The Palmetum is Santa Cruz de Tenerife's green miracle — a lush botanical garden of palms from all over the tropics, built on top of what was once the city's rubbish dump. Sloping down towards the harbour with wide views over the Atlantic, it's the world's largest collection of island palm species, a peaceful hour or two away from the busy capital, and a genuinely uplifting story of a scarred hillside turned into paradise. If you like gardens — or just somewhere calm and beautiful with a sea breeze — it's one of the best things to do in Tenerife's capital.
From landfill to botanical garden
The hill the Palmetum stands on was, for decades, the municipal tip: a mound of compacted waste beside the port, capped and left as an eyesore. Rather than simply hide it, the city turned it into something extraordinary. Over many years the mound was sealed, shaped, drained and planted, and a specialist palm garden slowly took root on top. Opened to the public in the 2010s, it now covers a large terraced hillside and is a model of how urban land can be reclaimed and given back to people and nature.
That backstory is part of the pleasure of visiting. As you climb the winding paths past waterfalls, ponds and dense green groves, it's hard to believe what lies beneath — and the transformation gives the whole place a quietly hopeful feeling.
Photo: Mike Peel · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · scaled
Palms from across the tropics
At its heart the Palmetum is a serious botanical collection, laid out geographically so that each area represents the palms and plants of a different tropical region — the Caribbean, Madagascar, Asia, the Pacific islands, the Americas and, of course, the Canaries and wider Macaronesia. It holds one of the most complete collections of island palm species anywhere, several of them rare or endangered in the wild, alongside cycads, bromeliads and other tropical plants that thrive in Tenerife's mild climate.
Take your time and read as you go. The garden is well labelled, and knowing you're looking at a palm that barely survives in its island homeland adds a lot. Allow at least an hour or two, more if you love plants, and don't rush the upper terraces — that's where the best views open up.
Views and a place to breathe
Because it's built on a raised mound right by the sea, the Palmetum enjoys sweeping panoramas: out over the harbour and the Atlantic on one side, and back towards the city and the mountains on the other. Benches, shaded groves and water features make it a lovely spot to slow down, and it's rarely crowded — a real contrast to the bustle of the port and the cruise terminal just below. There's a small visitor centre and café, and the paths are broad and mostly gentle, though it is a hillside, so there's some up and down.
Check hours and tickets before visiting. As of 2026 the Palmetum opens daily with a modest admission charge and reduced or free entry for children and residents, and guided tours are sometimes available. Times and prices change, so confirm on the official municipal site — and bring sun protection, as parts of the garden are still young and open.
Combine it with the city
The Palmetum sits within Santa Cruz's Marítimo park area, so it pairs naturally with a day in the capital. Just up the hill you'll find the city's other great green space, the leafy Parque García Sanabria, with its sculptures and famous floral clock — between the two you get the best of Santa Cruz's gardens in a single visit. The nearby swimming complex and the striking Auditorio de Tenerife are also within easy reach along the waterfront.
Cruise passengers, in particular, will find the Palmetum an easy and rewarding walk from the terminal — a green, quiet, only-in-Tenerife stop that beats another shopping street. And if you're staying in the historic town of La Laguna nearby, it makes a gentle half-day out.
Getting there
The Palmetum is on the seafront on the southern edge of the city centre, an easy walk or short taxi ride from central Santa Cruz and the port. If you're driving, there's parking close by; on public transport the city's frequent buses and the tram from La Laguna both bring you within walking distance. A hire car makes it simple to fold into a wider tour of the north and the Anaga hills.
They turned the city dump into the world's finest island-palm garden — only in Tenerife.
Cool, green and quietly astonishing, the Palmetum is proof that even a rubbish tip can become something worth crossing a city for. Pair it with García Sanabria and a stroll along the harbour and you'll see a softer, greener side of the capital — one of the standout things to do in northern Tenerife.