Centro
First-timersThe centre and seafront.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife city guide
Things To Do In Santa Cruz de Tenerife
The capital of Tenerife, with one of the biggest carnivals in the world, a Calatrava concert hall on the sea, laurel forests in the hills and Spain's highest mountain inland.
3,715 m
Mount Teide, the highest in Spain
35 min
To La Laguna by tram
Sahara
Sand on Las Teresitas
Carnival and a volcano
Santa Cruz is a real Canarian city rather than a resort, the capital of Tenerife and a busy port. It is best known for its carnival, one of the largest in the world, when the whole city dances in the streets for weeks in February.
Above the city, the Anaga mountains are covered in ancient laurel forest, and the old university town of La Laguna, a UNESCO site, is about thirty-five minutes away by tram. In the middle of the island rises Mount Teide, at 3,715 metres the highest point in Spain.
The Canaries have spring-like weather all year. Three days is right, with Teide and the south coast's whales as trips.
Where to stay
Stay in the centre near the port, or in La Laguna for students and bars.
La Laguna
StudentsThe UNESCO university town.
Map © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
The Auditorio de Tenerife, a curving white concert hall by Santiago Calatrava, stands on the seafront. The Parque García Sanabria is the city's shady park, and the TEA arts centre holds modern art.
Playa de Las Teresitas, a golden beach made with sand brought from the Sahara, is fifteen minutes north.
Hike in the Anaga Rural Park, a biosphere reserve of laurel forest, ridges and remote villages.
Take a day to Teide National Park: a cable car climbs close to the summit, and the last stretch to the top needs a free permit booked well in advance.
Free things
Free things to do in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
The seafront, the parks and Las Teresitas beach are free.
Hiking in Anaga and Teide National Park is free.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Canarian food: papas arrugadas, wrinkled salted potatoes with mojo sauce, fresh fish and goat's cheese. Guachinches, informal wine houses in the north of the island, serve home cooking cheaply.
A menú del día is €10 to €14.
Nightlife
Going out in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Santa Cruz's nightlife is best at carnival; the rest of the year, bars around the centre and La Laguna's student scene are the places.
A beer is €1.50 to €3.
Getting around
Getting around Santa Cruz de Tenerife
The centre is walkable. A tram links Santa Cruz with La Laguna.
Tenerife North Airport is close; Tenerife South is about an hour by bus. Buses cover the island, but a car is easiest for Teide and Anaga.
Costs
What Santa Cruz de Tenerife costs
Santa Cruz is cheap. Dorms start around €18. A careful day is €40 to €55.
Carnival prices run higher.
The euro is the currency. Cards work almost everywhere, though small bars still like cash.
Safety
Staying safe in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Santa Cruz is safe.
On Teide, altitude and cold catch people out; bring layers and water. The summit trail needs a permit.
The Atlantic has strong currents at some beaches.
Emergency number is 112, with English-speaking operators usually available.
Day trips from Santa Cruz de Tenerife
The volcano and the island.
Teide National Park
The volcano and a cable car.
Masca
A village in a deep ravine.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The carnival is one of the biggest in the world.
3–4 October
OCR CrossFast Race Civic Military
The OCR CrossFast Race Civic Military Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2026 is a race that tests participants' endurance, strength, and determination. It features a…
25 October
DJ Symphonic
DJ Symphonic is a unique fusion of symphony orchestra and DJ music, blending orchestral and electronic styles. The performance features popular pop and electronic…
3 Jul – 18 Oct
A Parrot, Three Bars, & Gold Teeth
A parrot, three bars, and gold teeth — the title alone hints at the layered, fragmented world this exhibition explores. Artists Israel Pérez and…
24 Jul – 24 Oct
XXXIV Congress of Music Bands
The XXXIV Congress of Music Bands of Tenerife brings together federated bands across twelve municipalities from late July to late October 2026. You will…
12 Sep – 3 Oct
Small-Format Opera
Opera en minuscula is a chamber opera series presented by Ópera de Tenerife, featuring small-format productions across various intimate venues. The program includes contemporary…
3 October
The Closure of Love
The Closure of Love is a chamber opera that explores the intense final moments between a man and a woman after their relationship ends.…
7–8 October
Cinema Shadow
Cinema Shadow is a family shadow theater show by Valeria Guglietti that creatively uses hand shadows and small accessories to depict characters and scenes…
9–10 October
Canarias Jazz Showroom
Canarias Jazz Showroom returns to Auditorio de Tenerife with two concert sessions. The second session features the Cristopher Pérez Quartet, offering modern jazz with…
When to go
Warm all year. February brings carnival.
Jan
Warm
Feb
Carnival
Mar
Warm
Apr
Warm
May
Good
Jun
Corpus Christi
Jul
Hot
Aug
Hot
Sep
Good
Oct
Good
Nov
Warm
Dec
Christmas
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. Spring-like all year.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Carnival prices run higher.
—
- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Santa Cruz de Tenerife travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
How big is the Tenerife carnival?
One of the biggest in the world, filling the city for weeks.
Can I climb Teide?
Yes, but the summit trail needs a free permit booked well ahead.
What is the weather like?
Spring-like all year.
Which airport is closer?
Tenerife North; South is about an hour away.
Do I need a car?
For Teide and Anaga, it helps.
How many days do you need?
Three.
When is the best time to visit?
Any time; February for carnival.
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