroma of eucalyptus spreads through the forest. Tourists come here to take health walks and enjoy the view of the rich island vegetation.

Botanical Garden (Puerto de la Cruz)

The garden was founded in the 18th century by order of Carlos III. It should be noted that the monarch was seriously interested in gardening, he was greatly interested in the adaptability of plants to various environmental conditions. Tenerife seemed like a great field for experiments. The park was created with the aim of acclimatizing exotic species to the natural conditions of Tenerife. Gradually, the plant diversity of the garden increased to 4,000 species brought from various parts of the world.

dragon tree

The unique tree grows in the northeastern part of Tenerife near the town of Icod de los Vinos. According to various estimates, the age of the tree is more than 500 years, as it already existed during the Spanish conquest. The weight of the massive crown of the tree reaches 80 tons, the height is 17 meters. The tree was declared a natural monument back in 1917, its image was placed on the banknote of the national currency in 1000 pesetas.

Taoro Park

Park with exotic vegetation, located on the territory of the city of Puerto de la Cruz. Dozens of species of trees and flowers grow here, picturesque alleys are laid, artificial waterfalls and fountains are created. Taoro covers an area of ​​10 hectares. The park is a popular place for walking among locals and tourists. Here you can breathe fresh air, play sports or admire the blooming flower beds.

El Caleton

The natural pools of El Caleton were formed as a result of the meeting of red-hot lava and cool ocean waters during the eruption of the Trevajo volcano at the beginning of the 18th century. At high tide, the niches fill with water and become suitable for swimming. Over time, the pools were equipped with comfortable slopes. The El Caleton complex is located in the town of Garachico. The pools are visited with pleasure by both the Spaniards themselves and foreign tourists.

El Duque beach

A beach covered with yellow sand, which is located on the southern coast of Costa Adeje. El Duc is considered one of the best beaches in Tenerife. It is surrounded by gourmet restaurants, a luxurious hotel complex and numerous entertainment venues. The beach is considered the center of Tenerife's resort life. The beach infrastructure of El Duque is adapted to the most demanding requests.

Benijo beach

A wild beach with black volcanic sand and pebbles, located at the foot of the rocks in a protected area. Locals consider it the most picturesque in Tenerife. The territory of the beach is small - 30 meters of the coastal strip and about 500 meters of the coastline. From the coastal cliffs, magnificent views of the blue waters of the ocean open, which contrast sharply with the white color of the sea foam near the coast.

Las Vistas beach

The beach is located in the southern part of the island, it is one of the longest in Tenerife. Special barrier structures protect Las Vistas from strong waves and currents, so comfortable swimming is possible in coastal waters. The beach has bars, sports areas, equipment rental and other services. Moreover, there is a special infrastructure for people with disabilities.

Hardin Beach

The beach is located in the popular resort of Puerto de la Tenerife, located in the northern part of the island. Hardin is covered with black volcanic sand, surrounded by numerous flowering terraces where coconut and banana palms grow. Lying in the middle of lush gardens, Hardin is a fairly quiet beach, suitable for a relaxing holiday, complete relaxation and enjoyment of natural beauties.

Las Teresitas beach

One and a half kilometer beach with a coastline width of about 70 meters. Las Teresitas is covered with golden sand, which was specially brought here in the 70s. XX century straight from the Sahara desert. This feature distinguishes Las Teresitas from other Tenerife beaches, as the latter are mostly covered with dark volcanic sand. The small settlement of San Andrés is located nearby, and there is a large free parking lot for tourists.

Cape Teno

The cape is the westernmost point of the island. The terrain is a harsh cliff with a steep descent into the raging waves. From the observation deck, the ocean and the distant outlines of the coastline of Tenerife are perfectly visible. There are two lighthouses on the cape - an old stone lighthouse of the 19th century and a new, higher one, which was built in 1987. For inspection, rooms are available, in which the families of caretakers once lived.

Teide Observatory

The Canary Islands are considered one of the best places to observe the starry sky of the Southern Hemisphere; many European scientists conduct their astronomical research here. The Teide Observatory was founded in 1964 at the Canaries Institute of Astrophysics. The institution has international status and is one of the largest observatories in the world. The telescope is located at an altitude of 2390 meters.