Tenerife spans the dry resort coast of Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos, the greener north around Puerto de la Cruz, and the cities of Santa Cruz and La Laguna. Teide rises between them. Choose a town first, because crossing the island is a trip in its own right.
The southwest resort strip runs from Costa Adeje through Playa de las Américas to Los Cristianos. Playa del Duque and Fañabé are near Costa Adeje hotels, while Los Cristianos has a working ferry port and sandy beaches. The southern airport is close to these towns, but Santa Cruz and Puerto de la Cruz are a long drive away.
Puerto de la Cruz faces the Atlantic on the north coast, with Lago Martiánez, black-sand beaches and the older streets around Plaza del Charco. The trade winds make the north greener and often cloudier than the south. La Orotava and its historic center are inland from the resort.
Santa Cruz is the island capital, with the Auditorio de Tenerife and the ferry port. Nearby San Cristóbal de La Laguna has a UNESCO-listed historic center and is close to Tenerife North Airport. Neither is a beach resort like Costa Adeje. Farther southwest, Los Gigantes has cliffs above a small marina. El Médano lies east of the southern airport and is known for windsurfing.
Teide National Park sits high above the coasts. The road and weather there can differ a lot from your hotel’s beach, so plan it as a separate day. TITSA buses connect the main towns and airports. A rental car gives more freedom for mountain roads and smaller villages.