You know that feeling when a holiday starts going slightly wrong and you can’t quite put your finger on why? It’s usually a couple of days in. You’re sitting outside a restaurant you picked because it had a nice sign, eating something that cost twice what it should, and you’ve just watched a bus disappear round a corner that you didn’t even know had a stop there. Nobody told you. The hotel didn’t mention it. Google gave you a list of “top things to do” that somehow missed all the actually useful stuff.
That quiet, deflated feeling. I know it well. I’ve watched it happen to people more times than I can count.
When you live in Tenerife long enough, you begin to see visitors making the same avoidable mistakes, not because they’re careless, but because nobody gave them the honest version before they arrived. The tourist industry here is good at selling you the dream. It’s less good at telling you where not to eat, or that the weather in the north is sometimes different from the south.
That’s not a criticism of Tenerife. It’s just how it works. And it means a lot of people leave having had a decent holiday when they could have had a genuinely good one.
So think of this as the conversation I’d have with you over a coffee before you got on the plane. No fluff, no filler. Just some of the things worth knowing
The Big Ones First
1. Booking a hotel in Playa de las Américas and thinking you’ve seen Tenerife
You haven’t. You’ve seen a resort. A perfectly fine resort, but it’s about as representative of Tenerife as an airport Wetherspoons is of British culture. The north of the island, La Orotava, Puerto de la Cruz, the Anaga mountains, are a completely different world. Try to see those too.
2. Assuming the weather is the same everywhere
This is the one that catches people most off guard. The south is almost always warm and dry. The north can be overcast, especially in summer. The mountains can be cold, foggy, and genuinely chilly, even in August. Check the forecast for the specific area you’re heading to, not just “Tenerife.”
3. Renting a car and not accounting for the roads
The motorways are fine apart from the usual traffic. But once you head into the interior or up towards Teide, the roads get narrow, steep, and winding fast. If you’re not comfortable driving mountain roads, plan accordingly. And please, don’t park on the verge near Teide National Park. Rangers do issue fines.
4. Underestimating how big the island is
Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands. Driving from the south to the north takes about an hour on a good day. People regularly book accommodation in one end of the island and then spend half their holiday in the car. Think about where you actually want to spend your time before you book.
Food and Drink Mistakes
5. Eating on the seafront promenade
The restaurants right on the front, with the laminated menus and the guy standing outside trying to wave you in, they’re not terrible, but they’re not good either. Walk one or two streets back and the quality goes up noticeably while the prices come down. Locals almost never eat on the front.
6. Not trying the local food at all
Papas arrugadas with mojo sauce. Fresh fish at a local guachinche. Gofio in almost anything. These aren’t tourist gimmicks; they’re genuinely good. If you’ve come all this way and eaten pizza every night, that’s a real shame.
7. Drinking the tap water without checking
Tap water in Tenerife is technically safe but often tastes heavily of chlorine, especially in the south. Most locals and long-term residents drink bottled water. It’s cheap and widely available. Worth knowing before you fill your bottle from the bathroom tap and wonder why it tastes odd.
8. Assuming all restaurants open at 6pm
Spanish eating times apply here. Lunch is the main meal, often between 1pm and 3pm. Dinner rarely starts before 8pm, and many local restaurants don’t really get going until 9 or 9:30. If you turn up at 6:30 expecting a full dinner service, you might find half the kitchen isn’t ready yet.
Getting Around
9. Ignoring the bus network
TITSA buses cover most of the island and they’re cheap, reliable, and air conditioned. The TITSA website has route maps and timetables. A lot of visitors hire a car out of habit when they don’t really need one, especially if they’re staying in the south and just want to get to a few beaches.
10. Not validating your bus ticket
If you’re using a Bono card on the bus, you need to tap it when you get on. Sounds obvious, but it’s easy to forget and the drivers will remind you, not always gently.
11. Driving into Santa Cruz without a plan
The capital is worth a visit. The market, the Auditorio, the old town. But the one way system is genuinely confusing and parking is a proper challenge. Use the park and ride or take the tram from La Laguna. Much easier.
At the Beach
12. Underestimating the Atlantic waves
The beaches on the north and east coasts can have serious swell. The red flag means no swimming, and it’s not a suggestion. Every year people get into trouble ignoring it. The south coast beaches are generally calmer, but always check the flags.
13. Not bringing shoes to volcanic beaches
Some of the black sand beaches get extremely hot underfoot by midday. Flip flops or water shoes are worth having. Your feet will thank you.
14. Leaving valuables on the beach
Petty theft does happen at busy beaches, particularly in the south. Don’t leave your phone, wallet, or passport on your towel while you swim. It’s not rampant, but it’s not worth the risk either.
Teide and the Mountains
15. Trying to visit Teide without booking the cable car
The cable car to the summit area gets booked up weeks in advance, especially in spring and summer. If you just turn up hoping for a ticket on the day, you’ll likely be disappointed. Book online at volcanoteide.com well ahead of your trip.
16. Not dressing for the cold at altitude
Teide sits at 3,718 metres. Even on a warm day in the south, it can be genuinely cold up there, with wind chill making it feel even colder. People arrive in shorts and sandals and look absolutely miserable. Bring a layer. Bring two.
17. Rushing through the national park
The park is enormous and genuinely worth slowing down for. The lava fields, the rock formations, the silence. Give it a proper half day at least, not a quick drive through on the way somewhere else.
Practical Stuff People Overlook
18. Not having cash
Most places accept cards now, but smaller local restaurants, market stalls, and guachinches often prefer cash. Having 20 or 30 euros on you at all times saves a lot of awkward moments.
19. Forgetting sun protection at altitude or on cloudy days
The UV index in Tenerife is high year-round. On cloudy days in the north, people forget to put sunscreen on and end up burnt. At altitude, it’s even more intense. Factor 30 minimum, every day.
20. Booking whale watching with the first company you see
There are some excellent whale and dolphin watching trips out of Los Cristianos and Los Gigantes. There are also some that are overcrowded, rushed, and not particularly ethical. Look for operators with smaller boats and responsible wildlife guidelines. It makes a real difference to the experience.
21. Visiting La Laguna and missing the old town
San Cristóbal de La Laguna is a UNESCO World Heritage city and genuinely one of the most beautiful places on the island. Most people drive past it on the motorway. The old town is compact, walkable, and full of good coffee shops and local restaurants. It deserves at least a morning.
22. Assuming everything closes on Sunday
Some things do. But the big supermarkets, tourist areas, and most restaurants stay open. It’s worth checking specific places, but don’t assume the whole island shuts down.
23. Not learning a few words of Spanish
You don’t need to be fluent. But gracias, por favor, una cerveza, and la cuenta, por favor go a long way. People genuinely appreciate the effort, especially outside the main tourist areas.
24. Staying only in the south
The south is easy and convenient. But the north has the botanical garden, the old town of La Orotava, the black sand beach at Playa Jardín, and a completely different atmosphere. Even a day trip to the north changes your whole impression of the island.
25. Leaving without going somewhere you hadn’t planned
The best moments in Tenerife are usually unplanned. A guachinche you spotted from the road. A viewpoint with no one else there. A local market on a Saturday morning. Leave a bit of room in your itinerary for that. It’s where the good stuff tends to happen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tenerife safe for tourists?
Yes, generally very safe. Normal precautions apply, particularly around busy beaches and tourist areas where petty theft can occur. Violent crime is rare.
What’s the best time of year to visit Tenerife?
Honestly, any time. The south is warm and dry year-round. Spring (March to May) is particularly lovely; warm but not too hot, and the island is green from winter rain. August can be very busy and prices go up.
Do I need a hire car in Tenerife?
Not necessarily. If you’re staying in the south and mainly want beaches, the bus network is good enough. If you want to explore the mountains, the north, and the smaller villages, a car makes life much easier.
Can you drink alcohol on the beach in Tenerife?
Technically it’s restricted in many areas, though enforcement varies. Drinking in public spaces is officially prohibited in most municipalities. Best to check local rules or stick to beach bars.
Is it expensive?
Less than most of Western Europe. Eating and drinking locally is very affordable. Tourist facing restaurants and activities can add up, but if you eat where locals eat and use public transport, you can have a great trip without spending a fortune.
One Last Thing
Tenerife rewards the curious. The people who wander a bit, ask questions, eat somewhere with no English menu, and don’t spend the whole trip by the pool, they’re the ones who come back.
The mistakes above are all fixable with a bit of planning and a willingness to look past the obvious. You’ve already done the hard part by reading this far.
