San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife: The Best Things to Do & See
San Cristóbal de La Laguna, or better known by locals simply as ¨La Laguna¨, is a must-see destination in the north of Tenerife. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of only two in Tenerife, and its well preserved downtown center is home to a large concentration of historic buildings from the 16th-18th centuries. From colorful facades, to interior patios and earthy orange tile roofs, San Cristóbal de La Laguna is a delight to explore.
Here is our take on the best things to do in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife and what can be skipped.
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Best Things to Do in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife
Most of your time visiting San Cristóbal de La Laguna will likely take place in the historic downtown. The compact center is made up of several pedestrian streets located between two main plazas: Plaza del Adelantado and Plaza la Concepción.
Typical activities include visiting museums, historic buildings and churches as well as strolling around town, perusing independent shops and admiring the traditional Canarian architecture.
Our favorite recommendations for things to do in San Cristóbal de Laguna include:
The Free Tour
To get your bearings, start off with a free tour of the historic center. The one hour long tour, organized by the city hall, is available Monday – Friday at set times between 10:00am – 12:00pm.
Tours are offered in Spanish, English, German and French, however in our experience, German and French are not as readily available as tours in English and Spanish. Book tours and await the confirmation response in advance through the city hall´s website (website available in Spanish and English natively).
San Cristóbal de La Laguna’s Municipal Market
The city’s largest fresh market is open 7 days a week: Monday – Friday from 6:00am – 2:00pm, Sunday and Monday from 7:00am – 2:00pm. You´ll find a mix of grannies and tourists, and a range of fruit and vegetable stands, fish, meat and cheese stands alongside niche local beer and wine booths. This is a great place to practice your Spanish, see what´s in season and purchase food related souvenirs.
Casa de los Capitanes Generales
Wander the first floor and admire the architecture of the 17th century Casa de los Capitanes Generales (House of General Captains). Inside the building you´ll discover a photo-worthy interior patio and garden, as well as the city´s tourism office.
San Cristóbal de La Laguna has a relatively active events schedule, so it is worth asking at the visitor center if there is anything scheduled while you visit. It´s also smart to take the opportunity to verify hours for museums you’d like to see, especially in the summer when hours of operation change.
Catedral de San Cristóbal de La Laguna
There are several important churches you can visit in San Cristóbal de La Laguna. Their prices and preparation for tourists range wildly.
The most structured visitor experience can be found at the city’s cathedral, where a comprehensive audio guide is available for use via your mobile phone in Spanish, English, French, German and Italian. Here, you have two options: visit the cathedral with an audio guide for €7 or visit the cathedral and the bell tower for €10 (all prices for non-residents). Visits to the bell tower occur twice a day at 12:00pm and 1:00pm.
Our two cents? If you are interested in architecture, history and religious art, you may leave more satisfied than someone solely focused on aesthetics. If you decide to go, reserve the cathedral and bell tower tour in advance to get the most out of your visit. The English levels of the in-person bell tower guides vary, so explanations during that part of the visit may be less comprehensive. However, the bell tower views make up for any lack of details.
If the price tag feels too steep for your level of interest, you can try out the budget-friendly, smaller church and bell tower experience at nearby Iglesia de la Concepión (Church of the Immaculate Conception). For €3, enjoy city views from a slightly shorter tower (28 meters vs 40 meters) and explore an equally historic church, however without the audio guide.
MHA
The Museo de Historia y Antropología de Tenerife (Museum of History and Anthropology of Tenerife), showcases the island´s history and culture from the Guanche period through Spanish conquest and into more recent centuries. The museum is housed in the 16th century mansion home of the high society Lercaro family and is a great example of traditional Canarian architecture including conserved wooden balconies and ceilings.
Entry price is €5 for non-residents and comes with an audio guide used on your mobile phone with language options in Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, and Russian. The museum is free on Friday and Saturday after 4pm to close (currently 7pm on both days).
Casa Museo Cayetano Gómez Felipe
The Casa Museo Cayetano Gómez Felipe (House and Museum of Cayetano Gómez Felipe) contains a collection of antiquities displayed within the family home of its enthusiastic collector. The collection is wide ranging from furniture and ceramics to jewels and textiles and reflects on daily life and traditions in the Canary Islands, as well as the archipelago´s importance in the trade route between Europe and the Americas.
The entry price is €5 and comes with an audio guide accessed via your mobile phone in Spanish, English, French, German and Italian. If you speak Spanish, you also have the option to contact the museum in advance and request an hour-long in-person tour (recommended!)
A stop in the lovely patio café after the tour is a delightful way to end the visit.
Plaza de la Concepción
The area around the La Concepción church is almost always buzzing with energy. Whether it’s a mid-day meet up or afterwork drink, you’ll find people out on the restaurant terraces. This is a good spot to take a food or drink break.
Pedestrian Walking Streets & Independent Shops
San Cristóbal de La Laguna’s historic downtown center is made up of several pedestrian walking streets. Obispo Rey Redondo is the main shopping street for more traditional brands, but it’s worth branching out to the parallel streets of Calle Alcalde Alonso Suarez Melian, Calle Bencomo and Calle San Agustín for independent shops, bars, restaurants and cultural sites.
More Things to Do in San Cristóbal de La Laguna (if you have extra time)
Teatro Leal
Teatro Leal (Leal Theater) is the city’s main performing arts space. Check out their programming to see if your visit coincides with a music, theater or dance performance.
Museum of Science and Cosmos
A great spot to stop if you are traveling with kiddos to explore interactive exhibits focused on astronomy, and natural sciences.
Closest Swimming Spots to San Cristóbal de La Laguna
Bajamar
The laid-back, small town of Bajamar is best known for its natural salt water swimming pools, small sandy beach, and seaside promenade. The installations are easy to access and family friendly. The largely residential town has a few restaurants and cafés as well as a bar serving cocktails with a front row view of the sunset.
Las Teresitas Beach
Las Teresitas is the largest white sand beach in the north of Tenerife. The swimming area has excellent installations from ample parking and bathrooms to beach bars, making it a comfortable excursion for all types of visitors.
One thing to keep in mind: this beach should be avoided on windy days as its fine sand is easily blown around and can be quite uncomfortable. If you find yourself at Las Teresitas when the wind picks up, take a walk to the nearby fishing village of San Andrés for an ice cream or a seafood lunch.
Things to Avoid in San Cristóbal de La Laguna
The Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus
The Hop-On, Hop-Off sells itself as an easy way to visit both San Cristóbal de la Laguna and neighboring Santa Cruz de Tenerife for just €20. In reality however, regular public transport connects the two city centers frequently, with a round-trip ticket costing less than €3.
The oversized bus is not able to access the best areas of each city, so you´ll still need to do some walking through the pedestrian only sections. If your goal was simply to see something while you sit down, you´d be better off spending the money on a nice lunch and people watching.
Skip Franchises
The best eating and shopping in San Cristóbal de La Laguna are at smaller, independent stores. Skip Ale-Hop and franchise food joints in favor of local small businesses.
Travel Tips for Visiting San Cristóbal de La Laguna
Eat. And make reservations. The best travel plans for San Cristóbal de La Laguna include food as there are plenty of excellent places for breakfast, lunch and dinner or coffee. Restaurants here are generally smaller and more intimate, so if you’d like to eat somewhere specific during your visit, reserve in advance.
Bring layers. Due to its own microclimate and altitude, San Cristóbal de La Laguna is often a few degrees cooler than neighboring seaside towns. Always bring a light layer (in summer) and thicker layer (in winter) just in case.
Don’t forget la siesta. Many shops and cultural sites embrace the traditional afternoon siesta break and close between 2:00pm – 5:00pm. Restaurants will also normally taken a break between lunch and dinner from roughly 4:00pm – 8:00pm.
Double check opening times/dates for museums. Museums will be closed on public holidays and opening hours can change in the summer.
Plan parking accordingly if you need it. Scope out parking options ahead of time to facilitate a smooth arrival to San Cristóbal de La Laguna. Street parking is generally free and there are several reasonable paid parking garages centered around the historic downtown.
Final Thoughts on Visiting San Cristóbal de La Laguna
Is San Cristóbal de La Laguna in Tenerife worth visiting? Absolutely.
The city makes a great day trip, or base for people looking to explore the north of the island and spend some time hiking in the Anaga region. Despite being an obvious tourism site, San Cristóbal de La Laguna maintains an equilibrium between visitors and locals that is difficult to find in other areas of the island.
Check Out Our Other Guides for San Cristóbal de La Laguna
Where to Stay in La Laguna: Historic Buildings and Romantic Stays
Hotels in La Laguna: Where to Stay on a Budget
Love Coffee and Cake?: These are the Best Cafés in San Cristóbal de La Laguna
What to Do in Tenerife: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Tenerife
