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Spain · Canary Islands

Tenerife travel guide

Winter sun four hours away, with Spain's highest peak in the middle

Mount Teide, Tenerife. Photo: Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons

4hflight from London
TFSnearest main airport
23° in Sepwarmest month
17° in Febcoolest month

Tenerife is the UK's favourite winter sun island: no time difference, 20°C-plus in January, and flights from almost everywhere. The south is resorts and beaches; the green north is quieter and more Canarian.

Rising above it all is Mount Teide, a 3,715m volcano you can ride a cable car up, in a national park that looks like the surface of the moon.

Good forWinter sunBeachesFamily holidaysHiking

Top things to do in Tenerife

  1. 1

    Teide National Park

    Take the cable car up the volcano. A permit is needed for the final path to the very top.

  2. 2

    Whale and dolphin watching

    Pilot whales live off the south-west coast all year. Choose a Blue Boat-certified operator.

  3. 3

    Masca

    A tiny village clinging to a deep ravine, reached by a hairpin mountain road.

  4. 4

    Siam Park

    Often voted the world's best water park, in Costa Adeje.

  5. 5

    Los Gigantes

    Cliffs up to 600m high plunging straight into the sea. Best seen from a boat.

  6. 6

    La Laguna

    A UNESCO-listed colonial town in the north, with colourful houses and good tapas.

Tours and tickets in Tenerife

Where to stay in Tenerife

  • Costa Adeje

    Smarter hotels, good beaches and close to Siam Park.

  • Los Cristianos and Playa de las Américas

    Lively, good value, and 20 minutes from the south airport.

  • Puerto de la Cruz

    The green north: a traditional town with a cooler climate and Loro Parque.

Find a hotel in Tenerife

Best time to visit Tenerife

Best value: Mar–Jun, Sep–Oct. All year round. October to April for winter sun; summer is warm but rarely scorching.

17.9 C18°J17.4 C17°F17.7 C18°M18.3 C18°A19.4 C19°M20.8 C21°J21.9 C22°J22.8 C23°A23.1 C23°S22.5 C22°O20.7 C21°N19.2 C19°D
Best valueBusy and pricierQuietAverage temperature in Tenerife, °C, 2001–2025 (NASA POWER).

Getting there and around

About 4h from London to TFS, and flights from most UK airports.

Most UK flights land at Tenerife South (TFS). Buses (guaguas) link the towns, but a hire car is the easiest way to reach Teide and Masca.

Search flights to TFS

Day trips from Tenerife

  • La Gomera

    A green island of forests and deep valleys, 50 minutes by ferry from Los Cristianos.

  • Anaga Rural Park

    Ancient laurel forest and remote villages in the north-east mountains.

  • Garachico

    A pretty old port town with natural rock pools to swim in.

Good to know

  • Teide's summit is often cold, even in summer. Bring a jacket.
  • The Teide peak permit is free but books up weeks ahead.
  • The sea in winter is around 19°C: refreshing rather than warm.
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Tenerife FAQ

Is Tenerife warm in December?

Yes, usually 20 to 22°C in the day in the south. Nights are cooler, so bring a light layer.

North or south Tenerife?

The south is sunnier with more beaches and resorts. The north is greener, more local and a little cooler and cloudier.

More places in Spain

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