Tenerife attractions, top destinations selection and Tenerife forum community? The Anaga forest is one of the most magic places in Tenerife, with its laurel trees and wild beaches like the popular Benijo beach. If you have rented a car for your holiday, don’t miss a day trip to this part of the island as it’s one of Tenerife’s most amazing places to see and visit. Look up at the weather forecast before you make the trip though, as sometimes it can be cloudy and foggy (especially during the winter months). If you’re having a cloudy day in the south and you don’t know what to do in Tenerife besides laying by the pool, you could go and visit the island’s capital – Santa Cruz de Tenerife. You have many things to do, including great shopping opportunities (the only Primark on the island is located inside Meridiano Shopping Center). See extra info on Tenerife Forum.
Teide National Park is Europe’s most visited national park, with around three million visitors every year flocking to the UNESCO protected volcanic landscape in the centre of the island. The park’s crowning glory is ‘Papa Teide’, as the volcano is known by locals. Ride the cable car up to its peak, which is almost 12,000 ft above sea level. You’ll be rewarded with jaw-dropping landscapes that feel more like Texas than Tenerife. I’ve got an entire blog post all about where to eat in Tenerife, but rest assured that there’s a lot more to Tenerife’s gastronomy than the great British fry up. Some of the main local dishes are the aforementioned papas arrugadas with mojo verde and rojo mojo. You might also want to order conejo en salmorejo (rabbit in sauce), grouper, puchero (a hearty stew), and huevos estampido, which I can only describe as the best egg and chips you’ll ever taste. No, really.
Mount Teide National Park is a World Heritage Site and home to Mount Teide, a volcano and the highest mountain peak in Spain at 3718m above sea level. You can hike or take a cable car to the base of the final cone summit, where you will enjoy the breathtaking views of Tenerife, Gran Canaria and La Palma. If you want to head to the top of the summit you will need to get a permit in advance. The Teide Observatory is on Mount Teide at an altitude of 2400m above sea level. It is the world’s largest solar observatory and has an ideal location to observe the sun or night sky. Guided tours of the observatory are available.
Many of Santa Cruz’ top attractions sit within its historical triangle, which takes up the area between Calle la Noria, Plaza de Espana and Plaza de Candelaria and Plaza de Weyler. Visit the state-of-the-art Auditorio de Tenerife Adán Martín, which may remind you of Sydney’s iconic Opera House. Another thing you shouldn’t miss is Tenerife Espacio de las Artes. This building’s architecture is truly something! The window designs are based on blown-up pixelated images of the sun reflecting off the Tenerife sea, and the lights inside the 24/7 library, ‘Biblioteca Municipal Central de Santa Cruz de Tenerife‘, are made to resemble droplets of water. Much more elegant than my old uni library! British tourists in particular might be interested in paying a visit to the Military Museum to see ‘El Tigre’, the cannon that claimed Admiral Horatio Nelson’s arm while he was trying to take the Canaries from Spain in the name of the British Empire. Nelson’s statue sits in London’s Trafalgar Square today, minus an arm.
Tenerife is a great place if extreme and active sports are your thing. A sea kayaking or a canoeing trip is a great alternative to discover the island and its coastal parts. Don’t be scared of embarking on such extreme activities, since all trips are done with the help of a professional canyoning guide, who will guide you through this unique and majestic experience.