Los Cristianos is the south of Tenerife with its feet still on the ground. Once a humble fishing village, it grew into a holiday resort without ever quite losing its Spanish soul — you'll still find a working harbour, a proper town centre and locals going about their day alongside the sunbeds. It's calmer and more characterful than the purpose-built resorts next door, and doubles as the island's gateway to the western Canaries, with ferries sailing out to La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro.
What it's like
Los Cristianos sits at the southern end of Tenerife's great resort strip, running straight into Playa de las Américas to the north — but it feels a world apart. There's a real town here, with a church square, everyday shops, a lively market and a pedestrianised old core of narrow streets, all wrapped around a busy fishing and ferry harbour. The pace is gentler and the crowd tends to be older, with lots of returning regulars and long-stay winter visitors who prize the resort's easy, familiar feel.
The result is a place that manages to be both a proper holiday resort and a functioning Canarian town. You get the sunshine, the beach and the restaurants, but also the sense of somewhere that exists beyond tourism — a balance that many visitors find just right.
A weekly street market and a permanent flea market bring extra bustle, and the flat, largely pedestrianised centre is a pleasure to stroll. It's also one of the sunniest and mildest spots in the Canaries through the winter, which explains the loyal community of long-stay northern-European visitors who return every year to escape the cold.
Photo: Mike Peel · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · scaled
The beach and harbour
The town's own Playa de los Cristianos is a sheltered, gently shelving beach of pale sand right beside the harbour — calm, safe and easy, if busy in season. Just along the front, the bigger Playa de las Vistas (shared with Las Américas) offers a broader sweep of sand with more space and watersports. Both have that reassuringly gentle water the south is known for. Browse more of the island's coast in our beaches section.
The harbour is the heart of the town and part of its charm — a working port where fishing boats, pleasure craft, whale-watching excursions and inter-island ferries all share the water. Wandering the quayside, watching the boats come and go, is one of the simple pleasures of a stay here. From the harbour you can also join a whale and dolphin watching trip — the sheltered waters off this coast are home to resident pilot whales and dolphins year-round, one of the highlights of a stay in the south.
The ferry port
Los Cristianos is the main ferry gateway to the western Canaries. Fast and conventional car ferries run from here across to San Sebastián de La Gomera, and on to Santa Cruz de La Palma and Valverde/La Estaca on El Hierro. That makes the town a natural base for island-hopping, and a day trip to green, unspoilt La Gomera is one of the easiest and most rewarding excursions in the south.
La Gomera is close enough for a comfortable day trip by fast ferry from Los Cristianos — but the island rewards an overnight stay if you can spare it. Check timetables and fares in advance in high season, when sailings and the car decks fill up.
For routes, connections and timings, see our ferries between the islands guide, and viamo's route planning is useful for piecing together longer inter-island journeys.
Where to stay and who it suits
Accommodation is a mix of mid-range hotels, apartments and aparthotels, generally lower-rise and better value than smart Costa Adeje up the coast. Los Cristianos particularly suits couples, older travellers, families and long-stay winter visitors who want warmth, a beach and a genuine town atmosphere without the party scene.
If you want more nightlife, the bars and clubs of Playa de las Américas are within walking distance; if you want more polish, Costa Adeje is a short bus ride north. Our where to stay guide compares the options.
Eating and evenings
Food is a highlight, and the harbour is the place to head — a run of seafood restaurants serves fresh fish straight off the boats, alongside plenty of Canarian, Spanish and international choices in the old town. This is a good spot to try papas arrugadas with mojo and local Canary wine. Evenings are relaxed — a good dinner, an ice cream on the promenade, a quiet drink watching the boats — with the livelier nightlife left to the resorts next door.
Getting there and around
Tenerife South Airport (TFS) is a short drive along the motorway, so transfers are quick. The town centre is flat and walkable, a coastal promenade links it to Las Américas, and frequent buses (guaguas) connect it with the rest of the island. Our getting around guide covers buses, car hire and connections.
Nearby
North along the coast lie Playa de las Américas and upmarket Costa Adeje, with all the south's beaches and attractions. Offshore, the ferries open up La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro for day trips or island-hopping, while inland the road climbs towards Mount Teide and the island's volcanic heart. Start with our Tenerife hub to plan the rest of your trip.