Tenerife in 5 Days: everything you need to know

Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands and also the most populous in the whole of Spain. That’s why there’s such a wide variety of things to see and do, and you’ll need several days to properly explore its main attractions. But don’t worry, if you plan well, in 5 days you’ll be able to visit all its most popular spots and enjoy it to the full.

If, when you think of Tenerife, the only things that spring to mind are the sea, the sand and idyllic beaches, let me dispel the first myth: on the island you’ll find all that and much, much more. Tenerife’s cultural and historical heritage is just as amazing as all its natural landscapes. Below, I’ll tell you what to see and do in 5 days in Tenerife; take note of this itinerary and plan your trip so you don’t miss a single thing.

The first day of your trip will begin by exploring part of Tenerife’s stunning north-west, home to popular and unmissable natural wonders that you simply must include in your itinerary, such as San Cristóbal de la Laguna and Anaga Park.

San Cristóbal de la Laguna

The first stop on your 5-day trip around Tenerife will be in the island’s oldest city: San Cristóbal de la Laguna. It is the second most populous city in Tenerife and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 for being the only unfortified colonial city.

As you stroll through its picturesque, ancient streets, you’ll breathe in some of the island’s history, as they are home to unique monuments such as Casa Lercaro, which houses the Museum of History and Anthropology of Tenerife, the Convent of Santa Catalina de Siena, and the Parish Church of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción.

Furthermore, in the heart of the city you will find the iconic Plaza del Adelantado, the most central and important square, named after the island’s conqueror, the Adelantado Alonso Fernández de Lugo. It is worth noting that this square gained its significance between the 16th and 20th centuries as the main venue for important public events, as it was surrounded by the city’s principal buildings.

Anaga Rural Park

About 13 kilometres from San Cristóbal de la Laguna, and around 20 minutes along the TF-12 road, you’ll find your second destination of the day: Anaga Rural Park. This site boasts stunning natural beauty, for which it was declared a Biosphere Reserve in 2015, and has been exceptionally well preserved over the years.

Let me tell you that this is one of Tenerife’s most popular destinations, which is why it’s included among the top 10 things to do on the island. Without a doubt, the mountainous landscape will take your breath away, though you can also explore its numerous trails until you reach one of the black-sand coves that will leave you breathless.

If I may offer a tip, a great way to explore this amazing park is on a guided tour, where you’ll learn a great deal from an expert guide without having to worry about a thing.

Your second day on the island will include two of its most classic and unmissable spots, each with its own particular significance: one as the island’s capital city, and the other as what could be described as its spiritual capital. I’m talking about Santa Cruz de Tenerife and La Candelaria.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife

There’s nothing quite like starting your second day on this unique island in the city that has served as its capital since the 17th century: Santa Cruz de Tenerife. In this city, you’ll find unique tourist attractions to visit, which you can easily reach on foot or, if you prefer, by hiring a bike to make the tour more dynamic. The choice is yours!

Among its main attractions, you’ll find:

• The Adán Martín Auditorium: an imposing building designed by the architect Santiago Calatrava.
• The Castle of San Juan Bautista: a coastal tower considered the second most important defensive fortress in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
• Some of Tenerife’s main museums, such as the Museum of Archaeological Nature or the Military History Museum
• The Palmetum, which is the botanical garden with the largest palm trees in the whole of Europe.
• García Sanabria Park, with fountains and unique architectural features.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife is also a great place to stop for a bite to eat, try some local specialities, and take the opportunity to rest and recharge your batteries for the rest of the day.

La Candelaria

About 19 kilometres from Santa Cruz de Tenerife, you’ll find the small town of La Candelaria, where you’ll spend the second half of the day. Strolling through its historic streets is a perfect plan that’s a must on your itinerary, as it allows you to experience the legacy of the Guanches, the indigenous people of Tenerife.

Among the most important sites you’ll find in this town, here are the ones you simply mustn’t miss:

• The Camino Viejo de Candelaria, which is the route you’ll take when travelling from Santa Cruz de Tenerife to La Candelaria and which still retains sections of the original road, built centuries ago.
• The famous Basilica of Our Lady of Candelaria, which is the largest and most imposing church in the city, has been designated a Site of Cultural Interestand occupies the entire square of the same name. Furthermore, in this square, you’ll find nine bronze statues honouring the nine kings of the Guanche people.
• The Hermitage of San Blas, a natural cave where the Guanches found the image of the Virgin, which is now replaced by a replica.
• The Casa Cabildo, the site where the town hall used to be.
• The pottery centre known as “La Casa de las Miquelas”, an old house where pottery is exhibited.

The third day on the island is pure adventure; in Teide National Park you can climb to the highest point and, on the other hand, enjoy the imposing cliffs known as Los Gigantes, which are usually best appreciated whilst sailing the waters of the Atlantic. I’ll tell you more below.

Teide National Park

Teide National Park was designated as such in 1954 and is one of the most visited in the whole of Spain. It is one of the main places to visit in Tenerife, and my recommendation is that, to enjoy it to the full, you plan your visit as part of a guided tour of Teide.

There, you can climb to the highest point in Spain on the Teide volcano and enjoy other places of interest within the National Park, such as:

• Los Roques de García, which are ideal for hiking.
• Visiting the telescopes at the Astronomical Observatory.
• Exploring the Telesforo Bravo and El Portillo Visitor Centres.
• Visit the Juan Évora Ethnographic Museum.

Los Gigantes Cliffs

Within the municipality of Santiago del Teide, you’ll find one of Tenerife’s most impressive natural wonders: Los Gigantes. You can get there via the TF-38 road from Teide National Park, which is approximately 30 kilometres away.

Let me tell you that the best way to appreciate the enormous volcanic cliffs, reaching heights of up to 600 metres, is from aboard a boat, sailing through the waters of the Atlantic. This unique and once-in-a-lifetime experience will also allow you to enjoy the huge variety of dolphins and whales that appear in the area – it’s well worth it!

Although if you’d rather not go on a boat trip, I recommend you head up to the Archipenque viewpoint, which offers one of the best sunset views you’ll ever see.

On your fourth day, you’ll simply end up falling head over heels in love with Tenerife, if you haven’t already. The northern landscapes have a special charm, and in a single day you can explore the main dreamlike spots.

Puerto de la Cruz

The fourth day’s tour of Tenerife begins in one of the island’s most popular and touristy spots in the north: Puerto de la Cruz. It’s also one of the top choices for many tourists looking for accommodation during their trip to Tenerife, as it’s one of the liveliest and most vibrant towns.

Here you’ll find plenty of tourist attractions to visit, and you can easily do so on foot, as everything is relatively close by. To help you make the most of this charming town, let me tell you about the main sights you simply mustn’t miss on your tour:

• San Felipe Castle: this is an ancient and imposing fortress in the city.
• The Puerto de la Cruz Quay, one of the most popular on the island
• The Botanical Gardens
• The graffiti at Puerto Street Art, a well-known art gallery.

I have a recommendation for you: if you want to experience Puerto de la Cruz in a different way and add a bit of adrenaline to your city tour, here you’ll have the option of paragliding – a unique experience!

Villa de la Orotava

The second stop on the fourth day is Villa de la Orotava. I have no doubt that a tour of its historic centre must be included in your travel itinerary, no matter what. It’s just 8 kilometres from Puerto de la Cruz, and I recommend you take your time to explore it at a leisurely pace, as it isn’t very big but it’s absolutely stunning.

In this small town, there are a few must-see tourist spots; I’ll tell you which are the most popular so you don’t miss them:

• The Town Hall Square.
• The Casa Museo de los Balcones, known for its beautiful balconies and carved wooden interior courtyards.
• The Church of La Concepción, considered the finest example of Baroque architecture in the Canary Islands.
• The picturesque Victoria Gardens, in my opinion, the most precious gem of La Orotava that will make you fall even more in love with this town.

Icod de los Vinos

About 21 kilometres along the TF-5 road, you’ll reach the third stop on your fourth day in Tenerife: Icod de los Vinos, a small village known as the home of the famous and popular Drago Milenario or Parque del Drago, named after the enormous dragon tree that was declared a National Monument in 1917 and recognised as the oldest in the Canary Islands.

Without a doubt, the most unique and unforgettable experience you can have in Icod de los Vinos is venturing into the volcanic tube of the legendary Cueva del Viento.

But that’s not all, as in Icod de los Vinos you can also stroll through the picturesque streets of its historic centre, visit and explore the town’s most renowned museums such as the Guanche Museum and the Casa del Plátano, and even round off your walk by cooling off at San Marcos Beach – it may not be the largest beach you’ll see, but it has a very special charm that makes it unique.

Garachico

Just over 6 kilometres from Icod de los Vinos, via the TF-42 road, you’ll reach the next and final destination of your fourth day in Tenerife: Garachico. The most astonishing feature of this village is that it was almost completely devastated following the eruption of the Trevejo volcano in 1706, and was completely rebuilt, emerging even more charming than before, as if taken from a fairy tale.

Let me tell you about this little village; there are several iconic and must-see spots to explore, though its main tourist attraction is undoubtedly the Natural Pools of El Caletón. These pools were naturally formed by the volcanic lava that swept away the old port of Garachico, and I recommend you make the most of them to relax at the end of your walk and the day, cooling off with a refreshing dip.

But before that, there are a few important places I’d like to recommend so you can make the most of Garachico:

• San Miguel Castle is the old defensive tower located in this village.
• Puerta de la Tierra Park, which is notable for still preserving the archway of the entrance to the old port dating from the 16th century.
• Roque de Garachico is a popular coastal rock formation in the town, forming part of the landscape with its 77-metre height and 5-hectare surface area. It lies some 300 metres off the mainland due to marine erosion and is home to various species of birds.
• The El Emigrante viewpoint, from where you’ll get the best panoramic views of the town.

If you prefer, you can explore Icod and Garachico on a guided tour, without having to worry about the arrangements and making the most of the time you have to explore Tenerife.

For your last day in Tenerife, I’ve got a classic and highly entertaining plan for you, so you’ll have such a great time that you’ll want to return to the island to explore it all over again. A unique experience!

Siam Park is a water park, but not just any water park – it’s the best, not only in Tenerife but in the world. It has been recognised as such year after year, and I assure you that’s no exaggeration; you’ll just have to visit it to understand why. What’s more, it’s included in the list of the 10 best parks in Tenerife.

Although it’s an outing for the whole family, there’s no age limit to enjoy it, and needless to say, it’s the perfect plan if you’re thinking of visiting the island with children. This fantastic and popular park is located in the upper part of Playa de las Américas and is entirely inspired by Thailand.

If you’re a fan of adrenaline, speed, heights and adventure in general, you’ll absolutely love this attraction and thank me for the recommendation. To give you an idea and help you prepare, let me tell you that at Siam Park you’ll find slides where you’ll reach speeds of up to 80 kilometres per hour! What’s more, there are plenty of other rides and adventures to enjoy.

Another key point is that this park is open every single day of the year, and you can buy your tickets online via the official website. Bear in mind that it will cost you approximately 28 euros.

Now that you have a complete itinerary, you can organise your 5-day trip to Tenerife in the best possible way and design a unique, tailor-made experience that you’ll enjoy so much that these few days will be enough for you, yet you’ll still want to come back for more. Now, if you’ve got this far and think that 5 days won’t be enough, here’s an itinerary of things to see and do in Tenerife over 7 days, so you can compare the two and make sure you don’t miss a thing.