L'isola dell'eterna primavera: l'affascinante soprannome di Tenerife deriva dalle sue miti temperature primaverili. Ma basta guardare una mappa per vedere che è anche l'isola dell'avventura senza fine, l'isola della vita sulla spiaggia, l'isola delle curiose tradizioni e dei vulcani.
Tenerife is the largest Canary island, and the most popular with visiting Brits. English and Spanish speaking tourists alike will feel at home, and kids will be welcomed with open arms. Families will love the water parks in the south whilst nature enthusiasts will be in their element: whale-watching tours come with guarantees that you’ll see the island's resident pilot whales. Couples can stay in one of the adult-only hotels or choose somewhere in the north for an even quieter stay.
If you want an adventure holiday, then this is the island for you. Tenerife’s extraordinary interior has the potential to be so much more than just a photogenic backdrop. If you want to explore the hinterland, it’s surprisingly easy to ascend Mount Teide by cable car – but harder if you want to hike ‘La Rambleta’ – the path to the summit. Whatever holiday you want – you’ll find this pocket island can please most tastes.
Tenerife has fantastic All Inclusive hotels, family-friendly villas and luxury suites on all sides. You’ll be touched by the local hospitality, family provisions, and swoon-worthy settings of these carefully-selected hotels.
Book into GF Gran Costa Adeje, which has extensive pools – including one on the rooftop for adults – plus seven bars and restaurants. For a luxury hotel, try the Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife, a rocking venue filled with music memorabilia, plus three good-sized pools. On the quiet Guía de Isora, The Ritz-Carlton Abama is a great choice for golf lovers and spa-seekers. And don't forget to check out the island's selection of villas.
Hotel a 3 stelle
Tenerife can be a wallet-friendly island, with plenty of free beaches, inexpensive tapas joints and affordable places to stay. Whether you’re travelling with your family or on your own, pick a hotel that suits your budget from our carefully-selected list of three-star hotels. Near the famous Playa de las Americas, stay at Marola Portosin Apartments, which is great for families. Select Sunningdale is near the golfing greens of Golf du Sur and guests can play at a discounted rate. In the picturesque town of Guanchico, North Tenerife, Hotel La Quinta Roja The Senses Collection fits right into its quaint surroundings, with lovely traditional furnishings.
Hotel a 4 stelle
Want to book a great holiday, but budget won’t stretch to five star? Pick one of our carefully-selected moderately-priced resorts and you’re bound to have a brilliant stay. Stay at Sandos San Blas Resort, a good four-star hotel with its own nature reserve and golf course. For a lovely beach, Iberostar Las Dalias is near to Playa del Bobo and 15 minutes from Siam Park. The hotel itself has a spacious outdoor pool area.
Hotel a 5 stelle
Banish all thoughts of run-of-the-mill package holidays: Tenerife has its fair share of luxury hotels, too. For a hotel near the action in Costa Adeje, stay at the attractive Sheraton La Caleta, with its many pools, its spa and its great kids’ facilities. Away from the busy south, you’ll find even more wonderful five-star hotels. Look out for unique features – whether that’s remarkable architecture, Michelin-starred kitchens, or access to the best star-gazing spots. The inimitable Ritz-Carlton Abama on Guía de Isora has all three.
As a long-established tourist destination, Tenerife can accommodate boutique hotel-seekers just as easily as budget-conscious travellers.
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Get good value for money on your holiday by booking into an All Inclusive in the popular Costa Adeje region. The Sunlight Bahia Príncipe Tenerife Complex has a huge swimming pool, plus mini golf for the kids.
The daily market at La Laguna is a great place to sort out a beach picnic for the day. There are sweet Tenerife bananas, fresh tomatoes and avocados, bread, local ham, and fresh goat and sheep cheese. For dessert there are scoops of chocolate-coated almonds or a bright yellow bottle of banana liqueur.
Cose da fare
Head out for a hike. If you’re in the south, visit Vilaflor for its special ‘paisaje lunar’: a strange crop of rock formations that look like they’re straight out of the backdrop of a Sci-Fi film set. Wander through pine forest and under almond trees until you feel like you’re walking on the moon. ‘Paisaje lunar’ simply means ‘Lunar Landscape’.
Dove soggiornare
Lie back and relax at Tigotan Lovers and Friends. This adults-only resort is near enough the buzzing Playa de las Americas to keep things exciting, but the rooftop café and infinity pool is your own pocket of peace.
If you’re staying in Costa Adeje there are heaps of restaurants to suit all tastes. If you want a change of scene, then why not go on a mini-adventure? A 15-minute drive from Costa Adeje will bring you to the wildly popular ‘Otelo’ restaurant. This laid-back eatery is famous for its local specialty: crispy, salty pollo al ajillo – garlic-baked chicken.
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The south of the island is a great jumping-off point for taking to the water. Go on a whale-watching tour from Costa Adeje. No fewer than 28 species of dolphins and whales have been spotted around the Canary Islands – most are merely passing through, but pilot whales, bottlenose dolphins, risso dolphins and sperm whales live here year-round.
Dove soggiornare
The distinctive architecture of the Ritz-Carlton Abama makes it really special. This terracotta-toned palace sits on the less-visited Guía de Isora, on the slopes of Mount Teide. It’s surrounded by a gorgeous golf course and perched above a lovely, sheltered beach.
There are two Michelin-starred restaurants at the Ritz-Carlton Abama. Try M.B., which is garnished with two Michelin stars, and serves modern Basque Cuisine. Make sure you make a reservation before your holiday to ensure a table – this is one of the best places to eat on the island.
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Tenerife’s extraordinary landscape is best seen from the air. Book a helicopter tour to scale the slopes of Mount Teide in mere minutes. Look out for the corona forestal: the magnificent pine forest that sweeps across the lower slopes of the volcano. Next, swoop beside the stony faces of Los Gigantes, the east coast’s enormous cliffs. Keep your eyes peeled for dolphins leaping from the ocean.
In the dramatic shadow of the massive Mount Teide you’ll make many holiday memories in Tenerife. The adventurous can take to the seas in search of native pilot whales and the romantic can point out shooting stars in Mount Teide National Park.
Where are the best places to stay in Tenerife?
Most tourists flock to the south coast of Tenerife, which enjoys the most sheltered beaches, with imported golden sand and dry, sunny days all year round. The famous Playa de las Americas region has the most famous strip on the island, plus six safe, sandy beaches, duty-free shops and great tapas restaurants for visitors. Stay here to be near Tenerife’s nightlife on Veronica’s Strip.
If you continue around the coast, you’ll reach an even newer resort area. Guía de Isora gets the afternoon sun for longer on the beaches – and there are lovely sunsets over the ocean. This area is near the impressive Los Gigantes, a series of 800m high cliffs that plunge straight into the ocean.
In the south east, Golf du Sur is a convenient resort area right by the airport, but you won’t want to fly away in a hurry. Enjoy the sunny shores– especially at beautiful windsurfing beach Playa El Medano.
More people are discovering the north coast of Tenerife. Lusher than the south, the beaches are left to their volcanic black selves, and there are some wonderful traditional Canarian towns.
Though they're not the biggest or whitest in the world, there are over 40 beaches to choose from in Tenerife. Here are our top five favourite beaches:
Playa de las Americas – Tenerife’s most famous area has six beaches. The eponymous Playa de las Americas is safe and shallow, and right next to the shops.
Bahia del Duque – Surrounded by upmarket resorts, Bahia del Duque is a calm sandy bay with facilities, restaurants and bars nearby.
Playa las Vistas – One of the most popular beaches in the south, Playa las Vistas has tawny sand and plenty of facilities.
Los Guios, Los Gigantes – This black sand beach in the west has great views of Tenerife’s famous 800m high cliffs, Los Gigantes.
La Terasitas – North of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, La Terasitas is widely considered one of the most photogenic beaches on the island.
Hire a car and discover Tenerife by road. From the charming traditional towns to the switchback mountain route that leads to Masca, Tenerife’s terrain changes with every turn in the road. It's just an hour’s drive across, but you should take your time exploring the island with our road trip picks.
The Volcano
Costa Adeje – Mount Teide – Los Gigantes
The drive through the Teide national park is stunning. You’ll ascend to 3,000 metres from sea level – your ears will pop on the switchbacks and there are numerous miradors along the way, with views so astouding that you'll simply have to stop at to take a picture. You’ll drive along the very rim of the crater to approach the peak Mount Teide. Return via Los Gigantes for another rocking rock formation – photographs simply cannot do these massive cliffs justice.
A rainforest awaits in the north-west corner of the island. Many take the gruelling hike down from Masca to the ravine. But you can also content yourself with the winding drive – a bit of an adventure in itself. Garanchico is a popular stop, with proper, old-style wooden mansions. In Buenovista del Norte stop off at El Adermo bakery for traditional cakes and aniseed biscuits.
Santa Cruz – La Laguna – Almáciga – Playa de Las Gaviotas
Drive into the ancient laurel forests off the north-eastern tip of Tenerife and follow the signs to Almáciga, Anaga Country Park. It’s wild out there, and you’ll be accompanied only by local bird species. The mountain peaks are spiky and impressive, with volcanic formations and a soft blanket of cloud that rolls into the valleys. The hidden Playa de Las Gaviotas, a secret black beach, is your reward on your way back.
