a mountain range with a sky background

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A week exploring Tenerife allows sufficient time to become familiar with this lovely Canary Island, from major attractions in the north to key sights in the south. It also provides ample opportunity to visit one of my favorite places on Tenerife, the majestic Mount Teide.

To assist in organizing your 7-day schedule on the island of Tenerife, I’m sharing the best route around the location. My primary suggestion is to rent a vehicle at the Tenerife airportso you can maximize your time and take advantage of all the wonderful places in Tenerife. We always use DiscoverCars since they offer the best offers and most affordable selections.

While Tenerife has a good public transportation network, I still believe having a rental car is the easiest and most convenient way to get around. Plus, it’ll help maximize your use of 7 days in Tenerife.

Best Tenerife one-week itinerary

If you aren`t familiar with this Canary Island destination, then spending approximately one week in Tenerife is the perfect amount of time to experience the top attractions and landmarks. Based on my past visits, this is the specific itinerary that I would recommend:

  • Schedule for Day 1: Vilaflor and Cañadas del Teide
  • Day 2: Climb Mount Teide
  • Day 3: Santa Cruz de Tenerife, San Cristóbal de la Laguna & Las Teresitas
  • Day 4: Anaga Rural Park and Benijo Beach
  • Day 5: Puerto de la Cruz & La Orotava
  • Day 6: Icod de los Vinos, Cueva del Viento & Garachico
  • Day 7: Masca, Los Gigantes & Playa de Las Américas

a collage of photos with a cartoon character on them

This 7-day planned trip to Tenerife will allow visitors to experience both the northern and southern areas of the island, as well as Mount Teide .

Day 1: Vilaflor & Cañadas del Teide, the start of your 7-day Tenerife itinerary

♦123 km (2 hrs by car) – from Tenerife North Airport
♦57 km (1 hr, 20 mins by car) – from Tenerife South Airport

To make the most of your first day in Tenerife, I suggest getting a rental automobile at the airport. Personally, we reserve the car before our trip on the DiscoverCars website so that when we arrive at the airport in Tenerife, it’s ready to go. Just be certain to book it for all your 7 days in Tenerife.

For the initial day of this seven day itinerary for Tenerife, I propose going to Vilaflor, and enjoying the beautiful viewpoints of the Cañadas del Teide. If arriving at Tenerife North Airport, it takes approximately one hour and fifteen minutes to travel to Vilaflor (87 km). Alternatively, Vilaflor is only a thirty minute drive from Tenerife South Airport (20 km).

a beach filled with lots of colorful umbrellas

Hike through the otherworldly landscapes of Vilaflor in the morning, then make the 30-minute drive over to Los Roques de García. There are lovely places to stop and admire the panoramic views of the island along the route.

For instance, on the TF-21 road just outside Vilaflor, you’ll find the Mirador de Vilaflor viewpoint. Then, if you follow the road toward Teide, you’ll come across the Boca Tauce, Zapato de la Reina, Llano de Ucanca, and Roques de García viewpoints. The latter is very near to the La Roulette viewpoint, which is also worth a visit.

This region is familiar as the Cañadas del Teide, and it offers the finest perspectives thanks to its peculiarly designed rocks. You can appreciate a pleasant picnic here and wait until nightfall when you can picture the Milky Way. That stated, if it’s your initial time here and you want to see all the stars, I suggest booking this stargazing tour.

Lastly, I suggest spending the night at the Parador de Las Cañadas del Teide hotel so you can take full advantage of the second day of this 7-day itinerary in Tenerife .

Day 2: Climb Mount Teide, the best part of your week in Tenerife

♦The distance is 67 km and would take about 1 hour and 30 minutes to drive

Your week in Tenerife wouldn’t be complete without visiting Mount Teide. For the second day, I recommend getting up early so you have adequate time to reach the top.

From the Parador de Las Cañadas del Teide, it`s only around a five-minute drive to the Teide cableway, which is 2,356 meters above sea level. The cableway drops you off at La Rambleta, at 3,555 meters, and the last 200 meters to the summit must be done on foot.

a pair of skis on top of a mountain

Bear in mind that you’ll necessitate a permit to gain access to the summit, which you can request through this connection. Be certain to do this well before your trip since during the tourist season, permits run out up to three months in advance.

If a permit cannot be obtained or one prefers hiking with a guide, you can reserve this excursion, which includes your cable car ticket and your summit permission.

Mount Teide is one of my preferred places on the island, so you must make the most of your 7 days inTenerife to explore it. Throughout our trips to Tenerife, we dedicate an entire day to touring Mount Teide and admiring its distinctive scenery. On one occasion, we reserved one of the guided excursions, while on another, we opted to hike up Sendero 7 (Montaña Blanca) and spend the night at the Altavista Refuge. Then, we arose early to view the sunrise from the peak. You can obtain more information about ascending Mount Teide in our guide.

a large body of water with mountains

After visiting Teide, I recommend driving to Santa Cruz de Tenerife and spending the night there. This town is about an hour and 20 minutes from the Teide cable car station. If time allows, you can stop at some intriguing viewpoints along the way, like Tabonal Negro, Minas de San José, and Portillo Alto.

These are my favorite hotels in Santa Cruz de Tenerife:

Day 3: Santa Cruz de Tenerife, San Cristóbal de la Laguna & Las Teresitas

♦The distance is 42 km and would take about 1 hour and 10 minutes to drive

On the third day, you could explore Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the capital city of the island. You should also have enough time to visit San Cristóbal de La Laguna and Las Teresitas, two additional places that cannot be missed during your weeklong stay on Tenerife.

You’ll enter at the Table Rock Center next to the falls, then take an elevator 130 feet down into underground tunnels carved within the rock. This experience provides a unique perspective that cannot be found elsewhere, so be sure to reserve your tickets in advance.

a large body of water with a large clock tower

During lunchtime, take a brief 15-minute drive to San Cristóbal de La Laguna, which is about 16 kilometers away. This town was the first city in the Canary Islands and, in addition to being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s one of the top attractions in northern Tenerife. Despite its small size, there are several beautiful spots to see in La Laguna, like the Plaza del Adelantado and the Palacio de Nava.

And before returning to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, I propose visiting Las Teresitas, one of Tenerife’s finest beaches. This is one of the few beaches in the northern part of the island with white sand, and it’s excellent for swimming since the breakwater keeps the waves fairly calm.

From Las Teresitas, it’s roughly a 20-minute drive back to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, so I advise returning to the city and spending the night in the same accommodation. This way, you’ll be able to make the most of your week in Tenerife.

Day 4: Anaga Rural Park and Benijo Beach, two must-sees during your week in Tenerife

♦A distance of 67 km and expected travel time of 1 hour and 55 minutes by car

Day four of this 7-day Tenerife agenda is dedicated to exploring Anaga Rural Park, one of the most lovely areas on the island.

This designated Biosphere Reserve encompasses around 15,000 hectares of enchanting laurel forest scenery crossed by numerous hiking trails. The renowned Trail of the Senses offers a choice of three routes, with trail 3 delivering the most spectacular panoramas as it incorporates trails 1 and 2 deeper into the laurel woodland interior.

a walkway leading to a forest filled with trees

If you want to explore the forest yourself, I suggest reading our guide to Anaga Rural Park first to learn about all the hiking routes and other visitor details. On the other hand, if you prefer going with a guide, this excursion is a great option, although you should keep in mind that it leaves from San Cristóbal de La Laguna.

During the afternoon, you can visit Benijo Beach, which is about a 35-minute drive from Anaga Rural Park. I highly advise adding this beach to your Tenerife week-long itinerary as it`s one of the most pristine, wild beaches on the island. However, if planning to swim, take extra care to not go too far from shore since the waves and currents here are quite strong.

After spending time at Benijo Beach, you can return to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which is approximately 45 minutes away (26 km). This allows you to sleep at the same lodging before embarking on your next experience .

Day 5: Puerto de la Cruz & La Orotava, two more places to visit in Tenerife in 7 days

♦A distance of 67 km and expected travel time of 1 hour and 15 minutes by car

Next, it’s essential to visit two more necessary places throughout your 7 days in Tenerife: Puerto de la Cruz and La Orotava. Ideally, you’ll wake early and motor to Puerto de la Cruz, about a 35 minute (35 km) drive from Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Once you arrive, begin your visit by joining this complimentary tour (in Spanish) so you can familiarize yourself with the city’s most important landmarks. You’ll see some primary Puerto de la Cruz destinations, like the Plaza del Charco, Plaza Europa, the harbor, and the Church of Our Lady of Peña de Francia.

a large body of water with several boats in it

After eating lunch, head over to La Orotava, one of the most scenic towns on the island. It’s less than 7 km from Puerto de la Cruz, so the drive there will only take approximately 15 minutes.

La Orotava is worth adding to your weeklong stay in Tenerife since it contains charming and historic landmarks like the Plaza de la Constitución and the Church of Our Lady of the Conception. You also can’t miss the Casa de los Balcones, one of the prime sites in La Orotava.

At dusk, travel by vehicle to Icod de los Vinos, roughly a 30 minute drive away (24 km). I suggest reserving lodging at one of the hotels in Icod de los Vinos:

Day 6: Icod de los Vinos, Cueva del Viento & Garachico, essential stops for your 7 days in Tenerife

♦A distance of 58 km and expected travel time of 1 hour and 40 minutes by car

Icod de los Vinos is another location that deserves inclusion in your route through Tenerife within one week. If you spent the night here, beginning early at the Cueva del Viento, an iconic site in Icod de los Vinos, would be advisable.

The Cueva del Viento is a volcanic cavity constructed of basaltic lava formed over 27,000 years ago due to activity at Pico Viejo. Now the fifth-longest lava tube globally, it`s known for unique geomorphological features. Undoubtedly, visiting is essential during a 7-day Tenerife trip, though tickets must be reserved in advance here.

Another location that is worth visiting in Icod de los Vinos is the Drago Milenario, which is considered the oldest living tree in the world. It is over 800 years old and remains as one of the most recognizable symbols of Tenerife. If you plan on going there, be sure to reserve a ticket beforehand.

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

After viewing the Drago Milenario, you can stroll around town and eat some lunch before traveling to Garachico, which is about a 15-minute drive away (7 km). Among the attractions in Garachico, one of the best is El Caletón, a gorgeous natural pool where you can go for a swim.

If you have sufficient time, head to the Teno Punta Lighthouse to watch the sunset. Note that it’s about a 30-minute drive from Garachico and the roadways aren’t in excellent condition.

Lastly, I advise spending the night in Masca, specifically at the Sweet Home Masca, which is where we stayed. It’s 25 km from the Teno Punta Lighthouse, so you can drive there and relax for the last day of your .

Day 7: Masca, Los Gigantes & Playa de Las Américas, the best way to end your 7 days in Tenerife

♦A distance of 47 km and expected travel time of 1 hour and 10 minutes by car

For the final day of your week on Tenerife, I recommend visiting the most vital areas of the south, specifically the Masca gorge.

During our excursion, we descended and took the boat from the dock to Los Gigantes. However, the causeway there has been closed for quite some time now, so the entire return trip must be made on foot. You should be in good bodily condition to do both the descent and the ascent since it takes about 7 hours total. Also, you must request a free permit in advance here.

a scenic view of a mountain range with mountains

Remember, if dedicating the entire hiking route, you`ll require the whole day. Differently, view the ravine from above, equally scenic and incorporating perspectives of the neighboring village too. Then, travel to behold the impressive cliffs at Los Gigantes, about 40 minutes (20 km) from Masca.

Moreover, Los Gigantes is the starting point for several tours focused on seeing whales and dolphins in Tenerife, so if you’re visiting during whale season, it’s essential to participate. We went on this excursion, and I can guarantee it will be one of the most magical encounters during your 7days in Tenerife.

two dolphins swimming in a body of water

Depending on whether your return flight departs today or the following day, you’ll need to consider how far Los Gigantes is from the airports. It’s approximately an hour and 20 minutes to Tenerife North Airport and around 45 minutes to Tenerife South Airport.

However, if you have the time available, consider touring Playa de Las Américas before your departure. This is one of the most lively regions on the island, with great nightlife and some of the most popular beaches. You won`t regret visiting this place, and you can stay overnight if your flight doesn`t leave until the next day.

  • Mid-price: Hotel Las Águilas Tenerife, the accommodation where we stayed during our trip, and the pick-up/drop-off point for the tour we took part in

How to get around Tenerife in 7 days

The best way to explore the full island during a weeklong stay is by vehicle, especially if planning a customized route around Tenerife. We consistently use DiscoverCars to reserve a rental car ahead of time since they provide various options and the most competitive prices. Plus, the car is available immediately upon arrival at the airport with an advance reservation.

a red and white lighthouse sitting on top of a hill

While relying solely on public transportation in Tenerife will allow you to visit many locations, it may be challenging to complete everything included in this suggested 7 day itinerary for the island within the proposed timeframe. Therefore, booking a transfer from the airport directly to Los Cristianos or Playa de Las Américas is advisable. Both of these coastal towns serve as bases for some of the most popular one-day tours around Tenerife, maximizing the time available for sightseeing.

Map for a 7-day Tenerife itinerary

Ultimately, to provide a improved perception of where to go during your week in Tenerife, here is a map with all the attractions and hotels referenced:

With that, all is available to plan your trip to Tenerife. If any questions arise or wanting to share recommendations for seeing Tenerife in 7 days, feel free to leave a comment below. Hoping you have an amazing time on Tenerife and a safe trip!