Tenerife isn't just Costa Adeje and Las Américas. An hour or so from the southern hotels there are historic old towns, lava pools, vineyards and black-sand beaches. Puerto de la Cruz, Santa Cruz and Los Gigantes have their own guides; here's the rest.
My advice: with one day, combine La Orotava and Puerto de la Cruz, or Icod and Garachico. With two, add La Laguna and Anaga. And don't try to squeeze towns and Teide into the same day.
Our picks
1
The Drago, with its garden
Entry to Icod's Parque del Drago for €5, the same price as at the ticket office.
GetYourGuide
Icod de los Vinos: Dragon Tree & Botanical Garden Ticket
4.5 (889 reviews)
from €5Check availability
2
Icod and Garachico without a car
9 h taking in Teide, Masca, Icod and Garachico; entry to the Drago isn't usually included.
GetYourGuide9 hours
Tenerife: Teide National Park, Masca, Icod & Garachico Tour
4.6 (3,035 reviews)
from €58Check availability
3
La Orotava with the family
A 50-minute visit to an organic banana plantation, rated 4.7.
GetYourGuide50 minutes
La Orotava: Eco Banana Plantation Tour with Banana Liqueur
4.7 (1,111 reviews)
from €20Check availability
4
Northern wine
A winery in Tacoronte with a wine and cheese tasting, 2 h.
GetYourGuide2 hours
Tacoronte: Guided Winery Tour with Wine and Cheese Tastings
4.6 (527 reviews)
from €35Check availability
5
A different night out in the south
Medieval show with dinner at Castillo San Miguel, in Aldea Blanca (San Miguel de Abona).
GetYourGuide2.5 - 3 hours
Tenerife: Castillo San Miguel Medieval Show and Banquet
4.7 (1,418 reviews)
from €52Check availability
Which town suits you
| If you want… | Go to… | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A historic old town | La Laguna or La Orotava | World Heritage status and the Casa de los Balcones |
| Sea and lava | Garachico | The El Caletón natural pools |
| The most famous tree | Icod de los Vinos | The Drago, at least 800 years old |
| Wind, kitesurfing or a night next to the airport | El Médano | 10 minutes from Tenerife South |
| Golf and peace near the airport | Golf del Sur | Apartments, a marina and 12 minutes to TFS |
| A quiet black-sand beach in the west | Guía de Isora | Playa San Juan, sheltered by the harbour |
| A meal in a guachinche | Santa Úrsula | One of the biggest clusters in the north |
The south: El Médano, Golf del Sur, Adeje and Arona
El Médano
The windy town (Granadilla de Abona), 8 km and 10 minutes from Tenerife South. The beach has 750 m of fine grey sand: the town end is the calm one, for families; the far end is the windsurfing and kitesurfing zone, with world championships in its history. Assisted bathing all year round from 10:00 to 15:00. Although Tenerife's tourist board listing still says so, it isn't on the current Blue Flag list.
Why go: to learn to kitesurf or windsurf, or to spend your first or last night next to the airport. Behind Montaña Roja, a 166-hectare protected area, is La Tejita: 1 km of dark volcanic sand, no facilities, nudism accepted and 5 minutes' walk from the roadside car park. Granadilla was the first municipality in Spain to be declared a Starlight Tourist Destination (stargazing).
Getting there: there's no direct bus from the terminal; take the 415 to San Isidro and change to the 408 (€1.45), or the 470 from Los Cristianos. Taxi from Tenerife South, about €15. Wind and surf schools on our surfing page; locals add 5–10 knots to the Windguru forecast when it blows from the north-east.
Golf del Sur
It isn't a town but a golf and apartment development ("Costa San Miguel") in San Miguel de Abona, 8 km and 12 minutes from Tenerife South, next to San Blas, the fishing village of Los Abrigos and Amarilla Marina (formerly Marina San Miguel), where the submarine leaves from. Bus 415 from the airport, roughly hourly on weekdays (€2.45), and the 470 or 483 to Los Cristianos (€2.80).
In the same municipality, in Aldea Blanca, Castillo San Miguel puts on its medieval dinner and tournament on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays (doors at 18:30, about 2.5 h). It's a venue built for the show, not a historic castle; don't confuse it with the one in Garachico.
| Platform | Product | Rating | Price | Where to book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GetYourGuide | Tenerife: Castillo San Miguel Medieval Show and Banquet | 4.7 (1,418) | €52 | See on GetYourGuide |
| Tiqets | Tenerife Medieval Adventure | 4.5 (8) | €52 | See on Tiqets |
Adult prices checked on 2 October 2026. They can change with the date; each platform confirms the final price.
It costs the same on both platforms; the official website advertises a 10% discount for direct bookings. Without a car, buy the ticket with coach transport.
Adeje and Arona
The Villa de Adeje, the town that gives Costa Adeje its name, is 24 km from Tenerife South: the Casa Fuerte, the church of Santa Úrsula, Plaza de España and the start of the Barranco del Infierno, a Special Nature Reserve with limited places that you have to book (hiking). Bus 447 from Los Cristianos (€1.50) or the 473 and 417 from Costa Adeje; farmers' market on Saturdays and Sundays from 08:00 to 13:30 on Calle Archajara.
Arona is the municipality that contains Los Cristianos, most of Playa de las Américas and Las Galletas. Its old town, inland, is a quiet place with the Plaza del Cristo de la Salud and the 18th-century church of San Antonio Abad: a short stop, not a seaside town. The 342 bus to Teide passes through it.
Guía de Isora: Playa San Juan and Alcalá
A large municipality, with 15 km of coastline and the town itself at 580 m; its old town is a listed heritage site (Bien de Interés Cultural), with the 16th-century church of Nuestra Señora de la Luz. You come here for the coast:
- Playa San Juan: a fishing village with almost 2 km of promenade and 360 m of black sand and pebbles sheltered by the harbour, with lifeguards.
- Alcalá: a promenade and the La Jaquita coves, with an amphibious chair all year round. Green turtles have been recorded here; feeding them is banned (snorkelling with turtles).
- Abama: a public beach reached through the hotel grounds, with a 10-minute walk and steps.
The first two are on the latest Blue Flag list. Getting there: 36 km from Tenerife South; bus 417 from Costa Adeje (35 minutes, €2.80), and the 473 and 477 along the coast. Market on Mondays in Plaza del Llano and on Wednesdays in Playa San Juan, from 08:00 to 13:00.
The north-west: Icod de los Vinos and Garachico
Icod de los Vinos and the Drago
The Drago Milenario (the "thousand-year-old" dragon tree) is 16–17 m tall and about 20 m round at the base, and has been a National Monument since 1917. Despite the name, it isn't a thousand years old: the official estimate is at least 800. It stands in the Parque del Drago, a 3-hectare garden. Entry: €5 for adults, €3 for students and pensioners, €2.50 for ages 6 to 11, free for under-6s. From April to October it's open from 09:00 to 20:00; in winter it closes at 18:00 and the opening time varies depending on the source. It isn't wheelchair accessible.
| Platform | Product | Rating | Price | Where to book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GetYourGuide | Icod de los Vinos: Dragon Tree & Botanical Garden Ticket | 4.5 (889) | €5 | See on GetYourGuide |
| Tiqets | Tenerife Dragon Tree and Botanical Gardens | 4.5 (190) | €5 | See on Tiqets |
Adult prices checked on 2 October 2026. They can change with the date; each platform confirms the final price.
Same price on GetYourGuide, on Tiqets and at the ticket office. If you're in a hurry, don't bother paying: from Plaza de Andrés de Lorenzo Cáceres, next to the church of San Marcos, you can see it for free and take the classic photo. The ticket gets you the garden and a close-up view.
Also: the Cueva del Viento, which Tenerife's tourist board presents as the largest lava tube in Europe (check the price and times beforehand), and San Marcos beach, 160 m of black sand in a sheltered bay, with a Blue Flag on the latest list and fewer than 50 parking spaces. Getting there: bus 363 from Puerto de la Cruz (€3.50), the 108 from Santa Cruz and the 460 or 464 from Costa Adeje (€7, 1 h 15 to 1 h 40). On a tour, bring €5 in cash: the coaches from the south all arrive at lunchtime.
Things to do in Garachico
It was the island's main port until 1706, when the Trevejo eruption buried a large part of the town and the quay. That lava created the El Caletón natural pools, free to use and with restaurants alongside; the official warning is clear: watch out for the waves. To see: the Castillo de San Miguel (1575), the Puerta de Tierra, the church of Santa Ana (1520) and the convents of the Franciscan Conceptionists and of Santo Domingo. Playa del Muelle has an amphibious chair from July to September; market on Sundays from 08:00 to 14:00.
Getting there: bus 363 from Puerto de la Cruz (€3.75); by car, 32 minutes from there and an hour from Tenerife South. Icod and Garachico feature on almost every round-the-island tour.
The valley: La Orotava and Santa Úrsula
Things to do in La Orotava
The valley's historic town, 7 km and 11 minutes above Puerto de la Cruz. The Casa de los Balcones (around 1670) is the classic visit; the old town also has the Casa Lercaro, the Casa Mesa, the Liceo de Taoro, the Hijuela del Botánico, the Jardines Victoria and the Carpet Museum. The church of La Concepción is, according to Tenerife's tourist board, the finest example of Canarian baroque.
| Platform | Product | Rating | Price | Where to book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GetYourGuide | Tenerife: La Casa de Los Balcones Entrance Ticket | 4.5 (159) | €6 Best price | See on GetYourGuide |
| Tiqets | Casa de los Balcones: Entry Ticket | 4.2 (17) | €7 | See on Tiqets |
Adult prices checked on 2 October 2026. They can change with the date; each platform confirms the final price.
Entry to the Casa de los Balcones is €1 cheaper on GetYourGuide (€6) than on Tiqets (€7), and it has far more reviews there.
Corpus Christi: on the Thursday of the octave, a week after Corpus Christi itself, the Plaza del Ayuntamiento is covered with a carpet of coloured volcanic sands from Teide, a tradition that began in 1847; the following Sunday is the San Isidro pilgrimage (romería). The date moves every year with Easter: confirm it with the town council.
Getting there: buses 345 and 352 from Puerto de la Cruz (€1.45), the 101 from La Laguna and the 108 from Santa Cruz; the 348 goes up to Teide at 09:45 (€5.25). The Mirador de Humboldt, the classic view of the valley (TF-21, km 1), has parking and adapted access but no bus stop. Market on Saturdays from 08:00 to 13:30.
Santa Úrsula
A wine-growing municipality with one of the biggest clusters of guachinches in the north. There's little to book: you come here to eat. To walk off lunch, there's the 4 m La Giganta sculpture, the La Quinta viewpoint with its Second World War bunker, and the Santa Ana and Charco del Negro coves. Bus 101 between La Laguna and La Orotava (€2.55 from La Laguna).
La Laguna
San Cristóbal de La Laguna has been a World Heritage Site since 1999: the first colonial city built without walls, it keeps its 15th-century street plan. Take your time wandering: the Cathedral, Plaza del Adelantado, Teatro Leal, the convent of Santa Catalina de Siena and the Real Santuario del Cristo. The Palacio de Lercaro houses the History Museum (€5, free on Fridays and Saturdays from 16:00), and the Museo de la Ciencia y el Cosmos has a tram stop at the door.
The market in Plaza del Cristo opens in the mornings only (Tuesday to Saturday from 06:00, Monday and Sunday from 07:00, until 14:00). At night, the student bars are in El Cuadrilátero; the big festival is the Cristo, on 14 September.
Getting there: 4 km from Tenerife North (taxi, about €9). From Santa Cruz, tram line 1 or bus 015 (15 minutes, €1.45); La Laguna's Intercambiador bus station has park-and-ride parking at €3 a day. The 050 goes down to the pools at Bajamar and Punta del Hidalgo (€1.45), and the buses up to Cruz del Carmen, in Anaga, leave from here.
Getting between towns
| Route | Line | Cash | Ten+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tenerife South – Golf del Sur | 415 | €2.45 | €2.15 |
| San Isidro – El Médano | 408 | €1.45 | €1.15 |
| Los Cristianos – Golf del Sur | 470 | €2.80 | €2.05 |
| Los Cristianos – Adeje town | 447 | €1.50 | €1.25 |
| Costa Adeje – Guía de Isora | 417 | €2.80 | €2.05 |
| Costa Adeje – Icod de los Vinos | 460 | €7.00 | €4.55 |
| Puerto de la Cruz – La Orotava | 345 | €1.45 | €1.15 |
| Puerto de la Cruz – Icod / Garachico | 363 | €3.50 / €3.75 | €2.25 / €2.40 |
| La Laguna – Santa Úrsula | 101 | €2.55 | €1.90 |
| Santa Cruz – La Laguna | 015 | €1.45 | €1.15 |
The Ten+ card costs €2 and can be shared by the group; the €10 and €50 tourist passes are personal. The 363 links Puerto de la Cruz, Icod, Garachico and Buenavista for €4.90 at most. Timetables at titsa.com; car hire and transfers in our airport transfers guide.
More excursions and tickets around the towns
GetYourGuide
Icod de los Vinos: Dragon Tree & Botanical Garden Ticket
4.5 (889 reviews)
from €5Check availability
GetYourGuide50 minutes
La Orotava: Eco Banana Plantation Tour with Banana Liqueur
4.7 (1,111 reviews)
from €20Check availability
GetYourGuide9 hours
Tenerife: Teide National Park, Masca, Icod & Garachico Tour
4.6 (3,035 reviews)
from €58Check availability
GetYourGuide2.5 - 3 hours
Tenerife: Castillo San Miguel Medieval Show and Banquet
4.7 (1,418 reviews)
from €52Check availability
GetYourGuide3 - 3.5 hours
Las Galletas: Whale & Dolphin Tour with Local Skipper
4.8 (507 reviews)
from €63Check availability
GetYourGuide1 - 2 hours
Abades: Guided Snorkelling Tour with Photos
4.8 (433 reviews)
from €33Check availability
See all options on GetYourGuide →
On the east coast, the Pirámides de Güímar Ethnographic Park costs €12.50 on both platforms, and Tiqets also sells a full-access ticket for €18. The Güímar farmers' market opens on Sundays from 07:00 to 13:30.
| Platform | Product | Rating | Price | Where to book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GetYourGuide | Tenerife: Pyramids of Güímar Ethnographic Park Entry Ticket | 4.3 (422) | €12.50 | See on GetYourGuide |
| Tiqets | Pyramids of Güímar: Entry Ticket | 4.3 (133) | €12.50 | See on Tiqets |
Adult prices checked on 2 October 2026. They can change with the date; each platform confirms the final price.
Frequently asked questions
How old is the Drago in Icod?
The official estimate is at least 800 years, not a thousand, even though it's called the Drago Milenario. It's 16–17 m tall and has been a National Monument since 1917.
Do you have to pay to see the Drago in Icod?
Not to see it: from Plaza de Andrés de Lorenzo Cáceres, next to the church of San Marcos, you can see it for free. To go into the Parque del Drago and see it up close, entry costs €5 for adults.
What is there to do in Golf del Sur?
Golf, Amarilla Marina with the submarine, the fishing village of Los Abrigos and the medieval show at Castillo San Miguel in Aldea Blanca. The south airport is 12 minutes away and bus 415 links it with the development.
What is there to see in La Orotava?
The Casa de los Balcones, the church of La Concepción, the Jardines Victoria and the Hijuela del Botánico. For the view over the valley, the Mirador de Humboldt, which has no bus stop: it's easiest by car.
How do I get to Garachico without a car?
On bus 363 from Puerto de la Cruz, which also calls at Icod de los Vinos; it costs €3.75 in cash. From the south, on a day tour that includes Garachico.
What is a guachinche?
A temporary eatery that sells wine from its own harvest with no more than three home-cooked dishes, open for four months a year at most. Santa Úrsula is one of the northern municipalities with the most guachinches.
