Comparison · Algarve vs Tenerife · Portugal / Spain
Algarve vs Tenerife
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Vitor Oliveira from Torres Vedras, PORTUGAL, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Quick answer
Choose Algarve for Sea cliffs and caves and Golden beaches; choose Tenerife for Mount Teide and Year-round sunshine. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 1,266 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 1,266 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Algarve
- May–June and September
- Best time for Tenerife
- May–June and September–October
Side by side
| Algarve | Tenerife | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Portugal | Spain |
| Known for | Sea cliffs and caves, Golden beaches and Cataplana | Mount Teide, Year-round sunshine and Black-sand beaches |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September | May–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 7 days | 7 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $130–$250 | $130–$230 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 29°C (84°F) | August, 29°C (84°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 16°C (61°F) | January, 21°C (70°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 9 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 4 |
| Beaches | Praia da Marinha | Playa de Las Teresitas |
| Airports | FAO, LIS | TFS, TFN |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Algarve for…
Sea cliffs and caves and Golden beaches. The Algarve is Portugal's southern coast, about 150 km from the Spanish border at the Guadiana River to Cape St Vincent, Europe's south-western tip. West of Faro, the coast breaks into honey-coloured cliffs, sea caves and coves such as Benagil and Ponta da…
Choose Tenerife for…
Mount Teide and Year-round sunshine. Tenerife, the largest of Spain's Canary Islands, sits in the Atlantic off the coast of West Africa and is dominated by Mount Teide, a 3,715-metre volcano at the centre of a UNESCO-listed national park. The dry, sunny south holds the main resorts — Costa…
Top sights compared
| # | Algarve | Tenerife |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benagil Cave | Teide National Park |
| 2 | Seven Hanging Valleys Trail | Teide cable car and summit |
| 3 | Ponta da Piedade | San Cristóbal de La Laguna old town |
| 4 | Cape St Vincent | Los Gigantes cliffs |
| 5 | Fortress of Sagres | Whale and dolphin watching |
Food compared
| Algarve | Tenerife |
|---|---|
| Cataplana | Papas arrugadas con mojo |
| Grilled sardines | Rabbit in salmorejo |
| Piri-piri chicken | Gofio |
| Octopus | Grilled goat's cheese |
Which is cheaper?
Algarve and Tenerife cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $130–$250 in Algarve and $130–$230 in Tenerife (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Tenerife on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 1,266 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 15 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Algarve or Tenerife cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $130–$250 in Algarve and $130–$230 in Tenerife (estimates).
+Is Algarve or Tenerife better for a first trip?
Pick Algarve for Sea cliffs and caves and Golden beaches, or Tenerife for Mount Teide and Year-round sunshine.
+How far is Algarve from Tenerife?
About 1,266 km in a straight line.