The 25+ Best Tenerife Beaches
The biggest and most popular of the Canary Islands, Tenerife has beaches to suit everyone, from party animals to couples and young families.
The best beaches here can generally be found in the south of the island. This is due to Tenerife's varying climate, which means the north gets more rain, and is generally far windier.
Youngsters usually make a beeline for Playa de las Americas - the six white sandy beaches here are backed up by Tenerife's liveliest nightlife, and there's a big choice of watersports to get stuck into as well, including scuba diving and jet-skiing.
Just next door to this lively resort is the upmarket spot of Los Cristianos. Again, the wide-open, biscuity sand beaches here are paired with a top-notch watersports scene and a somewhat quieter crowd than its neighbour.
And if you head just 10 minutes up the coast you'll find another of Tenerife's big hitters, Costa Adeje. It's got a pair of Blue Flag beaches to choose from - Playa Fanabe, with its volcanic, black sands, and the contrasting Playa del Duque, which has a family-friendly feel to go with its caramel-coloured sands.
If you're looking to avoid the crowds and take a lesser trodden tourist trail, then some of the quieter beaches can be found in the north of the island. Although it gets windier in these parts, if you pick the right time to go, there's no reason why you can't lay back and enjoy some peace and quiet. Head for Playa Bollullo - its black, volcanic sands are backed up by a rocky landscape and a single bar, far removed from the livelier resorts in the south.
Wherever you decide to land, you can be sure of good weather year-round. Tenerife's tropical climate ensures that temperatures remain warm 12 months of the year, with the mercury staying in the high teens and low twenties even during the winter months.
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1. Las Teresitas
© Victor Pelaez Torres Great for:- Swimming
Sitting at the foot of the Anaga mountains in the north west of Tenerife is Las Teresitas beach. Despite the mile long sweeping curve of golden sand Las Teresitas manages to just slip under the tourist radar - strange when it has probably featured on more postcards than any other beach on the island!
That isn't to say it doesn't get busy; it is popular with locals and plenty of visitors… read more »
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2. Playa de Fañabé
Falco Ermert Great for:- Swimming
A long ribbon of dark sand on the Costa Adeje of Tenerife's southwest coast, Playa Fanabe is one of the best all-round beaches on this side of the island. Calm waters make paddling with little ones a joy, while a lifeguard presence provides an extra feeling of security.
Another of Tenerife's Blue Flag beaches, Playa Fanabe is also one of its more upmarket options, meaning it generally has a quieter vibe… read more »
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3. El Bollullo Beach
© Tono Balaguer / 123RF El Bollullo beach is located on Tenerife's north coast, a world away from the package-tours and resorts the island is often associated with. This small cove has a wild, natural feel right down to the black volcanic sand - there's no sprinkling golden sand imported from the Sahara here like on some of Tenerife's beaches.
Set in the island's picturesque La Orotava Valley, the journey to El Bollullo involves navigating… read more » -
4. Playa del Camisón
Iain Cameron Great for:- Swimming
Located within an almost entirely closed off bay created by artificial breakwaters, Playa del Camison has some of the calmest waters of any beach in southwest Tenerife. With soft sands that gently slope into warm shallow water, it is a good beach to visit with young children keen on their first beach experiences.
Although the sand itself is free of stones, large pebbles can be found under the water. However, the… read more »
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5. Playa del Médano
Guillaume Baviere Great for:- Kitesurfing
Bisected by the Barranco de los Valos ravine, Playa del Medano offers one of the southeast coast's longest and widest sand beaches. Situated at the heart of a large bay, it shouldn't be mistaken for the much smaller Playa de El Medano closer to the town of the same name.
Made up of Tenerife's typical dark volcanic sands, Playa del Medano is popular with windsurfers and kite surfers, who use the… read more »
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6. Playa del Duque
Marc Ryckaert Great for:- Swimming
Playa del Duque is a Blue Flag beach sitting on the southwest coast of Tenerife. An upmarket option tucked back from the open waves of the Atlantic Ocean, its shallows are protected on one side by a short rocky promontory and on the other by an artificial seawall which separates it from Playa El Beril.
Part of the Costa Adeje, Playa del Duque is one of the island's busiest beaches,… read more »
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7. Playa Jardín
Gerardo nuñez Great for:- Swimming
- Surfing
Playa Jardin is a city beach on the western flanks of Puerto de la Cruz on the northern coast of Tenerife. Comprising almost black sand, it was created from scratch in the 1990s so that residents and visitors to the city didn't have to travel too far to soak up the island sun or splash about in the shallows while absorbing the panoramic views of Mount Teide, Spain's highest peak.
Lined… read more »
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8. Playa de la Tejita
Jose Mesa Great for:- Surfing
- Kitesurfing
Southward facing, Playa de la Tejita is located immediately to the west of the hill called Montana Rosa, a short distance from Tenerife Sud International Airport. One of the island's clothing optional beaches, the dark coloured sands run for around a kilometre, giving plenty of options for seclusion for those looking to go au naturel. Away from the tide line it is edged by shingle.
At the furthest point from the… read more »
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9. Playa de Las Vistas
© Mataparda Great for:- Swimming
A giant of a beach, Playa de las Vistas lies close to the ferry terminal at Los Cristianos on Tenerife's southwest coast. Reaching from one end to the other of the neighbouring bay, it is divided into two parts by a short spit of land topped with a fountain and has a total length of around one kilometre.
Wide enough for several rows of spaciously positioned sun loungers, separated into several… read more »
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10. Playa de Abama
Falco Ermert Great for:- Swimming
The point at which the Barranco de Chabugo ravine meets the Atlantic Ocean, Playa de Abama sits on Tenerife's west coast. Reached via a turning off the TF-47, and the nearest bus stops, it is easily reached by road from Abama golf club and surrounding areas.
Although backed by a luxury hotel, the golden sands of Playa de Abama are public, slipping softly into bright blue shallows partially protected by rocks… read more »
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11. Playa de Benijo
busbusbus Great for:- Surfing
Forming a part of Parque Rural de Anaga, Playa de Benijo lies on Tenerife's northern coast close to the island's easternmost point. It runs without break into the neighbouring beach of Playa de Fabin although its widest point sits at the base of the curve of the bay.
Because of its location within the reserve, Playa de Benijo is one for lovers of nature and narrow mountain roads. Views include… read more »
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12. Playa de Troya
Ayuntamiento de la Histórica Villa de Adeje Great for:- Swimming
This caramel-coloured stretch of sand sits in Tenerife's Costa Adeje area, just a two-minute stroll along the coast from the loud and lively Playa de las Americas.
With its soft sands, calm waters and plentiful facilities, this beach has a Blue Flag tick to its name. On the facilities front, you'll find showers, toilets, umbrellas and sunloungers to name just a few. There's good disabled access too, and lifeguards are… read more »
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13. Playa de los Guios
Michal Gorski Great for:- Surfing
Playa de los Guios is a black lava sand beach surrounding by the modern concrete seawall of the port to its south and high rugged cliffs to the north. It is also known as Playa Los Gigantes – the name given to these cliffs.
At around 100 metres in total, it is not the largest of beaches in Tenerife. However, calm waters and the presence of lifeguards do make it a… read more »
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14. Playa de las Gaviotas
Beneharo Hdez. Located among the bare cliff faces of Tenerife's north, Playa de las Gaviotas is a nudist friendly beach with charcoal grey sand on a small curve of coastline. Although just a short distance from Playa de la Teresitas, Gaviotas is altogether a much more relaxed affair.
Almost disappearing entirely with the waves of high tide, the beach is backed by a sloped retaining wall, which provides places to sit and… read more »
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15. Playa Roque Bermejo
Winahwaru A small beach on the northeast coast of Tenerife, Playa Roque Bermejo has no direct access by road. However, its black sands and secluded feel still attract a number of beachgoers. The hills that surround Playa Roque Bermejo are also the location of several whitewashed properties.
Accessible on foot if you have some previous walking experience, an artificial breakwater keeps the shallows calm, while anchoring points allow an even more dramatic… read more »
