Tenerife with Kids

Is Tenerife suitable for a family vacation? Absolutely! What many don’t know: The north side of the Canary Island is a giant adventure playground—perfect for families who love to stay active even on vacation. 5 family-friendly tips for an unforgettable holiday in Tenerife with kids.

Tenerife with Kids: North or South?

Tenerife is an island of contrasts. Many visitors only know the package tourism hotspots in the south, with their massive hotel resorts and apartment complexes. But the lush north, with its authentic coastal towns and breathtaking nature, is the true paradise for a family holiday in Tenerife! Perfect for those who don’t need a big all-inclusive family hotel. For those who want to make more of their precious time together than just beach and pool days. For adventure seekers. For little and big explorers. A holiday guaranteed to be free of boredom—full of quality time instead.

Kid-friendly Spain
Pleasant climate all year round
No long-distance flight
Minimal time difference within Europe
Nature, sports, adventure & relaxation
Happy kids. Happy parents.

Why Tenerife with Kids?

One of Tenerife’s biggest advantages is its climate: the island offers family-friendly temperatures all year round—never too cold, never too hot. You can even go swimming in winter! Plus, Tenerife is so compact that you can reach almost any destination in about an hour—and the journey itself is often a treat, with breathtaking views around every corner.

Tenerife has something for every family member: sea and beaches, mountains, volcanoes and hiking trails, great restaurants, water parks, sports activities, zoos, farmers’ markets, and so much more. Maybe Grandma and Grandpa want to come along too?

Planning a trip to Tenerife with kids and looking for the perfect holiday home?

Family Tip #1: The Most Beautiful Beaches in Tenerife

Black or gold, for splashing or surfing, flat or wild: In Tenerife, every family can find their perfect beach. It all depends on what you want to do on the beach and the age of your children. Most sandy beaches are located in the south and southwest. In the north, the coastline is rockier, and the waves are wilder, making the experience even more thrilling. In some locations, you’ll find natural pools formed from solidified lava – “El Caletón,” for example, is just a few steps away from Villa ARTE. A must-see!

Unique Beaches

Please note

Due to the currents, Playa de Benijo is not a safe beach for small children to swim! However, the beach is beautiful and especially a popular photo spot at sunset – sometimes even model shoots take place here.

Child-friendly beaches around Costa Adeje and El Médano

Action Tip

El Médano is also known as a surfer’s paradise due to its wind and wave conditions. Many surf schools offer courses for children and teenagers here.

Our Favorite Beach

Playa Las Teresitas in the southeast of Tenerife is a long, golden sand beach that instantly puts you in a holiday mood. There’s plenty of parking, lots of palm trees, loungers and umbrellas to rent, restrooms, and food stalls at every beach section offering snacks, drinks, and ice cream for the kids. The view with the colorful houses of San Andrés is a true postcard image. Beach hours at Playa Las Teresitas can be easily combined with a half-day trip to the Anaga Mountains or a stroll through the island’s capital, Santa Cruz.

For Sweet Tooths: Treat yourself to an ice cream in Garachico at Heladería Artesanal Italiana Fragola – the best ice cream shop on the island, ranked as the "12th best ice cream shop in all of Spain."

Family Tip #2: Unique Outdoor Pools

The 18,000 m² Lago Martiánez complex with its various seawater pools is located in the heart of Puerto de la Cruz, a charming harbor town on the northern coast. The man-made bathing area was designed by César Manrique, right by the sea, so that during high waves, the spray splashes over the outer walls. The complex is beautifully landscaped, with palm trees, relaxation areas, fountains, and sculptures.

A similar swimming landscape, Parque Marítimo César Manrique, is located in the south of Tenerife, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. With an even larger area of 22,000 m², it offers a view of the Auditorium and the Palmetum.

Family Tip #3: Theme Parks in Tenerife

Small Island, Big Fun! For those visiting Tenerife with kids, the island offers extraordinary theme parks. Whether you’re an animal lover, a nature enthusiast, or an adrenaline junkie, there’s something for everyone – with or without water!

Family Tips #4: On the Water. Under the Water.

Paddleboarding, Surfing, Kitesurfing, and Sailing: Tenerife is a paradise for watersports – guaranteed to keep teenagers entertained!
Experienced divers will love exploring the fascinating underwater world with caves and shipwrecks. How about a try dive for the kids or even earning an internationally recognized diving license like the “PADI Junior Open Water Diver”? For deep-sea fishing enthusiasts, there’s a wide range of guided fishing tours targeting marlin, tuna, bonitos, or dorado, or you can even rent a charter boat. A family highlight is a boat trip for whale watching or a submarine safari.

Fancy island hopping? Take a day trip to La Gomera – it’s just a 50-minute ferry ride away. Not only is the journey an adventure in itself, but with history-loving kids, you can also follow in the footsteps of Christopher Columbus. The explorer stocked up on supplies here before his journey to the “New World.” There’s a Columbus Museum, and you can visit the church where Columbus prayed for a safe voyage.

Family Tips #5: Mountains & Volcanoes

In the center of the island stands the majestic Pico del Teide, the highest mountain in Spain at 3,715 meters. A ride on the Teide cable car takes you almost to the summit comfortably. It's best to book tickets in advance! Alternatively, there are numerous discovery routes in the national park, where a breathtaking moon-like landscape of lava rock stretches out—an experience that fascinates not only young geology explorers.
Tip for kids: A short, lower-altitude hike, but also a very beautiful one through volcanic landscapes, is the loop around Chinyero.
In the lush northeast of the island, the Anaga Mountains entice with spectacular mountain ranges and ravines. Here, families will find a vast network of hiking trails to "Mirador" viewpoints or through misty, mystical laurel forests—sometimes, it’s not always about reaching a high peak!
The Teno Mountains in the northwest are also a highlight for nature-loving families. If you don't want to hike much, you can take a bus to the rustic mountain village of Masca or visit the Punta de Teno lighthouse—the view of the Los Gigantes cliffs from here is literally gigantic!

How to Plan Your Hike

On the website TenerifeON, you will find the official network of hiking trails and plenty of tour suggestions of varying difficulty levels.

If you want to experience a magnificent spectacle with your kids, then celebrate the Carnaval on Tenerife in 2026 – the second-largest street carnival in the world. Who wants to freeze during carnival when you can dance under the palm trees here? Just like in Rio, but much closer!

Five family-friendly apartments

Instead of anonymous hotel resorts, enjoy the perfect mix of comfort and the charm of a historic building in the five apartments of Villa ARTE. Located in the heart of Garachico, the villa is just a few steps away from the natural lava pools of the Atlantic on one side and the historic town center on the other. A highlight is the large panoramic rooftop terrace with views over the sea and the old town.

Garachico, in the green north, is an ideal starting point for exploring Tenerife with children. The town offers everything you need for a family vacation, yet remains calm and laid-back, with no party districts, and plenty of authentic atmosphere. If you’re traveling with young adults who want to dive into the nightlife now and then, Puerto de la Cruz is just 30 minutes away, offering a wide selection of bars and clubs for night owls.