Tenerife, the volcanic island in the Atlantic, is one of the most beautiful travel destinations for those seeking an active getaway. The island offers a blend of breathtaking landscapes, vibrant towns, and picturesque coastal routes. With so much to see and do, narrowing down the most unique things to do in Tenerife can be a challenge. That’s why in today’s blog post, we’re sharing the top 11 things to do in Tenerife that we believe you shouldn’t miss. These experiences are crafted for a dynamic holiday lasting 1-2 weeks, offering everything from exhilarating water sports and scenic hikes to delightful culinary adventures, ensuring your trip is filled with unforgettable moments.
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1. Exploring the Anaga Rural Park – Our Favorite Thing to Do in Tenerife
Let’s start with our top pick for the best things to do in Tenerife: the many hiking trails in the Anaga Mountains. This national park in the northeast of the island is rugged and wild, offering views that might surprise you. Most of the park is open for everyone to visit, but some areas like El Pijaral and Monte de Aguirre need a special permit. Don’t worry, though – getting the permit is free and you can do it online. Sometimes the views in the park are hidden by clouds, but if you catch a sunny day, it’s definitely worth a visit!
Where: Anaga Rural Park, Northeast Tenerife
Cost: Free
2. Embark on a Culinary Tour Across the Island
A culinary tour is a must for us on any trip – whether we put it together ourselves or join a guided tour. The advantage of guided tours is that they take you to local eateries you wouldn’t normally discover on your own. Plus, you’ll learn a lot of interesting information about the country, the culture and its people during your tastings.
In Tenerife, visiting a place called a “Guachinche” is perfect for this. These are very rustic and simple establishments that originally started out selling wine. When people came to taste the wine, they were also served small dishes. You’ll mostly find traditional Guachinches in the north of the island. In the south and especially in tourist areas, you might come across places calling themselves Guachinches, but they’re often just regular restaurants. An authentic Guachinche usually doesn’t have an extensive drink menu. Also, the food menu should be simple, featuring only typical Canarian dishes. Typically, the waiter will inform you directly about the dishes available. By the way, English won’t get you far in a Guachinche – you should have a little Spanish under your belt if you’re visiting on your own.
Where: Entire Island, Includes Pickup
Cost: €79
Where: El Sauzal, Northeast Tenerife
Cost: €16
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3. Watch the Sunrise at Punta del Hidalgo
Sunrises on vacation can be a hit or miss – some love them, while others couldn’t care less. If you’re in the first category, we highly recommend the Mirador Punta del Hidalgo. The view of the cliffs is truly spectacular, and the area is perfect for a morning stroll and planning your day.
Where: Punta del Hidalgo, North Tenerife
Cost: Free
4. Go on a Sailing Trip with Dolphin Watching
What could be better than letting your soul unwind on a sailing trip, toasting to your vacation with a glass of wine, and watching a family of dolphins? Sounds cheesy? Perhaps, but our sailing excursion in Tenerife is definitely one of our fondest memories and activities on the island. We opted for a three-hour sailing tour with snacks and drinks, departing from Los Gigantes in the west. Snorkeling and swimming were also optional and not too cold even in December.
Where: Los Gigantes, West Tenerife
Cost: €70
5. Go Kayaking and Snorkeling with Turtles
For a slightly more active alternative to a sailing tour, consider a kayaking excursion. With a bit of luck, you might even get to see turtles and dolphins up close, although tour operators can’t guarantee it.
Where: Los Cristianos, Southwest Tenerife
Cost: €30
If you’re planning a trip to Tenerife, especially if you’re traveling with children, you’ll likely come across the Loro Parque amusement park sooner or later. It’s a large zoo advertised as the top attraction for Tenerife on TripAdvisor. We want to raise awareness about critically evaluating a visit to the park because it’s one of the few remaining zoos in the world where orcas and dolphins are kept. The ethical issue of keeping orcas and dolphins in zoos is highly debated, and we encourage you to read a few articles about Loro Parque to form your own opinion on the matter. There’s also an excellent documentary called “Blackfish” on Netflix that addresses this topic. While we’re not categorically against visiting zoos, we decided to skip Loro Parque because there are so many more beautiful places to see and things to do in Tenerife, and with a bit of luck, you might even spot dolphins in the wild.
6. Bathe in Natural Rock Pools
Tenerife offers various opportunities to swim in natural pools and that definitely is one of the best things to do in Tenerife. Among the most beautiful and impressive ones we found are the Charco de La Laja pools, located in the village of San Juan de la Rambla. These pools don’t have any facilities like changing rooms, toilets, or sunshades. They should only be used in suitable weather conditions and during low tide. You can check the tides online. Also, pay attention to the wind strength and observe the pools for a few minutes. While it may look impressive when strong winds and Atlantic waves crash into the pool, it can quickly become very dangerous.
Where: San Juan de la Rambla, North Tenerife
Cost: Free
7. Summit the Highest Mountain in Spain
A visit to the Teide National Park is a must in Tenerife. Here, you can admire Mount Teide, the highest mountain in Spain, which is actually a volcano. The park boasts numerous hiking trails and stunning viewpoints. If you wish to not only admire Mount Teide from the valley but also reach its summit, a cable car ride is ideal. Tickets are available exclusively online and often need to be booked many days in advance to secure a time slot.
If you’re keen on hiking Mount Teide, you’ll need a permit, which can be applied for online free of charge. Alternatively, you can join a guided tour where the permit and cable car ride are already included. However, be aware that the hike is challenging and takes approximately 5-7 hours.
Where: Teide National Park, Central Tenerife
Cost: €22 – €128
8. Stargazing in the Teide National Park – one of the most unique things to do in Tenerife
A truly unique activity in the Teide National Park is a nighttime stargazing tour. The view of the night sky through a telescope is a fantastic experience. Some tours even offer pickups from the south of the island and combine stargazing with dinner. Unfortunately, our tour was postponed multiple times due to weather conditions and ultimately canceled, so we plan to try it again on our next visit to the island. In such cases, you’ll typically receive a full refund without any issues.
Where: Teide National Park, Central Tenerife
Cost: €55
9. Canyoning – The most adventurous thing to do in Tenerife
Tenerife offers many different canyons for climbers on the island. Not all can be reached on foot, and many are not suitable for beginners. We opted for a guided tour through the Barranco Los Arcos. You’ll reach this after a 40-minute hike with your guide.
Honestly, I don’t think we’ve ever had such an amazing tour as our canyoning tour in Tenerife. Everything was just perfect. Our guide Jorge was fantastic; you could tell he loved taking guests on tours. There’s absolutely no rush here, he took his time, provided detailed explanations about the canyon’s formation and the correct abseiling technique, and ensured you feel safe throughout the entire tour. We found the descents just right for us beginners. Definitely wear sturdy footwear, preferably hiking shoes, and outdoor clothing – jeans are not recommended. Also, be prepared to get out of your comfort zone and crawl through narrow rock crevices in some spots.
Where: Teide National Park, Northeast Tenerife
Cost: €64
10. Spend a Day in the Most Beautiful Coastal Town in Tenerife
Garachico on the north coast of Tenerife ist the most beautiful coastal town in our opinion. As you approach the town, you’ll see the Roque de Garachico rising from the sea. This large rock was formed by a devastating volcanic eruption in 1706 and has since become the city’s landmark.
What we particularly liked about Garachico is that it’s much quieter here compared to places like Puerto de la Cruz. You can visit El Caletón, natural pools formed as a result of the volcanic eruption, or stroll through the old town of Garachico. Especially noteworthy is the Iglesia Santa Ana church, with its white bell tower visible from afar.
Where: Garachico, Northwest Tenerife
Cost: Free
11. Go on a Day Trip to La Gomera
If you want to take your rental car to the island, check your rental car company’s documents beforehand – not all companies allow crossing to another island. We took a day trip with our rental car and paid 200 € for two people, including the car, for the crossing. Alternatively, you can also take a guided day tour, including hotel pickup, which costs around 90-100 euros per person.
Where: Departure from Los Cristianos, Southwest Tenerife
Cost: Approximately 100 euros
This blog post gives you an overview of the best things to do in Tenerife. Surely, there are plenty of other activities you can do in Tenerife, and there are many great places to visit that are free or that you can explore on your own. For more information, you can check out our blog post on our 7-day route for Tenerife. And if you’re still wondering how to get to the island, where to stay, and how to get around, we have another post with the most important travel tips for you that you need to know for Tenerife.
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And if you’d like to read more interesting blog posts about other destinations as well, you’ll find them on the homepage of our blog.
