Since the 1970s Tenerife has been the destination of choice for sun-starved Europeans hoping to top up their vitamin D levels during the off-peak winter months. With year-round temperatures rarely dipping below 15C and seldom soaring higher than 30C, Tenerife has earned itself a reputation as Europe's southernmost budget escape. We recommend you desert the island's barren booze towns and head to the verdant north for the refined charms of Tenerife's capital.
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01
Essentials
| 01 |
Santa Cruz is mostly populated by elegant locals and a limited number of well-groomed tourists, so polo shirts and loafers (no socks) are the order of the day. |
| 02 |
Hire a car and head for the TF-24 which bissects the island and will take you to Pico del Teide, the third tallest volcano in the world. |
| 03 |
Playa de Las Teresitas is the only white-sand beach on the north of the island because it is man made. A kilometre long and often deserted, it makes for a stunning day's bathing. |
| 04 |
Santa Cruz hosts the largest street carnival outside Rio de Janeiro every February. Festivities last all month, so bring a spare liver. |
| 05 |
Make friends with somebody who knows somebody and blag a seat on one of the clandestine boats heading to the virtually deserted island of La Graciosa off the coast of Fuerteventura. |
| 06 |
Canarians like to party. Nowhere gets going until at least 02.00. |
| 07 |
OK, so we're a bit bored of Calatrava, but once around the Auditorio de Tenerife is a must. |
| 08 |
If you're hiring a car, travel to Garachico, outside of Santa Cruz, and stay at the Hotel San Roque. This former Genoan aristocrat's residence is a gem. |
| 09 |
Make sure you try the local dish, papas arrugadas (wrinkly new potatoes) doused in mojo (the ubiquitous local sauce). |
| 10 |
For a lazy day out, grab a picnic and head to the Jardín Botánico in Puerto de la Cruz. |
02
Hotels
Independent and easy
Hotel Taburiente
24a Calle Dr José Naveiras
+ 34 922 276 000
hoteltaburiente.com
Small and uniqueHotel San Roque
32 Calle Esteban de Ponte,
Garachico (outside Santa Cruz)
+ 34 922 133 435
hotelsanroque.comPremium
Sheraton Mencey Hotel
38 Calle Dr José Naveiras
+ 34 922 609 900
starwoodhotels.com
03
Dining
Fast breakfast
Café Numancia
Corner of Calle de Numancia and Avenida Venticinco de Julio
Leisurely breakfast
Sheraton Mencey terrace
38 Calle Dr José Naveiras
+ 34 922 609 900
Lunch with friends
Café del Principe
Plaza del Principe de Asturias
+ 34 922 278 810
Picnic spot
Playa de las Teresitas
Head north out of Santa Cruz for 5km on the TF-11 highway
Drinks and an open-air movie
Parque Cultural Viera y Clavijo
Avenida de las Asuncionistas
+ 34 922 606 200
Sunset cocktail
Real Club Náutico de Tenerife
Avenida Francisco La Roche
+ 34 922 273 700
rcnt.es
Dinner for two
Taberna de La Alameda
1 Calle Bethencourt Alfonso
Dinner with friends
Tasca La Rebotica
17 Calle San Francisco Javier
Big dinner with friends
La Cazuela
34 Calle Robayana
+ 34 922 272 300
Late bite
Da Canio III
76 Calle San Martín
+ 34 922 248 131
Drink after dinner
Bulan
35 Calle Antonio Dominguez Alfonso
+ 34 922 274 116
bulantenerife.com
Late drinks
Jam
5 Avenida Constitución
On the tiles
Calle La Noria
The heart of carnival every February, all the bars and clubs along this stretch are relaxed and fun.
04
Reading
Newsstand
Quiosco Rambla
Rambla General Franco
05
Basics
Acuña Gonzalez pharmacy
15 Calle de Robayna
+ 34 922 273 590
06
Shopping
Something you can't get anywhere else
Statuettes and iconography
Corner of Calle Valentin Sanz and Calle del Mirlo
Lost luggage - where to buy shirts, socks and underwear
El Corte Inglés
7 Avenida Tres de Mayo
+ 34 922 849 400
Something for the kids
Ice Cream from La Flor de Alicante
29 Calle La Rosa
+ 34 922 283 461
Place to buy picnic items
Horno de Pan
Corner of Calle Méndez Nuñez and Calle de San Antonio
Something for yourself
A sky-blue property in Las Mimosas
From €50,000
07
Two hour tour
| 01 |
Járdin Botaníco
2 Calle Retama
Puerto de la Cruz |
02 |
Auditorio de Tenerife
1 Avenida de la Constitución
+ 34 922 568 600
auditoriodetenerife.com |
08
Limousine/car
Niza Cars
Aeropuerto Los Rodeos
+ 34 922 792 925
nizacars.com
09
Transport
Private yacht hire
Aventura Yachts
aventura.nl
Bus
TITSA 'guaguas' pass
Covers the entire island for as little as €12. Clean, comfortable and punctual.
10
Fitness
Good gym
Universal Gym
11 Calle Santa Teresa de Jornet
Good running route
Take Rambla del General Franco and head for the port.
Alternative diversion
Pico del Teide
Cycling up the winding roads to the volcano - the third highest in the world - is a popular Canarian pastime.