Things to Do in Tenerife: The Best Days Out, Sights and Nights
Updated 29 October 2026 · DoTenerife
The best things to do in Tenerife are seeing Mount Teide (by cable car or on foot), spending a day at Siam Park or Loro Parque, taking a whale-watching boat from the south coast, and exploring the greener north around La Orotava, Puerto de la Cruz and the Anaga mountains. Add an evening of live entertainment in Playa de las Americas or Los Cristianos and you have the classic Tenerife week.
Below is a practical shortlist grouped by type, with rough costs and what to book ahead. Prices change frequently, so treat every figure as a guide and check before you go.
Nature and landscapes
Mount Teide and the national park
Teide National Park is free to enter and the drive up through the lava fields is an experience in itself. The cable car runs from 2,356 m to 3,555 m, and a non-resident return ticket is currently around €43 for adults. Reaching the summit crater at 3,715 m needs a separate free permit booked weeks ahead. Our Mount Teide guide covers permits, the new trail rules and altitude tips.
Masca village and gorge
Masca is a tiny hamlet clinging to the Teno mountains, reached by one of the island’s most dramatic roads. The gorge hike down to the sea is now regulated: you book a timed slot, arrive by the official shuttle bus from Santiago del Teide and pre-book a boat out. See Masca village and gorge for the full process.
Los Gigantes cliffs
The sheer cliffs at Los Gigantes rise straight out of the Atlantic. They are best seen from a boat, and many whale-watching trips sail beneath them.
Anaga Rural Park
The north-east tip of the island is laurel forest, ridge-top viewpoints and black-sand beaches such as Benijo. Cooler and often misty, it feels like a different island to the south.
Theme parks and attractions
- Siam Park (Costa Adeje) – a Thai-themed water park with record-breaking slides and a huge wave pool. Adult tickets are typically in the mid-€40s. See our Siam Park guide.
- Loro Parque (Puerto de la Cruz) – a large zoo with parrots, gorillas, penguins and marine animal presentations. Adult entry is typically in the low €40s, with combined tickets for Siam Park available. Read the Loro Parque guide.
- Pirámides de Güímar – stepped stone structures in an ethnographic park on the east coast; a good half-day.
On the water
- Whale and dolphin watching – short-finned pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins live off the south-west coast all year. Trips leave from Puerto Colón, Los Cristianos and Los Gigantes. Choose an authorised operator; our whale-watching guide explains how to check.
- Boat trips – catamaran cruises, sailing yachts, RIBs and party boats. Compare options in Tenerife boat trips.
- Beaches – golden sand at El Duque and Playa de las Vistas, black volcanic sand in the north, and windsurfing at El Médano. See Tenerife beaches.
Towns worth a day
| Town | Why go | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| La Laguna | UNESCO World Heritage old town, colonial streets, student bars | Culture, tapas |
| La Orotava | Balconied mansions, gardens, Corpus Christi sand carpets | Architecture |
| Garachico | Lava rock pools, historic port rebuilt after a 1706 eruption | Swimming, lunch |
| Santa Cruz | Capital, Auditorio, markets, carnival | Shopping, city break |
| Puerto de la Cruz | Original resort, Lago Martiánez lidos, Loro Parque | Families, older visitors |
| Candelaria | Basilica and Guanche king statues on the seafront | Short visit |
Beyond Tenerife
The ferry from Los Cristianos to San Sebastián de La Gomera takes around 50 minutes, making La Gomera an easy day trip. More ideas are in day trips from Tenerife.
Evenings and nightlife
Tenerife’s south has one of the busiest entertainment scenes in Spain: tribute acts, live bands, comedy, cabaret and karaoke run every night of the year. DoTenerife lists tonight’s shows with Tenerife-time start times on what’s on tonight, so you can plan around who’s playing near your hotel. For something different, stargazing tours on Teide take advantage of some of the clearest skies in Europe.
Food and markets
Try papas arrugadas with mojo sauce, grilled cheese with palm honey and fresh fish in harbour towns. Up north, the informal guachinches serve home cooking and local wine at low prices. Weekly street markets run in Los Cristianos, Costa Adeje and elsewhere; see Tenerife markets for days.
Planning tips
- Book ahead: Teide summit permits, Masca slots and popular boat trips sell out, especially in winter high season and school holidays.
- Pack layers: Teide can be near freezing even when the coast is 25°C.
- Split your base: the south has the sun and nightlife; the north has the scenery and culture. Our where to stay guide helps you choose.
- Budget for free days: beaches, viewpoints, old towns and the national park cost nothing. See free things to do in Tenerife.
Frequently asked questions
What is the number one thing to do in Tenerife?
For most visitors it is Mount Teide. Spain's highest peak (3,715 m) sits in a national park you can drive into for free, and the cable car lifts you to 3,555 m for views across the island and, on clear days, to neighbouring islands.
How many days do you need in Tenerife?
A week covers the headline sights comfortably: Teide, a water park or Loro Parque, a boat trip, a day in the north and a couple of beach days. Ten to fourteen days lets you add La Gomera, Masca and Anaga at a slower pace.
Is Tenerife good for nightlife?
Yes. The south, especially Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos, has late bars, clubs and a big live-entertainment scene with tribute acts, comedy and cabaret most nights of the year.
Do you need a car to see Tenerife?
Not essential. TITSA buses link the resorts with Santa Cruz, La Laguna and Puerto de la Cruz, and organised excursions cover Teide and Masca. A hire car makes the north, Anaga and Teide at sunset much easier.
What is there to do in Tenerife in the evening?
Live music, tribute shows, comedy, karaoke and dinner shows are the staples in the southern resorts, while Santa Cruz and La Laguna have a more local bar scene. Stargazing tours on Teide are another popular evening option.