Tenerife holidays

• Most tourists flock to the south coast of Tenerife, which enjoys the most sheltered beaches, with imported golden sand and dry, sunny days all year round. The famous Playa de las Americas region has the most famous strip on the island, plus six safe, sandy beaches, duty-free shops and great tapas restaurants for visitors. Stay here to be near Tenerife’s nightlife on Veronica’s Strip.
• If you continue around the coast, you’ll reach an even newer resort area. Guía de Isora gets the afternoon sun for longer on the beaches – and there are lovely sunsets over the ocean. This area is near the impressive Los Gigantes, a series of 800m high cliffs that plunge straight into the ocean.
• In the south east, Golf du Sur is a convenient resort area right by the airport, but you won’t want to fly away in a hurry. Enjoy the sunny shores– especially at beautiful windsurfing beach Playa El Medano.
• More people are discovering the north coast of Tenerife. Lusher than the south, the beaches are left to their volcanic black selves, and there are some wonderful traditional Canarian towns.

From water sports to volcano walks, find out what to do in Tenerife, whether you’re on the beach or exploring inland.

1. Enjoy the coastal life at Costa Adeje.
2. Ride the cable car up in the peak in Mount Teide National Park.
3. Go for lunch in a Guachinche.
4. Study the skies at Teide Observatory.
5. Get lost in the Anaga Mountains.
6. Cross over to La Gomera.
7. Go whale and dolphin watching in the wild, from the south coast.
8. Bathe in the rockpools of Puerto de la Cruz.
9. Drive up to the picturesque village of Masca.
10. Walk around the capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Best things to do in Tenerife

• This all-inclusive resort, Bahia Principe Fantasia Tenerife, is bursting with imagination –  creating fun-filled memories with a magical castle as its showpiece and a whole host of activities. Be entertained by the animation team, have free run of the water park and splash pools or sit back and enjoy cocktails on tap at the adult-only infinity pool. Younger children will love all the activities planned at the kids’ club and teenagers will want to hang out in the exclusive area designed just for them – there’s ping pong, pool, foosball and discos planned. The buffet restaurant, pool restaurant and bars throughout the resort are included in your package, plus you’ll be offered the opportunity to eat in the resort’s three world cuisine restaurants (Italian, Asian and a Steakhouse) a few times during your stay.
• For family holidays in Tenerife, Gran Melia Palacio de Isora combines the best of both worlds, with its refined setting and family-friendly personality. In addition to boasting the longest salt water hotel infinity pool in Europe, there's a family pool, a children's pool featuring a pirate ship, and a baby pool too. You can upgrade to the RedLevel for Families experience offering superior facilities and services for little ones; kids can enjoy free drinks in the Family Lounge, there's a water ritual for the whole family, five and older, at the Spa and the turn-down service includes milk and biscuits. Perhaps what's even more reassuring is that there's an adult-only RedLevel boutique hotel within the resort, so you'll never feel like your brood is disturbing anyone.
• Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife is perfect for beach holidays in Tenerife. With its two soaring towers and three swimming pools, the Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife is a fun, modern, family hotel – with as much swagger as Mick Jagger. You’ll stay in one of two rock star-inspired towers at the Hard Rock Hotel: Oasis or Nirvana. Oasis is for families (as Noel and Liam Gallagher would probably attest), whilst Nirvana is for adults-only. Both have good-sized rooms, where room service allows you to order – among the usual snacks – a Fender guitar should you wish to perfect your chord progressions. Your children will love the futuristic gaming stations in the kids’ club. You might prefer the stylish swim-up bar in the adults-only pool, the beach club at the saltwater lagoon and the 16th floor bar.
• One of the best luxury hotels in Tenerife south, Bahia Del Duque is palatial – and has the service to match. Every room has a balcony or a terrace, and there are five pools – a mixture of saltwater and freshwater – scattered around the grounds. Hotel activities range from tennis and flyboarding to a jaunt on a luxury yacht. After your excursions and exertions, you can enjoy a score of restaurants and bars on-site. Each is supplied by an in-house organic garden and well-stocked with the necessary gins and tonics – plus local specialties like cheese and seafood. Sit out on the terrace for breakfast before a short stroll through the gardens to Playa del Duque beach promenade.
• This adult only hotel, Iberostar Grand Hotel El Mirador, is set on the quieter end of Costa Adeje with direct access to the area’s best beach. It’s so grand that it even smells good – thanks to scented candles in the lobby. The all-suite Iberostar Grand Hotel El Mirador is in-your-face fancy. A massive lagoon-style pool encircles its pile of pink turrets. Grand, columned hallways and elegant corridors lead to your room, where there’s a capacious dressing room and wardrobe, his and hers sinks, romantic translucent drapes around the bed and a furnished terrace. You can stay on your terrace for breakfast, or hit the buffet, where you can pick the perfect local fruits to create your own breakfast smoothie.