Tenerife Itinerary from North to South: (Boutique) Hotels, Hotspots & Nature in 7 Days

Tenerife has so much more to offer than sun, sea, and sand. During a trip across the island, you get to know Tenerife from a completely different side. The island is so diverse that you sometimes almost forget that you are 'just' in Europe you are. Thanks to the mountains, Tenerife even has nine different climate zones. While you are lying by the sea down below, you can still see snow on Mount Teide. And within a few hours, you go from green mountain villages to volcanic landscapes that feel almost otherworldly.

What many people also don't know is that Tenerife is one of the best places in the world for stargazing in the mountains. Dolphins and whales swim here along the coast all year round, and in the meantime, on the island, you can also hike, taste wine, snorkel and endlessly good food.

It is precisely that combination that makes Tenerife such a wonderful destination. A few days of slow travel in green North Tenerife, touring volcanic landscapes, and then finishing off in sunny South Tenerife. In this new Tenerife Travel Guide, we have mapped out the ultimate itinerary visiting all the hotspots on the island.

Puerto de la Cruz © Turismo de Tenerife

Overview of this 7-day Tenerife itinerary from Your Little Black Book 

• 3 nights in North Tenerife – La Laguna, Punta del Hidalgo or Puerto de la Cruz
• 1 travel day – via Masca towards South Tenerife
• 3 nights in South Tenerife – Costa Adeje, La Caleta or Abama

This route is perfect if you don't want to move every day, but still want to discover different sides of Tenerife.

Stop 1: stay 3 nights in North Tenerife

Many travelers head straight from the airport to Costa Adeje, but North Tenerife actually surprised me perhaps the most. This part of the island feels greener, quieter, and more local, with colorful streets, natural pools, small wine bars, and restaurants where you can eat the most delicious Canarian dishes.

Personally, I would choose three nights in or around La Laguna, Punta del Hidalgo, or Puerto de la Cruz. From there, you can easily explore different parts of North Tenerife without having to pack your bags again and again.

Nice hotels in North Tenerife

Luxury stay: Gran Hotel Taoro 

Gran Hotel Taoro In Puerto de la Cruz, it was the first luxury hotel in Spain in the late nineteenth century and grew into a beloved spot for the European elite. After a complete renovation, the hotel feels as if it has come completely back to life.

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© Gran Hotel Taoro

Boutique hotel: La Laguna Gran Hotel

The Laguna Grand Hotel It is perfect if you want to stay right in the atmosphere of the historic center. The rooftop pool makes this even more enjoyable, creating a city trip feeling on Tenerife.

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© La Laguna Gran Hotel

Slow travel & wellness: OCÉANO Health Spa Hotel

OCÉANO Health Spa Hotel Punta del Hidalgo is ideal if you love wellness, yoga, and sea views.

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© OCÉANO Health Spa Hotel

Small-scale & quiet: Boutique Hotel Costa Mágica

Boutique Hotel Costa Magica It is nestled among the greenery and has an infinity pool with a sea view.

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© Boutique Hotel Costa Mágica

Discover San Cristóbal de La Laguna & Santa Cruz

San Cristóbal de La Laguna immediately became one of my favorite places on Tenerife. The city feels creative and relaxed, with beautiful facades, cozy terraces, and nice restaurants hidden in historic buildings. It is a place where you actually don't want to plan anything, but just want to wander around and occasionally sit down somewhere for coffee, tapas, or a good glass of wine.

What you definitely want to do here is start the morning at the Mercado Municipal. The market opens early in the morning and usually closes around 2:00 PM, which is precisely why it is nice to go there early in the day. You will find fresh fruit, fish, herbs, sweets, and all kinds of local products.

For the true local experience, order a Barraquito at the coffee bar here. A typical drink from Tenerife, made with Licor 43, cinnamon, milk, coffee, condensed milk, and lemon, that is delicious.

For lunch, you'll want to pull up a chair at El Guaydil, where dishes are combined with Asian influences. Or opt for authentic food at Tasca El Obispado in the old town. Restaurante Meson del Norte is also a nice, authentic spot.

I also found Santa Cruz surprisingly nice for experiencing local life on Tenerife. Looking for good food? At Panzaburro Gastrotasca, they cook with produce from their own vegetable garden in Anaga Nature Park. 

La Laguna, Tenerife © Turismo de Tenerife

Tour through Anaga Rural Park

One of the most beautiful activities on Tenerife is without a doubt a tour through the Anaga Rural ParkThis part of the island feels completely different from the rest of Tenerife. Think of misty forests, winding roads, and beautiful viewpoints.

It is precisely here that you discover just how versatile Tenerife truly is. Along the way, you come across small villages where the pace is even slower and where you spontaneously linger on a terrace.

After a day like this, Punta del Hidalgo is the perfect place to end the afternoon peacefully. Stroll along the sea, take a dip in the natural pools, and finish the day with an elaborate dinner as the sun slowly sets. Tip: you can easily visit Anaga Rural Park with the bus explore.

Tour of Anaga Rural Park

Street art & hidden gems in Puerto de la Cruz

Do you also always look for street art wherever you go? Then you absolutely want to make time for Puerto de la Cruz. During a walk through the old center, I unexpectedly came across a lot of cool graffiti and street art here.

Local artists decided to breathe new life into the dilapidated buildings in the old center with colorful artworks, giving the city a creative atmosphere that you might not immediately expect on Tenerife.

For lunch or dinner in Puerto de la Cruz, Zicatela and El Taller Seve Díaz* are highly recommended. Zicatela, in particular, is one of those places where you easily linger for cocktails and shared dining on the green patio.

Puerto de la Cruz © Turismo de Tenerife

| TIP: Check out our shortlist of the best restaurants in Tenerife, from local spots to seaside hotspots >>

Garachico feels like you are outside Europe for a moment.

If I were to visit one place on Tenerife again, it would be Garachico. This colorful seaside town is home to, among other things, the charming home-style restaurant Ardeola.

Imagine yourself in a completely different world for a moment… The colorful buildings, palm trees, and high cliffs behind the village almost give you the feeling that you have landed somewhere in South America. It is delightful to wander through the small streets here without a plan.

Tip: definitely take a dip in the Natural Pools on the Garachico boulevard. It is especially beautiful here in the late afternoon.

On the way, you will also want to stop in Icod de los Vinos at Casa del Drago, where you can order local tapas, good wines, and extensive cheese boards with a view of the famous Drago Milenario.

Also nice in this region are Hotel San Roque en Hotel Rural La Quinta Roja, two hotels that are unique and highly recommended for those who love special hotels with history.

Garachico © Turismo de Tenerife

Go wine tasting at Casa del Vino

What many people don't know is that Tenerife is also a surprisingly good wine destination. To be honest, I had no idea how delicious the local wines here are until I did a wine tasting at Casa del Vino.

Due to the climatic differences on the island, many different wines can be produced. In North Tenerife, you mainly find red wine, while in South Tenerife, you find white wine.

At Casa del Vino, a new tasting list featuring twelve local wines is compiled every two weeks. Nice detail: in the shop, you can choose from approximately 400 bottles of wine, all produced on Tenerife.

Casa del Vino © Turismo de Tenerife

Travel day: via beautiful Masca towards South Tenerife

On your way to South Tenerife, you absolutely must visit Masca. This small village is nestled among the deep ravines of Rural Park Teno, and the route there alone is worth the trip. Masca is easily accessible by public transport (or, for example, a private tour). For example, check this website for more information >>

In the past, the residents of Masca were almost completely isolated from the rest of the island and grew everything themselves. It still feels as if time moves slower here.

My tip? Take a seat on the terrace of Restaurante Chez Arlette, order a glass of local wine, and simply enjoy the view of the mountains.

On the way south, you also pass the impressive cliffs of Los Gigantes, one of the most beautiful coastal areas of Tenerife.

Masca Valley

Stop 2: stay 3 nights in South Tenerife

After a few days surrounded by greenery, South Tenerife feels almost as if you have arrived on a different island. More sun, beach clubs, luxury hotels, and long lunches by the sea.

Hotels in South Tenerife

Luxury stay: The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama 

The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama remains one of the most special hotels in Tenerife. The iconic pink hotel among the palm trees feels almost cinematic.

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© The Ritz-Carlton Abama

Design hotel: Royal Hideaway Corales Resort

Royal Hideaway Corales Resort La Caleta is perfect if you love design hotels and high-level restaurants.

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© Royal Hideaway Corales Resort

Boutique luxury: Royal River

Royal River has villas with private pools and a quiet, luxurious atmosphere.

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© Royal River

Budget-proof: HOVIMA Suites Costa Adeje

HOVIMA Suites Costa Adeje is close to beaches, restaurants and hotspots.

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© HOVIMA Suites Costa Adeje

Go stargazing at Teide National Park

What many people don't know is that Tenerife is one of the best places in the world to stargaze. The island has been officially declared a Starlight Destination and, along with La Palma, Chile, and Hawaii, has some of the best skies for stargazing.

From South Tenerife you can easily a Stargazing Tour Book trips to Teide National Park. Various tours depart from Costa Adeje in the evening, in particular, and your hotel can organize this very well for you.

Thanks to the clear sky, you can see thousands of stars incredibly well here. Even if you normally aren't that interested in stars, this remains a special experience.

Mount Teide, at 3716 meters, is the highest mountain in Spain, and the national park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The volcanic landscape is incredibly beautiful and feels almost as if you have landed on another planet.

Book a stargazing tour here

Stargazing in Tenerife

Go whale and dolphin spotting at Los Gigantes

Daily departures from Los Acantilados de Los Gigantes different tours to spot whales and dolphins. And the special thing is: on Tenerife, you can do this all year round. The waters between Tenerife and La Gomera even form Europe's first Whale Heritage Site, a protected marine area where pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins, among others, live permanently. In addition, many more species of cetaceans are regularly spotted here.

During our tour, we saw Pilot Whales and Bottlenose Dolphins, among others, while the impressive cliffs of Los Gigantes loomed in the background. The view from the water alone makes this activity worthwhile. Tip: Plan this tour during your stay in South Tenerife and always choose an officially licensed organization that follows guidelines for sustainable whale tourism and prioritizes the welfare of the animals. Read the blog about the tour we took here as well >>

Whale watching

Los Gigantes

Long lunches & beach clubs in South Tenerife

La Caleta has exactly the relaxed atmosphere you want during the last days of your trip. No rush, just a leisurely lunch by the sea and then slowly rolling over to a beach club or cocktail bar.

For lunch, you will want to make a reservation at La Vieja or La Masía del Mar, two classics for fish and seafood with a view of the Atlantic Ocean.

Also nice: an afternoon at Bahía Beach Club, where you can easily hang out for hours with loungers, cocktails, and sunset views.

Do you want to really splurge one last time? Then Tenerife has a surprising number of good fine dining restaurants. At Restaurant Nub*, the flavors of Tenerife come together with Chilean and Italian influences, and at San Hô*, it is all about creative dishes where Asian and South American flavors combine with ingredients from the Canary Islands. The perfect end to your vacation!

© Restaurant Nub* (Bahía del Duque)

Why this combination of North and South Tenerife works so well

What makes this itinerary so enjoyable for me is that you really get to know different sides of Tenerife in just one week. In the north, everything revolves more around nature, local restaurants, and slow travel. The days here fill up almost automatically with long lunches at local restaurants, spontaneous stops at beautiful viewpoints, and villages.

It is precisely the combination with the south that makes this trip so fun and diverse. It feels completely different there. More sun, trendy beach clubs, luxury hotels, and long evenings with a view of the sea. In my opinion, it is precisely this variety that makes Tenerife much more interesting than many people expect beforehand. 

And honestly? I think many travelers still underestimate Tenerife. Even though it is actually very easy to plan a special vacation here where boutique hotels, good restaurants, wellness, nature, and vineyards alternate. 

Extra travel tips for your holiday in Tenerife 

Don't plan too much in one day

That might sound logical, but Tenerife is truly one of those destinations where you don't want to tick everything off. Some of the best moments actually happen spontaneously. An extra stop during a private tour or a restaurant where you end up sitting all evening lingering over dinner. 

Take your time for lunches

One of the nicest things about Tenerife, I thought, was how relaxed everyone lives. Lunch here isn't something you just grab quickly in between other things. Instead, reserve a table with a view, order several dishes to share, and make it a relaxed afternoon.

Combine boutique hotels with one luxurious finale.

What I personally always enjoy while traveling is alternating boutique hotels with a few nights at a luxury resort at the end of the trip. On Tenerife, that works perfectly. First the greener north with small-scale hotels, and then finishing at a hotel like The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama, or Royal Hideaway Corales Resort. Tip: if your budget doesn't allow you to stay at The Ritz, you could, for example, go there for lunch or dinner.

Just to recap: YLBB's favorite spots in Tenerife

• For boutique hotels: La Laguna Gran Hotel, Hotel San Roque and Boutique Hotel Costa Mágica
• For wellness: OCÉANO Health Spa Hotel
• For luxury resorts: The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama and Royal Hideaway Corales Resort
• For nature: Anaga Rural Park and Teide National Park
• For wine tastings: Bodegas Monje and Bodegas Frontos
• For long lunches: La Vieja and La Masía del Mar
• For fine dining: MB**, Restaurant Nub* and San Hô*
• For charming villages and places: Garachico and Punta del Hidalgo

© San Hô*

More Tenerife travel tips on Your Little Black Book 

• The best restaurants in Tenerife you want to know >>
• Fun things to do in Tenerife; this is your bucket list >>
• Find your perfect hotel in Tenerife here >>
• Whale and dolphin spotting >>
• These are the local dishes on Tenerife that you want to taste >>
• Read all about stargazing in Tenerife here >>
• Visit Mount Teide National Park on Tenerife >>
• Must visit: the Masca Valley in Tenerife >>

more Tenerife tips