Tenerife is an island with undeniable tourist potential, constantly offering new attractions every year. Alongside traditional hotels, the island also features a variety of accommodation options including vacation rentals, apartments, rural houses, camping areas, and five-star hotels. The selection is extensive and growing.

The key thing to decide is which part of the island you want to stay in as your base to explore Tenerife. After that, you can choose the type of accommodation that suits you best. Whether you’re traveling with family, friends, a partner, or alone, each area offers a range of options.

A weekend getaway to Tenerife with a focus on luxury in a good hotel is very different from a family trip where you need to explore more to keep both young and old entertained. While locals might view the island as just having two main areas (north and south) due to their different climates, here we’ll recommend hotels in Tenerife based on the four cardinal directions. This will give you all the information you need to perhaps combine stays in two different areas.

Puerto de la Cruz is a small and easily navigable area often preferred by national tourists. Here, locals mingle with tourists. Depending on the season, you can enjoy more or fewer sunny days due to the “donkey’s belly” cloud cover typically present in the north.

If you opt for the north but want a less touristy place, consider Garachico. It’s a tiny yet incredibly charming fishing town that was once the island’s main commercial port. Garachico has a well-preserved historic center with some restaurants and a quaint main square, dotted with beautiful boutique hotels.

Another northern option is Los Realejos. This is not a tourist-heavy city, so you won’t be surrounded by hotels. Though it lacks Garachico’s charm, it’s still worth considering and is a historical landmark famous for surfing, particularly at El Socorro beach, one of Tenerife’s best surfing spots. In the heart of northern Tenerife lies the town named after the Orotava Valley, an essential visit for its historic center.

Traveling to the island’s south is like entering another world. The southern coast is dotted with numerous beaches, countless hotels, apartments, villas, restaurants, and pubs, offering all the sun-and-sand vacation essentials. The selection can be overwhelming, especially as the south houses some of Tenerife’s finest hotels, notably in Adeje and Guía de Isora, the most recently developed areas. One of the most popular hotels here is the Iberostar Heritage Grand Mencey.

Arona and Granadilla are also situated in the south, blending into the vast hotel zone where you’ll find a continuous stretch of beaches, fishing villages, and extensive hotel areas. The choices can be dizzying, and while Arona generally offers cheaper, older hotels, you might find unique lodging experiences there.

La Laguna, a World Heritage Site, is also worth a visit, especially for those keen on hiking, as it borders the Anaga region. Its historic center and local dining spots are delightful, although you should definitely bring some warm clothing.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife is only a 10-minute drive from La Laguna and is becoming a prominent tourist destination, especially thanks to the cruise ships that dock mainly in winter and spring. Beyond shopping, Santa Cruz offers beautiful parks, golden sand beaches, a grand auditorium, and a Maritime Park to cool off on hot days. The area’s hotels are mostly business-oriented.

Close to the cliffs of Los Gigantes is Santiago del Teide, another sun and beach tourist spot, notable for its excellent weather and stunning natural scenery. It’s famous for the remarkable Los Gigantes cliffs and year-round whale watching between Tenerife and La Gomera.

If you plan to stay in El Teide, make sure you know what you’re going for: walking trails, enjoying the serene, starry nights, and experiencing the rare privilege of being in a place where few stay overnight. It’s a great romantic getaway option. Some hotels offer rooms with views of Mount Teide at sunrise or sunset, providing an indescribable experience.

We hope this guide helps you plan your perfect trip to Tenerife. Consider spending a few days in the north for cultural visits and the remaining days in the south at a luxurious hotel. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments.