Planning to spend Christmas in Tenerife, but not sure what to expect? You’ve come to the right place!
In this article you will find everything you need to know about visiting Tenerife at Christmas, including what weather you can expect to find, the best things to do, where to stay and much more.
Last winter I was based in Tenerife, and I convinced my entire family to come over from Italy to spend Christmas in Tenerife. Given they were coming from a cold European country, they loved spending the holidays in the sun!
Located just off the coast of Africa, in the Canary Islands, Tenerife is blessed with year round sunshine, even during the Christmas period.
This little island is also home to lots of exciting things to do, incredibly varied climates and landscapes, tons of delicious restaurants and a lively atmosphere.
So what are you waiting for? Let’s dive in and start planning the perfect Tenerife Christmas trip for you!
Table of Contents
Essentials to book before you read on!
Best tours in Tenerife
Teide National Park Romantic Sunset, Dinner & Stargazing
Tenerife Whale Watching Cruise
Best hotels in Tenerife
Budget: Banana Surf House
Mid-range: El Dorado Residence
Luxury: The Ritz-Carlton Abama
Get 5% off your travel insurance here!
Weather in Tenerife at Christmas
If you’re thinking about a Tenerife Christmas holiday, then one thing you should know about first is the weather.
Away from the classic snowy winter you’d associate with Europe, Tenerife has some pretty mild temperatures considering the time of year. The minimum winter temperature island-wide is 17°C, with daily highs of 24°C.
But the temperature can also range depending on where you are on the island, due to the different microclimates that there are in different areas of Tenerife.
Generally speaking, the south of the island (i.e. the region from Los Cristianos to Costa Adeje) is ideal if you’re looking for a slice of European winter sun while you’re visiting Tenerife at X-Mas!
The average temperatures in the south is usually higher, for example in Las Americas in December the high is 24°C, but in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in the north of the island, the daytime average temperature is 17°C.
Days are still fairly long too, with around 10 hours of daylight a day for your sightseeing and activity needs.
There’s also a 64% chance of a sunny day, with only a 6% chance of rain during December. Water temperatures remain fairly warm, averaging 21°C.
It can get chilly though – the kind of weather for which you’ll still want to bring a jumper for cold evenings and a jacket to keep out the wind, which can add an extra chill to the air.
Tenerife Christmas period
It may be sunny and warm, but Tenerife at Christmas is still a magical place to be nonetheless.
Christmas Day is obviously 25th December, and is typically spent at home with families on Tenerife. People will gather for a meal and go to church for services such as Midnight Mass.
Christmas Day is a public holiday, but because it’s a tourist destination, many restaurants and bars will still be open.
The Christmas period in Tenerife typically starts in December and ends with Tres Reyes Magos (Three Wise Men), a celebration on the 6th of January.
For around a month, you can expect to find towns and villages decorated with charming nativity scenes and Christmas lights; sometimes the famous nativity stories are even acted out by locals!
When you first see Christmas lights wrapped around a palm tree, as opposed to classic Christmas trees, you might find it a bit odd, but trust me when I say that you’ll love it soon enough!
Best things to do in Tenerife at Christmas
See the snow at Mount Teide!
One very Christmassy thing to do on your Tenerife Christmas holidays is to witness the winter wonderland that appears on Mount Teide in winter.
This is Tenerife’s famous volcano and Spain’s highest mountain. Though it’s an active volcano, it has not erupted since 1909, and lies at the centre of a national park named after it.
You can drive to many of the iconic viewpoints of Teide National Park, but if you’re feeling adventurous, you can also go all the way to the peak. The peak is only accessible by foot or cable car.
There’s nothing quite like being sat on the beach in a bikini sunbathing in the morning, then being at 3,800 metres above sea level on Mt Teide surrounded by snow!
Note that while there’s usually a chance of this mountainous white Christmas, as the snow normally begins settling in October, it may not appear until January (the coldest month).
Here are some of the most popular tours online to discover Mount Teide National Park.
Mount Teide: Cable Car Ticket – This is the standard cable car entrance for those who want to see the peak of Mount Teide.
Click here to book your Mount Teide Cable Car & Tour ticket!
From Playa de las Americas: Full-Day Teide Jeep Safari– For the most adventurous who want to properly explore all of Teide National Park!
Click here to book your Full-Day Teide Jeep Safari here!
Tenerife Teide National Park Romantic Sunset, Dinner & Stargazing – When you’re 3,700m above all light pollution sources, you can rest assured that the sunset and night sky views are incredible! This tour is perfect for a romantic Christmas Eve.
Check out prices and availability for a Teide sunset, dinner & stargazing experience!
Christmas on the beach!
Nothing quite says “Tenerife at X-Mas” than spending Christmas on the beach! There are a ton of cool bars and restaurants located right on many of Tenerife’s top beaches.
Here you can eat, drink and make merry while wearing shades and a swimming costume. You could even have an alternative Christmas dinner and a siesta on the beach afterwards.
And the best part? Winter in Tenerife isn’t peak tourist season, so the beaches won’t be as crowded as they are in summer.
Attend a concert at the Auditorio de Tenerife in Santa Cruz
Any music-lovers in Tenerife for Christmas should make a note of this.
Every year the impressive sail-shaped concert hall, designed by renowned architect Santiago Calatrava, puts on a number of Christmas shows and festive performances to wow audiences.
Including carol concerts, chamber music and Christmas classics, it’s a good idea to check the December and early January schedule to see what’s on during your visit.
Something else you should consider if you’re a music fan is to check out the free Christmas day concert. This is put on by the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra every year and takes place just to the port in Santa Cruz.
Enjoy your Christmas meal
When the big day comes, whether you want a proper English pub roast-style dinner or if you’re looking for something more traditionally Spanish, you’re guaranteed to find it in Tenerife.
Due to its status as a popular tourist destination, there are restaurants and eateries to suit just about every budget and preference – especially in the warmer south of the island.
Hotels are a good bet if you’re looking for the whole shebang, complete with multiple courses and wine.
However, even some Spanish and English-run sports bars and bistros will have a Christmas set menu that you can book for the day. Typically, these cost between €30 and €50 per person.
If you don’t want to spend loads on a set menu, no need to worry, many restaurants will also maintain their standard a la carte menu, where you can choose your main course, starters and dessert as you best see fit.
But let’s face it – Christmas Day in Tenerife just wouldn’t be the same without roast potatoes and gravy!
Get outside the tourist resorts
While it’s always nice to have a resort to hang around in and relax by the pool, there’s so much more on offer in Tenerife than the (admittedly quite comprehensive) all-inclusive Christmas packages.
For example, history nerds and fans of aesthetics alike will enjoy exploring Tenerife’s former capital, La Laguna. This UNESCO World Heritage Site of a city has some impressive gardens and grand architecture to explore.
It might not be as rich in history as Granada, with the famous Alhambra Palace, but it’s still a beautiful city.
Elsewhere, Anaga Rural Park is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that’s full of amazing Tenerife hiking trails to suit outdoorsy types; the park actually plays host to the most endemic species anywhere in Europe.
Wine fan? Then you should head to one of Tenerife’s several vinotecas, where you can sample the wine produced on the island.
So, yes: make the most out of your Christmas hotel deals, but get out and actually see the island too!
Celebrate New Year’s Eve
For some, spending time in Tenerife over Christmas may also mean sticking around for New Year’s Eve – which is not a bad thing at all. The big NYE on the island is celebrated in every bar, club and hotel going.
As you might imagine, it’s a lively affair. You could even join in with the Spanish tradition: making sure you wear red underwear and eating 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight!
Otherwise, head out to the streets, find a bar to spend the evening, and enjoy the atmosphere.
Discover the Tres Reyes Magos traditions
Falling on the 6th of January, Tres Reyes Magos is a Spanish tradition that celebrates the arrival of the Three Wise Men at Bethlehem to give gifts to Jesus.
It’s a public holiday in Spain, with celebrations starting the day before in the form of the Three Kings Parade; children give letters to the three kings to tell them what toys they want.
In Tenerife you’ll be able to see different variations of this colourful parade in every town and resort area on the island. Make sure you don’t miss out on this festive spectacle if you’re in Tenerife over Christmas!
There’s also a traditional cake that you need to eat with friends and family. This traditional cake has a hidden surprise, and whoever finds the “Wise Man” in his cake becomes the king of the day.
Get outdoorsy
Not every part of your Tenerife itinerary has to be Christmassy.
Thanks to the warm weather, there’s still a whole bunch of ways you could enjoy the great outdoors on the island, from surfing or paragliding to going hiking.
One particularly cool place to hike is the Masca Valley in northwest Tenerife; expect dramatic views and winding trails in the hills.
For surfing, hit up hotspots such as Playa de Almáciga; located on the north coast of the island, it’s rightly popular with more experienced surfers.
Go whale watching
Possibly one of the most unforgettable things to do in Tenerife at Christmas is to embark on a whale watching tour.
The migratory season for humpback and fin whales that pass by the island is November to February, so Christmas is an ideal time to see them in action.
When I went whale watching in Tenerife they told me there was a 99% chance to see whales. I was a bit sceptic, but I was very happy to be proven wrong!
Thanks to the currents and geological formation of the seabed between Tenerife and La Gomera, the sea between these islands is full of marine life.
Seeing whales in this island paradise is a truly unique experience, which will make the most wonderful time of the year even more magical. Especially for families travelling with children, it will be a truly unforgettable experience.
Click here to book your whale watching tour in Tenerife!
Get an early glimpse of Carnival
Though Carnival is still a few months off, there’s still a chance to get up close and personal with the brightly coloured costumes at La Casa de Carnival.
Located in Santa Cruz, this museum is packed full of all things Carnival in Tenerife.
There’s video exhibits and the chance to dress up in some of the costumes too. So, if you didn’t get your fill of the festive season in December, then you can head to this spot. Bonus: it’s free!
Should you visit Tenerife at Christmas?
Definitely!
Not only is it a great destination for a slice of reliable winter sun without flying to the other side of the world, but it’s also a fascinating place to get involved in some island Christmas traditions and spend some time relaxing away from the (potential) stresses of a home Christmas.
Though summer is the busiest time of year on the island, Christmas is still fairly busy – the second-busiest time in fact. However, don’t let that deter you, as there are plenty of beaches and hiking trails for everybody.
It’s also a very varied island, which offers plenty of fun outdoorsy things to do, so that you can alternate between chill resort days and fun adventure days.
There’s a reason Tenerife features on everyone’s Spain bucket list and Europe bucket lists, as well as being a popular cruise destination (it offers some amazing shore excursions after all!)
There’s plenty to do on top of that and many resorts offering great value packages, too. Bring on Tenerife, Christmas 2024!
Where to stay in Tenerife at Christmas time
There are lots of cool areas to stay in Tenerife. However, if you’re visiting Tenerife at Christmas, I highly recommend sticking to the south, as it’s the warmest and sunniest part of the island.
I have included below some great hotel options for every budget below.
Budget: Banana Surf House– This cute surf house is perfect for those looking for a cosy stay in a great location, without breaking the bank. It also has a huge rooftop with great sea views.
Click here to book your stay at Banana Surf House!
Mid-range: El Dorado Residence – I spent my first two months in Tenerife in an apartment in this residence, and loved every day of it. The apartments are spacious, close to everything and have awesome sea and sunset views.
Click here to see the latest prices and availability for apartments in El Dorado residence!
Luxury: Hotel Rural La Correa Del Almendro – This hotel is set in a traditional Canarian barn from the 1720s, and it still retains the rugged look, while having modern comforts like a pool. Located in Arona, it’s perfect for those who want to be close to Las Americas, without being in the heart of the party town.
Click here to book your stay at Hotel Rural La Correa Del Almendro!
Final thoughts on spending Christmas in Tenerife
There you have it, the ultimate guide to spending Christmas in Tenerife! Have you been to Tenerife before? How did you find it? Let me know in the comments below!
Tenerife is one of my favourite destinations in the world, but it’s especially magical at Christmas. After all, there’s nothing quite like spending Christmas on the beach, without having to travel half way across the world!
On a Tenerife Christmas trip you can expect to spend some time chilling on the beach, going on epic hikes, trying exciting water sports and generally just having a relaxing Christmas holiday.
Many resorts also offer all-inclusive packages, so that you can sit back, relax, and not have to worry about anything.
Other Spanish destinations like Barcelona,Seville and Mallorca are also quite popular for winter sun, but they just can’t compete with the weather in the Canary Islands.
I hope you found this guide useful, and that it will help you plan the perfect Christmas in Tenerife! If you have any questions, just let me know in the comments below!
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