🇪🇸Tenerife

Tenerife combines Mount Teide's volcanic scenery, world-class theme parks, whale watching, and year-round sunshine into one of Europe's best family destinations.

Your family guide

Tenerife with kids: volcanoes, beaches, and endless adventure

“Watch the Atlantic crash against black volcanic sand, then drive inland through misty forests to Spain's highest peak. Tenerife genuinely shifts landscape every hour.”

— San & Jo

Tenerife is one of those rare destinations that genuinely works for every member of the family. As the largest of Spain's Canary Islands, sitting in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa, it earns its nickname 'Island of Eternal Spring' with warm, sunny weather all year round. Whether the kids are obsessed with wildlife, teens want thrills, or little ones just need a safe beach for splashing, Tenerife delivers without requiring compromise.

The island's landscape will genuinely surprise you. One morning you can be standing on black volcanic sand watching the Atlantic roll in, and by afternoon you are driving through misty laurel forests or staring up at Mount Teide, a dormant volcano and Spain's highest peak at 3,718 metres. It feels like several destinations rolled into one, which is exactly why most families find that five to seven days still leaves them wanting more.

Tenerife welcomes over six million visitors a year, and the family infrastructure shows. Theme parks like Siam Park and Loro Parque sit alongside UNESCO-listed national parks and charming old villages. The food is honest and generous, the locals are warm, and the pace is relaxed enough that even a nap-time schedule does not feel like a battle. This is a place families love to visit.

Year-round sunshineEternal Spring climate

Canary Islands, SpainAtlantic Ocean, off northwest Africa

6 million+ visitors/yearMost visited Canary Island

Best things to do

Best things to do in Tenerife

Teide National Park

Mount Teide is a dormant volcano and Spain's highest peak at 3,718 metres, sitting inside a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cable car takes you close to the summit through surreal lava fields that look genuinely lunar. Kids are fascinated by the idea of walking on an old volcano, and the scenery is unlike anything else in Europe. A separate permit is needed for the final summit hike, but the cable car ride alone is remarkable.

Book the cable car in advance, especially in peak season

Half day to full day

Siam Park

Consistently rated one of the best water parks in the world, Siam Park features Thai-inspired architecture, massive water slides, a wave pool, and lazy rivers for every pace. It suits families with a wide age range brilliantly, with calmer areas for younger children and serious slides for the adrenaline seekers in your group. Arrive early to beat the queues and make the most of your day.

The lazy river is a brilliant way to recover between the big slides

Full day

Loro Parque, Puerto de la Cruz

Loro Parque is a world-class zoo and one of Tenerife's most iconic family attractions. It holds the largest parrot collection in the world, alongside gorillas, penguins, and live animal shows. Puerto de la Cruz is one of Tenerife's most charming towns, so combine your visit with a wander through its streets and a bite to eat nearby.

Check the show schedule when you arrive and plan your route around it

4-5 hours

Whale and dolphin watching

Tenerife's coastal waters are home to resident pods of whales and dolphins, making it one of the best places in Europe for wildlife spotting from a boat. Trips depart from several coastal towns and offer a genuine chance to see these animals in the wild. Sea turtles can also be spotted while snorkelling and kayaking, which adds another layer of excitement for animal-loving kids.

Morning trips tend to have calmer seas and better wildlife sightings

2-3 hours

Los Gigantes cliffs

The cliffs of Los Gigantes tower up to 800 metres above the Atlantic on Tenerife's west coast, and they are best seen from the water. A boat trip along the base of the cliffs gives you a real sense of their scale and often doubles as a dolphin-spotting excursion. The town of Los Gigantes itself has a calm black-sand beach that is great for a relaxed afternoon swim.

Combine the boat trip with a swim stop at a calm cove for the full experience

Half day

El Drago Milenario, Icod de los Vinos

This 1,000-year-old dragon tree in the town of Icod de los Vinos is one of Tenerife's most iconic natural landmarks. Kids love the story behind it, and the surrounding botanical garden makes for a pleasant short visit. The town itself has a lovely historic centre worth a quick stroll.

Pair it with a stop at a local cafe in Icod de los Vinos for a proper Canarian coffee

1-2 hours

Garachico village

Garachico is one of Tenerife's oldest and most beautiful villages, known for its natural lava rock swimming pools, whitewashed houses, small plazas, and the historic Fort San Miguel. It is a hidden gem compared to the busier resort areas, and the natural pools are brilliant for families who want calm, safe swimming in a spectacular setting.

Visit in the morning before day-trippers arrive for the most peaceful experience

2-3 hours

Stargazing near Mount Teide

Tenerife offers some of the best stargazing conditions in Europe, and the area around Mount Teide is particularly spectacular after dark. The combination of high altitude, low light pollution, and clear skies creates an experience that genuinely stops kids in their tracks. Organised sunset and stargazing tours are available and make the logistics easy for families.

Bring a warm layer even in summer as temperatures drop significantly at altitude after sunset

3-4 hours (evening)

Our verdict

How Tenerife scores for families

Kids

Between Siam Park, Loro Parque, whale watching, and volcanic scenery, Tenerife keeps children genuinely engaged. There is real variety here, not just beach days.

Culture

The Guanche heritage, the Pyramids of Güímar, the Auditorio de Tenerife, and charming old villages like Garachico give Tenerife more cultural depth than most beach destinations.

Food

Canarian cuisine is honest, hearty, and family-friendly. Papas arrugadas and mojo sauce are an instant hit with kids, and guachinches offer a wonderfully local dining experience.

Nature

A UNESCO volcano, ancient laurel forests, dramatic cliffs, and marine wildlife make Tenerife one of the most naturally diverse family destinations in Europe.

Budget

Tenerife covers a wide price range. The resort areas can add up quickly, but local restaurants, village visits, and natural attractions keep costs manageable if you plan ahead.

Planning your visit

How long should you stay in Tenerife?

3 days

Quick visit

Teide National Park, one theme park, and a coastal town. You will scratch the surface but miss the slower, more rewarding side of the island.

sweet spot

6 days

Sweet spot

Enough time for the volcano, whale watching, Siam Park, Loro Parque, a village or two, and still fit in proper beach days. This is how most families experience Tenerife at its best.

10 days

Deep dive

Add the Anaga Rural Park, Garachico, stargazing, snorkelling, and long lazy lunches at guachinches. You will leave feeling like you actually know the island.

Fun facts

Things to know about Tenerife

Hollywood came here

Tenerife's dramatic landscapes have been used as a filming location for major Hollywood productions including Fast and Furious 6, Jason Bourne, and Exodus: Gods and Kings. Next time you watch one of those films, you might recognise the scenery.

A tree older than most countries

El Drago Milenario in Icod de los Vinos is a dragon tree estimated to be around 1,000 years old. It was already ancient when Christopher Columbus was sailing the Atlantic, and it is still going strong today.

Over 50 kinds of potato

Tenerife grows more than 50 varieties of potato, which is why papas arrugadas are such a big deal in Canarian cooking. The island's volcanic soil creates ideal growing conditions, and locals take their potatoes very seriously indeed.

Taste Tenerife

What to eat with your family in Tenerife

Papas arrugadas con mojo

Kids love it

Any guachinche or local restaurant on the island

Small potatoes boiled in heavily salted water until wrinkled, served with mojo picón (spicy red sauce) or mojo verde (green herb sauce). This is the dish every visitor to Tenerife tries on day one, and most families order it every day after that. Kids love the novelty of the dipping sauces.

Carne fiesta

Local favourite

Guachinches across the north of the island

Marinated pork chunks fried in oil and seasoned with paprika, oregano, garlic, and vinegar. It is one of the most popular dishes in local Tenerife restaurants, and the flavour is deep and satisfying. Great for older kids and adults who enjoy bold, savoury food.

Sancocho canario

Must try

Restaurante El Cine, Garachico

A traditional fish stew dating back to the 15th century, made with salted fish, sweet potato, olive oil, and parsley, served with gofio flour and mojo sauce. It is a proper taste of Tenerife's history and worth trying at least once during your stay.

Almogrote

Safe choice

Most traditional tapas bars and guachinches

A Canarian cheese spread made from cured cheese, oil, and red pepper, typically served with bread as a starter. It is rich, slightly spicy, and completely addictive. A brilliant way to start a meal while the kids settle in and the mojo arrives at the table.

Bienmesabe

Kids love it

Restaurante Tasca El Olivo, Puerto de la Cruz

A sweet almond cream dessert that translates literally as 'tastes good to me'. Served as a sauce over ice cream or as a dessert in its own right, it is a guaranteed hit with children and a lovely way to end a meal in Tenerife.

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