Tenerife holidays

This resort in Los Cristianos holds the status as one of Tenerife’s premier Blue Flag beaches. The sweeping stretch of golden sand is very accessible, and comes with sunbeds, parasols, and showers. Protected by breakwaters for calm swimming conditions, Las Vistas serves as a hub for families and beach sports enthusiasts.

While southern beaches draw the crowds, the north coast offers secluded volcanic gems like Playa Bollullo near Puerto de la Cruz. Accessible only via a narrow cliffside path through banana plantations, this natural black-sand beach remains largely untouched by tourism. Enclosed by dramatic cliffs and serviced by a single traditional beach bar – or chiringuito – Bollullo provides a rustic beach experience that contrasts with the manicured sands of the south.

Tenerife's 400-kilometre coastline presents geological diversity rarely found in a single destination. You can choose between the imported Saharan sands of Las Teresitas in the north and the natural volcanic black sands of Playa Jardin further south. This variety caters to every preference, from the vast, golden tourist bays of Fañabé to intimate, rocky coves.

Tenerife’s tax system offers significant savings for the keen shopper. You can find duty-free prices on perfumes, alcohol, and electronics at major supermarkets like Mercadona or HiperDino. And for authentic local commerce, the Monday market in Alcalá offers artisan-made crafts and textiles.

Modern retail hubs like the Thai-themed Siam Mall in Adeje concentrate high-street favourites like Zara, Mango, and H&M alongside open-air dining. For more traditional gifts, you should look for mojo sauce variety packs or jewellery crafted from olivine – the island’s semi-precious volcanic gemstone. Authentic Tenerife pearls are also a staple, and widely available in shops across the southern resorts.

You’ll find upmarket shopping along the Golden Mile in Las Americas, specifically within the Safari Centre, as well as in the exclusive Plaza del Duque in Costa Adeje. These shopping centres are home to high-end boutiques including Cartier, Rolex, and Armani. Plaza del Duque also flaunts some beautiful architecture, along with a concierge service, so you can expect a premium retail experience that rivals major European capitals.

For relaxed evenings, resorts like Playa de la Arena and Playa Paraiso focus on sunset dining and low-key entertainment. The promenade at La Caleta is known for its seafood restaurants and chilled-out terraces, attracting couples and families who prefer conversation over clubbing. Likewise, the San Telmo area in Los Cristianos offers a sophisticated strip of cocktail bars and live acoustic music facing the ocean.

The centre of Tenerife’s nightlife lies in Playa de las Americas, anchored by the legendary Veronicas Strip and Starco Commercial Centre. Here, clubs like Tramps and Papagayo Beach Club host international DJs and keep the energy high until 6am. Costa Adeje offers a slightly more refined but equally vibrant scene near Puerto Colon, blending late-night lounge bars with huge dance venues for the ultimate party holiday.

Puchero Canario is the island’s rustic stew, reflecting Tenerife's agrarian roots. More than just a meal, it’s a nutritious feast combining meats with local vegetables like pumpkin, chayote, and sweet potatoes, and often seasoned with saffron and cumin. It’s traditionally served in two courses – the broth first as a soup, followed by the meats and vegetables.

Tenerife's Queso de Arico is a globally recognised, award-winning goat cheese that shows off the island's dairy heritage. This semi-hard cheese has a distinct, smoky flavour. It frequently features on tapas menus alongside almogrote, an intense cheese-and-pepper pâté native to the Canaries.

Morcilla Dulce Canaria reinvents the traditional black pudding by adding in sweet elements like almonds, raisins, and Canarian honey. Unlike savoury mainland varieties, this sausage is spiced with cinnamon and fennel, and is often served grilled or fried as a starter. It represents the fusion of Spanish tradition with exotic spices from Europe and beyond.

Conejo al Salmorejo is a signature Canarian dish where rabbit is marinated overnight in a rich blend of white wine, vinegar, garlic, paprika, and thyme before being fried and stewed. This preparation results in tender, aromatic meat, almost always served with papas arrugadas – AKA wrinkled potatoes – and a mojo rojo red pepper sauce, which together form a traditional Tenerife Sunday feast.

Tenerife’s unique volcanic landscape is home to five Denominación de Origen (DO) wine regions – Tacoronte-Acentejo, Valle de La Orotava, Ycoden-Daute-Isora, Abona, and Valle de Güímar. Grown on striking volcanic slopes, the wines grown in each of these regions all have a character all their own – all winning over wine lovers and sommeliers around the world.