Our guide contains a complete list of Tenerife's villages and historic towns beyond the typical resorts. Discover UNESCO World Heritage sites, tiny villages with stunning views, and top locations on the island that capture the true character of Tenerife. Locations and useful information about each place are included.
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We've been living in Tenerife for several years now, and one of the most common questions we're asked is where to go besides the beaches. While the island is often associated with famous southern resorts like Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos, a completely different side of Tenerife lies beyond them. The island is rich in colonial towns with unique architecture, villages nestled right on the edges of deep gorges, charming fishing spots, and even towns that survived volcanic eruptions and were reborn in their aftermath.
Our guide to the best historic towns and villages will introduce you to places that existed long before the island's first resorts and five-star hotels appeared. We've put together a selection of charming villages and hidden gems in Tenerife that rarely make it onto standard tourist lists, but are just as worth visiting as the famous La Laguna.
Getting to these remote villages really does require a car — compare rental prices on Discovery Cars to find the best deal for your trip.
How We Chose These Towns and Villages
Not every town on this list fits the postcard version of Tenerife. Some, like La Laguna and La Orotava, are historic centers built by Spanish settlers in the north, where water and fertile land made permanent settlement possible centuries before the south was developed.
Others, like Masca or Bajamar, aren't historically significant for their architecture; they matter because of what still happens there: locals swimming in natural pools, a village clinging to a cliff with little having changed over the past few decades.
That's the approach behind this guide: rather than ranking towns by prettiest photo, we've grouped them by what actually makes each one worth the detour, whether that's architecture, atmosphere, or the kind of everyday life tourists rarely see.
The Must-See Historic Towns in Tenerife
La Laguna
For over two hundred years, until 1723, 📍La Laguna was the island's capital, and it remains a top destination for any non-beach itinerary. The historic center of La Laguna was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site back in 1999.
It's a pleasure to wander around the city without a plan, as it's one of Tenerife's most charming historic towns. The center boasts colorful colonial mansions, alongside even older monasteries and cathedrals, and the whole area comes alive in the evening. As home to the oldest university in the Canary Islands, the city also has a vibrant nightlife.
La Laguna Gran Hotel — stay in a boutique hotel right in the heart of La Laguna's UNESCO-listed old town.
Anchieta 60 — book an apartment on one of La Laguna's most historic colonial streets.
La Orotava
📍La Orotava is located in a valley right beneath Mount Teide, and its setting alone makes it worth the trip. Of course, beyond the stunning landscape and natural surroundings, there's plenty to see in the town itself. While the Casa de los Balcones is considered the town's main symbol and a classic example of traditional Canarian architecture, carved wooden balconies, beautiful gardens, churches, and historic mansions are found around almost every corner.
La Casa de Los Balcones entrance ticket — step inside a 19th-century Canarian townhouse turned museum.
Casa de los Balcones & Molino del Hoyo Gofio Mill — combine a visit to the island's most iconic wooden balconies with a 17th-century gofio mill on one ticket.
Canyoning Los Arcos la Orotava — rappel through a ravine of wind- and water-carved rock just outside La Orotava.
Tenerife's Urban Centers
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Tenerife's current capital, 📍Santa Cruz, isn't the most picturesque place on the island, but it's still well worth a visit. It boasts interesting museums, numerous shopping centers, and a wealth of modern architecture (perhaps the best example of which is the famous Auditorio de Tenerife). The green García Sanabria Park is another highlight. Another great reason to visit the city is its world-famous carnival, held every February. It’s considered the second-largest carnival in the world, right after Rio de Janeiro.
Palmetum Entry Ticket — wander a 12-hectare botanical garden of palm trees.
Puerto de la Cruz
📍Puerto de la Cruz is one of the few resort towns on the island that has preserved its authentic Canarian character rather than just building up tourist infrastructure. Here, you can enjoy a great beach holiday year-round, combine it with a stroll past historic forts, or visit the famous Martiánez swimming pools, lush parks, and much more.
Hotel Botánico & The Oriental Spa Garden — unwind at one of Puerto de la Cruz's most luxurious hotels, set within its own botanical garden.
Puerto de la Cruz Quad Tour — ride a quad bike through Teide National Park or the La Orotava Valley, no experience required.
Loro Parque and Siam Park Combined Admission Tickets — see two of Tenerife's biggest attractions on one combined ticket.
Mountain Villages in Tenerife
Masca
📍Masca is a tiny village without which any list of Tenerife's best spots would be incomplete. It has a permanent population of only about a hundred residents, though long before the Spanish conquest, it was home to the island’s indigenous people, the Guanches. The view of traditional stone houses clinging to the steep cliffs and overlooking the dramatic gorge is truly breathtaking.
Masca Valley & Pirate Village Buggy Tour — explore Masca's winding mountain roads by open-sided buggy, with photo stops at the valley's highest points.
Wine Tasting & Tapas Tour — drive through volcanic landscapes to Masca village.
Sunset Sightseeing Tour by Quad and Mustang Convertible — watch the sunset over Teide National Park from behind the wheel of a Mustang convertible or a quad.
Vilaflor
📍Vilaflor is widely known as the highest village in Tenerife, sitting at an elevation of around 1,400 to 1,500 meters (nearly a mile) at the foot of Mount Teide. The town is surrounded by dense pine forests that are home to the famous Pino Gordo, Spain’s thickest pine tree estimated to be between 700 and 800 years old. Vilaflor also serves as the main starting point for hiking to Paisaje Lunar.
Hotel Alta Montaña — stay in Spain's highest village, surrounded by pine forest at the foot of Mount Teide.
Vilaflor Canyoning Tour — rappel down basalt-walled canyons near Spain's highest village, no experience required.
3h Guided Quad Tour to Mount Teide | Day or Sunset — ride a quad through volcanic scenery to Teide's best viewpoints
Top sights:📍Pino Gordo, 📍Paisaje Lunar (the iconic Lunar Landscape rock formations), 📍Iglesia de San Pedro.
Taganana
📍Taganana is hidden deep within the lush Anaga Rural Park. Its remote location has helped preserve the village and retain its traditional Canarian character and peaceful atmosphere. Nearby, you’ll find some of Anaga’s most stunning coastal spots, including the famous Playa de Benijo.
Anaga Mountains & Enchanted Forest, Tenerife Hiking Tour — hike through Anaga's misty laurel forest and a hidden cave village.
Fishing and Coastal Villages in Tenerife
Garachico
📍Garachico is one of the places we never get tired of recommending, because this town has a fascinating history. In 1706, the eruption of the Trevojo volcano destroyed the former port town, but the solidified lava created the famous natural pools known today as El Caletón. During the town's reconstruction, this volcanic rock was even used as the main building material for many of its historic buildings. However, now the natural pools in Garachico are often crowded, and swimming can be dangerous when the sea is rough.
Malpais Trece — spend the night on a working banana plantation between Garachico and Icod de los Vinos, with sea views and a private black-sand beach nearby.
From Santa Cruz: Teide Volcano, Icod, & Garachico Tour — cover La Laguna, Teide, the Dragon Tree, and Garachico lava pools in a single day trip.
San Juan de la Rambla
📍San Juan de la Rambla is another small town located between La Orotava and Icod de los Vinos. It's best known for its remarkably well-preserved architecture. Whitewashed houses, winding streets, and traditional wooden balconies give the town its unique character. The nearby fishing district of Las Aguas has a special charm, and locals love taking a dip in the Charco de la Laja natural pool.
Casa Rural Virgen del Rosario — rent an entire oceanfront villa where you can hear the waves from every room.
La Caleta
📍La Caleta is one of the most authentic fishing villages, located right near the popular resort of Costa Adeje. While it still preserves its traditional fishing village charm, it's gradually giving way to more tourist-oriented restaurants. It's still a great spot for a quiet evening with an ocean view and fresh fish on the menu, but it no longer feels like a village from a bygone era.
El Medano
📍El Médano is not an architectural gem, but rather a place with a character all its own. It has grown into Tenerife's main hub for kitesurfing and windsurfing, so the town is always lively, featuring budget-friendly local bars and a beach overlooking the volcanic cone of Montaña Roja. It's more of a youthful, sporty town than a postcard-pretty village, and it's well worth visiting for its unique vibe rather than its sights.
Where Locals Actually Swim: Bajamar and Punta del Hidalgo
📍Bajamar and 📍Punta del Hidalgo are located in the north of the island and are part of the municipality of La Laguna. The main attraction of these coastal villages is their well-maintained natural seawater pools. Bajamar features two large pools plus a children's pool, complete with free admission, lifeguards, and a Blue Flag award. Punta del Hidalgo offers a wilder experience and is surrounded by dramatic volcanic cliffs.
OCEANO Health Spa Hotel — book a stay at this family-run wellness hotel with sea-view balconies and a natural seawater pool.
Morning or Sunset Teide Buggy Tour — explore Teide's volcanic terrain by buggy.
Resort Towns with Authentic Character
Los Gigantes and Puerto de Santiago
📍Los Gigantes' main attraction is the Acantilados de los Gigantes, enormous sheer cliffs that offer spectacular views from both the town and the water. It’s also very convenient that most local boat tours depart right from the Los Gigantes Marina. Whales and dolphins live in these waters year-round, so alongside the impressive cliffs, you'll have a chance to spot rich marine life.
Klayman Diamond Aparthotel — stay steps from the marina with views of the Los Gigantes cliffs.
Boat Tours from Los Gigantes — spot whales and dolphins on a boat tour beneath the towering cliffs of Los Gigantes.
2, 3 & 4 Hour Private Luxury Motorboat Charter — charter a private motorboat off Los Gigantes for swimming and snorkeling.
Private Boat Charter with Tapas & Drinks — sail from Puerto Colón with your own captain, tapas, and unlimited drinks included.
📍Puerto de Santiago is a neighboring town that originally started as a quiet fishing village. Today, this area is generally less touristy and offers a more local vibe, featuring plenty of shops, supermarkets, and daily amenities.
The Most Authentic Towns
Icod de los Vinos
The main landmark of 📍Icod de los Vinos is the Drago Milenario, an ancient dragon tree located in Parque del Drago. While there is an entrance fee to enter the park, you can admire the tree for free from Plaza Andrés de Lorenzo Cáceres. The region has also been producing wine since the 16th century. Nearby, you'll also find Cueva del Viento, one of the largest volcanic lava tubes in the world.
Alberto Dorner Boutique & Luxury Lodging — stay in one of the few luxury villas in Icod de los Vinos, known for some of the island's best sunsets.
Dragon Tree & Botanical Garden Ticket — visit the thousand-year-old Drago Milenario.
Candelaria
📍Candelaria is the spiritual heart of Tenerife. It is home to the Basilica of Our Lady of Candelaria, the patron saint of the Canary Islands, alongside impressive bronze statues of the ancient Guanche kings (Menceyes) standing right by the main square. Every year, thousands of pilgrims come here on August 15th. Alongside its religious importance, Candelaria also preserves its own rich coastal fishing tradition.
Tips to Plan Your Travel to Towns and Villages
Visiting several towns in one trip takes a bit of planning. Tenerife has narrow mountain roads, varying shop opening hours between the north and south, and seasonal differences in certain areas.
Here's what you really need to know before planning your route through Tenerife's historic towns and villages:
- Renting a car is essential. Public transport connects the island's main towns well, but getting to mountain villages like Vilaflor or Taganana by bus is a real challenge. It's best to book a car on Discovery Cars as this will make your trip far more enjoyable.
- Allow extra time for mountain roads. Distances on the map can be deceiving. For example, a 30 km drive on a winding road in the Teno or Anaga mountains can take over an hour, even if your GPS estimates only 20 minutes.
- Leave early in the morning. Almost all the places on our must-see list are best visited early in the day. By lunchtime, crowds start to build up, making it much harder to enjoy that peaceful atmosphere.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes. Be sure to wear suitable shoes, as even just walking around Masca or heading down to the natural pools requires comfortable, closed-toe shoes.
- Check access rules in advance. Always check current conditions for restricted areas. For example, regulations for Barranco de Masca change regularly and often require permits.
- Don't try to cover the whole island in one go. It's best to group locations geographically. For instance, spend one day in the north (La Laguna, La Orotava, Puerto de la Cruz, Icod) and another in the west (Garachico, Masca, Los Gigantes), rather than crisscrossing the island and spending half your day driving.
Tenerife has so much more to offer than just the resort strip of hotels and beaches in the south that most tourists see on a week's vacation. Just five minutes off the beaten path, and the island reveals a completely different side. If this is your first trip or you want to hit the main highlights, the village of Masca and the historic town of La Laguna are absolute must-sees.
With a little extra time, you can easily visit all the places on our list. Rent a car, pick two or three spots for the morning, and start with the one closest to your base. The island will tell you where to go next.
Plan your trip to Tenerife with our complete 2026 travel guide.
Tenerife: Guided Hike to the Peak of Mount Teide — hike 10 km to the summit of Spain's highest peak with panoramic views of Tenerife.
