Tenerife holidays

Freshly caught seafood and locally grown vegetables are staples of the Tenerife diet. You’ll find farmers hawking their produce at weekend farmer’s markets, where chefs gather to pick up the finest ingredients for their restaurants. With a huge variety of dishes to choose from, we recommend trying these island favourites. Papas arrugadas – Canaraian potatoes – are found on nearly every menu in Tenerife and they make the perfect accompaniment to the hearty stews you find at local restaurants all over the island. Try them with the island’s famous mojo sauce – a mildly spicy condiment made with garlic and paprika.

Tenerife is a seafood lovers heaven, due to the impressive selection of fresh fish. You’ll find limpets, lobster, crab and oysters – to name a few. Head to the seaside restaurants on the Costa Adeje for some of the best seafood on the island. For dessert, don’t forget to try quesillo. Kids and adults alike love this popular treat made with eggs, condensed milk and caramel. For a grow-up twist, try it with a glass of the local tipple, Ron Miel, a smooth and delicious honey rum.

Tenerife is home to some of the best beaches in Spain and is famed for its crystal-clear waters – ideal for swimming and snorkelling. With 15 Blue Flag beaches to choose from, the island is perfect for playing safely on the sand and in the sea. Nestled in a cove beneath the Anaga Mountains you’ll find the mile-long Playa de las Teresitas. Made from imported Saharan sand, the beach is an idyllic spot for sun-seekers. You can spend a day here relaxing on the golden sand, or take to the water on a paddle board.

For a beach day out with everything at your fingertips, head to Playa del Duque. You’ll discover a golden-sand beach with plenty of room to lay out your towel and catch some rays. Behind the beach, there’s a charming promenade lined with restaurants, cafes and boutiques. Playa La Tejita is one of the largest natural beaches on the island. Situated alongside Montaña Roja, this stretch of black sand is classed as a protected area and is a popular spot for kitesurfing and windsurfing. Free from motorised water sports, you’re guaranteed a relaxing day out while you top up the tan.

It may be the largest of the Canary Islands, but you can actually travel across Tenerife in a couple of hours. That makes it easy to explore all the wonderful cultural and historical attractions dotted around the island. Whether by bus tour or hire car, you’ll get to take in all the top sightseeing spots on your Tenerife holiday.

If you’re heading to Tenerife on a last minute escape, you might be lucky enough catch the Santa Cruz Carnival – the second biggest parade in the world after Rio. Taking place the month before lent, this vibrant carnival draws in 250,000 spectators from all over the world each year.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, San Cristóbal de La Laguna is home to many of the island’s major religious buildings. You’ll find a beautiful neoclassical cathedral, convents built in the 1600s and opulent centuries-old palaces. Don’t forget to visit the wonderful Museum of the History of Tenerife while you’re here.

For a taste of local and modern art, head to beautiful Garachio town, located on the northern coast. Pay a visit to the Convent of Saint Domingo, home to a modern art museum and don’t miss the art market held every Saturday where you can bag some unique island gifts for friends and family back home.

Sitting on the beach and working on your tan is all fine and well. But let’s face it, some of us like a bit of action on our holidays! Whether you’re into hiking up the highest peaks, quad biking across thrilling terrain, or taking to the water for thrills and spills ─ you can do it all on this exciting island.

Quadbiking: Have you ever wanted to quadbike on a volcano? This adrenaline-inducing tour takes you right to the foot of Mount Teide through some incredible scenery. You’ll get to ride through lush countryside and traditional villages as you get up close and personal with Spain’s highest mountain. Tours leave from all the major resorts.

Hiking tour: Another way to tackle the mighty Mount Teide is on foot. An organised hiking tour will take you through a dramatic barren landscape as you reach the top of this 12,000 ft giant. You’ll be rewarded with a sense of achievement ─ and some truly breathtaking views. This is one for the photo reel.

Water sports: If you’ve ever felt a bit envious of those thrill-seekers you see hopping around on jet skis and banana boats, then it’s your turn to give it a go! Tenerife is the best island in the Canaries to try your hand at water sports; take to the skies on a thrilling parasail ride, or get some serious air on a Fly Fish. Strap in!