A visit to Tenerife isn’t complete if you haven’t been to Puerto de la Cruz. It is by far our most favorite city on the island of Tenerife, mainly due to its colorful paintings, the colonial streets, the closeness to the sea and the authentic yet artistic atmosphere. When we walked through the city, we got South-American vibes everywhere and the many murals reminded us of our time in Bogota in Colombia or Valparaiso in Chile.
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There are plenty of things to see in Puerto de la Cruz, and figuring out what to see at what specific time can feel a little bit overwhelming. That’s why we wrote this post for you, to help you plan your trip and help you decide what you definitely should do or visit here. We also included a comprehensive map where you get an immediate overview where the main attractions are located and where it is best to park you car.
How to use this map / Click on the top left of the map to display the list of locations. You can also click on the locations to display further information. Click on the top right corner of the map to open a larger version of the map in a new tab. Click the star (favorites) next to the name of the map to save to your Google Maps.
Table of Contents
The best things to do in Puerto de la Cruz
The Ranilla neighborhood
Let’s start with our favorite area of Puerto de la Cruz: La Ranilla. This old fishing area is now one of the most lively, colorful places in the city. Many of the colors come from the Puerto Street Art project. Since 2014, famous artists have used the walls of La Ranilla as their canvas. There are now many massive murals to discover in the district. We have indicated on our map where you can find these murals. But besides the impressive murals, there is also more hidden art in Puerto. We especially liked the little painting on houses representing the nicknames of the families.
Although La Ranilla has become a tourist hotspot, we loved that the area also kept its local feel. For example, Plaza Benito Pérez Galdós is a square with many colorful houses and touristy cafés. But just around the corner, we had a coffee and bocadillo amongst the friendly locals (see Volperia on our map).
The botanical garden of Puerto de la Cruz
This was definitely one of the most beautiful botanical gardens we’ve ever have been to. We must admit the our main reason to visit this garden, was seeing the majestic ficus. But as soon as we entered the garden, every corner and flower bed surprised us. We went to the garden around 9.30 am and the garden was still peacefull with soft light. We noticed that around 10 am, more (groups of) tourists arrived. You can clearly see that this is one of the most important botanical garden in the world. This garden was used to acclimatize exotic plants before they were send to Madrid. Today, it’s a green oasis with plants from everywhere in the world.
The botanical garden is situated outside the city center but we have indicated the closest car park on our map. The entrance fee for the botanical garden is €3 per person. Opening hours are from 9.00 am to 6 pm.
Read more: For more stunning nature, read our post about Teide National Park
The Paseo San Telmo
The Paseo San Telmo is an iconic coastal promenade in Puerto de la Cruz. It is pedestrian-only with views over the rugged volcanic shoreline. This walkway connects the historic old town with the more modern neighbourhoods of Puerto de la Cruz. Again, this walkway is a mix of locals and tourists. Along the walkway, you pass the tiny, whitewashed Ermita de San Telmo, a chapel from 1780, dedicated to the patron saint of sailors. The walkway is lined with palm trees and dragon trees. You can also find a mix of traditional cafes and shops along the paseo.
The beaches of Puerto de la Cruz
If we speak about Tenerife, we need to talk about beaches. And in Puerto de la Cruz, you have some beaches how we like them best: volcanic, wild and with black sand. When we visited Tenerife, a storm was hitting the island with giant waves as a result. Meaning we had no chance of really enjoying these beaches. If you have more luck, we summed up the best beaches below:
Playa Jardín – This beach is a 15–20 minute walk from the town center and is framed by palm trees and colorful gardens.
Playa de San Telmo – This beach is right by the promenade, smaller but closer to the center. It’s a pebbly beach and a great place to feel the Atlantic on your toes. Nearby, you find Plaza Paseo San Telmo. Here, many locals and tourists take a seat to watch the Atlantic or enjoy the street artist performing here. During our visit, a local band was playing cover songs, with views over the ocean as a background
Always keep in mind that the currents can be strong. If you prefer a more relaxed swim, there’s a perfect alternative to the beach: Lago Martiánez. This is an open-air complex of saltwater pools and is a very practical way to spend a sunny day without worrying about waves. The entrance fee is around € 5.50 per person for the entire day. You can see this complex from the Paseo San Telmo and it looked spectacular!
Take in the views from the miradors
There are many miradors (viewpoints) in this city and the views are always splendid. The most famous one is Mirador de La Paz. This viewpoint sits high above the town and gives you views over the Atlantic ocean, the beaches below, and the colorful rooftops of the city.
But if you are looking for the perfect sunset spot, head down to El Castillo San Felipe, near Playa Jardín. It’s an old fortress overlooking the ocean and locals often come here in the evening to sit on the wall to watch the sun dip into the Atlantic ocean.
Other things to do near Puerto de la Cruz
While Puerto de la Cruz offers plenty of things to keep you busy, it’s also a great gateway to other beautiful spots nearby.
Playa de Castro, the hidden beach near Puerto de la Cruz
If you know us, you know we’re always up for an adventure and a little hike. And that’s something we found at Playa de Castro. It turned out to be a pleasant stroll with amazing views. To get to this hike, it is about a 10-15 minute drive from Puerto de la Cruz. The path starts at the viewpoint called San Pedro, where there is a restaurant overlooking banana plantations and endless ocean.
From here, you can take a the paved road downhill. There are different trails here that take you to different viewpoints. But if you want to see the hidden beach from above, you’ll see a wooden stairway at your left along the way, leading down to a small wooden bridge. Turn left immediately after the bridge and follow the trail. It will take you to a viewpoint with the hidden beach below you. In the past, it was possible to hike down to the beach, but when we visited Playa de Castro, the access was closed and we could see that parts of the wooden walkway were missing. Although we couldn’t reach Playa de Castro, the surroundings and views here were very enjoyable.
La Orotava
Just a short drive (or bus ride) uphill from Puerto de la Cruz, lies La Orotava. It is one of the oldest and most beautiful towns in Tenerife. Expect to find cobbled streets and wooden balconies there, with views that stretch all the way to the ocean.
The main attraction in La Orotava is Casa de los Balcones, one of the town’s most famous landmarks and one of the prettiest buildings in Tenerife. It’s a 17th-century house with iconic carved wooden balconies. Entrance fee is € 6 per person, the opening hours are between 9 am and 7 pm and a visit is definitely worth it. Inside, you’ll get to see how the rich families of the past used to live. There are rooms with the original furniture and a beautiful courtyard.
Another great thing to do in La Orotava is Marquesado de la Quinta Roja Garden (Jardines Victoria). This terraced garden is a mix of tropical plants, fountains, and viewpoints overlooking the Orotava Valley and the Atlantic.
Logistics and practicalities
How to get to Puerto de la Cruz
By car
Puerto de la Cruz is located in the North of the island, and it is well-connected with other parts of the island. We are convinced that having your own (rental) car in Tenerife is still the best way to explore the island. There are many rental companies located at the airports of Tenerife. As always, we booked our car via discoverycars.com as this platform is a great way to compare prices. They also offer reliable insurance so we never have to worry when we are on the road.
Check prices and book a rental car for Tenerife.
You can reach Puerto de la Cruz easily via the TF-5 from Santa Cruz de Tenerife or from Icod de los Vinos. There is plenty of free parking space at the edges of the city, all within walkable distance from the city center. There are many parking spots near Castillo San Felipe and El Peñon del Fraile (both are indicated on our map).
By bus
Tenerife also has an excellent bus transport system. The main bus company is TITSA and they have buses that travel all over the island. On the official TITSA website, you can find the different lines and timetables. If you travel by bus in Tenerife, buying a travel card is probably the best option. You can buy a card for 1 day (€ 10) or 7 days (€ 50). These cards are valid for unlimited trips all over the island. You can buy these cards at the airport and in points of sale at the TITSA bus stations. If you prefer a mobile option, you can download the ‘ten+ Móvil’ app and buy a travel card there.
Where to stay in Puerto de la Cruz?
We mentioned in our post about Masca and the Teno mountains that according to us, Puerto de la Cruz is the perfect base for your time in Tenerife, especially if you are planning to visit the attractions in the North of the island. There are many excellent locations to choose from.
Precise Resort Tenerife
Precise Resort Tenerife is a good choice if you are looking for some luxury and space. It is located just on the edge of the city, and offers a quiet atmosphere with stunning cliffside views. The hotel has an outdoor pool and a large sub-tropical garden. The rooms are spacious and bright that often have balconies overlooking the Atlantic.
Silken Saaj Maar
Silken Saaj Maar is a chic, modern base right in the center of Puerto. Keep in mind this is adult-only. The hotel has an avant-garde architecture and stylish, modern rooms. There is a rooftop terrace with a pool and bar, where you have the best sunset views in the city.
Check availability and prices for excellent accommodation in Puerto de la Cruz
How many days do you need in Puerto de la Cruz?
To explore the highlights of the city, one day is sufficient. If you want to spend some time at the beach or in the saltwater pools of Lago Martiánez, you should consider to stay two days. Know that Puerto de la Cruz is an excellent base for other trips in the North, like Anaga Rural Park, Icod de los Vinos, Garachico or Masca and the Teno mountains. If you want to visit these places in the North, we suggest to extend your stay in Puerto de la Cruz to at least 5 days.
What is the best time to visit Puerto de la Cruz?
Tenerife is a year-round destination, so there isn’t really a bad time to go to Puerto de la Cruz. We were there at the beginning of March and we had spring weather. Just keep in mind that the weather in the North can be more unpredictable than the South. It’s best to bring layers when visiting Puerto de la Cruz.
After seeing pictures of Puerto de la Cruz, we had high expectations. And the city didn’t dissappoint us! With this post, we hope we convinced you that Puerto (als locals call it), is the best starting point for your exploration of Northern Tenerife. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us!
Happy travels!
Matthias & Mieke
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