Free things to do · Tenerife · Spain
9 free things to do in Tenerife
Tenerife without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 3 days in Tenerife without paying an entry fee: Teide National Park, San Cristóbal de La Laguna old town, Anaga Rural Park and Masca village and gorge are all free. The Canary Islands use their own lower sales tax (IGIC) instead of mainland Spain's VAT, so fuel, alcohol and many everyday goods cost less.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 9
- Low-cost extras
- 4
- Cost level
- Moderately priced
- Lowest hotel prices
- May
Free sights and experiences
Park · Las Cañadas del Teide
1.Teide National Park
Arrive early or late in the afternoon to avoid tour coaches at the Roques de García, and bring a warm layer: it can be 15 °C colder than on the coast.
- Time needed
- Half to full day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Nature
- Views
- Free
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Neighbourhood · San Cristóbal de La Laguna
2.San Cristóbal de La Laguna old town
Walk the old streets in the morning, then come back for tapas around Calle Herradores in the evening, when students fill the bars.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Free
- Food
- Photo spot
Nature · Anaga
3.Anaga Rural Park
The Sendero de los Sentidos at Cruz del Carmen is an easy, short forest walk for children; hikers can continue to Chinamada and its cave houses.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Active
- Free
- Views
- Off the beaten path
Nature · Teno
4.Masca village and gorge
Drive the road early in the morning to avoid meeting coaches on the hairpins, or take the TITSA bus from Santiago del Teide.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours for the village
- Cost
- Free
- Views
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Off the beaten path
- Free
Neighbourhood · La Orotava
5.La Orotava old town
Wear sturdy shoes: the old town climbs steeply, and the upper streets give views across the valley to Teide.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Free
- Photo spot
Historic site · Garachico
6.Garachico and El Caletón
Only swim in El Caletón on calm days; Atlantic swells can sweep over the rocks without warning.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Beach · San Andrés
7.Playa de Las Teresitas
Go on a weekday; at weekends the beach and its car parks fill with families from the capital.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Outdoors
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Architecture · Santa Cruz de Tenerife
8.Auditorio de Tenerife
Combine a walk around the building with the Palmetum, a palm garden built on a former landfill a short walk south along the shore.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- Free
- Photo spot
- After dark
Religious site · Candelaria
9.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
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Las Cañadas del Teide | Teide National Park | Half to full day |
| San Cristóbal de La Laguna | San Cristóbal de La Laguna old town | Half a day |
| Anaga | Anaga Rural Park | Full day |
| Teno | Masca village and gorge | 2–3 hours for the village |
| La Orotava | La Orotava old town | 2–3 hours |
| Garachico | Garachico and El Caletón | 2–3 hours |
| San Andrés | Playa de Las Teresitas | Half a day |
| Santa Cruz de Tenerife | Auditorio de Tenerife | 1 hour |
| Candelaria | Basilica of Candelaria | 1 hour |
Worth a small ticket
Nature · Icod de los Vinos
Drago Milenario
Combine it with Garachico, a short drive west along the coast, for a half-day in the northwest.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- History
- Photo spot
Waterfront · Puerto de la Cruz
Lago Martiánez
It is the best alternative to the sea on the north coast for families; arrive early on summer weekends to find loungers.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Architecture
Museum · Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Museo de la Naturaleza y Arqueología (MUNA)
Pair it with lunch at the Mercado de Nuestra Señora de África, a short walk across the Barranco de Santos.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Museum · San Cristóbal de La Laguna
Museo de la Ciencia y el Cosmos
Check planetarium session times when you arrive; it is a good half-day with children when cloud covers the north.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
More ways to save
- The Canary Islands use their own lower sales tax (IGIC) instead of mainland Spain's VAT, so fuel, alcohol and many everyday goods cost less.
- Teide National Park, the beaches and almost all hiking trails are free; the main costs are transport and the cable car.
- Eat the menú del día at lunchtime in towns such as La Laguna and La Orotava rather than on resort seafronts.
- Book car hire early for Christmas, Carnival, Easter and August, when local fleets sell out and prices rise.
- The combined Loro Parque and Siam Park ticket costs less than buying both separately.
- May, June and October usually bring the lowest accommodation prices between the winter and summer peaks.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Tenerife expensive to visit?
Tenerife is moderately priced for most visitors, but 9 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Tenerife?
Teide National Park: Arrive early or late in the afternoon to avoid tour coaches at the Roques de García, and bring a warm layer: it can be 15 °C colder than on the coast.