Bienvenido on Tenerife!

Discover the beauty of the Canary Islands

Teneriffa Reiseführer Teide Berg
Pico del Teide on Tenerife

Tenerife is not only the largest of the seven Canary Islands, it is also the most populous island in Spain and one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe. Five senses are hardly enough to discover the breathtaking diversity of the Canary Islands' beauty, whose nature and culture could hardly be more multifaceted! The original travel guide for Tenerife tells you about the highlights of this holiday destination, there are top 10 lists, a compass to the sights, tips for excursions and some insider tips - as you have never experienced Tenerife before.

Country

Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands and belongs to Spain and thus to the European Union

Location

The island is located in the Atlantic Ocean, west of Africa

Surface area

2,034 km²

Population

888,000 (as of 2015)

Popular holiday destination: Tenerife

Tenerife is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe. Every year, up to five million people are drawn to the largest of the seven Canary Islands, which lies 288 kilometres from the coast of Morocco and 1,274 kilometres from the southern coast of Spain in the Atlantic Ocean. Topographically, like all the Canary Islands, it belongs to Africa, but with around 880,000 inhabitants it is the most populous island in Spain. One of the largest cities on the island is the capital Santa Cruz de Tenerife with 225,000 inhabitants. It is also the provincial capital of the islands of Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro.

In the language of the Guanche indigenous people, Tenerife means "snow-covered mountain", and among Spaniards the island is also known as "the island born of fire". This can be traced back to the volcanic origin of the island around twelve million years ago. The impressive geological history of the island can still be admired in the Anaga Mountains in the far north-east, the Teno Mountains in the north-west and in many parts of the far south. Here Tenerife plays with the contrasts of enchanted, misty laurel forests, impressive volcanic mountain massifs and remote headlands and beaches that give the impression of a deserted island.

Capital city

Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Language spoken

The national language is Spanish

Currency

Euro

Time zone

WEZ (UTC±0) - one hour behind German time

Island of contrasts

While the capital Santa Cruz de Tenerife is bustling with city life, the old town of La Laguna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, impresses with its preserved colonial architecture. In the north in the Teno Mountains and further east in the Anaga Mountains, wild, green heights give the impression of a deserted island. In contrast, the south at the foot of the Pico del Teide is characterised by barren lunar landscapes and bizarre rock formations. Classically beautiful white sandy beaches can also be found here, while a few kilometres further on there are beaches with a backdrop of rocks and gorges as well as pitch-black beaches. The natural landscape of Tenerife is more varied than on any other island.

El Teide Nationalpark Teneriffa
A typical picture in El Teide National Park in spring, in winter there might even be snow here.
Entry

Only with a valid identity card

Power socket

No adapter is required for the Euro sockets

Internet

Thanks to the EU roaming agreement, there are no additional costs.

From A for arrival to Z for time difference - Tenerife down to the last corner

So it's hardly surprising that up to five million tourists are drawn to the beauty of the Canary Islands every year. To ensure that your Tenerife holiday is an unforgettable experience, you will find all the important information about the most important sights and most popular excursion destinations on Tenerife here. Whether for a carefree, relaxing holiday on the beach in Tenerife or for an active holiday on the island's cycling and hiking trails - with our practical tips and recommendations, you are well prepared for the many excursions and activities on the Canary Island. Look forward to your holiday on the island beauty in the Canary Islands now!

Tenerife is an island of variety, with breathtaking natural diversity from the coast in the north to the mountainous centre of the island and the southernmost tip. But it's not just nature lovers who get their money's worth on hikes and cycle tours through Tenerife's varied natural landscape, along the island's most beautiful beaches and to the most popular excursion destinations on the Canary Island! In the popular holiday resorts on Tenerife, you can also immerse yourself in the culture of the Canary Island in the many museums and exhibitions, on walks through the old towns or at traditional festivals. Tenerife has something to offer for every type of holiday - including the odd insider tip!

Why Tenerife is worth a holiday

The first arguments for a holiday in Tenerife definitely include these three: the unique, year-round mild climate that the trade winds bring to the island, the extremely diverse, contrasting natural landscape and the charming islanders with their Canarian traditions and customs. Numerous excursions and activities invite you to explore every last corner of the island.

Climate

The most decisive reason for many tourists to spend their holidays in Tenerife is the island's unique climate. Due to the trade winds that blow across the north-east of the island at 20 to 25 km/h, Tenerife has an average annual temperature of 23°C. In summer, temperatures rarely climb above 30°C, while in winter they are at least 17°C. Consequently, Tenerife is also known as the "island of eternal spring" - and is therefore worth travelling to all year round.

Flora and fauna

On the largest and highest island of the Canary Islands, tourists can discover a special ecological diversity. Over a distance of just a few hundred metres, you can admire Tenerife's ever-changing vegetation in a radical way. The different altitudes, trade winds and microclimates have created six very different ecosystems on Tenerife:

  • Succulent scrublands: succulents adapted to drought, strong winds and the many hours of sunshine a year grow along the coast up to 700 metres above sea level. Although the Canary Islands only make up 1.5% of Spain's territory, half of all endemics can be found here
  • Thermophilic forests: Sabinas, dragon trees and palms grow in so-called thermophilic forests, which lie 200 to 600 metres above sea level. Moderate rainfall and moderate temperatures favour their growth
  • Pine forests: A typical Mediterranean view are pine trees, which also thrive on Tenerife and at 800 to 2000 metres above sea level
  • Laurel forests: A special floral feature of Tenerife are the dense laurel forests, in which not only laurel trees grow, but also ferns, Canary Island hollies and Indian perseas. According to legend, witches lived in the dense cloud forests
  • heather scrub forests: As the laurel forests have been extensively cut down, the tree heath scrub forests now make up the total forest area of the island. The Micronesian gale tree and the tree heath defy the trade wind clouds and grow to a height of 10 to 20 metres
  • High mountains: Extremely dry, hot temperatures prevail above 2000 metres. This is where the wild viper's bugloss grows - the purple-red flowering pride of Tenerife that grows up to 2.5 metres high

On a hiking or cycling tour through Tenerife, you will literally experience a rollercoaster ride through typical Mediterranean areas, exotic deserts as well as arid and mountainous regions. You may encounter over 200 bird species, rare frogs, butterflies and numerous reptile species such as geckos and lizards. The south-west coast is also a popular place to spot fin whales, dolphins, orcas and even blue whales on your Tenerife holiday!

Land and people

Tenerife undoubtedly owes its special charm to its people, their unique character, their Canarian accent and their well-known traditions and customs. An area of around 2,034 square kilometres is home to 888,000 inhabitants, spread across Tenerife's 31 municipalities. San Cristobal de La Laguna and the island's capital Santa Cruz de Tenerife are the largest cities in the archipelago. Most of Tenerife's inhabitants, who refer to themselves as "Tinerfeños", live here and in the towns of Arona and Adeje in the south of the island, where many tourists come.

Although tourism influences the island, the inhabitants have preserved their long history. This makes a holiday in Tenerife an experience of Canarian traditions and customs for tourists. The indigenous people of the island, known as "Guanches", have regained their original Canarian culture after being suppressed under the Spanish rule of the dictator Franco. Two important cultural events are the Festival de Música de Canarias and the carnival in Santa Cruz. At folk festivals and Romerías, the timple, a typical Canarian instrument similar to the ukulele, is played in Canarian folklore, in colourful and splendid costumes.

Click here for the most important sights on Tenerife

Sights of Tenerife

Bestsellers Tenerife

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