Best time to visit · Tenerife · Spain
The best time to visit Tenerife
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Mataparda, Public domain
Quick answer
Tenerife works year-round. For the best mix of warmth, lower prices and quieter resorts, go in May, June, September or October; the sea is warmest from August to October. Winter (November to March) is high season for sun-seekers from northern Europe, with mild coastal days but cold nights at altitude and possible snow on Teide.
Key facts
- Best months
- May–June and September–October
- Shoulder season
- March–April and November
- Warmest month
- August (avg high 29°C (84°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 21°C (70°F))
- Rainiest month
- December (~6 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- May
Seasons
Tenerife has a subtropical climate moderated by the trade winds, with coastal highs of roughly 21–29 °C all year. The south and west are sunny and dry, the north is greener and cloudier, and Teide's upper slopes see frost and occasional snow in winter.
December–February
Winter
Mild, often sunny coast around 21 °C with the sea near 19–20 °C; peak prices at Christmas and Carnival, and snow or ice can affect the roads up to Teide.
March–May
Spring
Green northern hills, wildflowers in the national park and comfortable hiking weather; May is quiet and good value.
June–August
Summer
Hot and dry in the south, cloudier in the north, with Spanish and European family holidays filling the resorts in July and August.
September–November
Autumn
The warmest sea of the year, fewer crowds in September and October, and the first rains in the north by November.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Sea | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21°C | 15°C | 5 | 19°C | 10.5 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| February | 21°C | 15°C | 4 | 19°C | 11.2 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| March | 22°C | 16°C | 4 | 19°C | 11.9 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| April | 23°C | 16°C | 2 | 19°C | 12.8 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| May | 24°C | 17°C | 1 | 20°C | 13.5 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| June | 26°C | 19°C | 0 | 21°C | 13.9 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| July | 28°C | 20°C | 0 | 22°C | 13.8 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| August | 29°C | 21°C | 0 | 23°C | 13.1 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| September | 28°C | 21°C | 1 | 24°C | 12.3 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| October | 26°C | 19°C | 3 | 23°C | 11.4 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 24°C | 18°C | 5 | 22°C | 10.7 h | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| December | 22°C | 16°C | 6 | 20°C | 10.4 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Cabalgata de Reyes — Three Kings parades (5 January); Festival de Música de Canarias — classical concerts (usually January–February) |
| February | Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife — parades and street parties (usually February, sometimes early March); Almond blossom around Santiago del Teide (usually late January–February) |
| March | Semana Santa — Holy Week processions, especially in La Laguna (March or April) |
| April | Semana Santa — Holy Week processions (March or April) |
| May | Fiestas de Mayo — Santa Cruz's founding festivities (early May); Día de Canarias — Canary Islands Day (30 May) |
| June | Corpus Christi sand and flower carpets in La Orotava (usually late May or June); Noche de San Juan — beach bonfires (23 June); Baño de las cabras — goats bathed in the sea at Puerto de la Cruz harbour (24 June) |
| July | Fiestas del Carmen — boat processions in fishing towns such as Puerto de la Cruz (usually mid-July) |
| August | Fiestas de la Virgen de Candelaria — pilgrimage to Candelaria (14–15 August) |
| September | Fiestas del Cristo de La Laguna — processions and fireworks (mid-September) |
| November | Fiesta de San Andrés — new wine, roast chestnuts and board-sliding down Icod de los Vinos' steep streets (around 29 November) |
| December | Nativity scenes (belenes) in town squares through December; New Year's Eve fireworks over Santa Cruz and the south-coast seafronts |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in May, and the sights are quietest in May.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Winter | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Spring | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Tenerife?
Tenerife works year-round. For the best mix of warmth, lower prices and quieter resorts, go in May, June, September or October; the sea is warmest from August to October. Winter (November to March) is high season for sun-seekers from northern Europe, with mild coastal days but cold nights at altitude and possible snow on Teide.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Tenerife?
Usually in May. One of the best-value months: dry weather, thin crowds and red tajinaste flower spikes in Teide National Park.
+What is the rainiest month in Tenerife?
December, with about 6 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Tenerife get?
The warmest month, August, averages highs of 29°C (84°F) and lows of 21°C (70°F).