Tenerife in 5 Days: everything you need to know

Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands and also the most populous in all of Spain. That’s why there’s so much to see and do, and you’ll need several days to properly explore its main attractions. But don’t worry— if you plan well, you can see all the most popular spots and enjoy the island to the fullest in just 5 days.

If the only things that come to mind when you think of Tenerife are the sea, sand, and idyllic beaches, let me debunk that first myth: on the island, you’ll find all that and so 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 northwest, home to popular and must-see natural wonders that you absolutely 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 through Tenerife will be in the island’s oldest city: San Cristóbal de la Laguna. It is the second most populous city in all of 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 a piece of the island’s history, as they are home to unique monuments such as the 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.

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

Anaga Rural Park

About 13 kilometers from San Cristóbal de la Laguna, and about 20 minutes along the TF-12 highway, you’ll find your second destination of the day: the Anaga Rural Park. This site boasts stunning natural beauty, for which it was designated 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 dazzle you, though you can also explore its many trails until you reach one of the black-sand coves that will take your breath away.

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

The second day on the island will include two of its most classic and must-see destinations, each with its own special significance: one as the island’s capital city and the other as its spiritual capital. I’m talking about Santa Cruz de Tenerife and La Candelaria.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife

There’s nothing 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 that you can easily reach on foot or, if you prefer, by renting 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 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 Natural History and Archaeology or the Military History Museum
• The Palmetum, which is the botanical garden featuring the largest palm trees in all of Europe.
• García Sanabria Park, featuring fountains and unique architectural works.

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

La Candelaria

About 19 kilometers from Santa Cruz de Tenerife, you’ll find the small town of La Candelaria, where you’ll spend the second half of the day. Exploring its historic streets is a perfect plan that shouldn’t be missed 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 must-sees:

• The Camino Viejo de Candelaria, which is the road you’ll travel on when going from Santa Cruz de Tenerife to La Candelaria and which still preserves original sections 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. Additionally, in this square, you’ll find nine bronze statues honoring the nine kings of the Guanche people.
• The Hermitage of San Blas, a natural cave where the Guanches found the image of the Virgin, now houses a replica.
• The Casa Cabildo, the site where the city hall was formerly located.
• The Pottery Center known as “La Casa de las Miquelas,” an old house where pottery is on display.

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 while sailing the waters of the Atlantic. Here’s more about it.

Teide National Park

Teide National Park was designated as such in 1954 and is one of the most visited parks in all of Spain. It’s one of the top places to visit in Tenerife, and my recommendation is that to enjoy it to the fullest, you plan your visit as a guided tour of Teide.

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

• Los Roques de García, which are ideal for hiking.
• Exploring the telescopes at the Astronomical Observatory.
• Touring the Telesforo Bravo and El Portillo Visitor Centers.
• 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 Route TF-38 from Teide National Park, which is approximately 30 kilometers away.

Let me tell you that the best way to appreciate the enormous volcanic cliffs, reaching up to 600 meters in height, is aboard a boat, sailing through the waters of the Atlantic. This unique and unforgettable experience will also let you enjoy the wide variety of dolphins and whales that appear in the area—it’s totally worth it!

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

On your fourth day, you’ll simply fall head over heels in love with Tenerife—if you haven’t already. The northern landscapes have a special charm, and in just one day you can explore the main dreamy spots.

Puerto de la Cruz

The fourth-day tour of Tenerife begins in one of the most popular and tourist-friendly spots in the north of the island: Puerto de la Cruz. It’s also one of the top choices for many tourists looking for a place to stay during their trip to Tenerife, as it’s one of the liveliest and most vibrant cities on the island.

Here you’ll find many tourist attractions to visit, and you can easily explore them on foot since everything is relatively close by. To help you make the most of this small city, let me tell you about its main attractions that you shouldn’t miss on your tour:

• San Felipe Castle: This is an ancient and imposing fortress in the city.
• The Puerto de la Cruz Pier, one of the most popular on the island
• The Botanical Garden
• 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 little adrenaline to your city tour, here you’ll have the option to go 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 district must be included in your travel itinerary, no matter what. It’s located just about 8 kilometers from Puerto de la Cruz, and I recommend taking your time to explore it at a leisurely pace, since it’s not very large but absolutely stunning.

In this small town, there are some must-see tourist spots; I’ll tell you which ones 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 style in the Canary Islands.
• The picturesque Victoria Garden, 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 kilometers along the TF-5 route, you’ll reach the third stop on your fourth day in Tenerife: Icod de los Vinos, a small town known as the home of the famous and popular Drago Milenario (Millennial Dragon Tree) or Parque del Drago, named after the enormous dragon tree that was declared a National Monument in 1917 and recognized 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 exploring 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 center, visit and explore the city’s most renowned museums such as the Guanche Museum and the Casa del Plátano, and even end your walk by cooling off at San Marcos Beach —which may not be the largest beach you’ll see, but has a very special charm that makes it unique.

Garachico

Just over 6 kilometers from Icod de los Vinos, via Route TF-42, you’ll reach the next and final destination of your fourth day in Tenerife: Garachico. The most astonishing feature of this town is that it was almost completely devastated following the eruption of the Trevejo volcano in 1706, and was completely rebuilt, becoming even more charming than before—like something out of a fairy tale.

Let me tell you about this little town—there are several iconic landmarks 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 destroyed the old port of Garachico, and I recommend you take advantage of them to relax at the end of your tour and the day, cooling off with a refreshing swim.

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

• San Miguel Castle is the old defensive tower located in this town.
• Puerta de la Tierra Park, which is unique in that it still preserves the archway of the entrance to the old port from the 16th century.
• Roque de Garachico is a popular coastal rock formation that forms part of the town’s landscape, standing 77 meters tall and covering 5 hectares. Separated from the mainland by about 300 meters due to marine erosion, it is home to various bird species.
• The El Emigrante viewpoint, 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 logistics and making the most of the time you have to explore Tenerife.

For your last day in Tenerife, I’ve got a classic and super fun plan for you—one that’ll be so much fun you’ll want to come back to the island to explore it all over again. A truly 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’s been recognized as such year after year, and I assure you it’s no exaggeration; you’ll just have to see it for yourself to understand why. Plus, it’s included in the list of the 10 best parks in Tenerife.

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

If you love adrenaline, speed, heights, and adventure in general, you’ll have a blast here and thank me for the recommendation. To give you an idea and help you prepare, I’ll tell you that at Siam Park you’ll find slides where you’ll reach speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour! Plus, there are plenty of other rides and adventures to enjoy.

Another key point is that this park is open every day of the year, and you can purchase tickets online through the official website. Keep in mind that it will cost you approximately 28 euros.

Now that you have a complete itinerary, you can best organize your 5-day trip to Tenerife and design a unique, tailor-made experience to enjoy it fully—so that these days are enough for you, yet you’ll still want to come back for more. Now, if you’ve read this far and think 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.