Tenerife Travel Guide
Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands and home to Mount Teide, the highest peak in Spain at 3,715 metres. The island splits into a greener, more traditional north and a drier, sunnier south, with beach resorts, mountain trails, and a UNESCO-listed old town in La Laguna.
Mount Teide and the National Park
Mount Teide dominates the centre of Tenerife. At 3,715 metres it is the highest peak in Spain, and the volcanic landscape around it forms Teide National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A road crosses the caldera, and a cable car climbs close to the summit.
Reaching the summit crater above the cable car station requires an advance permit issued by the park authorities, and places are limited. The altitude and clear air also make the park one of the island's main stargazing areas, with marked viewpoints along the caldera road.
North and South
Tenerife's two coasts feel like different islands. The north, exposed to the trade winds, is greener and wetter, with banana plantations, cliffside towns such as Garachico and Icod de los Vinos, and the historic resort of Puerto de la Cruz. The south is drier and sunnier, and concentrates the main beach resorts around Costa Adeje, Playa de las Américas, and Los Cristianos.
Most beaches in the south have golden or grey sand, while the north mixes black volcanic sand with natural rock pools. Many visitors base themselves in the south and take day trips north.
Anaga and La Laguna
The Anaga mountains fill the island's northeastern tip with knife-edge ridges, laurel forest, and small villages reached by winding roads. The range is a UNESCO biosphere reserve and concentrates much of the island's walking, with trails that drop to quiet beaches such as Playa de Benijo.
At the foot of Anaga sits San Cristóbal de La Laguna, the island's former capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its grid of colonial-era streets, colourful facades, and university life make it the island's cultural centre alongside neighbouring Santa Cruz.
Tenerife at a Glance
- Mount Teide: the highest peak in Spain at 3,715 metres
- Teide National Park: UNESCO World Heritage volcanic landscape
- Anaga Rural Park: laurel forest ridges and remote villages
- La Laguna: UNESCO-listed old town and university city
- Whale and dolphin watching off the southwest coast
- Beaches from black volcanic sand to imported golden sand
- High-altitude stargazing in the national park
Common Questions
Is Tenerife good for hiking?
Yes. Teide National Park, the Anaga mountains, and the Teno range offer marked trails at every level, from short volcanic walks to full-day ridge routes. Conditions vary with altitude, so mountain routes can be cold even when the coast is warm.
What is the difference between north and south Tenerife?
The north is greener, cloudier, and more traditional, with historic towns and black sand beaches. The south is drier and sunnier and holds most of the large beach resorts.
Do you need a permit to climb Mount Teide?
Access to the summit crater above the upper cable car station requires an advance permit from the national park authorities, and places are limited. The rest of the park, including the caldera trails, is open without a permit.