Christmas in Tenerife 2026: What's On, Where to Go and What to Expect

Christmas in Tenerife means warm sunny days (around 22°C in the south), lights and nativity scenes in every town, Christmas markets in Santa Cruz, La Laguna and Puerto de la Cruz, and Christmas Day lunches and shows in the resorts. The festive season runs from early December until Three Kings on 6 January. Spanish families celebrate on Christmas Eve, while the British and Irish bars of the south go big on Christmas Day.

The festive season at a glance

Lights, nativity scenes and markets

Santa Cruz de Tenerife runs the island’s biggest programme, from 1 December to 6 January, with the lights switch-on in Plaza de España, a large municipal nativity scene, a living nativity and Christmas craft markets in the centre. The capital’s events are free.

La Laguna’s World Heritage streets are lovely in December, with lights, a Christmas market and nativity scenes in churches and shop windows. Puerto de la Cruz brands itself the “city of Christmas”, with concerts, children’s activities, street parades and market stalls through December and early January.

In the south, Adeje, Arona (Los Cristianos) and Granadilla (El Médano) put up lights and nativity scenes and hold smaller markets and concerts. The shopping centres also have Christmas decorations and Santa visits.

Christmas Day in the resorts

In Costa Adeje, Playa de las Américas, Los Cristianos and Golf del Sur, many British and Irish bars and restaurants serve a full turkey dinner with all the trimmings, often followed by a show. Hotels put on gala dinners on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

• Book early: the most popular Christmas lunches sell out weeks ahead.
• Expect set menus: most places offer a fixed-price menu on the day rather than the usual menu.
• Shows: tribute acts, singers and Christmas parties are on through the week. Shows on these dates appear below as venues add them, or see what’s on in December.

What’s open over Christmas

• 24 December: shops close early in the afternoon; many Spanish restaurants close in the evening, but resort bars stay open.
• 25 December: public holiday. Supermarkets and most shops are closed; resort bars, restaurants and hotels are open. Buses run a reduced service.
• 26 December: a normal working day in Spain, so shops reopen.

Christmas weather

Expect highs of about 22–23°C in the south, lows of about 16°C, and a sea of around 20–21°C. December is the wettest month in the south, but rain only falls on a few days. Bring a light jacket for evenings, and if you visit Teide you may see snow. Full details in Tenerife weather in December.

Spanish Christmas traditions to know

• Nochebuena (24 December) is the main family celebration, with a big dinner at home.
• Turrón (nougat) and polvorones (crumbly shortbread) are the classic sweets.
• Belenes (nativity scenes) are everywhere, from churches to shopping centres.
• Three Kings (6 January) is when Spanish children get most of their presents. See our Three Kings guide.

Planning tips

1. Flights and hotels around Christmas and New Year are among the most expensive of the year, so book early.
2. Reserve Christmas Day lunch and New Year’s Eve dinner before you travel.
3. Check the island’s public holidays if you plan to shop or use buses.
4. Stay on for New Year’s Eve in Tenerife.