Things to Do in Tenerife

La Laguna (or San Cristóbal de La Laguna) might have passed its role as capital over to Santa Cruz in 1723, but the lively student town remains one of Tenerife’s most important cities, linked by tram to Santa Cruz. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999, the Old Town of La Laguna is most famous for its colonial architecture and strolling the cobblestone streets unveils a number of historic gems, including the elegant townhouses of Las Casas Consistoriales and a number of noteworthy churches.

Don’t miss a visit to the landmark Church of the Conception, where you can take in the views from the bell tower;  the early 20th-century Teatro Leal, with its exquisite interior paintings and murals; and the bustling marketplace of Plaza del Cristo. The city is also home to some of the island’s most important museums, so you can brush up on local history at the Museo de Historia, then indulge in some interactive fun at the innovative Museo de Ciencia y El Cosmos
 (Museum of Science and the Cosmos).

With everything from high-speed water slides to hair-raising amusement rides, there’s every opportunity to get your adrenaline pumping at Siam Park, and as long as you’re happy to get wet, Europe’s biggest water park is sure to be a hit.  Opening its doors in 2007, the Thai-themed park was designed by Christoph Kiessling and features a Thai floating market and Thai restaurants. Even just strolling through the park is an experience, with exotic architecture, streams filled with tropical fish and a huge white-sand beach, dotted with plenty of family-safe swimming areas and relaxing Jacuzzi baths.

Thrillseekers will likely make a beeline for the legendary Tower of Power – a vertical transparent slide that plummets riders through a pool of sharks and stingrays, or The Dragon, a gravity-defying Proslide Tornado, but less-confident swimmers might prefer to tackle the Jungle Snake slides or take a rafting trip along the Mekong Rapids. Additional highlights include the Wave Palace, where you can learn to surf on waves rising up to 3 meters high, the Lost City children’s play area and the six-lane racing slides.

With its steep rocky cliffs, forested trails and trickling waterfalls, the wild landscape of the Masca Valley is among Tenerife’s most beautiful, and the remote gorge offers a thrilling backdrop for a hiking expedition. 

Tenerife’s Loro Park is one of the island’s biggest attractions and makes an easy day trip from Gran Canaria. Home to over 200 penguins and 350 species of parrot (the largest collections of both animals in the world), the park has an enormous variety of animals including sharks, alligators, jaguars and silverback gorillas.

There’s a lot to see at Loro Park and you’ll easily fill a day. Visit Planet Penguin (the biggest replica of the Antarctic continent ever constructed) or watch the antics of the killer whales in the Orca Ocean. Plants lovers will enjoy the Orchidarium - home to more than 1,000 orchids year round. Kids are also well catered for at Kinderlandia – an African-style village and jungle dedicated solely to their enjoyment.

At 12,198 feet (3,718 meters) above sea level, Mount Teide is the highest peak in the Canary Islands and all of Spain. The towering peak in Tenerife tempts visitors with the chance to stand atop a volcano and look out over the nearby islands of La Palma, Gran Canaria, La Gomera, and El Hierro — if the clouds cooperate. Adventurous travelers opt for an intense five-hour hike to the summit, while many other visitors prefer to ride the Teide cable car to the observation deck just shy of the mountain's highest point.

One of Tenerife’s leading museums, located in the capital of Santa Cruz, the Museo de la Naturaleza y El Hombre (Nature and Man Museum) is a fascinating addition to the itinerary for those interested in the unique geological and anthropological history of the Canary Islands. This is the place to learn about the formation of the islands’ rugged landscape and how they were reshaped through a series of ancient volcanic eruptions, as well as discovering their distinctive native flora and learning about modern-day conservation efforts.

The museum’s top attraction is an exhibit devoted to the life and culture of the Guanche, the aboriginal people who inhabited Tenerife before it was taken over by European conquerors. Of particular interest were the peculiar funeral rituals undertaken by the Guanche and there is a sizable collection of Guanche mummies and skulls on display, preserved by an ancient process of soaking the bodies in pine resin and salt and leaving them to dry in the sun. A wealth of additional archeological finds are also on display, including primitive ceramics, fossils, a megalodon shark tooth and items belonging to the Guanche Kings.

With its sweeping white façade looming over the waterfront of Santa Cruz harbor, the Auditorio de Tenerife (Tenerife Auditorium) is an instantly recognizable landmark of the Tenerife capital. The futuristic design by architect Santiago Calatrava has drawn comparisons to the Sydney Opera House and its signature white concrete arc looks particularly spectacular at night when the rooftop is lit up from beneath.

Although guided tours are a popular way to admire the interiors of the Auditorio de Tenerife, the best way to experience the famous venue is to book tickets for a show. There’s a varied schedule of music and dance performances throughout the year, with highlights including the Tenerife Opera, the Symphony Orchestra of Tenerife and special Christmastime musicals.