La Laguna
For staying in a city with university life, a historic centre and bars, a few minutes from Tenerife North airport and with a tram to Santa Cruz.
Itinerary · Tenerife
Tenerife in 5 days: day-by-day itinerary
5-day itinerary for Tenerife: Mount Teide, La Laguna, Puerto de la Cruz, La Orotava, Masca, Garachico and a ferry trip to La Gomera.
- 5days
- 16stops
- 10Areas
This 5-day itinerary is designed for first-time visitors to Tenerife who want to see the best of the island by hire car or on organised excursions. Each day focuses on one area of the island, from Teide to the green north, and the fifth day is devoted to La Gomera, the neighbouring island.
Tenerife has two airports. At Tenerife North (TFN), TITSA bus 20 goes to La Laguna and Santa Cruz, and bus 30 to Puerto de la Cruz; both are express. At Tenerife South (TFS), bus 40 goes to Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje, and bus 10 heads to Santa Cruz. Line 343 links the two airports in about 50 minutes. A taxi is the direct option if you arrive late or with a lot of luggage.
Tips
- A hire car gives you freedom for Teide, Masca and Anaga; the roads are mountain roads with plenty of bends, so drive calmly and allow more time than the map suggests.
- The weather changes a lot from one side to the other: the south is usually sunny and the north cloudier and cooler. Bring layers and sun cream, especially on Teide.
- Book the Teide cable car in advance, along with the summit permit if you want to reach the top, and the Barranco del Infierno, which has limited capacity.
- If you don’t want to drive, guided excursions to Teide, Masca or La Gomera take care of transport and access.
- Ferries to La Gomera leave from Los Cristianos; if you go on your own, check the time of the last return ferry.
Day 1
Mount Teide and Las Cañadas
Parque Nacional del Teide
Las Cañadas
The island's great icon: a volcanic landscape of lava flows, craters and almost Martian colours, over 2,000 metres above sea level. The cable car climbs close to the summit of Teide, but access to the peak requires a permit, so book it well in advance. Bring a coat: it is cold up there even in summer.
Roques de García y Llano de Ucanca
Las Cañadas
A short and very photogenic walk among rock formations such as Roque Cinchado, with Teide in the background. A good place to stretch your legs without needing to be a hiker.
Vilaflor
South of the island
On the way down from the park along the southern road, this mountain village, surrounded by pine forests, is a quiet stop for lunch and fresh air before heading back to the coast.
Day 2
La Laguna and Santa Cruz
San Cristóbal de La Laguna
La Laguna
The historic centre, a World Heritage Site, is a grid of straight streets lined with manor houses and wooden balconies. Stroll unhurriedly along Calle San Agustín and the squares in the centre, and step into some of its churches and inner courtyards.
Catedral de La Laguna
La Laguna
A peaceful church right in the centre, and a good excuse to understand the past of the island's former capital. Nearby there are cafés and bars where you can have a drink before moving on.
Mercado de Nuestra Señora de África
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
A food market with stalls selling fruit, cheese and fish, ideal for a light bite or for taking home Canarian produce. It is more authentic than many parts of the tourist coastline.
Auditorio de Tenerife
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Santiago Calatrava's white building by the sea is the city's modern symbol. Walking around it and taking photos is enough; if there is a concert you like the look of, book ahead.
Day 3
Puerto de la Cruz and La Orotava
La Orotava
La Orotava Valley
A town of stately mansions with wooden balconies and steep cobbled streets. The old town and its gardens are the highlight, and it makes a pleasant visit in under two hours.
Mirador de la Humboldt
La Orotava Valley
An open view of the La Orotava valley with Teide in the background, a short drive from the town. In good weather it is a quick stop well worth making.
Puerto de la Cruz
Puerto de la Cruz
The north's great historic tourist destination, with a seafront promenade, a charming old town and a more local atmosphere than the south. The Lagos Martiánez, César Manrique's seawater pools, are a good plan if the weather cooperates.
Jardín Botánico de Puerto de la Cruz
Puerto de la Cruz
A historic garden more than two centuries old, with enormous trees and tropical plants. It takes about an hour to walk round and makes a relaxed stroll.
Day 4
Garachico, Masca and Los Gigantes
Icod de los Vinos y Drago Milenario
Icod de los Vinos
A northern town famous for its dragon tree, an unmistakably shaped tree that is a symbol of the Canary Islands. The visit to the dragon tree garden is short, and the town centre invites a stroll.
Garachico
Garachico
A coastal town rebuilt after the volcanic eruption of 1706, with a quiet square, a castle by the sea and natural pools in volcanic rock. A good place to eat fish.
Masca
Teno Massif
A hamlet hidden among ravines in the Teno massif, reached by a narrow mountain road with plenty of bends. Drive calmly and make stops at the viewpoints. If you want to walk down the ravine, check the conditions beforehand and whether you need to book.
Acantilados de Los Gigantes
Los Gigantes
The cliffs drop vertically into the sea on the west coast. They can be seen well from the village, and a boat trip lets you see them from below, with the chance of spotting whales and dolphins.
Day 5 · Day trip
La Gomera
La Gomera
The neighbouring island is about 50 minutes away by fast ferry from Los Cristianos to San Sebastián de La Gomera. Its jewel is Garajonay National Park, a World Heritage laurel forest with viewpoints and trails in the mist. Many agencies offer an excursion with the ferry and a coach tour, which saves you driving on its winding roads. Book ahead and check the time of the last return ferry.
Tenerife
Where to stay in Tenerife
Puerto de la Cruz
A good base for the north: local atmosphere, a seafront promenade, and close to the La Orotava valley, Teide and Garachico. Cooler and greener than the south, with less guaranteed sun.
Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje
The comfortable choice for anyone who wants beaches, near-guaranteed sun and the ferry to La Gomera. This is the tourist south, with hotels of every kind and plenty of services.
Itinerary · Tenerife
More Tenerife itineraries
3 days
Tenerife in 3 days
- Day 1 Mount Teide and Las Cañadas
- Day 2 La Laguna and Santa Cruz
- Day 3 Garachico, Masca and Los Gigantes
7 days
Tenerife in 7 days
- Day 1 Mount Teide and Las Cañadas
- Day 2 La Laguna and Santa Cruz
- Day 3 Anaga: laurel forest and the north coast
- Day 4 Puerto de la Cruz and La Orotava
- + 3 days
Frequently asked questions
How does the trip to La Gomera fit in?
It leaves from Los Cristianos and takes a full day. It works best as the last day of the trip or when the weather on Teide is not helping.
Where is it best to stay with five days?
A base in Puerto de la Cruz or La Laguna brings the north closer, while the south is better for the beach and the ferry to La Gomera. With a car you can move between the two without changing hotel.
Can you see Teide when it is cloudy?
There is often a sea of clouds below, leaving Teide clear above. Check the weather forecast and, if necessary, change the order of the days.
Photo credits
- Parque Nacional del Teide: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- San Cristóbal de La Laguna: Jorge Franganillo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Masca: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Acantilados de Los Gigantes: Falk2, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons