Best Things to Do in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and What to Avoid
Tenerife’s capital city, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, is the perfect spot to blend into everyday life alongside local residents. The city is best explored by foot via the main plazas and pedestrian streets with stops in between for coffee/beer/drink breaks at enjoyable open air terraces. Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s downtown is laid back, less touristy and great for people watching.
Beyond coffee breaks and lunch stops, this guide explores the best things to do in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and what you can skip.
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Best Things to do in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Many of the best things to do in Santa Cruz de Tenerife are outdoors and free to visit. The city’s compact downtown is best explored by foot, so comfortable walking shoes are essential to make the most of your trip.
Is it your first time exploring Santa Cruz de Tenerife? See our guide for the best things to do in the city for a quick visit or extended stay.
Plaza España
Located between the historic downtown and the harbor, Plaza de España is Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s main square and an essential stop. Here you´ll find your first photo stop: the Santa Cruz logo with a view of the dramatic Anaga mountains in the background. The plaza is decorated with a flower wall, blue shallow water lagoon and tall Guanche statues (the island´s original inhabitants).
Tourism Office Palacio de Carta
Pro tip: skip the often crowded tourist information office at Plaza España and walk two minutes to the tourist office inside the lovely Palacio de Carta.
Even if you don´t need maps or recommendations, it´s worth stepping inside to admire the building’s beautifully restored Canarian wooden balconies. If you visit during a weekday, the office offers a free 15 minute guided tour at 12 pm of the historic building in both Spanish and English.
Calle Castillo
The main shopping street where you´ll find familiar mainstream brands like Decathlon, Zara, Oysho, etc. If you want to see what’s in style in Spain, this street is for you.
Parque García Sanabria
Located on the edge of Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s downtown area (about a 15 minute walk from Plaza España), is the city’s most beautiful park. The oasis has sculptural art, exotic plants, a kids playground and many peaceful corners to relax in.
Mercado Nuestra Senora de Africa
Mercado de Nuestra Señora de Africa is Santa Cruz de Tenerife´s main daily market and a great place to source local products. Today, the market is filled with bakeries, fresh fruit, vegetable and meat stands as well as stalls selling flowers, handmade pasta, local beers and wine. The market closes at 2pm, so go earlier during the day to see it in full swing.
TEA Museum Shop
Just outside Mercado Nuestra Señora de Africa is the TEA museum shop and bookstore. The shop features local artists and designers and is a great spot to find unique clothes, bags, jewelry, posters and other high quality souvenirs.
Casa Carnaval
When it’s open, Casa del Carnaval is a fun way to experience Santa Cruz de Tenerife´s Carnival atmosphere. Inside the museum you´ll find elaborate costumes, colorful posters and a dress-up area for kids.
Be sure to check their opening times before visiting as it regularly closes when new displays are installed.
Auditorio de Tenerife
If you enjoy architecture or longer walks, take the 20 minute jaunt from Plaza España to Santa Cruz de Tenerife´s architectural pride and joy, the Auditorio de Tenerife. The city’s iconic landmark was designed by the famous Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and includes a café from which visitors can enjoy a sea view. Architecture fans can pre-book a short 20-minute tour to see the interior of the building for €5.00 by contacting visitas@auditoriodetenerife.com.
MUNA – The Museum of Nature and Archaeology
MUNA is the largest museum in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and offers a deeper look at Tenerife’s natural history and archaeological legacy. While the museum’s contents cover a lot of ground, the presentation of the information is hardly novel. Expect a lot of written text and note that English translations are minimal. If it’s raining or you have a high interest in learning about local flora and fauna or checking out a mummified Guanche (original inhabitants of the island), it could be more of interest.
More Things to do in Santa Cruz de Tenerife (If you have extra time)
Auditorio de Tenerife
Check out their programming to see if your visit coincides with a music or dance performance. Watching a show in the main hall of the Auditorio is a spectacular experience.
Swim in Parque Marítimo César Manrique
Parque Marítimo César Manrique is a collection of saltwater pools, relaxation areas and kiddie play spaces. It’s an excellent option for families with younger children or anyone who can’t be bothered to travel to the beach. Admission for adult non-residents is €7.50, and €4.00 for children and includes a sunbed.
Palmetum
The Palmetum is a large botanical garden specializing in palm trees found on a small hill that was once a municipal landfill. The site has been repurposed beautifully, and offers excellent views of the city and sea. During Christmas holidays they set up a nighttime light display through the gardens. Admission for non-resident adults is €6.00 and children are €2.50.
Las Teresitas Beach
It’s no secret that Las Teresitas is the most beautiful and convenient white sand beach in northern Tenerife. Just a short bus ride or drive from downtown Santa Cruz de Tenerife, it´s the perfect place to relax, swim or drink a mojito.
The beach has excellent installations from ample parking and bathrooms to beach bars, making it a comfortable choice for all types of visitors. Stretch out with a good book, powerwalk the shoreline or grab a drink from one of the bars; this is the ultimate place to spend a few hours relaxing.
One thing to keep in mind: Las Teresitas is stunning, but should be avoided on windy days. The fine sand is easily blown around and can be quite uncomfortable. If you find yourself at the beach when the wind picks up, take a walk through the nearby fishing village of San Andrés and grab an ice cream or a seafood lunch.
Spa Break at Iberostar Heritage Grand Mencey
If you are looking for a treat, check out the spa services at Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s most famous five star hotel. While there are certainly less expensive spas and massage studios in the city, the Iberostar Heritage Grand Mencey’s elegant setting makes for a romantic excursion. The 90-minute spa circuit (€35) includes access to a hydrotherapy pool with dynamic water jets, a jacuzzi, dry sauna, steam room and relaxation area.
Tourist Traps to Avoid in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
The Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus
The Hop-On, Hop-Off sells itself as an easy way to visit both Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the UNESCO World Heritage Site San Cristóbal de la Laguna for just €20. In reality however, regular public transport connect the two city centers frequently, with a round-trip ticket costing less than €3.
Both cities are compact and their best plazas and shops and restaurants are on pedestrian streets; thus there is only so much you would see from the bus.
If your goal is simply to see something while you sit down, you´d be better off spending the money on a leisurely lunch rather sweating in the heat atop a double decker bus.
Skip the Mediocre Cafés at the Beginning of Calle Castillo
Calle Castillo is the main shopping street connected to Plaza España. Naturally, tourists move from Plaza España up into Calle Castillo and pass by several busy, generic looking cafés with outdoor seating. The McDonalds on the corner should be a warning sign – don´t assume that the cafés along on this busy section of Calle Castillo are the city´s best.
Instead, head one street over to the pedestrian Calle Bethencourt Alfonso where you´ll find better options and a prettier tree-lined walking street.
Travel Tips for Visiting Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Plan parking in advance if you need it. Santa Cruz de Tenerife has some surprising one-way streets and confusing traffic patterns. Having a parking plan ahead of time is a surefire way to avoid driving aimlessly around the city. Street parking is usually free and there are several pay by the hour parking garages in the city´s central downtown. There is also a large free parking lot near the Parque Marítimo César Manrique, but it´s about a 25 minute walk from the center of downtown.
Skip the often overcrowded tourist information office in Plaza España. Head the to beautiful and less chaotic nearby tourist office at Palacio de Carta. They can make good restaurant recommendations in the city as well.
Wear comfortable shoes. Santa Cruz de Tenerife is compact and the downtown area very walkable. Often it makes more sense to walk between sights than to wait for public transport. A comfortable pair of walking shoes is the easiest way to improve your experience on the pedestrian streets.
Double check opening times & dates for museums. Museums will be closed on public holidays, and there are a fair amount of them in Spain.
Traveling in February or March? Check if you´ll overlap with the two weeks of Carnival celebrations. During this time prices are much higher, roads will be cut during parades and parking will be limited. Plan accordingly.
Final Thoughts on Visiting Santa Cruz
So, is Santa Cruz de Tenerife worth visiting? Absolutely. Is it a must-see on your first trip to Tenerife. Depends.
If you are looking for a less touristic option with amenities, Santa Cruz de Tenerife can be the right base for exploration of the north of the island. Good public transport connections make it a particularly good destination for those who want to forgo a rental car.
If you plan to visit during February or March, check to see if your dates coincide with Carnival season and plan accordingly. During this time prices rise and it is very important to choose a hotel on the edge of the downtown like the Iberostar Heritage Grand Mencey or Barceló Santa Cruz Contemporáneo, which are just outside the main party strip.
Check Out Our Other Santa Cruz de Tenerife Guides
Where to Stay in Santa Cruz de Tenerife: The Best Areas and Hotels
Best Budget Hotels in Santa Cruz de Tenerife: Where to Stay Without Overspending
What To Do in Tenerife: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Tenerife
