Beach days without long drives
Fañabé and Playa del Duque have resort services close by. Los Cristianos adds a ferry port. Puerto de la Cruz is better for a northern itinerary.
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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.
Playa del Duque, Fañabé and Puerto Colón sit on this resort coast, about 12 miles from Tenerife South Airport. Choose it for beach hotels and family facilities. La Laguna’s old streets are across the island.
Around here: Playa del Duque, Playa de Fañabé, Puerto Colón
Los Cristianos is about 17 miles from Tenerife South Airport, with a ferry port and sandy beaches. Neighboring Playa de las Américas is livelier after dark. For quieter nights, stay away from the main bar streets.
Around here: Los Cristianos port, Playa de las Américas, Playa de Los Cristianos
Lago Martiánez, Plaza del Charco and nearby black-sand beaches make this the northern resort base. It is about 69 miles by road from Tenerife South Airport but roughly 17 miles from Tenerife North. Expect more cloud than on the southern coast.
Around here: Lago Martiánez, Plaza del Charco, Playa Jardín
Santa Cruz has the Auditorio and ferry port, about 41 miles from Tenerife South Airport. La Laguna’s historic streets lie uphill, close to Tenerife North Airport. Stay here for city visits rather than a resort beach.
Around here: Auditorio de Tenerife, Santa Cruz port, La Laguna historic center
This quieter southwest coast has cliffs and a marina, around 34 miles from Tenerife South Airport. Puerto de Santiago and Playa de la Arena are next to it. Roads into the Teno mountains need more planning than a beachfront day.
Around here: Los Gigantes cliffs, Los Gigantes marina, Playa de la Arena
This breezy town is around 4 miles by road from Tenerife South Airport. Playa de El Médano and Montaña Roja attract windsurfers and walkers. If you want to lounge without wind, choose a sheltered resort elsewhere.
Around here: Playa de El Médano, Montaña Roja
The southern coast has mild winter days and warm, dry summers. At Tenerife South Airport, highs run from the low 70s °F in winter to the low 80s °F in August. Puerto de la Cruz and La Laguna can be cloudier and cooler. Pack a layer for Teide even when the beach is warm.
Tenerife has two airports. Tenerife South (TFS) is near Costa Adeje and about 17 miles by road from Los Cristianos. Tenerife North (TFN) is about 6 miles from Santa Cruz and 17 miles from Puerto de la Cruz.
12 mi from downtown
TITSA route 40 connects TFS with Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje. Route 343 runs via both airports between Costa Adeje and Puerto de la Cruz; check its current timetable.
6 mi from downtown
TITSA route 20 connects TFN with Santa Cruz and La Laguna. Route 30 serves Puerto de la Cruz. A southern resort is much farther from this airport.
Costa Adeje has beaches, promenades and resort services side by side. Los Cristianos is another southwest choice if ferry trips are part of the holiday.
For a mountain-focused trip, perhaps. For daily beach time, pick a coast and visit Teide as a separate outing. The weather is different at altitude.
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