One Week in Tenerife Itinerary: Going Beyond the Beach Resorts

In this Tenerife guide, we’ve put together an activity-filled one week itinerary where we take you beyond the beach resorts, focusing mainly on the north side of the island.

Tenerife was never really a huge bucket list destination for us. In fact, before we decided to visit this particular Canary Island, we thought of it as just another “typical beach destination with all-inclusive resorts”, where there wasn’t much else to do for those of us who prefer a more active trip. Well, once again (like with Mallorca), we were – thankfully – quite wrong.

Whilst the south indeed caters for those coming for a relaxing beach holiday, the north of Tenerife is a different story. The island is dominated by a massive volcano – Mount Teide – which alone was a big reason for us to visit. In addition, the north is incredibly lush, with many hiking trails through dramatic landscapes that made us think we were back in Hawaii. Not to mention all the incredible black sand beaches, impressive coastlines, picturesque towns and scenic roads.

If you’d like to see everything we did on the island during our stay, make sure to watch our dedicated Tenerife videos, which we’ve shared on our YouTube channel Kitti and Jon.

About Tenerife, Canary Islands

Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands, an autonomous region of Spain, located off the coast of northwest Africa. It is also part of Macaronesia, a collection of volcanic archipelagos that is made up of the Canary Islands, Madeira, the Azores and Cape Verde.

The island has a long history, being inhabited since ancient times. Many different civilisations have left their mark on Tenerife, from the indigenous Guanche people, who were the original inhabitants, to the Spanish conquistadors, who arrived in the 15th century.

Tenerife has an incredibly diverse landscape, from volcanic peaks to jagged mountains and coastal views to misty forests. You can summit Teide Volcano, which rises 3,718 m above sea level, making it the highest point in all of Spain, or hike through Anaga Rural Park, which is home to some of the oldest laurel forests in the world. There are also plenty of golden and black-sand beaches that are perfect for swimming or surfing.

Today, Tenerife is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, attracting both people who are after a beach holiday as well as those who love being active or enjoy more cultural activities.

Where to Stay in Tenerife

There’s not one perfect place to stay in Tenerife and it all depends on what kind of holiday you’re after:

• South Tenerife is perfect if you want a relaxing holiday with plenty of sunshine, golden-sandy beaches and all-inclusive resorts. Popular places along the southern coast include Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos, Los Gigantes or Playa de las Americas.
• North Tenerife is a great area for a more active holiday. The north is much greener with a more unpredictable climate. There’s more black-sand beaches and small towns, and less resort options. Popular places include Puerto de la Cruz – which is where we stayed – La Laguna and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

2. Public Buses

If you don’t want to drive but wish to visit places independently, then you can take the public buses. Tenerife’s public bus company is called Transportes Interurbanos de Tenerife (TITSA). The green buses with the TITSA logo are easily recognisable and pretty straightforward to use.

You can either purchase single or return tickets on the bus, or get a travel card called TEN+ if you’ll be using the buses a lot. Purchasing and recharging is available at any TITSA office (or machine at bus stops), including the airport. (See locations here).

For route planning, we suggest using Google Maps, which will show the closest bus stop and bus services to you. In addition, you can also see all timetables, routes and maps on the official website.

Note. Whilst buses can take you to many places across Tenerife, the frequency to more remote locations will be reduced. Travelling from one end of the island to another can also take much longer with buses, as they stop frequently along the route.

3. Organised Tours

If you wish to enjoy a more relaxed holiday, with a few day trips to some popular places included, then booking a guided tour may be the best option for you. There are a huge variety of excursions you can book that will allow you to see the highlights of Tenerife. This way you don’t need to spend extra on car hire or navigate the public buses.

One Week in Tenerife Itinerary

The itinerary below is based on staying in Puerto de la Cruz. If you’re staying somewhere else, you can always adjust your itinerary as needed.

You may also want to rearrange the days based on the weather forecast. On top of the general forecast, have a sneak peek at some of the live webcams. Whilst the weathers always changing in the north, you still want to give yourself the best chance to visit places in the most ideal conditions.

Day 1. Arriving to Tenerife & Driving to Puerto de la Cruz

Depending on where you’re visiting from, you can arrive either at Tenerife South Airport (TFS) or Tenerife North Airport (TFN). Coming from the UK, we landed at the South Airport, which handles most international arrivals.

✈️Book your flight to Tenerife

If you’re also staying in Puerto de la Cruz, then after picking up your hire car at the airport, you can enjoy the roughly hour-long drive following Tenerife’s two main motorways (TF-1 and TF-5). As we made our way further north, we already began to experience the crazy changes in the climate. When we arrived in the afternoon, Teide Volcano was surrounded by thick clouds, although you may get lucky and see it dominating the landscape.

After checking into your hotel, why not stretch your legs with a stroll down Paseo de San Telmo, a lovely waterfront promenade. Along the way there are many points of interest, including beaches, churches, small parks and other historical landmarks. There are also plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants in this area.

We decided to end our day at Playa Jardin, located right next to Castillo San Felipe. This lovely black sand beach is one of the best places to watch the sunset from.

Day 2. La Orotava and Puerto de la Cruz

Spend the Morning Wandering Around La Orotava

Start the morning of your first full day in Tenerife by taking a 15-minute drive to La Orotava. This small mountain town is the definition of a postcard-perfect place, with charming cobbled streets, lively squares, houses with traditional wooden balconies and lovely viewpoints.

Our favourite spot in La Orotava was Casa de los Balcones. It’s a historic house that operates as a museum showcasing traditional Canarian architecture, including the wooden balconies that we saw everywhere in Tenerife. The museum is open daily between 9AM and 7PM. Admission is 6 EUR per person. For 9.50 EUR you can also combine it with the Molino de Gofio museum. Book your ticket in advance here.

Visit the Best Attractions in Puerto de la Cruz

There’s plenty more to do in Puerto de la Cruz, so after a little mooch around La Orotava, spend the rest of the day seeing the best of the city.

To escape the middle of the day heat, visit the Botanic Garden first. Although it’s not huge, it has a large collection of tropical and sub-tropical plants from all over the world. After backpacking through Central and South America, we recognised many plants from those continents. The entry fee is only 3 EUR per person.

Not far from the Botanic Garden is a colourful staircase called the Agatha Christie Painted Stairs. It’s a little tribute to the author who wrote her short story collection, ‘The Mysterious Mister Quin’, and based the plot in Puerto de la Cruz. Don’t forget to stop at some of the viewpoints in this part of the city, such as Parque Taoro and Mirador la Paz.

If you haven’t already, then we highly recommend taking a stroll around the La Ranilla Neighbourhood. It is a former fishing village lined with colourful cottages and narrow streets. Many of the walls are also adorned with impressive murals, making this area an open-air museum. We found many cafes and restaurants here too and ate here multiple times during our stay.

Day 3. Teide National Park

Take the Cable Car up Teide Volcano in the Morning

The following day consider getting up bright and early and driving to Teide National Park. From Puerto de la Cruz, it takes about an hour following the TF-21, one of the most scenic roads in Tenerife.

If you want to avoid the crowds and tour buses, then ride the El Teide Cable Car as your first activity. The ride starts from the base station at 2,356 m above sea level and takes you to the top station (La Rambleta) at 3,555 m in just 8 minutes. The ride is smooth and the views are spectacular. You’ll need to pre-book it and it costs 42 EUR return for adults and 21 EUR for children.

At the top station, you’ll be less than 200 meters short of the summit of Mount Teide (3,718 m). Here, you normally have a few options. You can just just relax and enjoy the breath-taking views or go on one of the short hikes, including Pico del Teide (PNT 10) – permit required, Fortaleza Viewpoint (PNT 11) or Pico Viejo Viewpoint (PNT 12). On the day we visited there was still some snow and ice on the trails, so we couldn’t do any of the hikes without a guide and mountaineering equipment.

Go Hiking Through Lava Fields and Rock Formations

Seeing Teide volcano and hiking through the otherworldly landscape of lava fields and rock formations was one of the main reasons we wanted to visit Tenerife. There are many hiking trails zig-zagging through Teide National Park. If you don’t want to commit to a very long one due to time constraints, then try and do these two shorter trails:

1. Roques de Garcia Loop (PNT 3). It’s a 3.8km circular trail that took us around some of the most striking rock formations, like Torrotito, Cinchado & La Catedral. Along the first half we also had undisturbed views of Mount Teide in front of us. It’s one of the most popular trails, so you may want to do it later in the day. The afternoon / early evening light hitting the formations will also be incredible for photography.
2. Samara Loop Trail (PNT 13). If you want to walk through a lava field, then this 4.6km long circular trail is the one you should complete. The Samara loop took us over dark-coloured layers of volcanic material called tephra. After a steeper climb, we reached a stunning viewpoint of Mount Teide and Pico Viejo before circling back through more lava fields. This trail is less busy as tour buses don’t tend to stop here.

Stop at Viewpoints and Go Stargazing

The roads that lead up to Teide National Park have some fantastic viewpoints where you can appreciate the majestic volcano from. Below we’ve listed some of our favourites:

• TF-24 Road: Mirador de Chipeque, Mirador La Tarta, Mirador de Esperanza, Mirador de La Crucita, Mirador de El Corral del Niño
• TF-21 Road: Mirador del Llano de Ucanca, Zapato de La Reina, Mirador de Vilaflor
• TF-38 Road: Mirador de las Narices del Teide, Mirador de los Poleos

Thanks to the low light pollution and clear skies, coupled with the high altitude, Teide National Park is a fantastic place to stargaze. Even the Starlight Foundation has recognised the sky here as a “Starlight Destination” in the “Tourist Destination” category.

Apparently 83 of the 88 officially recognised constellations can be seen from Tenerife, in addition to the Milky Way, the rings of Saturn, galaxies and the craters of the Moon. You can even witness meteor showers!

There are many places you can enjoy the night sky from if you’re staying in the park past sunset. However, if you want to be taken to the best spot and also want to learn more about our sky, then consider visiting with this dedicated stargazing tour.

Day 4. Road Trip Along the North Coast

On day four, it’s time for a little road trip along the north coast of Tenerife. The TF-5 motorway becomes an A-road to the west of Puerto de la Cruz. This western section is incredibly scenic, with plenty of places to stop along the way.

There are two must visit towns along this route (Icod de los Vinos and Garachico) and many little viewpoints and natural swimming pools in between.

Points of Interests Between Puerto de la Cruz and Icod de los Vinos

• Mirador San Pedro is a lovely viewpoint just outside Puerto de la Cruz. Here you can go on a short coastal walk out to San Fernando Fort and enjoy the views of the black sand beaches of Playa de Gordejuela and Playa Castro.
• There are many natural swimming pools dotted along the coast, such as Charco De La Laja or Charco del Viento. They can often be closed due to weather conditions and, even if you can access them, only go for a swim if you see a green flag.
• Take a tour of the Cueva del Viento, the longest lava tube in Europe.

See the Ancient Drago Tree in Icod de lo Vinos

The small town of Icod de los Vinos is mainly known for its ancient Drago Tree (Drago Milenario) which attracts visitors every day. Whilst we saw many Drago Trees in Tenerife, this one is extra special because, with an estimated age of around 800 years, it is the oldest living specimen of Dracaena draco.

The tree is located in Parque del Drago Milenario which has an admission fee of 5EUR for adults and 3EUR for children. Book your ticket in advance here.

After your visit, grab a coffee and cake at Casa del Drago Café. It’s a very scenic café, with the Drago tree towering behind its walls.

We also really loved our visit to the Banana Museum. The museum had lots of information about the history of bananas on the Canary Islands, including their production and interesting facts about bananas in general. It also has its own banana plantation, where we could walk amongst the trees. Admission is 5EUR per person + a free delicious banana. Book your ticket in advance here.

See everything you can do in Icod de los Vinos.

Spend the Afternoon Wandering Around Garachico

After leaving Icod, drive to Garachico, about a 15-minute drive further west. The historic centre of this picturesque town is full of traditional Canarian houses with wooden balconies, historic buildings and landmarks. 

Garachico’s landscape was shaped by one of the most destructive volcanic eruptions on the island, which happened back in 1706. It destroyed the majority of Garachico and, even today, the evidence of the eruption is evident from many of its viewpoints and natural swimming pools.

Wander around the main square (Plaza de la Libertad), where you can find many historical and religious buildings and landmarks, such as the Convent of San Francisco, the Parish Church of Santa Ana or the Manor House of the Marquises of La Quinta Roja.

Take a stroll along the waterfront and walk up to some of the viewpoints to get an overview of Garachico. Our favourites were Mirador de Peralza, Mirador San Pedro and Mirador del Emigrante, where we could still see where the lava flows would’ve come down after the eruption.

If the natural pools are open, Piscinas Naturales El Caletón is a great spot to relax for a while before you drive back to your base.

See everything you can do in Garachico.

Day 5. Anaga Rural Park & San Cristobal de La Laguna

Known for its jagged mountains covered in lush vegetation, deep ravines, laurel forests, wild black sand beaches, winding roads and tiny mountain towns, Anaga Rural Park was one of the most breath-taking places we visited in Tenerife.

The park is one of the oldest and most diverse areas of the Canary Islands, offering plenty of outdoor activities and hiking trails.

Read next: A Complete Guide to Visiting Anaga Rural Park

Hike Roque de Taborno in the Morning

Start the day by driving all the way to the tiny mountain village of Taborno to hike around Roque de Taborno. Often called the “Matterhorn of Tenerife”, it’s an impressive rock formation that offers some of the best views of the jagged Anaga Mountains, lush green valleys and Atlantic Ocean.

Since parking is limited, we suggest doing this hike early in the day. The trail is approximately 4km (2.5 miles) long and can take around 2-3 hours to complete. It’s pretty easy to follow but we highly suggest picking a clear day with minimal wind to do this hike.

Drive the TF-134 to Taganana and Benijo

The northern coast of Anaga is absolutely stunning, with wild black sand beaches, jagged mountains and crazy rock formations. To experience it, just follow the TF-134, an 8km-long winding mountain road with both mountain and coastal views.

You can stop and wander around Taganana, one of the oldest villages in Tenerife. There are a few landmarks in Taganana, such as the Church of Our Lady of the Snows and Ermita de Santa Catalina Mártir de Alejandría.

Then drive all the way down to the coast to Playa del Roque de las Bodegas. During low tide, you can relax on the beach and also walk out to the Roque de las Bodegas Viewpoint. There’s a walkway built along the side of the outcrop, from where we got some fantastic views of the coastline dotted with huge rock formations in the distance. 

Then, carry on driving further along the coast, stopping at other stunning wild beaches such as Playa de Almáciga and Playa de Benijo.

Hike the Path of the Senses Trail & Stop at Scenic Viewpoints

Driving back along the TF-12 road, there are a few hiking options as well as scenic viewpoints.

The Path of the Senses combines three different trails, with a variety of lengths and difficulties. Each trail is designed so you can interact with nature through your senses, so take your time to really appreciate what this beautiful laurel forest has to offer. The longest path (1.3km roundtrip) will take you deeper into the laurel forest, all the way to Mirador del Llano de los Loros.

Next to the trailhead is the Cruz del Carmen Viewpoint, that offers some incredible views of La Laguna in the distance, the surrounding green hills and even Teide Volcano. Just a short drive further up the road, there’s a unique spot called the Fairy Tunnel (Tunel de las Hadas). It’s an old road section with tall moss-covered stone walls on either side and trees growing on top. Following the road from there (Camino Viejo al Pico del Inglés) will lead you to a stunning viewpoint called Mirador Pico del Inglés.

Visit San Cristobal de La Laguna

On your way back to your hotel, consider stopping in San Cristobal de La Laguna.

It’s a picturesque city that was the capital of Tenerife until 1723. La Laguna is also the first example of a town planned with a grid system, and so was the forerunner for many settlements built in Latin America during colonial times. Today, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as the cultural capital of the Canary Islands.

You can take a stroll along Obsipo Rey Redondo Street, which is lined with historical buildings as well as cafes and restaurants. The main square is Plaza de la Concepción where you can check out Iglesia de la Concepción, a beautiful 16th century church. For a small fee, you can climb up to the tower and enjoy the views of the city and beyond.

There’s also the beautiful Cathedral of La Laguna, which dates back to the 16th century and has a Canarian Baroque exterior.

La Laguna is the perfect spot to grab some dinner before you drive back to your base.

Day 6. Los Gigantes & Masca

Go on a Whale and Dolphin Watching Boat Tour in Los Gigantes

Start the morning of your last full day in Tenerife by driving to Los Gigantes, enjoying the incredible views along the 7km long TF-454 as you descend into town.

This charming seaside town is famous for its 600m tall vertical cliffs called Los Gigantes, or “The Giants” in English, rising from the Atlantic. Before reaching the centre, stop at Mirador Archipenque, a lovely viewpoint where you can enjoy an overview of the town and the cliffs.

Since the southwest coast of Tenerife is home to short finned pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins, taking a boat tour is another main reason for visiting Los Gigantes. Just make sure to book a Barco Azul (Blue Boat) certified tour, which means they have to adhere to strict rules to protect the wildlife.

You can also take a stroll along the coastal path for more beautiful views from places like Mirador Punta del Roque. For swimming and relaxing, check out Playa de los Guios next to the port or walk over to Playa de la Arena in Puerto de Santiago.

Drive the Winding Road to Masca

The tiny mountain village of Masca is another scenic location to visit during your one week in Tenerife. Located within Teno Rural Park along an incredibly windy, narrow mountain road with steep drops, reaching Masca is an adventure in itself.

Read Next: Tips on Driving to Masca

Along the drive there are a few viewpoints we suggest stopping at, such as Mirador de Cherfe and Mirador de Masca. Here you can enjoy the lush landscapes and appreciate just how many hairpin curves you’ll have to take before reaching Masca.

Once you reach the village, check out the iconic view of Roque de Catana, the impressive rock formation that’s sometimes referred to as the Machu Picchu of the Canary Islands, from Mirador Carretera Masca.

There’s not much in the village itself apart from the main square, with a huge Indian laurel tree in the middle, the lovely Ermita de la Inmaculada Concepción Church and the visitor centre.

If you enjoy hiking, consider doing the Masca Gorge Trail. It is a 5km long path that starts from Masca Village and ends at Masca Beach. You can either book a guided hike or do it independently. Just note that you’ll need to reserve a permit in advance and arrive by public transport, as you’ll need to book a boat ride back to Los Gigantes from Masca Bay.

Day 7. Stops Along the South Coast & Leaving Tenerife

Depending on when your flight departs from Tenerife, you may have a little extra time to kill. You can of course just have a slow morning, enjoying your hotel’s facilities before having to check out. However, if you wish to do a bit more than that, then you can easily stop at a few locations along the south coast before dropping off your hire car.

Arco de Tajao is a natural arch, located just off TF-1 near the South Airport. It’s worth a quick photo stop.

El Medano is a small coastal town near the airport where you can do a variety of activities, such as kitesurfing and windsurfing. You can also book surfing lessons if you want to learn a new skill on your holiday, or just relax on Playa de El Medano.

La Caleta is a small fishing village just north of Costa Adeje, where you can enjoy the small town vibes and plenty of seafood restaurants.

Barranco del Infierno is perfect if you want to squeeze in one last hike. Translating to Hell’s Gorge, it’s a 6km out-and-back ravine hike through cliffs, rocks, caves and tunnels. You have to reserve a spot in advance and it costs 15EUR per adult.

Final Thoughts on Spending One Week in Tenerife

Tenerife definitely surprised us in a very positive way. We could’ve easily spent an extra week on the island to complete even more hiking trails, especially around Anaga Rural Park. However, even just spending one full week on the island was enough to do pretty much everything we wanted to. Tenerife was our very first Canary Island and, after this, we definitely want to visit some of the other ones in the near future.

We hope this guide has given you a good idea on how to spend one week in Tenerife. If you found this blog post useful and want to show your support, you can buy us a coffee here.