Where to Stay in Tenerife – Best Areas + Hotels

In this guide we’ll list some of the best places to stay in Tenerife. When we did our research prior to our trip, we realised that there isn’t any one central location you should stay in on Tenerife. Your decision on where to base yourself will depend on your answers to a few important questions.

For example, do you want a relaxing beach holiday or a more outdoor focused one? If the answer is beaches and resorts, then book somewhere in the south of Tenerife, such as Costa Adeje, Los Gigantes or Playa de las Americas. For a more active holiday, base yourself in the north of Tenerife in Puerto de la Cruz or La Laguna.

If you’d like to see all the towns and cities we visited during our stay, make sure to watch our dedicated Tenerife video which we’ve shared on our YouTube channel Kitti and Jon. If you’re interested in seeing our outdoor adventures, then watch our Tenerife hiking video.

Best Areas to Stay in Tenerife + Hotels

1. Costa Adeje – For Sandy Beaches & Resorts

If you’re visiting Tenerife for a relaxing beach vacation, then the best place to book your stay will be in Costa Adeje. It’s located along the southwest coast of Tenerife, about 18.5km from Tenerife South Airport.

Costa Adeje is home to many lovely beaches, such as Playa del Duque, Playa de Torviscas and Playa La Pinta Puerto Colón.

In terms of accommodations, there are a variety of more luxurious and less expensive choices, although thanks to its popularity, Costa Adeje isn’t going to be the most budget friendly place to stay. However, if you’re in Tenerife to fully relax, then you probably won’t need to hire a car, a cost a more outdoor focused visit would need to account for.

Having said that, you also won’t have trouble booking an exciting excursion or a day trip departing from Costa Adeje to places like Teide National Park, so you won’t have to give up on seeing more of Tenerife either.

2. Playa de las Americas – For Vibrant Nightlife

Located just south of Costa Adeje, Playa de la Americas is very popular amongst younger visitors who enjoy a vibrant nightlife. We wouldn’t recommend staying here if you’re after a quieter stay, or are here with families, as the party here always extends into the early hours of the morning.

There are many hotel and resort options in Playa de las Americas, with plenty of restaurants and of course bars and clubs. You’ll also find many sandy beaches here to relax on during the day. If you wish to do some excursions then there are many boat trips – including day-time party boats – but you can also go on some day trips from here. Surfing is also quite popular and you can book surf lessons for all levels.

3. Los Cristianos – For Families, Couples & Friends / Seaside Town Vibe

South of the parties in Playa de las Americas is Los Cristianos, a much quieter place to stay if you’re here with your family, or just want to enjoy a good night’s sleep. Los Cristianos is probably the second most popular place to stay in Tenerife after Costa Adeje.

It’s lively with plenty of restaurants, bars and cafes, and it manages to maintain its seaside town vibe despite some larger resorts. You’ll also find more family-friendly hotels here.

The main beaches are Playa de Los Cristianos and Playa de las Vistas, both of which are perfect golden sandy beaches to relax on. There are also many boat excursions you can book from here, including taking the ferry across to La Gomera.

4. El Medano – For Surfing & Budget Friendlier Accommodations

El Medano is located just outside Tenerife South Airport. It is a great place to stay if you want to be outside the main tourist hubs like Costa Adeje, but still want to enjoy the southern Tenerife climate.

There are golden sandy beaches in El Medano, although bear in mind that it’s a much windier area. For this reason, this would be a perfect base if you love activities such as kitesurfing and windsurfing. You can also book surfing lessons if you want to learn a new skill on your holiday.

There’s a more relaxed, bohemian vibe in El Medano compared to other places, therefore you’ll find a lot more budget hostels and hotels here. However, there are still a variety of higher end resorts and hotels in El Medano too.

Hotels & Hostels in El Medano

Casa Grande Surf Hostel is a great budget accommodation if you want to keep your costs down. You can book shared dormitory rooms as well as private rooms. There are communal areas such as a kitchen, dining room and games room. Breakfast is also included.

Hotel Médano offers a mid-range typical hotel stay with great views out to the Atlantic. They also have a sun terrace with views of the Red Mountain. Breakfast is also included.

🏨Find more places to stay in El Medano

5. Puerto de la Cruz – For Hiking & Black Sand Beaches

We stayed in Puerto de la Cruz during our visit to Tenerife. It’s located along the north coast of the island, about an hour’s drive from Tenerife South Airport and only 30 minutes from the North Airport.

Read Next: One Week North Tenerife Itinerary

Since we came to Tenerife for outdoor activities such as hiking, we knew that we wanted a base as close to the island’s mountainous regions as possible and away from the more touristy areas. We picked Puerto de la Cruz because it was roughly an equal driving distance to places like Teide National Park and Anaga Rural Park. It had a variety of more affordable accommodations compared to the south of Tenerife. Being a bigger city also meant that we had no shortage of cafes, bars and restaurants to choose from.

There were also plenty of things to do in Puerto de la Cruz – including some beautiful black sand beaches – and many day trips and scenic drives along the north coast of Tenerife.

Top Tip. For the best experience, we suggest renting a car for the duration of your stay. We hired a car from Tenerife Airport using the Cicar car rental company. Their prices are great and we had a very positive experience with them. Having said that, you can also book a variety of organised tours if you don’t fancy driving around.

Hotels in Puerto de la Cruz

DWO Nopal is a great affordable option close to Playa del Muelle and Plaza Charco. They have a fantastic rooftop pool and sun terrace from where you can see Teide Volcano. Plus, breakfast is included.

Apartamentos Los Dragos del Norte is where we stayed. It’s a great place if you want a mix between a hotel and apartment, with more space and kitchen facilities. They also serve a great buffet breakfast and have a swimming pool.

Gran Hotel Taoro is a recently refurbished 5-star hotel in Taoro Park. They offer everything you could possibly need for a luxurious stay, including an infinity swimming pool, spa facilities, a fitness centre, sun terrace and lush gardens.

🏨Find more places to stay in Puerto de la Cruz

6. San Cristobal de La Laguna – For Cultural & Outdoor Activities

San Cristobal de La Laguna, or just La Laguna, is right across from Tenerife North Airport and is only a 20-minute drive from the island’s capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. It’s also known as the gateway to Anaga Rural Park, one of the oldest and most beautiful places you can visit in Tenerife.

La Laguna is a perfect base if your Tenerife itinerary includes a lot of hiking, and visiting small hamlets and wild black sand beaches. The city itself is also incredibly picturesque and has a variety of accommodation options and places to eat. Although, note that you won’t find huge resorts here, would have to drive to get to a beach and the climate in La Laguna is also much cooler than in the southern parts.

7. Los Gigantes – For Families, Couples & Friends Seeking a Quieter Stay

Located only a 40-minute drive from Tenerife South Airport along the west coast, Los Gigantes is a fantastic base for your stay in Tenerife.

It’s much quieter compared to locations further south, but you’ll still have plenty of amenities on your doorstep. Los Gigantes is also in an ideal location if you want a “bit of everything” holiday. The weather is still similar to the southern destinations, so you’ll have plenty of sunshine compared to places in the north. Plus, you’ll have easy access to the charming smaller towns dotted along the north coast, like Masca, as well as Teide National Park.

Los Gigantes itself is incredibly picturesque, lying at the bottom of the 600-m-tall cliffs of the same name (The Giants in English). There are also many natural swimming pools, as well as black sand beaches here. From here, you can also go on a whale and dolphin watching eco-tour, which was one of our favourite water activities in Tenerife.

8. Garachico or Icod de los Vinos – For a Quiet & Cultural Stay

Garachico is a stunning coastal town located in north-west Tenerife. It sits at the foot of Volcan Arenas Negras (or Trevejo Volcano), which erupted in 1706 and reshaped Garachico’s landscape forever.

The town is perfect for a quieter and more authentic stay. Garachico’s historic centre is full of traditional Canarian houses with wooden balconies, historic buildings and landmarks. There are also natural swimming pools and a handful of small beaches you can relax on. Whilst the town can easily be explored on foot, we suggest either renting a car, taking the local bus, or booking a day tour to visit other locations further afield.

Another smaller and much quieter place to stay in Tenerife is Icod de los Vinos. It’s located only a short drive from Garachico. Thanks to its ancient Drago tree (Drago Milenario), Icod is a popular place to visit as a day trip. However, when the day-trippers leave, you can enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere in the evenings. 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.

Just like with Garachico, we recommend renting a car, taking the local bus, or booking a day tour to visit other locations further afield.

Final Thoughts on Where to Stay in Tenerife

Even after our visit to Tenerife, we’re very happy that we booked our stay in Puerto de la Cruz. The city had everything we needed for a week-long trip, including attractions and restaurants. We also loved its location close to all the places we wanted to visit in the north of Tenerife. If we ever return to the island, we may split our stay and spend a few days on the southern side and perhaps stay in a smaller town like Garachico or Icod for the rest.

We hope this guide has given you a good overview of the different places and areas you can book your stay in in Tenerife. If you found this blog post useful and want to show your support, you can buy us a coffee here.