Month guide · Tenerife · Spain
Tenerife in December
What December is really like in Tenerife: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Mataparda, Public domain
Quick answer
December is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 22°C (72°F), lows of 16°C (61°F), about 6 rainy days and roughly 10.4 hours of daylight. Christmas and New Year are among the busiest and most expensive weeks of the year; snow and ice can affect the Teide roads on some days.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 22°C (72°F) / 16°C (61°F)
- Rainy days
- About 6
- Daylight
- About 10.4 hours
- Sea temperature
- 20°C (68°F)
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in December
December is the 10th-warmest month in Tenerife: days average 22°C (72°F) against a yearly average high of 25°C (77°F), and nights fall to about 16°C (61°F). Rain falls on roughly 6 of its 31 days. Compared with November (24°C (75°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 21°C (70°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:51
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 18:13
- Daylight
- About 10.4 hours
- Sea
- 20°C (68°F)
Autumn (September–November). The warmest sea of the year, fewer crowds in September and October, and the first rains in the north by November.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 5 for crowds (the peak is August at 5) and 5 for hotel prices (highest in August). Book accommodation early: December is one of the pricier months.
Events in December
- Nativity scenes (belenes) in town squares through December
- New Year's Eve fireworks over Santa Cruz and the south-coast seafronts
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Historic site · Güímar
Pirámides de Güímar
Six terraced stone platforms in Güímar on the east coast became famous when the explorer Thor Heyerdahl argued they had a ritual purpose; excavations date them to the 19th century, when farmers piled up stones cleared from their fields.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Nature
Religious site · Candelaria
Basilica of Candelaria
Visit early in the day to see the mencey statues against the sea without crowds.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Architecture
Park · Las Cañadas del Teide
Teide National Park
The national park surrounds Mount Teide, at 3,715 metres the highest point in Spain, with a vast caldera of lava flows, pumice fields and the twisted rock towers of the Roques de García.
- Time needed
- Half to full day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Nature
- Views
- Free
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Experience · Las Cañadas del Teide
Teide cable car and summit
The altitude can cause dizziness and breathlessness; move slowly at the top, and skip the ride if you have heart or breathing problems or are pregnant.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Active
- Nature
What to pack
For highs near 22°C, lows near 16°C and 6 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Tenerife?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Tenerife in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Tenerife?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Christmas and New Year are among the busiest and most expensive weeks of the year; snow and ice can affect the Teide roads on some days.
+How warm is Tenerife in December?
Average highs are around 22°C (72°F) and lows around 16°C (61°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Tenerife in December?
Expect rain on about 6 days of the month.