Tenerife is the biggest of the Canary Islands and one of the most rewarding bases for day trips — you can stand on a 3,700-metre volcano, wander a UNESCO old town, sail out to see whales, or hop on a ferry to a whole different island, all within an easy drive of the resorts. Whether you have a hire car or prefer organised excursions, here are the day trips worth building into a Tenerife holiday, and how to do each one well.
La Gomera by ferry
The most ambitious and rewarding day trip takes you off the island entirely. Fast ferries cross from Los Cristianos in southern Tenerife to San Sebastián de La Gomera in well under an hour, opening up a green, mountainous, wonderfully unspoilt island. With a full day you can drive or tour up into the misty laurel forests of Garajonay National Park, admire the towering rock pinnacles, visit the pretty Valle Gran Rey and hear about the extraordinary Silbo whistled language. It's a long but magical day — set off on an early ferry to make the most of it. Check timetables and plan the crossing with our guide to ferries between the islands.
For La Gomera in a day, either book a foot-passenger tour that includes island transport, or take a car across on the ferry so you can reach Garajonay and the west coast under your own steam. Foot passengers without a car will struggle to see much beyond San Sebastián.
Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · scaled
Mount Teide and the national park
No Tenerife holiday is complete without Mount Teide, Spain's highest peak and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The drive up into the national park is spectacular in itself, climbing through pine forest into a vast, otherworldly caldera of lava fields and rock formations. A cable car carries you most of the way up the volcano for jaw-dropping views (reaching the very summit needs a free permit booked well ahead). Bring warm layers — it's much colder and higher up here than at the coast — and allow most of a day for the round trip and stops.
Masca and the Teno hills
In the rugged north-west, the tiny hamlet of Masca clings to a dramatic ridge above a deep gorge, reached by one of the most thrilling mountain roads in the Canaries. The drive alone — all hairpins and plunging views — is an adventure, and the village setting is unforgettable. Combine it with the sleepy, historic town of Garachico on the coast and the surrounding Teno hills for a full day of scenery. Drive carefully and unhurriedly; the road is narrow and popular, and an organised coach tour is a stress-free alternative if you'd rather not tackle it yourself.
Anaga Rural Park and the north-east
At the north-eastern tip of the island, the Anaga Rural Park is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of ancient laurel forest, knife-edge ridges, hidden hamlets and wild black-sand beaches such as Benijo. It feels a world away from the sunny south — greener, cooler and cloaked in mist — and it's laced with wonderful walking trails. Pair it with the elegant former capital of La Laguna, whose historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of colourful colonial mansions, plazas and churches, for a day that shows Tenerife's cultural and green side.
Whale and dolphin watching
The waters off Tenerife's south-west coast are home to resident pods of pilot whales and dolphins year-round, making a whale-watching boat trip one of the island's most reliable wildlife experiences. Boats leave from harbours such as Los Cristianos, Puerto Colón and Los Gigantes — the last offering the bonus of sailing beneath the colossal sea-cliffs. Choose a responsible, licensed operator (look for the official blue "Barco Azul" flag), and pick a smaller boat for a closer experience or a larger catamaran with swim stops for families.
La Laguna and the historic north
If you'd rather stay on dry land and soak up some culture, the north offers a satisfying day. Start in La Laguna, wander its handsome grid of historic streets and stop for a barraquito in a plaza café, then continue to the leafy resort town of Puerto de la Cruz, with its Playa Jardín beach and the famous Loro Parque. The historic town of La Orotava and the ancient dragon tree at Icod are easy add-ons on the same green, characterful side of the island.
How to do your day trips
Two approaches cover almost everything. A hire car gives you total freedom — ideal for Teide, Anaga, Masca and the north, and essential if you want to explore at your own pace. Compare options in our guide to car hire in the Canaries. Organised excursions, meanwhile, take the stress out of the trickier drives and the logistics, and are the simpler choice for the ferry-based La Gomera trip or the winding Masca road.
Don't try to cram two big trips into one day. Tenerife is large, and driving times from the southern resorts to the north or the ferry port add up. Pick one headline outing per day and give it the time it deserves.
Base yourself well, mix a couple of these excursions with relaxed beach days, and Tenerife reveals itself as far more than a sun-and-sand resort. For the full island picture — resorts, beaches and where to stay — see our main guide to Tenerife.