Explore Essentials: Things to Do in Tenerife

“With year-round sun, stunning natural landscapes and no shortage of adventure activities no matter what season you visit, there are plenty of reasons to visit Tenerife year-round. Whether you’re looking to flop onto a beach by day and bar-hop by night, or scale volcanos and go birdwatching, we’ve got the ultimate guide to things to do in Tenerife to help you make the most of your stay.

Go Scuba Diving
—————

Tenerife’s warm waters are the perfect place to get a glimpse of the underwater world, whether you’re a seasoned diver or have yet to get your PADI. There are several excellent dive centres where you can book yourself in for some scuba fun, and you can head to dive sites such as the El Penon wreck in Tabaiba, where you can see species such as octopus and moray eels, Atlantis for stunning, colourful schools of fish or Los Chuchos to spot stingrays.

Scale the Pico del Teide
————————

Mount Teide is the highest mountain in Spain and the third-highest volcano in the world. A trip to Tenerife wouldn’t be complete without taking in all that the Parque Nacional del Teide, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has to offer.

You can organise a guided jeep tour to learn more about the volcanic, moon-like surroundings of the national park and then board the cable car to get to the peak of El Teide, which stands at 3,718m above sea level. From here you’ll see incredible views of the surreal surroundings, and in clear weather you can spot neighbouring islands La Gomera and La Palma. Book your ticket in advance to avoid queueing for hours, and bring a layer – whatever the weather at the bottom, it gets cool at the peak.

By H. Zell – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=71277191

Try the Rides at Siam Park
————————–

Whether you’ve got kids in tow or are on a romantic holiday, you can’t miss spending an action-packed day at the gargantuan water park that is Siam Park. The Thai-themed adventure park has activities both sedate and hair-raising, from the Floating Market, where you can buy snacks and souvenirs from a “typical Thai village”, to the Tower of Power, where you’ll plummet on a water slide 28m high and reach speeds of up to 80kph, passing a shark tank as you finish – obviously. You can also enjoy the Vulcano, where you fall through a dark water slide while a laser light show intensifies the experience.

Party All Night at Tenerife’s Bars and Clubs
———————————————

There’s no shortage of clubs and bars in Tenerife, so if you’re into nightlife, make sure you bring your dancing shoes. The hub of Tenerife’s nightlife is concentrated in the resort of Playa De Las Americas: check out Veronica’s Strip for clubs that pump out tunes until the early hours, while if you’re after something a bit more family-friendly, go to the Patch area, where you’ll find restaurants, pubs and karaoke bars.

Stroll around the UNESCO City of La Laguna
——————————————-

Don’t miss checking out Tenerife’s most beautiful town, La Laguna, with its colourful buildings, narrow streets and quirky boutiques. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage site, with many buildings dating back to the 16th century, and it’s also a university town, so it has fantastic nightlife too. Simply wandering the beautifully picturesque streets is a great way to pass an afternoon – especially allowing for the time you’ll inevitably spend taking photos. While you’re there, make sure to check out the Museum of the History of Tenerife to learn more about the island within the gorgeous setting of a 16th-century mansion.

Head Inland and Take a Hike
—————————

If you’ve been overindulging during your stay, you might like to work up a sweat by enjoying a hike on one of Tenerife’s many trails. If you’re feeling brave, you could hike up Mount Teide. The ascent takes around nine hours and the air does get noticeably thinner as you climb, so this is a strenuous hike. It’s well worth it for the views though, along with the achievement of summitting Spain’s highest peak. You could also opt for hiking in the stunning natural setting of the Anaga Mountains or in the beautifully remote and scenic Parque Rural de Teno.

“