Nightlife · Tenerife · Spain
Tenerife nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Tenerife, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ingo Mehling, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Nightlife is concentrated in the south, where Playa de las Américas has bar strips and clubs that run until dawn in season. Elsewhere evenings centre on tapas bars in La Laguna's student quarter and terraces in Santa Cruz, and Carnival turns the capital into one huge street party. The main areas are Veronicas and Starco, Playa de las Américas, La Laguna, Calle La Noria, Santa Cruz and Costa Adeje.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 4
- Stay near the action
- Playa de las Américas
- Local drink
- Barraquito
Where to go out
Veronicas and Starco, Playa de las Américas
The island's main party strip, with British-style bars, live music and clubs that stay open into the early morning.
La Laguna
Students fill the bars around Calle Herradores and the 'Cuadrilátero' near the university, especially from Thursday to Saturday.
Calle La Noria, Santa Cruz
A short street of restored colonial houses near the Iglesia de la Concepción, packed with tapas bars and terraces in the evening.
Costa Adeje
Lounge bars, hotel live music and beach clubs around Playa del Duque and Fañabé for a more relaxed night out.
Nightlife tips
- Spaniards go out late: bars fill after 11pm and clubs after 1am.
- Late-night buses are limited, so plan on a licensed taxi after midnight.
- Carnival nights in Santa Cruz draw enormous crowds; carry little, and arrange your ride home in advance.
Evening sights
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Architecture · Santa Cruz de Tenerife
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
What to drink
- Barraquito — Tenerife's signature coffee is served in a tall glass in layers: condensed milk, Licor 43, espresso and frothed milk, finished with lemon peel and cinnamon. Ask for a 'barraquito sin licor' to skip the alcohol.
- Tenerife wine — Volcanic soils and old vines produce Listán Negro reds and Malvasía and Listán Blanco whites under five island denominations of origin, including Tacoronte-Acentejo and Valle de La Orotava. In the Orotava Valley vines are trained in long braided cordons found almost nowhere else.
- Honey rum — A sweet, low-strength rum liqueur flavoured with honey, served chilled in a small glass. Many restaurants offer a shot at the end of the meal.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. August has the warmest evenings, with lows around 21°C (70°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 18:32 | 15°C (59°F) | 5 |
| April | About 20:32 | 16°C (61°F) | 2 |
| July | About 21:06 | 20°C (68°F) | 0 |
| October | About 19:37 | 19°C (66°F) | 3 |
Getting home late
- Bus — A rechargeable Ten+ card gives lower fares than paying the driver in cash.
- Tram — Metrotenerife's line 1 runs frequently between central Santa Cruz and La Laguna, and line 2 links La Cuesta with Tíncer; it is the easiest way between the two cities.
- Ferry — Ferries sail from Los Cristianos to La Gomera in under an hour, and fast ferries from Santa Cruz serve Gran Canaria.
- Taxi — Licensed, metered taxis wait at ranks in the resorts, towns and airports and are the easiest way home after the last buses.
- Walking — A seafront promenade of roughly 8–10 km links Los Cristianos, Las Américas and Costa Adeje, and the old centres of La Laguna and La Orotava are best explored on foot.
Late-night bites
- Carne fiesta — Guachinches and traditional bars, especially in the north and at village fiestas.
- Arepas — Arepa bars in Santa Cruz, La Laguna and many smaller towns.
Staying safe at night
Petty theft is the main concern: break-ins happen at busy viewpoints and trailheads, so leave nothing visible in hire cars. The Atlantic can be dangerous, especially on the north coast, so respect beach flags and stay out of the water when waves break on the rocks. At Teide, altitude, strong sun and cold nights catch visitors out.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
Where to stay for nightlife
$$ · Best for nightlife, budget, beach and solo travellers
Playa de las Américas
Built up from the 1960s and 1970s, Playa de las Américas is the main nightlife and package-holiday resort in the south, with the Veronicas and Starco bar areas, the shopping promenade known as the Golden Mile and reef breaks popular with surfers. It merges into Costa Adeje to the north and Los Cristianos to the south along one long seafront walk.
- Good
- Lively nights and plenty of affordable bars; Good-value apartments; Surf schools and a long seafront walk
- Watch out
- Noisy late at night near the bar strips; Little traditional character
- Nearby
- Veronicas, Playa de Troya, Siam Park, Los Cristianos
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Tenerife?
Veronicas and Starco, Playa de las Américas, La Laguna and Calle La Noria, Santa Cruz. The island's main party strip, with British-style bars, live music and clubs that stay open into the early morning.
+Which area of Tenerife is best for nightlife?
Playa de las Américas: Package-holiday hub with surf breaks, the Veronicas bar strip and the Golden Mile.