🇪🇸Spain · Places to discover
What to see in Ténérife?
23 places selected by the community - landmarks, nature, hidden restaurants and activities.
Tenerife is no uniform island: it accumulates microclimates, volcanic landscapes and historic quarters that most visitors never see. Mount Teide structures everything, visible from almost any point on the island, and the colonial centre of La Laguna, a UNESCO World Heritage site, reminds you that history here long predates the resort complexes of the south.
The north stays cooler and greener year-round, but the south concentrates reliable sunshine from October to May, the ideal period before the oversaturated summer season. Budget a minimum of five days to venture beyond the coastal strip. Hiring a car is essential: buses serve the interior poorly. Don't limit yourself to Playa de las Américas, designed exclusively for mass tourism and barely representative of the real island.
Landmarks & heritage
4 places
1Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Landmark
Auditorio de Tenerife Adán Martín
Architectural masterpiece by Santiago Calatrava, opened in 2003, dominating Santa Cruz's seafront. Even if you don't attend a concert, an evening stroll around the structure at sunset is breathtaking.
2Wikimedia CommonsLandmark
Pirámides de Güímar
Complex of six stepped stone pyramids whose origins remain debated between agricultural construction and pre-Columbian remains. The ethnographic museum on site, founded by Thor Heyerdahl, is fascinating and often overlooked by tourists.
3Wikimedia CommonsLandmark
Plaza Mayor de Salamanca
One of Spain's finest Baroque squares, built in the eighteenth century. Locals gather here at all hours, far from tourist coldness – take a coffee on the terrace early in the morning to experience it as a local would.
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Landmark
Landmark
San Cristóbal de La Laguna – Historic District
First example of an unfortified Spanish colonial town, UNESCO-listed. Its grid-plan streets, palaces with carved wooden balconies and student atmosphere (university founded in 1792) make it the island's most authentic cultural destination.
Religious sites
3 places
5Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Religious site
Iglesia de la Concepción - Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Tenerife's oldest church (16th century), with a white bell tower recognisable across the city. Inside, the baptismal fonts are said to have been used for baptising the first converted Guanche indigenous people.
6Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0Religious site
Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Peña de Francia - Puerto de la Cruz
17th-century Baroque church overlooking the Plaza del Charco, the beating heart of Puerto de la Cruz. Its ochre façade and interior laden with ex-votos testify to the devotion of local fishermen.
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Religious site
Religious site
Catedral de San Cristóbal de La Laguna
Neo-Gothic cathedral at the heart of La Laguna, a UNESCO city and former capital of Tenerife. The interior houses a remarkable collection of colonial religious art and a crypt where conquistadors are buried.
Castles & fortresses
1 place
8Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Castle
San Juan Bautista Castle - Santa Cruz
Black 17th-century fortress built in volcanic stone, nicknamed 'El Castillo Negro'. It defended the island against Admiral Nelson's attack in 1797 – the cannon that cost him his arm is preserved here.
Nature
1 place
9Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Nature
Roques de García
Spectacular rock formation at the foot of Teide, accessible without cable car or permit. The 4 km loop around the rocks is one of the most photographed hikes in the Canaries, with unreal ochre and red hues.
Parks & gardens
3 places
10Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Park
Anaga Rural Park - Punta del Hidalgo
The Anaga massif is Tenerife's green lung, designated a biosphere reserve. Its laurisilva (Tertiary laurel forests) and jagged ridges create the impression of stepping into another world, just 40 minutes from Santa Cruz.
11Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Park
Puerto de la Cruz Botanical Garden
Established in 1788 by order of Charles III to acclimatise tropical plants before their transfer to mainland Spain. The giant fig tree at the entrance, over 200 years old, is itself worth the visit.
12Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0Park
Teide National Park - Pico del Teide Summit
Spain's highest peak at 3,715m offers a breathtaking panorama of the Canary Islands archipelago. Arrive early to witness the sea of clouds beneath your feet—a spectacle few volcanoes in the world can equal.
Viewpoints
3 places
13Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0Viewpoint
Masca Viewpoint
Village clinging to a cliff edge in the Teno massif, accessed by a vertiginous switchback road. The view over the barranco de Masca and the sea below justifies the detour alone—arrive before 10am to avoid tour buses.
14Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0Viewpoint
Pico del Inglés Viewpoint
Vantage point at the heart of the Anaga massif offering 360° views over the island's north, Santa Cruz and sometimes Mount Teide. Accessible by car on a winding road through the laurel forest – one of Tenerife's most stunning viewpoints.
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Viewpoint
Viewpoint
La Centinela Viewpoint
Secret viewpoint in the island's south, above Valle de San Lorenzo, with dramatic views over ravines and the African coast on clear days. Almost no signage marks it – locals from Granadilla keep it jealously guarded.
Activities
5 places
16Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Activity
Barranco del Infierno – Adeje
Hike through a spectacular ravine ending at an 80-metre waterfall, Tenerife's highest. The contrast between lush vegetation and sheer cliff faces is striking – online booking required.
17Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.5Activity
Teide Observatory – Night-time Visit
One of the world's finest astronomical observation sites, at 2,400 m altitude. Guided night visits with professional telescopes allow you to see the Milky Way with a clarity impossible from the mainland.
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Activity
Activity
Garachico - El Caletón Natural Pools
Natural pools carved into lava during the 1706 eruption that destroyed Garachico's port. The seawater here is crystalline and swimming is free – the perfect place to understand that Tenerife has no need for artificial pools.
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Activity
Activity
Surf School - Playa de Las Américas
Punta de Las Américas generates regular, powerful waves that attract local surfers away from nearby hotel complexes. Several schools run by Canarians offer quality lessons at reasonable prices.
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Activity
Activity
Whale watching - Los Gigantes
The waters between Los Gigantes and La Gomera are home to one of Europe's rare resident populations of sperm whales. Pilot whales (globicephales) are visible year-round – choose a small local operator rather than large tour boats.
Beaches
3 places
21Wikimedia CommonsBeach
Playa del Médano
The quintessential surf and windsurfing village, with a laid-back atmosphere quite unlike the touristy south. Beach bars serve fresh prawns and local Dorada beers facing the waves.
22Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0Beach
Playa de Benijo
Wild volcanic black sand beach north of Anaga, with views of the Roques de Anaga. Nearly inaccessible by bus, it remains unspoilt by crowds – locals come here to watch the sunset from the rocks.
23Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0Beach
Playa de la Tejita
Tenerife's largest natural beach, backed by Montaña Roja, a red volcanic cone. No concrete on the horizon, no sun loungers for hire—just wind, golden sand and kitesurfers in the distance.
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