Best Things to Do in Puerto de la Cruz in Tenerife

Located on the lush north coast of Tenerife, Puerto de la Cruz offers a wide range of activities for its visitors. Unlike the resort areas in the south, this northern city felt more authentic, with quaint cobbled streets, historic buildings and street art, as well as lush botanical gardens and black sandy beaches.

There are also countless restaurants where you can try some traditional Canarian cuisine and plenty of independent shops if you’re looking for something unique. Not to mention that Puerto de la Cruz is only a short drive from many picturesque small towns, such as La Orotava, as well as outdoorsy areas like Teide National Park, which made it an ideal base for our activity-filled week-long stay in Tenerife.

If you’d like to see what we got up to in Puerto de la Cruz, make sure to watch our dedicated Tenerife video which we’ve shared on our YouTube channel Kitti and Jon.

About Puerto de la Cruz in Tenerife

Puerto de la Cruz is located on the northern coast of Tenerife, about 30 km west of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. It is situated within the coastal part of the beautiful La Orotava Valley, with the impressive Mount Teide rising 3,718 m above sea level in the background.

In the 16th century, the city served as the port for La Orotava, exporting sugar. This gave way to wine and then bananas even later on. In the 19th century, Puerto de la Cruz became a popular tourist destination with British travellers. This initiated the construction of iconic hotels such as the Gran Hotel Taoro, as well as historic villas and gardens. Unlike the southern resort towns, there’s still plenty of history to be found in Puerto de la Cruz, which is why we really enjoyed picking it as our base.

How to Get to Puerto de la Cruz in Tenerife

Things to Do in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife

1. Visit the Botanical Garden (Jardín Botánico)

If a city has a botanic garden, you can bet we’re going to visit it. The Botanic Garden in Puerto de la Cruz was created by the Royal Order of Carlos III in 1788 to cultivate different species from the tropics in a suitable climate.

Although it’s not the biggest botanic garden we’ve ever visited, it has a large collection of tropical and sub-tropical plants from all over the world. After spending over 2 years backpacking through Central and South America, we recognised many plants from some of our favourite countries such as Argentina, Mexico, Guatemala and Costa Rica. Not to mention the giant Ficus tree, which on its own was worth the visit.

Even if you’re not into plants, it’s a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of Puerto de la Cruz (including the heat) for an hour or so.

Opening times and entry fees. The Botanic Garden is open from 9AM to 6PM. Admission is 3 EUR per person. They had toilet facilities.

2. Enjoy the Views from Parque Taoro

We came across Parque Taoro on our way down to the historic centre and it immediately became our favourite spot in the city. Covering an area of 100,000 square meters, Taoro Park is a leafy green space that’s considered the lungs of Puerto de la Cruz.

We didn’t see it mentioned in many guides, possibly because it’s a bit outside the main tourist areas. However, if you don’t mind climbing up several flights of steps, then you’ll be rewarded with hands down the best views of Puerto de la Cruz.

3. Visit the Orchid Garden (Jardín Sitio Litre)

If you want to see orchids and one of the biggest drago trees in Puerto de la Cruz, then head to the Orchid Garden from Parque Taoro.

The garden was first planned by the British Little family, who bought the mansion in 1774. (In English, Sitio Litre means Little’s Place). In 1856 the Smith family bought the property and added to the garden. Today, it’s still privately owned but it’s also open to the public. In the past, many famous people have visited the garden, such as William Wilde and Agatha Christie.

Whilst it’s not a huge place, it contains other beautiful plants than just orchids and has various features like fish ponds and fountains. There’s also a small café offering breakfast and brunch menus if you wish to linger a little longer.

Opening times and entry fees. The Orchid Garden is open every day between 9:30AM and 2:30PM. The café is open between 10AM and 2PM. In June, July and August it’s closed on Tuesdays though. Admission is 4.75 EUR per person.

4. Climb the Agatha Christie Painted Stairs

We’ve mentioned Agatha Christie’s name a few times now, so it’ll probably come as no surprise that she has left a lasting legacy in Puerto de la Cruz.

The famous author visited Puerto de la Cruz with her daughter back in 1927, just after her divorce. She must’ve found a ton of inspiration during her stay because she wrote her short story collection, ‘The Mysterious Mister Quin’, basing the plot in Puerto de la Cruz.

Today, just around the corner from the Orchid Garden, you can find a colourful staircase leading up to Plaza Agatha Christie and Mirador La Paz. Each step has a different Agatha Christie title on it, painted in different colours to celebrate her connection to Tenerife. Apart from the urban artwork, there’s also an Agatha Christie festival held in Puerto de la Cruz every two years.

I’m a huge murder mystery fan and remember reading her books when I was younger, so it was a fun activity to try to see how many we could tick off as we made our way up the colourful stairs.

5. Admire the Views from Mirador la Paz

If you carry on a little further from the top of the stairs, you’ll end up at Mirador la Paz. This was a really beautiful viewpoint where we could see Playa de Martiánez below, one of the city’s black sand beaches. In the distance, we got a sneak peek of some of the swimming pools that make up the popular Lago Martiánez Complex.

Just around the corner is a lovely church called Ermita de San Amaro. It dates back to 1591, making it one of the oldest religious buildings in Puerto de la Cruz. There are a few cafes around the viewpoint if you fancy a drink or an ice cream.

Unless you want to be down by the beaches, Mirador la Paz would also be a fantastic sunset spot.

6. Stroll Down Paseo de San Telmo

Taking a walk along the waterfront in Puerto de la Cruz is a great way to see many natural and man-made landmarks. We roughly followed the promenade, starting from Playa de Martiánez and ending at Playa Jardín. There are a lot of cafes, restaurants, hotels and gift shops in this area, which naturally attract a lot of visitors. It can be quite hot in the middle of the day, so perhaps come earlier or later when the temperatures are a bit cooler.

There are many lovely points of interest along the way, including beaches, churches, small parks and other historical landmarks.

San Telmo Shrine (Ermita de San Telmo)

Situated next to San Telmo Beach is the small but mighty San Telmo Chapel. Dating back to 1780, it’s devoted to the patron saint of sailors. We could walk around its well-maintained garden and enjoy some lovely sea views, including a great view of the swimming pools of the Lago Martiánez Complex.

San Telmo Beach (Playa San Telmo)

A little further from the chapel is San Telmo Beach. It’s a tiny, rocky beach with tidal pools where you can just hang out or go for a swim. We saw lifeguards, although always check the flag to be sure whether it’s safe to go in the water.

Thanks to its central location and small size, the beach can get quite busy.

Mirador de la Punta del Viento

Just on the other side of San Telmo Beach there’s a cool viewpoint where we could watch the waves breaking against the rocks. The colour of the water was really vivid and some of the waves came up pretty high!

Church of Nuestra Señora de la Peña de Francia

Before continuing on along the promenade (called Calle de Santo Domingo from here) we quickly stopped at the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Peña de Francia. This Catholic church dates back to 1684. The tower was added later, in 1898. Inside, there are many cherished religious images.

The small leafy park in front of it (Plaza de la Iglesia) was a nice spot to rest our legs for a little while.

Plaza de Europa

Returning to the waterfront, the next place we passed was Plaza de Europa. It’s a huge square right next to the City Hall. Shaped like a fortress, it has cannons dating back to the 16th and 18th centuries. We could get some nice views out to the sea, although there wasn’t much shade, so we didn’t linger here for too long.

Playa del Muelle and Casa de la Aduana

Further along the road we came across Playa del Muelle, another small, rocky beach with a port containing some fishing boats further out. To the right is Casa de la Aduana, or the Customs House. This historic building houses the Tourist Office and the Eduardo Westerdahl Museum of Contemporary Art (MACEW).

The beach itself can be quite busy due to its size, and there are much nicer black sandy beaches further west if you’re after a beach day.

Castillo San Felipe

The last interesting landmark along the waterfront is Castillo San Felipe. It is one of four fortresses in Puerto de la Cruz, built in 1604 to defend the city from pirates. Since 1949, it’s been a historic monument and today it also houses art exhibits. It’s free to visit.

7. Relax at the Beaches and Pools of Puerto de la Cruz

Playa Jardín

Hands down the most beautiful black sand beach in Puerto de la Curz is Playa Jardín. It’s bordered by the Castillo San Felipe on one side and a huge green park on the other. If you’re lucky, Teide Volcano may also be visible rising up behind it.

Playa Jardin is split into three sections: Playa del Castillo, Playa Chica and Playa Maria Jiménez. During the day all the beaches can become busy but if you’re staying in Puerto de la Cruz, then you can appreciate its beauty earlier in the morning or later in the evening.

Lago Martiánez Complex

If you prefer relaxing by the pools rather than on the beaches, then consider a visit to the Lago Martiánez Complex. They have about seven pools that are fed by the ocean, but you get to enjoy beach club vibe facilities with sunbeds, bars and restaurants.

Opening times and entry fees. The swimming pools are open daily between 10AM and 6PM. Entry is only 7 EUR per person, which includes a sunbed. That’s a pretty good deal if you ask us.

Playa Martiánez

On the eastern end of Puerto de la Cruz is Playa Martiánez, which is a great spot if you want to surf. The beach is more rocky here and of course the waves are much stronger for general swimming. However, this makes it a favoured spot amongst surfers.

Why not join this 2-hour surfing session at Playa Martiánez? You’ll get all the equipment you need, including a wetsuit and surfboard.

8. Wander Around the La Ranilla Neighbourhood

The most colourful area to wander around in Puerto de la Cruz is the La Ranilla Neighbourhood. La Ranilla is a former fishing village, with small but colourful cottages and narrow streets where fishermen and their families used to live. It stretches from Plaza del Charco, where the wealthier families used to live, to Peñón del Fraile.

Since 2014, La Ranilla has been an open-air street art museum with impressive murals. As we walked around we could see many world-class artists’ work adorning the walls, which made the neighbourhood very picturesque. In addition, there were many colourful doors and tiny side streets filled with plants, so it was hard to stop snapping photos.

There are also many cafes and some of the best restaurants in Puerto de la Cruz in this area, so naturally we ate out here often during our stay.

Where to Stay in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife

Puerto de la Cruz is the perfect base if you’re after a more active holiday. We stayed there the whole week and found it easy and quick to reach most places along the north coast of Tenerife. Although there will be fewer resort-style accommodations in Puerto de la Cruz than in the south, there are a variety of options. There are also countless amenities in the city, including many cafes, bars and restaurants.

Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife

There was plenty to do in Puerto de la Cruz to keep us busy for an entire day. Our favourite area was the La Ranilla neighbourhood, where we found something picturesque everywhere we turned. Having said that, we also enjoyed walking along the waterfront, especially because there were so many landmarks and beautiful viewpoints along the way. We definitely made the right decision to book our stay in Puerto de la Cruz, as it was also a convenient place to see the northern side of Tenerife from.

We hope this guide has given you a good overview on what to do in Puerto de la Cruz. If you found this blog post useful and want to show your support, you can buy us a coffee here.