What to pack for Tenerife: a practical packing list

For Tenerife, pack for sunshine first: light clothes, swimwear, high-factor sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses. Add a light jumper or jacket for evenings (essential from November to April), sturdy shoes for walking, and proper warm layers if you are going up Mount Teide, where it can be near freezing even when the coast is hot.

The island’s climate is mild all year, but the north is cooler and cloudier than the south and the mountains have their own weather. Here’s a packing list that covers it all.

The essentials

• Passport (valid for your whole stay; non-EU visitors should check their passport meets Schengen rules for issue and expiry dates).
• EHIC or GHIC if eligible, plus travel insurance documents.
• Driving licence (and International Driving Permit if needed) if you plan to hire a car. See car hire and driving.
• Bank cards and some cash in euros.
• Phone, charger and a European plug adaptor (types C/F, 230V).
• Regular medication in original packaging, with a copy of your prescription.

Sun and beach

• High-factor sunscreen (the sun is strong year-round).
• After-sun or aloe vera.
• Wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.
• Swimwear, a cover-up and a quick-dry towel.
• Water shoes or sandals for hot black sand, pebbles and rocky pools.
• A reusable water bottle.

See Tenerife beaches and sea temperatures by month.

Clothes by season

Season	Days	Evenings	Extras
Winter (Dec–Feb)	T-shirts, shorts or light trousers	Jumper or light jacket, long trousers	Waterproof if visiting the north
Spring (Mar–May)	Summer clothes	Light layer	Wetsuit if you swim a lot (sea is coolest)
Summer (Jun–Aug)	Lightest clothes	Usually just a shirt or dress	Extra sun protection
Autumn (Sep–Nov)	Summer clothes	Light layer by November	Light rain jacket

The south is usually a few degrees warmer and much drier than the north. Check Tenerife weather by month for details.

For Mount Teide and hiking

Teide reaches 3,715 metres, and the temperature drops sharply with altitude. Even in summer, the summit area can be cold and windy, and in winter snow is common.

• Warm fleece or jacket, plus a windproof layer.
• Long trousers.
• Proper walking shoes or boots with grip.
• Sunscreen and sunglasses, as UV is very strong at altitude.
• Water and snacks.
• Your booking or permit confirmation if you are hiking certain trails.

Read our Mount Teide guide and Masca guide.

For nights out

Tenerife’s nightlife is relaxed. Smart-casual is the norm for bars, shows and restaurants. A few upmarket restaurants, beach clubs and nightclubs in Costa Adeje may refuse beachwear, flip-flops or football shirts. For dinner shows, people often dress up a little.

Bring:

• Comfortable shoes for walking between bars.
• A light layer for winter evenings and air-conditioned venues.
• Something a little dressier if you’re planning a dinner show.

DoTenerife lists what’s on tonight, so you can check the vibe of a show before you pick your outfit.

Handy extras

• Small backpack for day trips.
• Snorkel and mask for calm bays.
• Insect repellent (mosquitoes are not usually a big problem, but helpful in the north).
• Basic first-aid kit: plasters, painkillers, rehydration sachets, antihistamines.
• Earplugs if you’re staying near the nightlife areas.
• Power bank for long excursion days.
• Reusable shopping bag: single-use bags are charged for in Spanish shops.

Travelling with children

Add swim nappies, a children’s sun suit and hat, a travel car seat if you are hiring a car (or book one with the rental), and snacks for long journeys. See Tenerife with kids.

Long stays

If you are spending several weeks or months in Tenerife over the winter, pack differently:

• More warm layers than a short-break visitor would. Apartments rarely have central heating, and evenings from December to February can feel cool indoors.
• A rain jacket if you will spend time in the north.
• Copies of documents, including your EHIC or GHIC, insurance and prescriptions, stored digitally.
• A filter water bottle to improve the taste of tap water.
• Hobby kit such as walking poles, golf clubs or a snorkel, which can be pricey to rent for long periods.

Remember the 90-day limit if you are not an EU citizen. See our 90/180 rule guide.

What you don’t need

• Lots of cash. Cards work almost everywhere.
• Bottled water from home. Supermarkets sell it cheaply. See Tenerife tap water.
• Heavy winter coats. Unless you’re going up Teide in winter, a fleece and windproof jacket is enough.

Before you leave

• Check your passport validity and entry requirements; see our 90/180 rule and EES guide.
• Download offline maps and a Spanish translation app.
• Save 112, the emergency number.
• Check the events calendar for festivals or shows during your stay.