a mountain range with a sky background

If you’re planning to spend 5 days in Tenerife and you’re wondering what the best route is around the island, this guide will show you the ideal itinerary.

There are many interesting things to do in Tenerife in 5 days, so you should have enough time to explore the key sites, like Mount Teide. Of course, to make optimal use of your time, I recommend renting a vehicle at the Tenerife airport, so you can travel around the island at your own pace. We always use DiscoverCars because they offer excellent service and the most affordable prices.

If you prefer not to drive, don’t worry. The public means of transportation throughout the island is very good, plus there are lots of tours you can take to perform this 5-day Tenerife itinerary.

Best Tenerife 5-day itinerary

To initiate, here is the itinerary I propose you pursue if wanting to make the most of Tenerife in 5 days:

  • Day 1: Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Teresitas
  • Day 2: San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Anaga, and Benijo
  • Day 3: Mount Teide
  • Day 4: Puerto de la Cruz and Icod de los Vinos
  • Day 5: Masca, Los Gigantes, and Playa de Las Américas

a collage of photos of people riding on a skateboard

With this 5-day plan for Tenerife, you’ll be able to visit both the northern and southern parts of the island, including Teide .

Day 1: Santa Cruz Tenerife & Las Teresitas, the start of the 5-day trip to Tenerife

♦this distance from Tenerife North Airport by vehicle
♦81 km (1 hr, 15 mins by car) from Tenerife South Airport

Firstly, I suggest obtaining your rental automobile promptly upon arrival at the airport. This enables you to drive to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the capital of the island, and my preferred starting point for this 5-day Tenerife schedule. We consistently use DiscoverCars to acquire the best pricing and vehicle selections. Moreover, you can book your rental car before your trip so it’s prepared to go once you reach Tenerife airport.

If you fly into Tenerife North Airport, it’s approximately 20 minutes to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, while it’s about 40 minutes from Tenerife South Airport.

Upon arrival to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, you can join this complimentary sightseeing tourto obtain an overview of the city’s significant locations. You’ll visit some of the top attractions in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, such as the Castle of San Cristóbal, Our Lady of Africa Market, and the Plaza de España.

a large body of water with a large clock tower

I mention La Rioja because it’s among the finest regarding Spanish vineyards. If you’d like to immerse yourself in this culture, I recommend this tour, which takes you through the grounds and barrel room of the Rioja Vega winery. You’ll learn about the origins of Spanish wine production and, of course, enjoy a guided tasting.

Later, I recommend returning to Santa Cruz de Tenerife to spend the night. These are the best lodging options depending on your budget:

Day 2: La Laguna, Anaga & Benijo, must-sees on a 5-day Tenerife itinerary

♦The distance is 74 km and would take about 2 hours and 5 minutes to drive

For the second day of this Tenerife 5-day route, I propose rising early to visit San Cristóbal de La Laguna, which is about a 20-minute drive from Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Once arriving at the municipality of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, an individual can participate in this complimentary guided tourto explore the city. It will introduce visitors to the , such as Plaza del Adelantado, the Santa Catalina de Siena Convent, and the Casa de La Alhóndiga.

a forest filled with lots of plants and trees

Afterwards, head to Anaga Rural Park, a spectacular laurel woodland you can’t miss during your 5 days inTenerife. This beautiful forest seems like something from a fairytale, and to make the most of your visit, I recommend reading our guide to Anaga Rural Park before you go. It’s free to visit, although you won`t regret taking this guided tour. During our visit, we walked along the Trail of the Senses, one of the most well liked paths, and it was magical.

To finish the day, commit some time at StrongBenijo Beachstrong, which is just a 30-minute drive from Anaga Rural Park. Benijo Beach is considered one of the most beautiful natural beaches in Tenerife, so it’s worthwhile to visit. Just be cautious while swimming since the waves are usually quite sizable.

Before nightfall, make the 45-minute drive back to Santa Cruz de Tenerife and sleep for the night at the same hotel as the previous night .

Day 3: Mount Teide, the best thing to see during your 5 days in Tenerife

♦119 km (2 hrs, 36 mins by car)

The third day of this 5-day Tenerife itinerary focuses on MountTeide, one of my favorite spots on the island. It’s a location acknowledged by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and is considered to be one of the most scenic national parks in Spain.

During our trip, we made an early start around 6 am and traveled to Puerto de la Cruz, approximately 35 minutes from Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Since our next lodging was in Puerto de la Cruz, we went there first to leave our things and rental automobile before taking part in this tour, which departs from Puerto De La Cruz at 7 am. Puerto de la Cruz offers numerous excursions from Puerto de la Cruz, so this town is an amazing location to reside.

We truly enjoyed this excursion because it incorporated access to the Teide cable car, which is 2,356 meters above sea level and takes you to La Rambleta, at 3,555 meters. The tour also includes a permit to reach the peak of the landmark mountain. Therefore, if you prefer exploring this impressive feature with a guide, this is unquestionably one of the best Mount Teide tours.

a pair of skis on top of a mountain

Of course, you have the option to hike Teide on your own accord. If this route is preferable, you can also travel directly from Santa Cruz de Tenerife to Mount Teide, which is approximately 1.5 hours away. Just be aware that you will need to request a permit and obtain a cable car ticket beforehand, a process which can be completed here.

For the final 200 meters leading to the summit, you’ll have to go by foot. The permit to access this area is a bit exclusive and can run out in advance, so I recommend reserving it up to three months before your trip.

a large body of water with mountains

Finally, in Fuerteventura, one can sail to Puerto del Rosario, explore Cofete Beach, or make their way to .

If you plan on continuing your journey in Puerto de la Cruz, these are the best places to stay:

Day 4: Puerto de la Cruz & Icod de los Vinos, two places to visit in Tenerife in 5 days

♦77 km (2 hrs by car)

If you stayed overnight in Puerto de la Cruz, you could invest the morning getting familiarized with this northern Tenerife city.

To see the most important locations in Puerto de la Cruz, I recommend taking this free tour(in Spanish). You’ll visit interesting sites like the Plaza del Charco and the Church of Our Lady of Peña de Francia, so it’s a must during your 5 days in Tenerife.

After exploring Puerto de la Cruz, make a stop in LaOrotava for a meal, which is just a 15 minute drive away. Here, you can take some time familiarizing yourself with some of the top attractions in La Orotava, such as La Casa de los Balcones, the Plaza de la Constitución, and the Gardens of the Marquesado de la Quinta Roja.

a tree filled with lots of leaves next to a palm tree

That said, I suggest allotting enough time to visit Icod de los Vinos, about a 30 minute drive from La Orotava. Among the must-see locations in Icod de los Vinos is the famous Drago Milenario, the oldest living dragon tree in existence. To see this legendary landmark, you must book a ticket here.

Then, one could spend the day in Garachico, another attractive town situated just 15 minutes from Icod de los Vinos. There are numerous activities to do in Garachico like going for swim in El Caletón, a lovely natural pool. If sufficient time allows, you can visit the Punta Teno Lighthouse, which is roughly 30 minutes from Garachico. It’s a scenic sunset spot, although I advise giving yourself enough time for the drive there since the roads aren’t in optimal condition.

To finish day four of this 5-day Tenerife itinerary, get a good night’s rest in Garachico. We stayed at the Hotel La Quinta Roja, which is conveniently located and made it simple to travel around the northern part of the island .

Day 5: Masca, Los Gigantes & Playa de las Américas, the end of your 5 days in Tenerife

♦The distance is 72 km and would take about 1 hour and 45 minutes to drive

If you didn’t have enough time to watch the sunrise from the Punta Teno Lighthouse, you can awaken early to see the sunrise. Recall, it’s about a 30-minute drive from Garachico, so be certain you wake up early.

To round out your 5 days in Tenerife, I recommend exploring the Masca gorge. During our trip, we followed the trail down through the gorge to the jetty, where boats could previously take visitors to Los Gigantes. Regrettably, the dock is shut now, so the entire return route must be walked, taking around 7 hours.

a scenic view of a mountain range with mountains

Later in the afternoon, pick up a meal and head to Las Teresitas, which is considered one of the prime beaches in Tenerife. This beach is roughly a quarter-hour drive from Santa Cruz de Tenerife and is among the few white sand beaches in the northern area of the island. It also features a breakwater, so the waves remain calm and suitable for swimming.

✈️ Flight routes to Puerto Rico | 🛎️ Accommodations in Puerto Rico| Locations to reside | Attractions to explore | Activities to partake in | Eateries

two dolphins swimming in a body of water

If your flight home departs the same day, you’ll want to take the airport from Los Gigantes. It`s about a 30-minute drive to Tenerife South Airport and an hour and 15 minutes to Tenerife North Airport.

However, if your flight doesn’t leave until the next day, you can make the most of your time here by exploring , one of the liveliest regions of Tenerife. Alternatively, you can remain at one of the best hotels in Los Cristianos.

We opted to spend our last night in Playa de Las Américas, and these are the best accommodations there:

How to get around Tenerife in 5 days

The most effective method to get around during your 5 days in Tenerife is by renting a vehicle. This allows you to maximize your time, and you’ll have total independence with your schedule and where you want to go.

a red and white lighthouse sitting on top of a hill

Tenerife does have an extensive public ground transportation network that effectively connects all the cities and towns across the island. The downside is that it may consume more time to arrive at each destination, so completing the entire itinerary may not be feasible.

If self-driving is not preferred, you have the ability to book an airport transfer to Los Cristianos or Playa de Las Américas through this link. From there, you can arrange day trips around Tenerife to visit Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Puerto de la Cruz, Mount Teide, and many other locations.

If you opt to drive, I extremely recommend DiscoverCars. This website offers the best deals and conditions, and you can reserve a vehicle ahead of time so it’s ready for you at the airport. In my view, it’s the best manner to explore Tenerife in 5 days.

5-day Tenerife itinerary map

To help you structure your trip to Tenerife and to give you a better idea of what to see in Tenerife in 5 days, here is a map with all the attractions and lodgings I recommend:

I hope this 5-day itinerary for Tenerife is helpful in allowing you to fully experience everything the island has to offer during your visit. If you have any other questions or would like to share your experiences, please leave a comment below. Enjoy your 5 days exploring Tenerife!