Things to Do in Tenerife: The 14 Best Experiences (2026)

Tenerife packs an absurd amount into one island: the highest peak in Spain, beaches that win awards, water parks that beat the world, and an ocean full of whales. Here are the 14 experiences that should anchor any visit, roughly in the order of "do not miss this".

The unmissable four

1. Teide National Park — Spain's highest mountain, reached by cable car or hike. The lava landscapes and sunset are otherworldly; book the cable car online.
2. Siam Park — voted the world's best water park. Go early, go midweek.
3. Beaches — from the golden resort sands of the south to the wild black-sand coves of the north. El Médano's long windsurfing beach is the classic all-rounder.
4. Whale watching — resident dolphins and pilot whales swim off Los Cristianos all year; a morning boat trip is the easiest "wow" on the island.

Nature and adventure

1. Hiking — the Anaga laurel forest and the Teide trails cover every level, from strolls to summit climbs.
2. Snorkeling and diving — clear water, sea turtles at El Médano and volcanic walls off the south coast.
3. Stargazing — Teide's UNESCO-certified dark skies, with tours that make astronomy effortless.
4. Surfing and wind sports — El Médano's trade winds and the south coast's beach breaks.
5. Golf — winter golf on cliff-top courses.
6. Loro Parque — the family megastar in Puerto de la Cruz, with orcas, parrots and penguins.

Culture and slow travel

1. Museums — Guanche mummies and contemporary art in Santa Cruz, mostly free on Sundays.
2. The old towns — La Laguna, La Orotava and Garachico, colonial architecture without the crowds of the coast.
3. Carnival and fiestas — February's Santa Cruz carnival and the summer village fiestas are the island's biggest cultural moments.
4. Food — papas arrugadas, fresh fish and wines from the north; see our full food guide for where.

How to fit it all in

You cannot do all 14 in a long weekend — that is the point. Pick three "unmissable" ones, add one nature and one culture pick, and leave the rest for a second visit. Our itinerary plans turn the list into day-by-day routes, and the best time to visit guide tells you when to time it all.