Tenerife taxis: what they cost and how to get one

Taxis in Tenerife are metered, licensed and plentiful in the main resorts, and short hops between places like Los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas and Costa Adeje are inexpensive, often somewhere around €6–15. Rates are higher at night and on Sundays and public holidays, and you can usually pay by card, though it is worth asking first.

They are the easiest way to get home after an evening out, especially once the buses have stopped.

Typical taxi fares

Fares are set by each municipality, so they vary slightly around the island. These rough figures are for a standard car with up to four passengers:

Journey	Approx. fare	Approx. time
Los Cristianos to Playa de las Américas	€6–10	5–10 min
Las Américas to Costa Adeje (Fañabé/La Caleta)	€8–15	10–15 min
Tenerife South airport to Los Cristianos	€20–30	15–20 min
Tenerife South airport to Costa Adeje	€25–40	20–30 min
Costa Adeje to Los Gigantes	€30–45	25–35 min
Las Américas to Santa Cruz	€70–95	50–60 min
Tenerife North airport to Santa Cruz	€15–25	15–20 min

Prices change and depend on traffic, waiting time and luggage, so use these as a guide only.

Night, weekend and holiday rates

A higher tariff usually applies late at night (typically from around 22:00) and on Sundays and public holidays. Airport and port pick-ups can carry a small supplement, as can large items of luggage. The applicable tariffs should be displayed inside the cab.

How to get a taxi

• Taxi ranks: found outside shopping centres, major hotels, the airports, the ports and on main resort roads.
• Flag one down: a green light on the roof means it is free.
• Phone or app: local radio-taxi companies take bookings by phone, and some have their own apps. Your hotel reception can call one for you.
• Pre-booked transfers: useful for airport runs with a group, children or lots of luggage.

Licensed taxis are white and carry the name of the municipality and a licence number. Avoid anyone offering a ride who is not in a marked taxi.

Uber, Bolt and other apps

Uber started operating in the south of Tenerife in 2023, covering Adeje, Arona, Granadilla de Abona (including Tenerife South airport) and Guía de Isora, mostly by sending licensed taxis through the app. As of late 2026 it had not yet launched in Santa Cruz, and private-hire (VTC) services remain limited and contested on the island. In practice, coverage can be patchy, so don’t rely on it as your only way home.

Tips for nights out

The south’s nightlife is concentrated in a few areas: the Veronicas strip and Starco in Las Américas, the Los Cristianos seafront, and San Eugenio and Torviscas in Costa Adeje. Taxis wait in the main streets, but queues can form at closing time, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.

• Leave a few minutes before the crowd if you need to be somewhere.
• Walk to a main road rather than waiting in a side street.
• Agree on cash or card before you set off.
• Check your hotel’s exact name and area. Several resorts have similarly named hotels.

If you are choosing a show in another resort, DoTenerife lists what’s on tonight with Tenerife-time start times, so you can work out when you’ll need a taxi back. Our guide to what time bars close in Tenerife helps you plan the end of the night.

Avoiding problems

Most taxi journeys in Tenerife are straightforward, but a few simple habits help:

• Make sure the meter is running once you set off. For long journeys, it is fine to ask for an estimate before you go.
• Know roughly where you are going. Have your hotel’s name and address on your phone, ideally with a map pin.
• Ask for a receipt (recibo) if you need one for expenses or if you think you were overcharged. It shows the licence number.
• Lost property: if you leave something in a taxi, the receipt or the licence number makes it far easier to trace. Contact the local police or the town hall’s lost-property service.
• Complaints can be made to the town hall that issued the licence.

Accessible and larger taxis

Adapted taxis for wheelchair users (often called “eurotaxis”) operate in the main municipalities, but there are fewer of them, so book well ahead. Larger vehicles for groups of five to eight are also available on request. See accessible Tenerife.

Taxi or bus?

For short trips between resorts or late at night, a taxi is usually worth the few extra euros. For longer journeys such as Santa Cruz or Puerto de la Cruz, the TITSA bus is far cheaper. If you are planning several longer trips, hiring a car may work out better.