Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands and a travel destination that surprises visitors with its diverse landscapes, rich cultural experiences, and a climate that ensures year-round comfort. It’s a place where you’ll discover endless experiences that go beyond a simple beach holiday. From the awe-inspiring volcanic landscapes to our lively local fiestas, Tenerife is an unparalleled destination. We’ve handpicked ten highlights to ensure your stay on our island is a memorable experience.
Teide National Park: pure magnificence
Teide National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home of the volcano Mount Teide, which, at 3,718 meters, has the highest summit in Spain. Its volcanic landscapes present visitors with a surreal, nearly extra-terrestrial experience, along with paths through lava fields, craters and desert landscapes. A cable car goes nearly to the top, where panoramic views of the island and the ocean await. Mount Teide is also an excellent vantage point for astronomical observation due to the island’s clear skies and lack of light pollution.
Picture-perfect beaches: 365 days a year of seaside enjoyment
Tenerife has a surprising variety of beaches, some with black volcanic sand and others with fine golden sand. The beach Playa de El Duque, next to the hotel, with its tawny sand and first-rate services, is the perfect setting for a day of relaxation under the sun. At others, such as the beaches Playa Jardín or Playa de Benijo at the northern end of the island, visitors marvel at the sight of black volcanic sand in contrast with the blue sea. In addition, Tenerife, known as the island of eternal springtime, has an outstanding climate that allows year-round seaside enjoyment.
Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife: an international fiesta
The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is one of the largest and most exciting in the world, second only to Rio de Janeiro. For several weeks, the city is enveloped in colour, music, and fun, with parades, costume competitions, and infectious energy. One of its most highly anticipated events is the Carnival Queen pageant and the contestants’ breath-taking costumes, each a work of art. If your stay coincides with the carnival, don’t miss this incomparable fiesta.
La Laguna: a stroll through colonial history
San Cristóbal de La Laguna, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, is among Tenerife’s most charming towns. Its stone-paved streets are lined with churches and colonial-style convents, providing visitors with a unique perspective of art history. The town’s abundant cultural offerings include numerous museums, art galleries, shops and traditional Canarian pubs that serve delicious local cuisine. Strolling through the streets of La Laguna is like going back in time, as every corner is filled with history.
Los Gigantes seaside cliffs: nature in all its splendour
The Los Gigantes seaside cliffs, which rise to 600 metres above the ocean, are one of Tenerife’s most important natural wonders. Although this impressive landscape may be enjoyed from land, the best option is to take in its beauty aboard a boat. In addition to the environmental riches of this special location, whales may be observed in their natural habitat, making this visit a unique and exciting experience.
Anaga: a prehistoric natural treasure
Anaga Rural Park, as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is a natural space filled with savage beauty. Its green, mountainous landscapes contrast significantly with the rest of the island. An ancient laurel forest dating back 20 million years is the perfect backdrop for those seeking unspoilt nature and hiking trails that most people have only seen in travelogues. The panoramic views from its cliffs towering over the Atlantic Ocean are unforgettable.
Puerto de la Cruz: maritime charm and tradition
Puerto de la Cruz is one of Tenerife’s oldest tourism-oriented towns. Nested on the island’s northern coast, it offers visitors authenticity and a relaxing atmosphere. Its old quarter is a treasure trove of squares, historic buildings and small cafés. Its botanical garden is a serene oasis of over 20,000 square feet that was built in the late 1700s during the reign of King Charles III of Spain. Another popular destination is the Lago Martiánez leisure complex, with its salt-water pools designed by celebrated Canarian artist César Manrique. It is a relaxing way of enjoying the sunshine and spectacular seaside views.
Gastronomy on Tenerife: mouth-watering dishes and local wineries
The island’s cuisine is a delight for the senses, with traditional dishes such as “wrinkled” potatoes with mojo sauce, goat cheese and gofio, a traditional kind of flour made from roasted grains. Tenerife’s wines deserve special mention. With five designations of origin, the island’s wineries produce unique varieties that acquire special characteristics from the volcanic soil and favourable climate. An ancestral winemaking legacy, their grapevines predate the phylloxera plague that ravaged 19th-century European vineyards, uniquely managing to survive to the present. The wineries are located throughout the island and are open to the public as stops on wine routes and for tasting flights, which involve samples of the wines along with local products. An appealing option is to visit Tenerife’s famous guachinches, which serve locally produced wines and homemade, traditional food.
Cultural events: romerías and Easter holidays
Tenerife celebrates many different kinds of cultural events, reflecting its rich heritage. Romerías, traditional pilgrimages honouring patron saints with processions, dance and feasting, are a central part of life on the island. One of the most important is the Romería de San Marcos in Tegueste. Another deeply rooted tradition is the local celebration of the Easter holidays: La Laguna holds solemn processions, and activities in Adeje are of particular cultural and religious significance, with outdoor theatrical events drawing thousands of spectators yearly. The Feast of Corpus Christi is another crucial event celebrated on the streets of the old quarter of La Orotava. This centuries-old tradition, considered a Cultural Heritage Event, sees the arrangement of flowers interwoven in patterns of intricate religious and artistic design on the town’s streets.
Volcanic landscapes: natural wonders other than Mount Teide
In addition to Mount Teide, Tenerife offers fascinating volcanic landscapes. One example is the Malpaís de Güímar badlands, a protected, natural area with hiking trails that wind through fields of petrified lava and native plant species. Visitors may also explore singular geographical features such as the Cueva del Viento lava tube, located in Icod de los Vinos and considered one of the world’s largest tubes, a unique opportunity to experience a deeper connection with the geological forces that shaped the Canary Islands.
Tenerife is a travel destination that combines the best of nature, culture, and history amid breath-taking landscapes and a perfect climate. From the immensity of Mount Teide and the secrets of Anaga Rural Park to the vibrant cultural events of romerías and carnivals, this island has something for every kind of visitor. At Hotel Bahía del Duque, we will happily help you to discover all of these treasures. Our hotel and these unforgettable moments in this Atlantic paradise await you here!
