Tips on Driving in Tenerife – Car Hire and Scenic Roads

Tenerife is a fantastic place for road trips due to the many scenic roads that take you through volcanic landscapes, jagged mountains, coastal vistas and misty forests. So, if you’re considering renting a car in Tenerife, this post is for you. In this guide, we’ve summarised our experience driving around the island, including practical information on car hire and useful tips for navigating the roads.

In addition, there’s also a list of some of the most scenic roads we drove on in Tenerife, as well as all the things you can do along them for some unforgettable experiences.

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

Do You Need to Rent a Car in Tenerife?

Whether you should rent a car for the duration of your stay in Tenerife will depend on the type of holiday you’re after. Tenerife is one of those locations where you can have a completely relaxing, “chilling by the pool or on the beach” kind of holiday, or an activity-filled “going on scenic hikes and visiting small towns” type experience.

Therefore, if you’re not planning on leaving the resort much, we don’t think it’s worth having a car. Even if you want to see a bit of the island, there are plenty of organised tours that could take you to all the must-see locations.

On the contrary, if you want to experience Tenerife’s natural beauty, learning a bit more about its history and culture whilst trying to avoid the crowds, then the best way to do that is with a hire car.

Of course, if you want a “bit of everything” holiday, you can always just rent a car for a couple of days to do a few independent trips.

Read Next: One Week North Tenerife Itinerary

Best Car Rental Companies in Tenerife

So, you’ve decided that you want to experience Tenerife in your own vehicle. It is definitely the most convenient way to get around the island.

We suggest picking up your rental straight from the airport. The popular rental companies are located next to one another in the terminal and include Cicar, Auto Reisen and TopCar. To get the best deals and vehicles, you should book your car hire in advance of your trip. We use platforms such as Discovercars.com to see the most used and best rated companies.

Based on the many positive reviews we read, we went with the Cicar car rental company. Their prices were great, and the process of picking up and dropping off the car was quick and easy. This was also the most popular rental company we saw other visitors in Tenerife using. Overall, we had a great experience with them and cannot recommend them enough.

What Type of Car to Rent in Tenerife

Size. Depending on your needs (e.g. family with kids), we generally suggest getting a small to medium sized car. This will make your life easier when driving on the narrow mountain roads or when trying to find a parking space.

Engine. Due to the steep mountain roads and higher altitudes, you might also want a vehicle with a good engine. This will give you enough power to drive up and down the roads with higher gradients.

Manual or Automatic. If you’re from the UK and have never driven on the other side of the road, we suggest getting an automatic car. This way you don’t need to get used to changing gear with your other hand whilst thinking about what side of the road you should be on. Just make sure to hire an automatic in advance. Otherwise, manual cars are usually more widely available and are therefore usually cheaper.

Electric Cars. There are also electric cars available to hire in Tenerife. However, we suggest reserving one way in advance. It’s also worth checking the number of electric charging stations on Google Maps or other websites, such as electromaps.com or chargemap.com, when you’re planning where to stay in Tenerife.

General Requirements for Car Rental in Tenerife

• Driving licenses issued in the UK, EU and EEA are accepted and you won’t need to get an international driving permit. However, make sure to obtain one if your license is printed using a non-Roman alphabet, or if the country of issue is outside the EU.
• Passport. You’ll need to show a valid passport when picking up your rental car.
• Age. At many companies the minimum rental age is 21 and some may also apply a young driver fee for those under 25. Always check the age requirements.
• Car insurance. It’s mandatory to have car insurance. All vehicles must be insured with at least third-party liability insurance to cover damages or injuries caused to third parties in the event of an accident. However, having full coverage will protect you against extra charges that are usually excluded from the base insurance.
• Credit or Debit Card. You may or may not need a credit card in the main driver’s full name. We could pay for the car hire using our Wise card with Euros, even though on the website they said they wouldn’t accept debit cards.
• Security deposit. At the rental desk, you’ll probably need to leave a security deposit on your credit card. Security deposits can vary greatly, so always calculate that in. We only had to pay a small deposit towards fuel with Cicar and we got the money back quickly after we returned it.

Top Tip. We always take plenty of photos and videos when we pick up our rental car. This reduces the chance of being charged extra for damages not caused by us. If you have a “same-to-same” fuel policy, then definitely take a photo of the fuel gauge before you drive off and also when you return the car.

Things to Know About Driving in Tenerife

In Tenerife you have to drive on the right-hand side, just like in mainland Spain and most of Europe.

Types of roads you’ll likely be driving on in Tenerife include:

• Motorways (autopistas): TF-1 runs between Santa Cruz de Tenerife and near Santiago del Teide. TF-5 runs along the northern coast of Tenerife and TF-2 bypasses TF-1 and TF-5, avoiding the capital.
• Dual carriageways (autovias) and “A” roads: major roads connecting towns and cities.
• “B” roads and other rural roads: smaller roads and winding mountain roads.

Road conditions. Roads are generally in great condition in Tenerife, especially the motorways and urban roads. However, in rural areas the roads are narrower and steeper, with sharp bends.

Speed limits are 120 km/h on motorways, 100 km/h on A-roads, 90 km/h on B-roads and 50 km/h in urban zones. Limits may vary, so always follow the road signs. There are plenty of speed cameras.

Petrol stations. There are plenty of fuel stations across the island. However, we always recommend having enough petrol when you’re heading to the mountainous areas, such as Teide and Anaga.

Weather conditions can change quickly, especially along the north coast of Tenerife and in the mountains. It was often perfectly clear one minute and the next we had next to no visibility due to thick clouds rolling in.

Spotty Signals. Having an eSIM allowed us to use Google Maps to navigate between bigger towns and cities in Tenerife. However, the signal was spotty in more rural and mountainous areas, such as Teide, Anaga and Masca. Therefore, we also suggest having an offline map set up before you set off on a scenic drive.

Other. It’s illegal to use mobile phones when driving, unless it’s hands-free. You also cannot wear flip-flops behind the wheel. The legal blood alcohol concentration limit is 0.05%.

The Most Beautiful Roads to Drive On in Tenerife

Tenerife has no shortage of scenic road trips. We drove along stunning coasts and mountain routes with panoramic views of the island.

Teide National Park

Read next: A Complete Guide to Teide National Park

TF-21 (Driving Through the Centre of Teide National Park)

TF-21 is an almost 80km long road that runs from La Orotava – just outside Puerto de la Cruz – to Granadilla de Abona, crossing Teide National Park. Reaching 2,361 m above sea level, it’s one of the highest roads in Spain.

If you’re coming from Costa Adeje, Playa de las Americas or Los Cristianos, then you can join TF-21 at Vilaflor by following TF-51. From Los Gigantes or Santiago del Teide, you would need to follow TF-38, another scenic section.

The road itself is wide and well-maintained, although it’s also pretty curvy at the start and the end. It’s common for low-hanging clouds and fog to reduce visibility along the way. However, the landscape is otherworldly once you’re at the top, with lava fields, rock formations and, of course, incredible views of Teide Volcano. We definitely felt like we were driving on Mars. You’ll want to take your time driving through here as there are plenty of viewpoints, hiking trails and other activities to keep you busy.

Things to Do Along the TF-21 Road:

• Ride the El Teide Cable Car
• Summit Mount Teide accompanied by a certified guide – permit required!
• Hike the Roques de Garcia Loop (PNT 3) trail
• Visit the Cañada Blanca and El Portillo Visitor Centres
• Stop at the viewpoints: Mirador del Llano de Ucanca, Zapato de La Reina, Mirador de Vilaflor

TF-38 (Driving the Western Part of Teide National Park)

TF-38 is just under 30km long and runs through the western side of Teide National Park. It’s a great access road to Teide if you’re staying in Los Gigantes. We drove down this road en-route to Masca, stopping at viewpoints and hiking trails along the way.

It’s another well-maintained and wide road, with less hairpin turns. Due to changing weather, you can easily drive through thick fog and low hanging clouds.

Things to Do Along the TF-38 Road:

• Hike the Samara Loop (PNT 13)
• Summit Teide via Las Narices del Teide (PNT 9) – permit required!
• Stop at the viewpoints: Mirador de las Narices del Teide, Mirador de los Poleos
• Hike Sendero del Chinyero (PR-TF 43)

TF-24 (Driving the Eastern Part of Teide National Park)

TF-24 is another winding but incredibly scenic road that heads to Teide National Park from the east of the island. It’s about 44km long, running between El Portillo Visitor Center and San Cristobal la Laguna. The road takes you through Corral del Niño, a volcanic pass located at an elevation of 2,305 m above sea level.

We drove this route once and it had some of the best viewpoints of Teide Volcano.

Things to Do Along the TF-24 Road:

• Take a guided tour of the Mount Teide Observatory
• Hike to Igueque Arch (La Ventana de Igueque Trail (PNT 17))
• Stop at the viewpoints: Mirador de Chipeque, Mirador La Tarta, Mirador de Esperanza, Mirador de La Crucita, Mirador de El Corral del Niño

Masca Valley (TF-436)

One of the most scenic roads we drove along was the TF-436 in Teno Rural Park, in the northwest of Tenerife. Whilst the majority of roads in Tenerife were easy to drive on, the road to Masca was a different story. In fact, the TF-436 was easily the most challenging road we drove on during our stay.

The road is only about 22km long, connecting Santiago del Teide and Buenavista del Norte. Despite it being paved and well-maintained, the TF-436 is incredibly narrow, with hairpin turns one after another, steep gradients and sheer drops. You have to be alert at all times to be able to stop for oncoming traffic, especially for large tour buses due to the width of the road. In addition, the weather conditions can also change quickly in this area, meaning there could be zero visibility at times.

However, if you do end up driving along the road, you’ll have the chance to visit Masca, one of the most beautiful mountain villages in Tenerife. There are also a handful of scenic viewpoints to stop at along the way, where you can appreciate the incredibly lush scenery and winding roads.

Read next: A Guide to Visiting Masca

Anaga Rural Park

Read Next: A Complete Guide to Anaga Rural Park

TF-12 (Between Las Mercedes and San Andres)

TF-12 is a 28km long winding mountain road between Las Mercedes and San Andres. It crosses the Anaga Massif, going from sea level and ascending to 870m of elevation.

The road is paved and generally well-maintained. Overall, it was wider than the TF-436 to Masca, although it still had plenty of narrower sections. There are also many twists and turns along the road, so it’s not the best if you get motion sick easily. Due to the mountainous area, the weather changed quickly with low clouds obstructing visibility, but this also gave the area a mysterious atmosphere.

The scenery along TF-12 never stopped being boring, with lush laurel forests and scenic viewpoints looking out across the mountain range.

Things to Do Along the TF-12 Road:

• Stop at scenic viewpoints: Mirador De Jardina, Mirador Cruz del Carmen, Mirador Pico del Inglés
• Hike the Path of the Senses Trail (Sendero de los Sentidos)
• Walk along the Fairy Tunnel (Tunel de las Hadas)
• Enjoy the golden sandy beach of Playa Las Teresitas in San Andres

TF-134 (Road to Taganana and Benijo)

The northern coast of Anaga is absolutely stunning, with wild black sand beaches, jagged mountains and crazy rock formations. Just before we descended down to San Andres following the TF-12, we turned left onto the TF-134. This winding mountain road was only about 8km, but the scenery was very varied, starting off with mountain views and ending with incredible coastal views.

The road is paved and well-maintained, although it’s probably slightly narrower than the TF-12. It was less busy and more remote, so we really felt like we were driving to the end of the world.

Things to Do Along the TF-134 Road:

• Stop at Mirador Risco Amogoje
• Walk around the beautiful village of Taganana
• Visit the wild beaches: Playa del Roque de las Bodegas, Playa de Almáciga, Playa de Benijo

TF-454 to Los Gigantes

Another scenic driving route in Tenerife was from Santiago del Teide to Los Gigantes. Initially, we followed the TF-82 into the Tamaimo valley, before joining the TF-454 all the way to Los Gigantes, descending over 680m.

The 7km long TF-454 is another well-maintained and wide road with plenty of twists and turns. The drive itself is quite steep, but the views looking out will be spectacular, with the 600-m-tall Los Gigantes cliffs (or, “The Giants” in English) rising from the Atlantic.

Los Gigantes is a fantastic place to stay in Tenerife, but it’s also perfect for a day trip. Apart from admiring the cliffs, it’s the best place to go on a whale and dolphin watching eco-tour.

TF-5 Between Puerto de la Cruz and Garachico

The TF-5 is a motorway between Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Puerto de la Cruz, however, it becomes an A-road from Puerto de la Cruz to El Tanque. This western section along the north coast of Tenerife is incredibly scenic, with plenty of places to stop along the way. We drove this route multiple times during our stay and could never get bored of the ever-changing views due to the weather fronts coming and going.

Places to Visit along the TF-5 (between Puerto de la Cruz and Garachico):

• 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 at Charco De La Laja or Charco del Viento. They can often be closed due to weather conditions but 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.
• Icod de los Vinos is a lovely town known for its ancient Dragon Tree (Drago Milenario). There are quite a few things you can do in Icod apart from Parque del Drago Milenario, such as visiting the Banana Museum or the Butterfly Park.
• Garachico is a beautiful volcano town filled with traditional Canarian houses, historic buildings and other landmarks. There are also natural swimming pools and a handful of small beaches you can relax on. 

Final Thoughts on Driving a Rental Car in Tenerife

Overall, it was the best decision to get a rental car for the duration of our stay. Driving around Tenerife was pretty straightforward and also incredibly varied. Whilst some areas reminded us of driving in Madeira, even the mountain roads didn’t feel as steep as the ones on the Portuguese island. We probably enjoyed driving around Anaga Rural Park the most because the roads weren’t as busy as the road to Masca was.

We hope this guide has given you a good overview on how to hire a car in Tenerife and what the most scenic drives you can do on the island are. If you found this blog post useful and want to show your support, you can buy us a coffee here.