From the summit trails of Teide to whale-watching boats off Costa Adeje, this guide covers the island's sights, resorts and bookable tours.
Every rating, review count and price shown on this site is rendered from the tour operators' own booking data, and the booking page always shows the final price in your currency.
The summit and the south coast sit at very different altitudes and answer different questions, so this block reads them separately. The figures below come from public weather feeds for each place.
September averages 14.5 °C at Izaña, 2,369 m up beside Teide, and 24.5 °C at the south airport, a gap of 10 °C.
Fuente: AEMET. The line above reads AEMET's hourly station observations when the page opens; when it cannot, the published September mean stands, and it is just as true.
Nights up there are colder again: the September mean daily minimum at Izaña is 10.4 °C, against 21.1 °C at the south airport.
September at four AEMET stations, from the published 1981-2010 normals: mean daily high, mean daily low and rain. The sea off the south coast averages 23.7 °C in September (NOAA OISST satellite analysis, 1991-2020).
| Station | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Izaña (2,369 m) | 18.6 °C | 10.4 °C | 13 mm |
| North airport (632 m) | 24.9 °C | 16.5 °C | 16 mm |
| Santa Cruz (36 m) | 28.1 °C | 21.7 °C | 7 mm |
| South airport (64 m) | 27.9 °C | 21.1 °C | 4 mm |
A warm evening on the coast says little about the summit. Anyone booked on a Teide sunset or a stargazing night should dress for the Izaña figure, not the beach one. The two airports tell the other half of the story: the north one sits at 632 m and runs cooler and wetter than the south one in every month of the normals.
The south, from Costa Adeje to Los Cristianos, is the sunnier half, built around beaches and water parks. The north around Puerto de la Cruz is greener, with gardens and La Laguna's colonial centre.
Families after beaches and boat trips mostly base themselves in the south. The north suits walkers and garden lovers, and a motorway links the two halves of the island.
The full list of things to do in Tenerife sorts every option by area as well as by kind.
The pins mark the beaches, parks, viewpoints and towns covered in this guide. The island is compact enough to cross several of them in one day.
A starting shortlist: six of the best-reviewed tours on the island. Answer a question and the list rebuilds around your plans.
Going up Teide means sorting three separate things: the drive through the national park, the cable car to La Rambleta, and the summit trail, which needs a reservation on Tenerife ON.
| How high the cable car goes | It stops at La Rambleta, 3,555 m. The base station is at 2,356 m. The crater is a separate trail that needs its own permit. |
|---|---|
| Cable car return ticket | From EUR 42.00 for a non-resident adult and EUR 21 for a child aged 3 to 13. |
| Who cannot ride | People with cardiovascular conditions, pregnant women and children under 3, because of the altitude. |
| Where the summit permit is booked | On Tenerife ON, the island council's site at tenerifeon.es. You must be registered and logged in. |
| What the summit permit costs | EUR 15 for visitors in the 09:00 to 17:00 slots. Children are exempt, and the booking page shows the age band that applies. |
| When new dates open | Every Monday at 07:00 Canary time a new week is released, so that 56 days are always bookable. |
| Sunrise and sunset slots | 06:00 to 09:00 and 18:00 to 22:00 are bookable slots too. Walking the summit trail without a reservation can be penalised. |
| Entry to the national park | No official page lists a park entry fee. The charges are per booking, on two summit trails only. |
Tours that include the cable car, the sunset and the night sky are compared under Teide by Day and Teide Sunset and Stargazing.
These bookings shape the rest of the week: whale-watching boats with review counts in the thousands, and summit permits released each Monday at 07:00 Canary time. Settle them first.
Glide out on an eco electric yacht through the waters between Tenerife and La Gomera, where a resident pilot whale population lives year round. There is time for a swim stop on the way back.
Costa Adeje
Skip the queue with a prebooked Siam Park day ticket. Thai-themed slides, a wave pool and a lazy river in Costa Adeje.
from $50.54Per person, in USD. The total depends on the date and option you pick. Check availability →Los Cristianos
Small-group kayak and snorkel session off Los Cristianos, where green turtles graze the seagrass. A free video of the trip is included.
from $29.24Per person, in USD. A promotional rate, so the regular price is higher. Check availability →South Tenerife
Coach transfer from the south coast to the Teide cable car, which stops at La Rambleta at 3,555 m. The crater trail is a separate permit-only route booked on Tenerife ON.
from $105.67Per person, in USD. The total depends on the date and option you pick. Check availability →Teide National Park
Three hours above the clouds at sunset, with telescope time in the Starlight-certified skies over the summit. Warm layers are essential at altitude.
from $45.94Per person, in USD. The total depends on the date and option you pick. Check availability →Tenerife
A nine-hour coach loop taking in Teide National Park, Masca village, the Drago Milenario in Icod and the old port town of Garachico.
from $66.62Per person, in USD. The total depends on the date and option you pick. Check availability →Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos and Playa de las Americas form the southern resort belt, close to the beaches and the boat trips. Puerto de la Cruz serves the north, and Santa Cruz with La Laguna suits a city-style stay.
Costa Adeje
On the Adeje coast, set in 12,000 square metres of gardens with views across the water to La Gomera.
Check availability →Costa Adeje
In a residential part of Costa Adeje, about ten minutes on foot from Duque Beach and fifteen from the resort centre.
Check availability →Playa Paraiso, Adeje (outside the main Costa Adeje strip)
A beachfront resort with four pools in Playa Paraiso, which belongs to Adeje municipality but sits outside the main Costa Adeje strip.
Check availability →Los Cristianos
An adults-only seafront hotel in Los Cristianos, four minutes on foot from Los Cristianos Beach and ten from the fishing harbour.
Check availability →Los Cristianos (Oasis del Sur)
In the Oasis del Sur part of Los Cristianos, with a rooftop terrace that looks over the bay and up to Mount Teide.
Check availability →Playa de las Americas
On the seafront in Playa de las Americas, built in the style of a Mexican mansion, with four restaurants on site.
Check availability →Puerto de la Cruz
Set in its own gardens on Avenida Richard J. Yeoward, with three outdoor pools and views of the Atlantic and Mount Teide.
Check availability →Puerto de la Cruz (Parque Taoro)
At Parque Taoro in Puerto de la Cruz, set in the middle of a park.
Check availability →Puerto de la Cruz (Taoro hillside)
A restored historic hotel on the Taoro hillside in Puerto de la Cruz, looking out to Teide and the Atlantic.
Check availability →Santa Cruz de Tenerife
A modern hotel on the Rambla de Santa Cruz in the centre of the capital, with a sun terrace and its own restaurant.
Check availability →Santa Cruz de Tenerife
On Calle El Pilar in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Check availability →La Laguna old town
A 16th-century mansion on Plaza del Adelantado in La Laguna's old town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Check availability →Still deciding on a base? Read where to stay in Tenerife and every area compared.
Tenerife has no real off season. Counted by air arrivals, March, the busiest month of 2025, brought only 1.26 times as many tourists as May, the quietest.
The chart below plots air and sea temperatures month by month, drawn from the official climate normals. Read the sea line if swimming matters most to you, and the air line for walking and sightseeing.
Tenerife has almost no low season. In 2025 its busiest month for tourists arriving by air was March, with 677,688, and its quietest was May, with 539,410: the busiest month beat the quietest by a factor of 1.26 (March 677,688 / May 539,410 = 1.26). International arrivals to the Balearic Islands in the same year swung by a factor of 17.4 (July 2,566,508 / January 147,694 = 17.4). The limit of that comparison is plain: it sets one island against a whole archipelago, and the two institutes count differently, tourists arriving by air and excluding Canary residents here, international tourists there. The weather explains the shape. The mean daily high at the south airport moves only from 21.7 °C in January to 28.4 °C in August, so there is no month the island has to sit out.
| Season | Arrivals by Air | South Coast High | Sea | Rain, North / South | What the Figures Show |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter, Dec to Feb | 1,962,917 | 22.2 °C | 20.1 °C | 232 mm / 67 mm | the busiest season by air; the wettest stretch in the north |
| Spring, Mar to May | 1,821,468 | 23.4 °C | 19.6 °C | 119 mm / 23 mm | 93% of the busiest season's arrivals; the coolest sea of the year |
| Summer, Jun to Aug | 1,773,082 | 27.2 °C | 22.2 °C | 22 mm / 1 mm | the quietest season by air, and still 90% of the busiest; almost no rain in the south |
| Autumn, Sep to Nov | 1,854,579 | 26.5 °C | 23.3 °C | 144 mm / 42 mm | 94% of the busiest season's arrivals; the warmest sea of the year |
Cruise traffic is the one thing here that does have a season. The port authority's published forecast lists 67 ship calls at Santa Cruz in December 2026 against 2 in June 2027, and the busiest day on the list is Friday 12 February 2027, with 5 ships in port. Anyone planning a town walk in the capital, or arriving by ship and choosing a shore day, can set their date against that list.
Arrivals: Fuente: Instituto Canario de Estadística (ISTAC), indicator TURISTAS, tourists arriving by air and excluding Canary Islands residents, 2025. Balearic comparison: Fuente: INE, FRONTUR, international tourists, 2025. Climate: Fuente: AEMET, monthly normals 1981-2010. Sea temperature: NOAA OISST v2.1, 1991-2020, a satellite analysis of open water, not a beach thermometer. Cruise calls: Fuente: Puertos de Tenerife, Autoridad Portuaria de Santa Cruz de Tenerife, published forecast, which changes as calls are added or cancelled.
Flights land at Tenerife Sur or Tenerife Norte-Ciudad de La Laguna, with the south airport taking most holiday traffic. Buses serve the main resorts; car hire makes Teide and Anaga far easier.
| The two airports | Tenerife Sur (TFS) and Tenerife Norte-Ciudad de La Laguna (TFN). |
|---|---|
| Buses from Tenerife Sur | TITSA line 10 to Santa Cruz, line 40 to Costa Adeje bus station by way of Los Cristianos, and night line 711. |
| Buses from Tenerife Norte | TITSA line 20 to Santa Cruz by way of La Laguna, line 30 to Puerto de la Cruz, and express line 343 to the south. |
| Visitor travelcards | A Day Travelcard is EUR 10 and a 7 Day Travelcard is EUR 50, sold at the airport ticket machines. |
★★★★★
“The coach was clean, cool, and on time. We had plenty of scenic stops, and the guide was clear and engaging. Dinner and wine were surprisingly good, and the stargazing was absolutely fascinating. A magical way to experience Teide-highly recommended!”
Suet_L, operator-listing review of Teide by Night, North or South
★★★★★
“Great views. The national park and the sunset views were the highlight of the trip. Very knowledgeable guide. Would recommend. Take a few layers , the climate is fresh on higher altitudes.”
Marios_P, operator-listing review of Half-Day Small-Group Volcanic Tour
★★★★★
“Fantastic experience . Highly recommend . We saw bottle nosed dolphin and Atlantic spotted and pilot whales . Very knowledgeable guide . There is an indoors on the boat which I thought we might need - as I thought it might be chilly but it was lovely and warm , no need for jackets . February .”
Stef_W, operator-listing review of No-Chase Trip, Los Cristianos
★★★★★
“Amazing experience, would do it again. My mum enjoyed this for her 50th birthday and she will never forget it. A must if you are an adrenaline junkie like us. It isn’t for the faint hearted so if you do not like heights do not do this and I would reccomend to wear a jumper as it does get cold on the flight. The pilot and crew were so friendly and made the experience even better . So much fun.”
Shauni_F, operator-listing review of Bronze Tandem Flight, Costa Adeje
★★★★★
“Varied and interesting . We experienced fantastic views and scenery of the north side of Tenerife. Alex was very encouraging at some tricky parts of the hike and we were well looked after. Weather is changeable so wear long light trousers and a warm top .”
Fiona_B, operator-listing review of Full-Day Anaga, Hotel Pickup
★★★★★
“The tour was great. Pickup on time, staff nice. Lunch placevtasty and reasonably priced. Mount Teide and Maska was impressive”
Vilnis_K, operator-listing review of Jeep Safari, Teide and Masca
★★★★★
“Really enjoyed the afternoon boat ride. We got to see the pilot whales and the dolphins right alongside the boat. The driver was very careful and slowly coasted into the areas where the animals were. We also saw the fin of a shark (a hammerhead apparently).”
Craig, United Kingdom, operator-listing review of No-Chase Catamaran, Underwater Windows
★★★★★
“Wonderful Tour. They did a great job with transportation from pick up near our hotel; to the windy roads of the tour; and dropping us back off at the hotel. Marian provided detailed information about island, its history, and the people. Lunch was delicious and there was tons of food.”
Christine, United States, operator-listing review of Coach and Ferry, Lunch Included
★★★★★
“Really enjoyed the day. Pickup point was easily reached. Guide was very informative and knowledgeable of Tenerife. Wines and food were lovely, nice to taste local food and wine.”
Caroline, Ireland, operator-listing review of Full-Day Gastronomy, Lunch Included
★★★★★
“We really loved this activity . The team looked after us from start to finish . we were picked up at hotel and droped off after . The track was so amazing beautiful views felt like we were vips.”
Shirley, United Kingdom, operator-listing review of Quad Convoy to Teide, 4 Hours
★★★★★
“Enjoyed Siam. Mainly stayed in the beach area and played in the waves. Busy as was school holidays but still had a great time”
Joanna, United Kingdom, operator-listing review of Siam Park Day Ticket
★★★★★
“Wonderful evening. Fantastic show. Would recommend to anyone. Dancers, singers and guitarist put every ounce of energy they have into their performance.”
Julie, United Kingdom, operator-listing review of Fran Chafino Flamenco, Hotel Pickup
★★★★★
“This experience was made 100 times better by the 2 guys who where driving the boat as they where fun and jokey where playing some good music and got loads of amazing photos of me and my friend while we were up there I would most definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to do it”
Frankie, United Kingdom, operator-listing review of 10-Minute Parasailing Flight
★★★★★
“The guide was very informative (Tomas). He made sure we found our way to the places of interest on our stops. The driver had a difficult job on those high narrow roads but he was always very calm.”
Niall, United Kingdom, operator-listing review of Whole-Island Tour, North Focus
★★★★★
“We enjoyed our tour with Angel! Great guide. The tour itself never felt rushed which was nice to have breaks in between. Thank you for such a wonderful day!”
Jennifer, Canada, operator-listing review of Small-Group Shore Tour, Teide and Icod
Every quote here is copied character for character from a review published on the operator's own booking listing. Names, dates and star ratings are as published. Nothing is paraphrased, shortened or written by us.
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