29 Best Sights in Tenerife, Canary Islands

Wine and food lovers shouldn't miss this wine museum and tasting room, opened by the Canary Islands' government to promote local vintners. The surprisingly well-appointed museum, which describes local grapes, viticultural methods, and history, has English-language placards; reasonably priced tastings in various formats are held in the abutting bar area, and you can buy your favorite bottle in the shop. The complex also has a tapas bar and a restaurant with creative Canarian fare and a curious little honey museum with exhibits and tastings. Casa del Vino lies about halfway between Puerto de la Cruz and Tenerife North Airport, at the El Sauzal exit on the main highway.

Approximately 16 km (10 miles) north of Guía de Isora, tucked deep in the Macizo de Teno mountains, lies Masca, colloquially known as the Macchu Picchu of the Canaries. If you squint, you can see the resemblance—the huddle of houses is perched on a misty ridge beneath a massive, pyramid-shape rock. Descend the cobblestone steps into the town center, grab a quick coffee or sandwich, and, if you're feeling adventurous, embark on the three-hour (each way) hike down to the beach.

This park includes the volcano itself and the Cañadas del Teide, a violent jumble of volcanic leftovers from El Teide and the neighboring Pico Viejo. The last eruption here was in 1909. Within the park you can find blue-tinged hills (the result of a process called hydrothermal alteration); spiky, knobby rock protrusions; and lava in varied colors and textures. The bizarre, photogenic rock formations known as Los Roques de García are especially memorable; a two-hour trail around these rocks—one of 30 well-marked hikes inside the park—is a highlight. Visit in late May or early June to see the crimson, horn-shaped tajinaste flowers in bloom, a dramatic sight.

You enter the Parque Nacional del Teide at El Portillo. Exhibits at the visitor center explain the region's natural history; a garden outside labels the flora found within the park. The center also offers trail maps, video presentations, guided hikes, and bus tours. A second park information center is located near Los Roques de García beside the Parador Nacional Cañadas del Teide.

Thanks to its ornery terrain, Anaga Nature Park has managed to keep the tour-bus crowd (mostly) at bay—their loss. This magical oasis takes in misty laurel forests (aka laurisilva) with numerous endemic species, bizarre rock formations that jut above the trees, and hidden mountain villages like Taganana, founded in 1501. Explore the area by car, stopping to take a dip at Playa de Benijo, where you can catch a hiking trail into the surrounding countryside, and to snap a few postcard-worthy pics at the Pico de Inglés viewpoint.

This small, placid cove situated 12 km (7 miles) from Playa de las Américas is dwarfed by Los Gigantes, the towering cliffs nearby. Its natural black sand, striking in appearance, can be hot on the toes, so be sure to strap on some sandals. A nearby marina provides boat trips along the coast to take in the full beauty of the cliffs. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: sunset; swimming.

This museum is the leader in contemporary art on the islands due to its sleek low-rise design and avant-garde exhibitions. Designed by the Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron, it's next to the Museo de la Naturaleza. Expect 20th- and 21st-century art with a political or sociological bent. TEA's crown jewel is the hall dedicated to Tinerfeño surrealist artist Óscar Domínguez.

A magnificent avant-garde auditorium designed by Santiago Calatrava dominates the west end of the city. To keep its pearly white trencadís (broken tile mosaics) exterior clear of pooping pigeons, a falconer visits regularly with his raptors. The auditorium has a year-round program of concerts and opera, though you can sometimes catch impromptu music acts rehearsing or performing in the adjacent square overlooking the sea. Guided tours are given in English and Spanish; book ahead by phone or email ( [email protected]).

On its way to the top of El Teide, the cable car soars over sulfur steam vents. You can get a good view of southern Tenerife and Gran Canaria from the top, although you'll be confined to the tiny terrace of a bar. The station also has a basic restaurant. Online booking is a must, though it's important to note that there are no ticket refunds should the cable car be closed due to wind.

On its way to the top of El Teide, the cable car soars over sulfur steam vents. You can get a good view of southern Tenerife and Gran Canaria from the top, although you'll be confined to the tiny terrace of a bar. The station also has a basic restaurant. It's strongly recommended to reserve your spot online, though it's important to note that there are no ticket refunds should the cable car be closed due to wind.

Stretching for more than 2 km (1 mile), this is the longest beach on the island and also one of the most distinctive—the conical top of Montaña Roja (Red Mountain) lies at its southern tip. The golden sands and exemplary facilities earn it the country's "Blue Flag" rating, and the gentle waves make for safe swimming. Strong winds make it a good beach for those who want to try their hand at windsurfing. To get here, drive along the TF1 past Tenerife South Airport and take the TF64 south shortly afterward. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: sunset; swimming; walking; windsurfing.

The arcaded bell tower of this 16th-century church is an architectural icon of La Laguna, visible from almost everywhere in the city. Climb to the top for 360-degree views of the rooftops and surrounding countryside.

A six-story Moorish bell tower tops this church, which was renovated as part of an urban-renewal project that razed blocks of slums in this area. Opening times vary, but you can generally visit before and after Mass.

Filled with more than 4,000 varieties of tropical trees and plants, and sonorous birds, the Jardín Botánico was founded in 1788, on the orders of King Carlos III, to propagate warm-climate species brought back to Spain from the Americas. The gardens are closed during stormy weather or when the wind speed exceeds 40 kph (25 mph).

Because Puerto de la Cruz has uninviting black-sand beaches, the town commissioned Lanzarote artist César Manrique in 1965 to build Costa Martiánez, a forerunner of today's water parks. It's an immense, and immensely fun, public pool on the waterfront, with landscaped islands, bridges, and a volcanolike fountain that sprays sky high. The complex also includes several smaller pools and a restaurant-nightclub. 

Part of the eight beaches making up the sands in Playa de las Américas and Los Cristianos, Las Vistas has clean yellow sand and perfect bathing conditions thanks to a series of breakwalls that protect the beaches from high waves. Lounge chairs and parasols are available for rent. After sunbathing on this Blue Flag beach, take a stroll along the seafront promenade, one of the longest of its kind in Europe. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: sunset; swimming; walking.

This was the first beach on the island to receive international tourists en masse, from the 1960s on; today its golden sands are flanked by apartment blocks and hotels. The nearby port protects the beach from high winds and waves, so bathing is safe. Lounge chairs and parasols are available for rent. This is a lively beach, with frequent concerts and sporting events, and finding a space for your towel can be a challenge in the summer. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; sunset; swimming.

This colorful city market is part bazaar and part food emporium (though the food, for the most part, is nothing special). Stalls outside sell household goods; inside, stands displaying everything from flowers to canaries are arranged around a patio. Downstairs, a stroll through the seafood section will acquaint you with the local fish. A flea market with antiques and secondhand goods is held here on Sunday morning. Check the website for a monthly schedule of nighttime activities.

Primitive ceramics and mummies are this museum's highlights. The ancient Guanches mummified their dead by rubbing the bodies with pine resin and salt and leaving them in the sun to dry for two weeks. Placards are in Spanish, but there's a downloadable app with English descriptions.

This 14-room, two-story gallery on Plaza Príncipe de Asturias is lined with canvases by Breughel, Coecke, and Ribera as well as other famed works created between the 16th and 20th centuries. Many depict local events. 

Occupying the splendid 17th-century palace of an Italian merchant, the Museo de Historia y Antropología de Tenerife chronicles the island's sociocultural history from the 15th to the 20th century with documents, artifacts, and religious relics. Signage is in Spanish, but English descriptions are available via app (ask personnel for details). The elegant courtyard blends Italian Renaissance architecture, like white marble columns, with local materials such as hardy Canary Island pine.

Up on the hill just behind Parque Marítimo is Europe's largest collection of palms with some 600 species. The 29½-acre site, built over the former city dump and opened in 2014, houses palm trees from all over the world set around waterfalls and lagoons, all with panoramic views of the ocean and city. Call ahead if you'd like an English-language tour of the grounds.

West of the auditorium, this public water park with its three saltwater pools and tropical gardens is a favorite with locals. Designed by the Lanzarote-born architect César Manrique, it combines volcanic rock with palms and local flora.

Lava flows formed these seaside natural pools, to which stairs, paths, and railings have been added for easy access. There's a pleasant café selling drinks and snacks and a conventional swimming pool that comes in handy when the surf is rough. Far from luxurious or exclusive, the pools are owned by the town and popular with born-and-bred Tinerfeños of all ages.

Santa Cruz's beach, Las Teresitas, is about 7 km (4½ miles) northeast of the city, near the town of San Andrés. The 1½ km (1 mile) of beach was created using white sand imported from the Sahara in 1973 and adorned with palms. Beachgoers in the 1970s were purportedly bitten by the occasional scorpion that had hitched a ride from Africa (they've since been eradicated). A man-made barrier runs parallel to the sands and ensures rip-tide-free bathing. Busy in the summer and on weekends, this beach is especially popular with local families. The 910 TITSA bus route connects the beach with Santa Cruz. There's a good choice of bars and restaurants, and plenty of lounge chairs for rent. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Good for: sunrise; swimming; walking.

The cross at the southern end of Santa Cruz's main square is a memorial to those who died in the Spanish Civil War, which—it bears remembering—was launched from Tenerife by General Franco during his exile here. The controversial monument's architect is Juan de Ávalos, who also designed the Francoist memorial and basilica at Valle de los Caídos. A 2006 refresh by Swiss firm Herzog & de Meuron added a shallow oblong pond, new pavilions, and modern lighting. It also uncovered the ruins of Castillo de San Cristóbal, today a small museum (free) housing the 18th-century "Tigre Cannon" that reputedly cost Britain's Admiral Nelson his right arm in an attack he led in 1797. The entrance to the museum is via a stairway opposite the lake.

Stroll from Lago Martiánez along the coastal walkway to reach this square that's beautifully landscaped with flowering plants. Presiding over it is Nuestra Señora de la Peña Church (open before and after Mass), notable for its baroque altarpiece and elaborate pulpit.

It's a two-minute walk from the Plaza de la Iglesia to this square, one of the prettiest and liveliest in town, with plenty of cafés and tapas bars.

Occupying a meticulously preserved royal customhouse from the 17th century, the tourist office is outfitted with balconies, an interior patio, and intricate wood carvings.

This giant Southeast Asian--themed water park covers just about all the aquatic bases, from sleepy, restful pools to the heart-stopping Tower of Power, which drops you 90 feet into a "shark-infested" aquarium.