How to Get to Tenerife, Spain

There are two airports in Tenerife – South and North. Flights from Russia are accepted by the South Airport, and flights to mainland Spain and other islands of the Canary Archipelago are served by the North.

Moscow is separated from Tenerife by only 7 hours of a non-stop flight. To date, this is the only option for a direct flight – residents of other Russian cities have to fly with a transfer either in the capital or in various parts of Europe. The most popular transfer point is Madrid. Check animalerts for overview of Europe, covering list of all countries in the continent.

For those who do not like airplanes and do not want to take to the air once again, there is an alternative way to travel to Tenerife – by ferry from mainland Spain. However, it should be borne in mind that this pleasure is not cheap. Read more about how to get to the island here.

Districts of Tenerife

Having warmed up on one side off the hot African coast and opened to the ocean winds on the other, Tenerife has secured an attraction for tourists with a variety of requests. Those who like to bask in the sun and light up will appreciate the southern regions of the island; for a quiet, cool and contemplative rest, it is better to go on the other side of the mountain range.

The conditional division into south and north should be followed when choosing a place of residence. At the same time, local distances will not prevent the traveler from enjoying all the delights of Tenerife, because it is quite small – if desired, the island can be traveled around in a few hours.

The richest choice of entertainment offers vacationers the southern resort of Las Americas. Local beaches boast excellent infrastructure and water fun for every taste. 100% touristic, this area is noisy, young people prefer to settle here. The resort is bordered by no less convenient, but calmer Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje. The latter is great for families with children, however, the price tag for food-shopping is higher here. Quite calm compared to its neighbors is Los Cristianos. This is a favorite place for older tourists.

The farther from the border with Las Americas, the quieter. A sound sleep for tourists is guaranteed by the Costa del Silencio – translated as “Coast of Silence”. Another secluded southern resort, attractive with long beaches, is El Medano. This windy region is very popular with surfers.

The tourist center of the northern coast of Tenerife, as well as historically the first resort on the islands – Puerto de la Cruz. This area is the exact opposite of the dry south. The climate here is milder and more humid, conducive to the development of lush vegetation. The region differs in character. If in Las Americas fun “a la Miami” reigns, then in Puerto de la Cruz guests are received slowly, with Canarian-Spanish hospitality and a touch of English equanimity, which is remembered here from the time of the first tourists who arrived on the coast.

The capital of the island – Santa Cruz de Tenerife – unlike other capital cities – a calm city. Nightlife is almost absent here, and the resort from it is not important because of not the best ecology. The city is interesting from a tourist point of view, but not suitable for living and recreation.

Tenerife Hotels

The “star rating” of most hotels on the island corresponds to the declared category, the hotels are distinguished by a high level of service and a wide range of services. At the same time, they are focused on guests with a wide range of income levels, so finding a budget room, if desired, is not difficult. So, the average cost of living in a 3 * hotel in a popular resort is 50-80 EUR per day. Chic, as on postcards, a stay in a 5 * hotel will cost 2000 EUR or more.

Intermediary sites also offer other accommodation options: hostels (25-30 EUR), apartments (30-50 EUR), houses and villas (200-400 EUR).

There are enough hotels in Tenerife, but they are in great demand all year round, so it is better to book a room a few weeks in advance.

Transport

“Guagua” – Tenerife buses – connect island resorts with most tourist places, transportation services are provided by TITSA. The cost of one trip varies from 1.45 to 6 EUR depending on the destination. A godsend for the thrifty is the Ten+ card, which allows you to save 30 to 50% on travel. It costs 2 EUR and is sold at bus stations and retail outlets with a round green badge. There are such kiosks, including at airports. Using BonaVia is simple: tell the bus driver your destination, and he will debit the required amount from your account. The prices on the page are for August 2021.

You can’t buy a BonaVia card in the transport itself, but a one-time trip is easy. It’s better to take care of paying for the fare in advance, because according to existing rules, the driver cannot accept a bill with a denomination of more than 20 EUR.

BonaVia is also valid for tram travel. The only train route connects Santa Cruz de Tenerife and La Laguna.

The official taxi stands out in the general flow of cars in white and with a green checkered roof. Rates are slightly higher at night, weekends and holidays.

It is a special pleasure to move around the hilly Tenerife on a bicycle. Athletes love the island for its relief. The most prepared at the rental points will be offered mountain transport. For trips around the city, you can take a regular bike. The rental price, depending on the purpose of the walk, is 8-30 EUR per day. Also in Tenerife you can rent scooters and motorcycles. Ride a segway costs from 15 to 60 EUR.

Other islands of the archipelago can be reached by plane or ferry for 50-100 EUR round trip.

Rent a Car

In Tenerife, a car is almost a necessity. Too different to be boring, too beautiful to be boring, the island guarantees an exciting experience for the autotraveller and a lack of space on the camera’s memory card. And you can also take the “wheels” with you on the ferry, go to other islands and thus explore the entire archipelago up and down.

You can rent a car in advance, but there will be no problems with this on the spot. Feeling the spirit of freedom on vacation (the island, after all), do not relax behind the wheel. The Spaniards are generally tolerant of tourists who are slow on the road, but the police will fine you for violating traffic rules, regardless of the status of “non-local”. Do not ignore the rules of parking. Parking is prohibited in places marked with yellow stripes. White markings mean that you can only park during certain hours. The blue line is a paid parking sign.

There are sometimes queues in front of parking spaces, and this can really be a problem on the island. Impatient tourists are helped out by underground parking lots, where there are more free places. Near attractions, parking is free, but you will have to look for unoccupied space.

Guests of Tenerife rarely complain about traffic jams, difficulties are most likely on the roads of the capital and southern regions.

Districts of Tenerife