Essential information for Tenerife
Known as ‘the island of eternal spring’ Tenerife basks in year-round sunshine, with summer temperatures starting at 25°C and rising into the 30s and you can expect around 11 hours of sunshine a day. The south and west of the island are slightly warmer than the rest. The island also gets trade winds, so there’s usually a refreshing breeze to keep things comfortable.
Winter is also pleasantly warm, except on El Teide where deep winter can see snowfall closing the mountain. Springtime is good for hiking and wildflowers. Surfers will find the best waves in March. In autumn, temperatures fall but only slightly to a very comfortable 21°C mark. There are fewer tourists and you can get a bargain as some hotels drop their prices slightly, providing an abundance of amazing cheap breaks to Tenerife.
Health and safety
You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance to cover you while you’re away. If you are visiting Tenerife specifically to take part in surfing, hiking, golf or any other sporting activities you should advise your insurer of this. See our holiday extras page for more information.
It’s also a good idea to get a European Health Insurance Card – or EHIC – before leaving the UK. Though it’s not a substitute for travel insurance, it entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Spanish nationals.
Passports and visas
British citizens don’t need a visa to enter Spain but must have a valid passport. For the most up-to-date passport and visa info, visit the foreign travel website.
Getting around
The main airport on the island is based in the south, meaning that the transfer times to the resorts in the south west can take less than half an hour while those staying in the resorts to the west and up north will only have to wait under an hour and a half to get their holiday started.
Buses run frequently across the island taking you to nearby resorts while some are available to take you right across the island. There are daily bus trips taking tourists from major resorts to the foot of Mount Teide while Siam Park offers a free bus service from major resorts to the park itself. If you are planning on using public transport a lot then it’s worth investing in a BonVia or Bono Bus card. (See the TITSA website for details.) Valid on all TITSA buses throughout the island, as well as the Santa Cruz tram network, they provide a discount on standard fares. Cards can be bought from any bus or tram station as well as some newspaper kiosks.
Advice for travellers with children
For an easy trip with your children, the shortest transfer times are in the south of the island. At just 15 minutes from the airport by taxi, Costa Silencio is a quiet resort with playgrounds, shops and restaurants.
As a family-favourite destination, holidays in Tenerife are ideal for travellers with little ones. There are plenty of sights and activities to keep the kids amused. The beaches in the southern resorts (as well as Puerto de la Cruz) are particularly child-friendly, with shallow waters and sand perfect for building castles. Older children and grown-ups can enjoy watersports ranging from surfing to diving, or go on a dolphin or whale watching excursion.
Emergency information
Call 112 for all emergencies and the operator will put you through to the police, fire brigade or ambulance service.
British Consulate
If you are a victim of crime or affected by a crisis overseas, or if something happens to a relative or partner contact the British Consulate.
Health/pharmacy information
Call 012 to contact the Canary Islands Health Service (Servicio Canario de Salud) to get more information about 24-hour clinics and chemists in your area.
Hospitals
Hospiten Sur, Playa de las Américas – Tel. 922 75 00 22
Hospital Costa Adeje – Tel. 922 79 10 00
Airports
Los Rodeos, North: Tel. 922 635 800 Reina Sofía, South: Tel. 922 759 000
Useful links
Tenerife Travel Secrets – A wealth of Tenerife information
Tenerife Explored – Off-the-beaten-track guide to the nature and culture of Tenerife
Red Queen Musings – Insider insights into daily life in Tenerife
Queenie’s Daily Snippets – Weather and local government alerts for Tenerife, updated daily