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How many days in Tenerife? 5 days: Mount Teide, Anaga, Masca and the coast
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Tenerife is the largest Canary Island and much more than its southern resorts: it has Spain's highest mountain, Mount Teide (3,715 m), in a lunar national park, ancient laurel forests in the Anaga mountains, colonial towns in the green north and dramatic sea cliffs at Los Gigantes. Five days with a car covers the volcano, the north's towns and forests, the west coast and a whale-watching trip, with beach time in between. The climate is mild all year, which makes it Europe's favourite winter-sun island.
Short answer
Three days covers Teide, the north (La Laguna, La Orotava) and a whale-watching trip. Five days adds Anaga, Masca and beach days.
The 5-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Mount Teide
Morning. Drive into the Teide National Park (UNESCO), a crater 17 km across with lava fields and the Roques de García rock formations. Take the cable car (about €40-45 return; book a time slot) to 3,555 metres. The path to the summit needs a free permit, booked online weeks or months ahead.
Afternoon. Walk around the Roques de García (about 1 hour) and see the volcanic colours of the Minas de San José. Have lunch at the Parador inside the park.
Evening. Stay for the sunset and a stargazing tour (about €60-90): Teide's sky is one of the best in the world for astronomy, with professional observatories on the mountain.
The summit is cold even in summer and the air is thin; move slowly and bring warm layers. The cable car closes in strong winds.
Day 2: La Laguna and Anaga
Morning. Visit San Cristóbal de La Laguna (UNESCO), the former capital, whose grid of colonial streets was a model for cities in the Americas. See the cathedral and the mansions of Calle San Agustín.
Afternoon. Drive into the Anaga Rural Park (UNESCO biosphere reserve), mountains covered with laurel forest (laurisilva), a relic of the forests that covered Europe millions of years ago. Walk the Sendero de los Sentidos near Cruz del Carmen, then go down to the coastal villages of Taganana and Roque de las Bodegas for fish.
Evening. Have dinner in Santa Cruz, the capital, and see the white wave of the Auditorio de Tenerife by Santiago Calatrava.
Anaga's roads are narrow and winding; allow plenty of time and drive carefully.
Day 3: La Orotava, Puerto de la Cruz and Garachico
Morning. Walk the steep streets of La Orotava, with Canarian balconies of carved wood, such as the Casa de los Balcones.
Afternoon. Visit Puerto de la Cruz: the Lago Martiánez seawater pools designed by César Manrique and the Botanical Garden; families can choose Loro Parque (about €40+). Continue to Garachico, a town partly buried by a lava flow in 1706, and swim in the natural rock pools of El Caletón.
Evening. Have dinner in Garachico or Puerto de la Cruz.
The north is greener and cooler than the south, and often cloudy in the afternoon; it is still the best part of the island for culture.
Day 4: Masca and Los Gigantes
Morning. Drive the mountain road to Masca, a hamlet on a ridge in the Teno mountains. The hike down the Masca ravine to the sea requires a booking and fee, and has had closures; check the current status.
Afternoon. Take a whale and dolphin watching boat from Los Gigantes or Puerto Colón (about €30-60): pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins live off the south-west coast all year. Boats pass below the Acantilados de Los Gigantes, cliffs up to 600 metres high.
Evening. Watch the sunset over La Gomera island from the west coast.
Choose a whale-watching boat with the 'Barco Azul' certification, which respects distances and time limits with the animals.
Day 5: The south's beaches
Morning. Relax on the southern beaches: Playa del Duque in Costa Adeje, El Médano (windsurfing), or Playa de las Teresitas near Santa Cruz, with golden sand imported from the Sahara.
Afternoon. Families can spend the day at Siam Park, often voted one of the world's best water parks.
Evening. Have a final dinner of grilled fish in Los Abrigos or Las Galletas, fishing villages in the south.
The south is sunnier and drier; the north is greener. Many visitors split their stay.
Only have 3 days?
With 3 days, do Days 1, 3 and 4.
Got extra days?
With more time, take the ferry to La Gomera (about 50 minutes from Los Cristianos) for its laurel forests and the whistled language, or to La Palma.
Where to stay in Tenerife
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Puerto de la Cruz / Santa Cruz | Cheaper, more local, good for the north. | €70-120 |
| Mid-range | Costa Adeje / Los Cristianos | Sunny south, beaches, whale-watching boats. | €120-220 |
| Mid-range | La Orotava / Garachico rural hotels | Historic houses in the green north. | €100-180 |
| Comfort | Costa Adeje luxury resorts | Beachfront resorts with pools and spas. | €300-700 |
Getting around
Rent a car: it is the easiest way to see the island, and rentals are cheap. TITSA buses connect the main towns. Tenerife has two airports: Tenerife South (TFS), near the resorts, and Tenerife North (TFN), near La Laguna. Ferries go to La Gomera and the other islands.
What to eat in Tenerife
Canarian food is simple and good: papas arrugadas (wrinkly salted potatoes) with red and green mojo sauces, conejo en salmorejo (rabbit in a garlic-paprika marinade), fresh fish such as vieja (parrotfish), goat cheese, and gofio, toasted grain flour. Try a barraquito, a layered coffee with condensed milk and liqueur. In autumn, guachinches in the north, simple family restaurants serving their own wine, are a local tradition. A meal costs €15-30.
Best time to visit
All year: Tenerife has 'eternal spring', with highs of about 20-22°C in winter and 26-29°C in summer. Winter is the main season for northern Europeans. Summer is warmer and busy with families. The Santa Cruz Carnival (February) is one of the biggest in the world.
Month-by-month weather for Tenerife →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | €40 | €85 | €250 |
| Food & drink | €20 | €40 | €80 |
| Sights & activities | €15 | €45 | €100 |
| Car (share) & fuel | €15 | €20 | €40 |
| Total per person, per day | about €90 | about €190 | about €470 |
Approximate 2026 prices. The Canary Islands have a lower VAT (IGIC) than mainland Spain and no tourist tax at the time of writing.
Before you go
Common questions
Do I need a permit to climb Teide?
Yes, for the final path to the summit crater from the cable car station; it is free but must be booked online, often months ahead. Without it, you can visit the two viewpoints at the top station.
North or south Tenerife?
South for reliable sunshine and beaches; north for greener landscapes, colonial towns and a more Canarian atmosphere.
Do I need a car?
For Teide, Anaga and Masca, a car makes things much easier. Buses work for travel between towns.
Is Tenerife good for families?
Very: beaches, Siam Park, Loro Parque, whale watching and mild weather all year.
Can I swim in winter?
Yes: the sea is about 19-20°C in winter, cool but pleasant on sunny days.
Is Masca open?
The village is always accessible by road. The ravine hike has had closures and now requires booking; check the current status.
Which beach is the best?
Playa de las Teresitas for golden sand near Santa Cruz, Playa del Duque for a resort beach, El Médano for wind sports, and natural pools like Garachico's for swimming in the rocks.
How this guide was made
Written by hand, without AI, from experience planning Spain trips. Prices and permit rules are approximate for 2026; confirm on the official Teide National Park, Teleférico del Teide, Masca and Tenerife tourism websites before booking.
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