Tenerife is a destination that offers year-round sunshine, with average daily temperatures ranging from the mid-teens during the winter months of December to March/April, to mid-to-high 20s during the peak summer months.
The shoulder seasons (May/June and Sept/Oct) are best if you want to avoid the crowds but still receive plenty of sunshine, while the summer months are ideal for a family package holiday and hours spent soaking up the rays on the warm, sandy beaches.
If you're looking for some bright skies and al fresco dining to help you escape those January Blues, Tenerife has you covered! With year-round flights from the UK to Tenerife, winter can the perfect time to discover some of the island's more cultural sites such as the Municipal Market (Mercado Municipal Nuestra Senora de Africa), the Centro Historico de San Cristobal de la Laguna or perhaps catch a concert at the Tenerife Auditorium.
As the Canary Islands mostly follow Catholicism as their main religion, there are many special festivals throughout the year such as Carnaval (usually in February or March), Semana Santa (Holy Week) in the lead up to Easter and the Fiestas de la Cruz in May which is one of the most colourful celebrations on the island! These make an excellent time to visit Tenerife as you'll be able to enjoy both holiday activities as well as cultural festivities.
Tenerife is an island known for its beaches, so of course, one of the best things to do is to explore the coves and coast in search of your favourite spot. Whether you're looking for large swathes of organised beach, with sunbeds, parasols, tavernas and water sports or prefer something a little more low-key, you're sure to find it in Tenerife. Los Cristianos is a popular spot for families, Beach Los Guios boasts black lava sand, Maui Beach is a hotspot for surfers and Playa Bollullo is the place to go if you want a rugged stretch of unspoilt beach backed by cliffs and banana plantations!
When you're not discovering beaches, you'll want to check out the colourful streets of Santa Cruz, shop 'til you drop at some of the island's best markets and dance the night away at some of Tenerife's top bars and clubs. Even if you're not one for partying, there are so many beachside restaurants to choose from that you'll have something different to do every night of the week.
Kids will love the epic water slides at Siam Park, the wildlife of Jungle Park and dolphin spotting day trips, while mum and dad may even want to leave the children at the hotel kid's club for the day while they head out to enjoy a round of golf or perhaps some wine tasting at the beautiful Bodegas Monje.
For those who prefer exploring the great outdoors why not take a walk on the wild side during a hike in the Orotava Valley, go cycling in the Masca Canyon, enjoy a visit the Finca Canarias Aloe Vera (Aloe Vera Farms) or learn to scuba dive with Amarilla Divers in the Golf del Sur?
Tenerife is located in the Canary Islands off the north-west coast of Africa, in the North Atlantic Ocean. Therefore, flights here take around 4-5 hours compared to the two it takes to reach mainland Spain. This additional journey time is worth it though for the warmer weather you'll receive!
There are two airports in Tenerife, Tenerife South Airport (also known as Reina Sofia Airport - airport code TFS) which serves the main holiday resorts on the south coast such as Costa Adeje, Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos, and Tenerife North Airport (also known as Los Rodeos - airport code TFN) which is the gateway to the north of the island, the region that offers more natural, lush landscapes as well as the colourful town of Santa Cruz. There are regular flights to Tenerife from most UK airports, with Ryanair, Tui, British Airways and Jet2 offering charter departures.
Other top tips for travelling to Tenerife:
1. Go to Mount Teide for sunset on a day with clear, slightly cloudy skies.
2. Book tickets for Siam Park online to avoid the queues, especially in the height of summer.
3. The public transport on the island is called Titsa and is pretty regular and reliable, so it's a great choice for those who want to explore the island but don't want to hire a car.
