3 Days in Tenerife: The Perfect First-Timer Itinerary

Short on time? Three days is enough to taste the three faces of Tenerife — the volcano, the south's beaches and the green north-east — if you plan the days well. Here is a realistic day-by-day itinerary.

Day 1: The volcano

Head straight for the island's centrepiece. The Teleférico del Teide whisks you to 3,555m in under ten minutes, and the views over the national park are the reason everyone comes. Book your cable car slot online in advance — the cable car guide explains the permits for the summit itself — and if the sky is clear, save the afternoon for stargazing.

Day 2: The south coast

Spend the second day by the sea. Start at Playa de las Américas or the calmer Playa del Duque, then take to the water: a whale and dolphin catamaran trip is the classic afternoon, and you can book the discounted trip through our deals page. Evening options across Costa Adeje are covered in our boat trips guide.

Day 3: The green north

Give the last day to the island's culture and nature. Spend the morning in La Laguna, a UNESCO old town full of painted balconies, then drive into the Anaga mountains for a forest walk and finish at the wild black-sand Playa de Benijo as the sun drops. If you would rather have city nightlife, swap Anaga for Santa Cruz and its restaurants.

Stretching it

With a fourth or fifth day, add another beach day, a trip to Masca, or more of the north — our one-week itinerary expands this plan into a full holiday.