I have visited over ten countries these past five months, yet one of the biggest surprises this year was the Spanish island of Tenerife within the archipelago of theΒ Canary Islands. And considering that I’ve visited the Canary Islands three times prior to my Tenerife trip (you can read about my Fuerteventura trip here)!
Who would have thought that without leavingΒ Europe, you could find lush tropical scenery, banana plantations, volcanoes, and gold sand beaches?Β
I spent 5 days in Tenerife, and if I were to describe it in one sentence, I would say that it is a mixture of my favorite destinations:Β Bali, Hawaii, the Caribbean, andΒ Spain, of course. By sharing my own 5-day Tenerife itinerary, I want to show you what to do and see – fromΒ hiking to beaches and natural poolsΒ – plusΒ where to stayΒ in 5 days in Tenerife.
Where is Tenerife?
Before we jump straight into my 5 days Tenerife itinerary, I’ll give a brief introduction to its unique location and answer questions such as,Β how many days in Tenerife do I needΒ andΒ where is Tenerife?
Tenerife is the biggest of theΒ Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago off the coast of northwestern Africa. Even though it is still part of Europe, looking at a map, it is closer to Africa than mainland Spain.Β
MyΒ Manchester flight with Jet2Β took about 5 hours. It might seem long, yet that amount of time forΒ Jet2’s Tenerife flight is still nothing for a tropical destination.
It’s surprising how close Tenerife is to Africa!
How many days in Tenerife do you need?
The question I get asked the most is, how many days in Tenerife do I need?
I would recommend nothing less than 5 days for your Tenerife itinerary, although I’m pretty sure that I’d be able to stay for another two weeks and still find incredible spots to visit.
The average temperature is around 23Β°C, which makes it a perfect holiday destination all year round.
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Read more on TenerifeΒ
- Tenerife itinerary: How to spend 5 incredible days in Tenerife
- 20 best villas in Tenerife you need to rent on your next holiday
- 9 Best Hikes in Tenerife
- Natural Pools in Tenerife You Need to Visit
What to do in Tenerife: 5 days itinerary
Day 1 of Tenerife itinerary: Visit Puerto de la Cruz
Puerto de la Cruz is a city that overlooks the ocean, surrounded by banana trees, irrigated land, and vineyards, watched over by the great volcano: Mount Teide.
Even though Puerto de la Cruz is one of the most popular cities in Tenerife among tourists, it remains Canarian in character, with plenty of Spanish bars and restaurants around the area.
In all honesty, I really enjoyed the northern part of the island much more than the southern. It felt much more authentic, especially strolling among historical buildings of Puerto de la Cruz and tasting patatas arrugadas (more on that below) in a true colonial-style restaurant, which adds so much more to a holiday.
The main sights of Puerto de la Cruz are the old harbor, which local women use as a fish market, the promenade, and the Lago MartiΓ‘nez complex of swimming pools designed by the Canary Islands architect CΓ©sar Manrique.
Not far from the city center, one can find the historic Botanical Gardens. Founded at the end of the 18th century, these contain a rich variety of tropical plants and plant species from all over the world.
However, my favorite activity was actually spotting street art around the city – it felt like being in a giant open-air urban museum!
Day 2 of Tenerife itinerary: Anaga Rural Park, Santa Cruz, La Laguna and Playa Las Teresitas
Anaga is a Biosphere Reserve protected by UNESCO located just a few minutes drive away from Santa Cruz. It is home to over 800 endangered species of flora and fauna – for comparison, Germany has only about 5!
There are multiple hiking trails to follow for all levels. Some of them will lead you to its charming black sand beaches. Read more about hikes in Anaga Rural Park and my hiking recommendations in 9 Best Hikes in Tenerife!
Chinamada & Taganana
Truly interesting places to visit in Anaga national park are Chinamada (a little village with cave houses) and Taganana, also called the village at the end of the world. Here, find authentic Canarian rural life!
Once there, I recommend taking a stroll on a black sand beach and making room in your itinerary for lunch at Casa Africa.
A shimmering volcanic beach in Taganana
Dramatic landscape surrounds this quaint Taganana beach in Tenerife
Playa Las Teresitas
Next on my 5-day itinerary in Tenerife with Jet2holidays was visiting the most stunning beach on the island: Playa Las Teresitas.
Fun fact: Las Teresitas’ golden sand was directly imported from the Sahara! All in all, 272800 tons of African desert sand fill Playa Las Teresitas.
The ocean here is calm thanks to wave breakers which makes it a great beach destination for people frightened of massive waves (umm, who can relate?) 🙈
Santa Cruz
Not far from this beach, lies Santa Cruz, the biggest city in Tenerife. Santa Cruz offers both traditional charm and modern architecture, such as Adan Martin Tenerife Auditorium and its 24h, seven-days-a-week, open public library.
If you prefer to experience the historic charm of the city, head to Calle La Noria, Plaza de EspaΓ±a, and Plaza de Candelaria.
Adan Martin Tenerife Auditorium captured from the front
La Laguna
As you know me, I have saved the best for the last. La Laguna is a unique and charming town that has been on the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999 for its intricate layout and architecture.
Its organization was so remarkable that La Laguna was used as a template for the colonial cities founded by Spaniards in the USA and Latin America, such as Old Havana, Antigua, Lima, and Cartagena.
Day 3 of Tenerife itinerary: Casa del Vino & Teide National Park
The volcanic archipelago of the Canary Islands is home to some of the most renowned winemaking regions in Spain. And I love to try wines from different regions to experience how the natural environment affects their unique flavor.
During my 5 day trip to Tenerife, I visited Casa del Vino where I learned about the tradition of winemaking and the history of local winery Monje, where I was able to pair a variety of wines with traditional Canarian cuisine.
My favorite wines from Tenerife are whites with a fruity essence from the northern part of the island. Also, make sure to try the island’s own banana wine – unsurprisingly made of bananas instead of grapes!
Wine tasting in Casa del Vino, Tenerife
Teide National Park
Teide National Park was definitely the most exciting part of our trip. It’s not every day that you see the summit of a dormant volcano, which by the way, is also the highest peak in Spain (12198 ft above sea level)!
There are more than 300 volcanoes in Tenerife alone, so you can imagine my excitement to see the biggest and most powerful one up close.
Teide National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, and it is the most visited national park in Europe (welcoming 3 million visitors a year!). It is also home to some of Tenerife’s best hikes, and the second most important astronomical observatory after Hawaii.
We stayed ’til late at Teide National Park, just in time to watch the sunset and the night sky glitter with stars. Unfortunately for us, the sky was slightly cloudy, and it was also a full moon, so we couldn’t see as much as we wanted to but learned tons about astronomy.
A view of Roque Cinchado rock formation (on the right) in Mount Teide National Park, Tenerife
Breathtaking terrain is a constant feature in Mount Teide National Park
Day 4 of Tenerife itinerary: Icod de los Vinos & La Masca
Icod de Los Vinos is home to an ancient Dragon tree, the natural symbol of Tenerife. A visit to this tree is a must, as it is one of the top postcard-worthy views on the island. In the surrounding area, you’ll also get a glimpse at the world’s largest volcanic tubes!
One of the highlights of my trip was visiting a small mountain village called La Masca: an impressively isolated and picturesque gorge. I see how it is generally considered Tenerife’s prettiest village! It’s reminiscent of Machu Picchu plus the surrounding landscape is simply magical.
Strolling through La Masca
Side note: the way to La Masca is very curvy – I’d recommend it only for experienced drivers!
Day 5 of Tenerife itinerary: Charco de Isla Cangrejo & Los Gigantes
If there is one thing I love about volcanic islands, itβs the natural pools. Tenerife’s natural pools are enclosed spaces into which, due to their natural formation, the seawater seeps in without any human intervention apart from the addition of steps, walkways, and diving points.
As you know, I am a huge fan of waves, but I still love to enjoy the ocean. That is why on the last day of my 5-day Tenerife trip, I decided to search for natural pools.
My first stop was Charco de La Laja. Unfortunately, the sea was very rough that day and I wasn’t brave enough to swim!
Charco de la Laja natural pool in Tenerife
The situation changed once I arrived in the southern part of the island. In contrast, Charco de Isla Cangrejo looked very inviting to swim!
Basking in Charco de Isla Cangrejo, Tenerife
It’s no surprise that Tenerife’s natural pools are encircled by astounding rock formations!
The last stop on my 5-day Tenerife itinerary was Giants Beach. Los Gigantes is one of the most attractive natural wonders in Tenerife. The town is protected by impressive rock cliffs (called Giants) up to 800 meters high, dropping down to the sea almost vertically.
Los Gigantes is truly a sight to behold!
Los Gigantes cliffs in the backdrop
Where to stay for 5 days in Tenerife
During the first four days, I have been staying at Puerto de la Cruz in Hotel Sol Costa Atlantis with Jet2holidays, while the last two nights, I was staying at Villa Socorro and Villa Cuatro Ventanas from Be Tenerife.
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While these accommodations differ in many ways, they are both highly recommendable.
Hotel Sol Costa Atlantis had a beautiful view of the beach while offering all the advantages of being located within walking distance from restaurants and bars.
Be Tenerife, on the other hand, offers complete seclusion in its charming villas. Here, I swam with sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean and banana plantations, and I fell asleep to the soothing sound of waves lapping the shoreline.
Read my thorough guide on theΒ 20 best villas in Tenerife for more tips and information on accommodations in Tenerife.
What to eat for 5 days in Tenerife
I promise I have never eaten so many potatoes at once in my life than in Tenerife!
The Canary Islands are famous for their patatas arrugadas or wrinkled potatoes, and mojo sauce. To fully experience the authentic cuisine of the Canary Islands, I recommend taking part in a cooking workshop at Bodegas Monje, where you can learn firsthand from Mojo World Champion chef to create this heavenly sauce.
They also serve pulled pork so deliciously that I’m still dreaming about it!
If you visit Tenerife for 5 days, another must is barraquito – coffee with condensed milk, liquor, milk, and cinnamon.
Some of my favorite restaurants include:
- Bodegas Monje (pulled pork to die for!)
- Restaurante Regulo
- La Bodegita de Enfrente
- Casa Africa
Have you ever visited the Canary islands before? What would you recommend I do or see in Tenerife on my next trip? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!Β
Looking for more Spain travel tips? Check out these guides!
- Your Fuerteventura holidays: places you canβt miss!
- Madrid 2 days: the ultimate itinerary!
- Postcards from Menorca
- The best of Benidorm
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Disclosure: *I was a guest of Jet2holidays, Visit Tenerife and Be Tenerife but as always all opinions are my own.Β This post contains affiliate links. Wherelifeisgreat is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.Β As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Wherelifeisgreat is also a participant with theΒ Booking.comΒ program, GetYourGuide affiliate program and Ferryscanner affiliate program. All purchases or bookings you make through Wherelifeisgreat come at no extra cost to you. *
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