Where is Tenerife located?

Tenerife has recently become one of the most popular holiday destinations for tourists from all over Europe. This does not surprise us – the island impresses with its beautiful natural landscapes, extensive tourist infrastructure. However, many people before their vacation do not know where Tenerife is located. In this article, we explain where Tenerife is located and its main sites:

🌍 Where is Tenerife located?

Tenerife is an island belonging to Spain, although it is as far as 1,600 km from Giblartar. It is located in the Atlantic Ocean. It is part of the Canary Islands archipelago, which is located off the northwestern coast of Morocco.

Although it may seem surprising, geographically Tenerife is closer to Africa than to Europe (only about 300 km from the African continent). However, administratively and culturally, it is part of Spain and thus the European Union. This makes travel to the island very convenient for Europeans – you don’t need a visa, and the currency is the euro.

🗺️ Location of Tenerife on the world map

Tenerife is the largest island in the Canary Islands archipelago. It is located between other popular islands such as Gran Canaria, La Gomera and Lanzarote. Its strategic location has made it an important point on trade routes between Europe, Africa and the Americas for centuries.

The island covers an area of about 2,034 square kilometers and is extremely diverse in terms of landscape – from tropical beaches to volcanic moonscapes.

Did you know that … Tenerife is located in the area of Macaronesia? And it is by no means related to pasta. Macaronesia is a biogeographical region comprising several archipelagos of islands in the North Atlantic, off the coast of Africa and Europe. The name comes from the Greek and means “happy islands.” Among them are the Canary Islands and Tenerife.

✈️ Tenerife airport

This may also come as a surprise to you, but Tenerife has two airports in operation:

🛫 Tenerife South Airport (Tenerife South Airport)

This is the largest and most important airport on the island. It is here that most international flights are handled, including low-cost airlines from Poland. It is located in the southern part of the island, close to the most popular resorts such as Costa Adeje, el Medano.

🛬 Tenerife North Airport (Tenerife North Airport)

This is a smaller airport, located near La Laguna. It mainly handles domestic and inter-island flights. If you’re going on vacation in Tenerife, you’ll more than likely land at South Airport.

Thanks to a well-developed network of connections, Tenerife can be reached directly from many European cities, often at attractive prices.

🏙️ Major cities in Tenerife

🌆 Santa Cruz de Tenerife

It is the island’s capital and an important seaport. It is worth noting that it is also the capital of the Canary Islands, alternating with Las Palmas in Gran Canaria. Every four years, these cities pass the title of capital to each other. The city is an administrative, commercial and cultural center. It is especially famous for one of the largest carnivals in the world – Carnaval de Santa Cruz.

In Santa Cruz you will find modern shopping centers, museums, restaurants and one of the most famous beaches in Tenerife – playa las Teresitas. It is a beach with sand brought from the Sahara. This is the city most reminiscent of large European cities. You can feel the speed and movement of a big city here.

Learn more about Santa Cruz Tenerife – here.

🌴 Puerto de la Cruz

This is one of the oldest resorts in Tenerife, located in the north of the island. It is characterized by a greener and more humid climate than the south. As a result, you can enjoy the lush tropical vegetation here.

Puerto de la Cruz attracts tourists with its authentic atmosphere, local architecture and attractions such as the Lago Martiánez pools and the Loro Parque Zoo.

For more on Puerto de la Cruz, click here.

☀️ Costa Adeje

This is the most touristic part of the island. Here you will find beautiful beaches, a wide selection of hotels, restaurants and numerous attractions, such as Siam Park – one of the best water parks in the world. It’s also a great base for all Tenerife tours and attractions – it’s here you’ll find the largest selection of them (check out our full range of Tenerife attractions and tours – click here).

Costa Adeje is an ideal destination for those seeking comfort, sun and entertainment.

🌋 Teide – the symbol of Tenerife

The centerpiece of the island is Teide, a majestic volcano 3715 meters above sea level. It is the highest peak in Spain and one of the highest volcanoes in the world.

Teide National Park, where it is located, has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and attracts millions of tourists every year. The landscape of the place is absolutely unique – it resembles the surface of Mars, with lava fields, craters and unusual rock formations.

The summit can be reached by cable car or accessed on foot (a permit is required). However, options for exploring the Volcano are plentiful: from bus tours, quad bikes, buggies and jeeps, star watching tours on the volcano, to helicopter flights. You can find all these options on our OleTenerife website.

🌴 Tenerife weather and climate

One of the island’s greatest assets is its climate. Tenerife is called the “island of eternal spring” because temperatures remain at 20-28°C all year round.

Interestingly, the island is divided climatically into two parts:

• South – sunny, dry and warm. Ideal for beachcombing and for those seeking warmth. In this part of the island it rains much less often and average temperatures are higher
• North – greener, wetter and cooler. It rains more often here, but this allows you to enjoy the beautiful lush tropical vegetation.

As a result, there is something for everyone.

We hope that now knowing where Tenerife is located will make it easier for you to plan your vacation. Whether you choose Puerto de la Cruz, bustling Santa Cruz de Tenerife or sunny Costa Adeje, you can be sure of one thing – Tenerife is a destination you want to return to. And we’ll be happy to suggest which attractions to choose so that you return from your vacation with a luggage full of memories.