Visiting Basilica of Candelaria

About Basilica of Candelaria

The Basilica of Our Lady of Candelaria houses the statue of the patron saint of the Canary Islands and is the islands' main pilgrimage church. The seafront plaza outside is lined with bronze statues of the nine Guanche kings (menceyes) who ruled Tenerife's districts before the conquest, and pilgrims arrive in large numbers in mid-August.

Tip: Visit early in the day to see the mencey statues against the sea without crowds.

Plan your visit

• Time needed: 1 hour.
• Cost: Free — no ticket needed for the main area.
• Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
• Where: Candelaria.

Best time to visit Basilica of Candelaria

To avoid the biggest crowds, aim for the quietest of the good months:

• May: 24°C (75°F) highs, about 1 rainy days, quiet crowds.
• June: 26°C (79°F) highs, about 0 rainy days, moderate crowds.
• September: 28°C (82°F) highs, about 1 rainy days, moderate crowds.

When to visit Tenerife has the full month-by-month picture.

Fit it into your trip

Basilica of Candelaria is not on our short itineraries, so plan it as an extra once you have seen Teide National Park and Teide cable car and summit.

• No. 19 of the 19 sights in our Tenerife things-to-do list.
• Listed in free things to do in Tenerife.
• One of the picks in historic sites in Tenerife.

If you like Basilica of Candelaria

• San Cristóbal de La Laguna old town — San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Half a day
• La Orotava old town — La Orotava, 2–3 hours
• Garachico and El Caletón — Garachico, 2–3 hours
• Auditorio de Tenerife — Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 1 hour

Staying near Basilica of Candelaria

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