The volcanic Canary Island of Tenerife draws you in with its striking landscapes and pleasant climate. Although winter can see rainy weather, temperatures hold up well and come spring and summer you can hit the beach in lovely warm conditions. The sunshine and ocean breeze will lure you outside, so you can explore the rugged, otherworldly volcanic terrain. Other times, you’ll want to slow down indoors, or even underground, and take in the island’s history.
Indoors
The Museum of Nature and Archaeology in Santa Cruz lets you discover the island’s earliest inhabitants. The Guanche people, Tenerife’s indigenous settlers before the 15th-century Spanish conquest, left behind mummies, tools and pottery that reveal their way of life. MUNA brings this history to life through detailed exhibits and well-preserved artefacts.
Beneath the island’s surface lies an underground world formed by flowing lava thousands of years ago. Cueva del Viento, near Icod de los Vinos, stretches for 18km, making it the fifth-longest lava tube system on the planet. Guided tours take you through its tunnels, where ancient rock formations reveal the power of volcanic activity. The uneven paths and low ceilings make it feel like a true adventure, far removed from the usual tourist spots. Not for the claustrophobic!
If your idea of Tenerife holidays is luxurious relaxation, Aqua Club Termal in Costa Adeje offers a retreat. A few hours in its warm pools and hydrotherapy jets melts away any tension. Its salt cave can ease respiratory issues and balance your positive and negative ions. The sauna and steam rooms cleanse your skin, and therapists perform deep tissue massages. Bliss.
Outdoors
The still active Mount Teide dominates the centre of the island, although it hasn’t erupted since 1909. Its summit stands at 3,715m making it the highest point in Spain. Hiking through the national park, you’ll encounter jagged lava fields and fossilised tree roots. The landscape shifts with every step, resembling the surface of Mars more than a holiday destination. If you take the cable car, a short walk at the top rewards you with panoramic views stretching across the Canary Islands.
The waters surrounding Tenerife hold some of the best whale and dolphin-watching opportunities in Europe. Boats leave daily from Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje, taking you to where pods of pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins glide through the waves. Many tours operate responsibly, following strict guidelines to avoid disturbing the sealife.
Tucked between towering cliffs and terraces that grow figs and grapes, Masca feels like a hidden paradise. This tiny mountain village, once said to be a refuge for pirates, overlooks deep ravines and lush valleys. Walking through its narrow streets, you’ll find whitewashed houses with colourful flowerpots lining paths. For agile, experienced walkers who like a challenge, the trek from Masca down to the coast takes you through dramatic landscapes.
Unlike Tenerife’s black volcanic beaches, Playa de las Teresitas gleams with golden sand brought in from the Sahara. Just outside Santa Cruz, this beach offers family-friendly calm waters sheltered by a breakwater, making it ideal for swimming for all ages.
