Tenerife

Dive into this island of extraordinary beauty to discover its year-round appeal 

With their dry climate and volcanic landscapes, the lava-sculpted Canary Islands have a unique atmosphere, quite different to mainland Spain or the Balearics. Tenerife is a diverse island with new waves of creative arts and artisan crafts and a forward-focused dining scene, although traditional cuisine with Spanish roots and some North African influences is still on offer, too.  

Morning:  

Drive into the elevated heart of the island, along roads that twist above the deep-blue Atlantic toward the UNESCO-recognized Parque Nacional del Teide. The sharp, conical shape of El Teide – Spain’s highest peak – sits in a starkly bare, almost silent volcanic valley. From scattered miradores (viewpoints), you’ll spot endemic greenery between the maroon-colored slopes and jagged rock formations. En route, pause outside Puerto de Santiago to take in evocative views of Los Gigantes – a row of sheer, 1,950-feet-tall cliffs cascading into the ocean.  

Afternoon:  

In Vilaflor, fountains splash downhill across the village plaza. Los Cipreses is a smart-casual place serving traditional Tenerife food given a creative edge on a sunny terrace. The lightly seared Canarian cheese arrives with spoonfuls of local palm honey and mojo sauce fresh with herbs. Pop into Mar de Nubes, a concept boutique spotlighting the island’s crop of contemporary artisans, including undulating ocean-inspired ceramics. A 40-minute drive leads back to Costa Adeje for a swim at Playa de la Enramada, a stretch of glowing black sand beside La Caleta Bay.  

Evening:  

Over sunset mojitos and live music at Coqueluche, La Enramada’s chiringuito (beach bar), you’ll see the sky turn peach-tinged above neighboring island La Gomera. Bésame Mucho, overlooking Playa de Troya, specializes in market-driven seafood, arroces (rice dishes), and intense Tenerife wines.  

Morning:  

Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the island’s capital, is home to the TEA gallery, which houses rotating shows as bold as the angular glass-fronted building created by Herzog & de Meuron. The 2026 calendar features local multimedia duo Israel Pérez and María Requena. Stroll through the sand-hued Mercado de Nuestra Señora de África, great for tasting local products such as almogrote, a spicy cheese-based paste, and for exploring the range of spices on sale. Then head into Santa Cruz’s old town, where fiery-orange flamboyán trees bloom on lushly shaded plazas. 

Afternoon:  

Canarian couple Iciar Pérez and Juan Carlos Pérez-Alcalde are among a wave of emerging chefs celebrating the archipelago’s gastronomy in inventive ways. At their restaurant, Moral – a stylishly converted mansion with just seven tables – the menu is an ode to seasonal produce. Try the velvety glazed eggplant topped with yogurt and thinly shaved mushrooms, and the delicate flan served with a mascarpone Chantilly cream. Continue to neighboring San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife’s former capital, home to hundreds of heritage mansions. At Laja Estudio you’ll find original jewelry in beachy colors, while Dicky Morgan stocks small-scale Spanish fashion labels. 

Evening:  

Sample a platter of jamón de bellota (Ibérico ham) at La Reserva de Herradores, an elevated wine and tapas bar with open-air tables and classic Tenerife grapes like listán negro. 

Morning:  

Tenerife’s wilder north-facing coast is known for its prized wineries – most grapes grow on steeply stacked vineyards, meaning the harvest is still done by hand. Join a two-hour guided tour at Bodegas Viñátigo, a respected family project working with leading winemaker Elena Batista Herrera. You’ll wander through vines reviving rare regional grape varieties, before ending with a tasting. 

Afternoon:  

Electric-green banana-palm terraces fringe the curving road to Garachico, one of Tenerife’s loveliest coastal villages. A whitewashed bell tower marks the old town, filled with pastel-colored homes. One of these is now seafood-focused El Rebojo, where you can dine in the original courtyard. Take an afternoon dip at El Caletón, a series of natural saltwater pools sculpted along Garachico’s coast by an 18th-century eruption, or at Charco Los Chochos in nearby Los Silos.  

Evening:  

At Costa Adeje’s Qapaq, a just-bitter-enough pisco sour and a menu blending zingy Peruvian flavors with market ingredients await. Local white fish and Masca-grown onions infuse the citrusy ceviche.