North or South Tenerife? An Honest Comparison

In short: The south is the safe choice for sun, beach and pool, the north the better one for hiking, towns and everyday Canarian life. The north is greener and more often cloudy, the south drier and more touristy. If you are staying longer than a week, it is best to split your holiday.

North and south compared side by side

The Teide massif lies between the two coasts. It holds the trade wind clouds in the north and gives the island two very different sides.

Criterion	North	South
Weather	Mild, green, more often cloudy, more rain in winter	Sunny, dry, warmer
Beaches	Dark sand, often surf, plus natural seawater pools	Sheltered bays, some pale sand, calm water
Towns	Historic towns with old quarters	Resorts, many hotels and apartment complexes
Excursions	Anaga, Orotava Valley, La Laguna, wine villages	Boat trips, water park, Los Gigantes

The south: sun, beach and lots going on

The sun shines most reliably in the south, and everything is geared towards holidays.

• Costa Adeje: the upmarket part, with large hotels and the Siam Park water park.
• Los Cristianos: a former fishing village with a harbour, from where the ferries leave for La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro.
• Playa de las Américas: the liveliest resort, with nightlife and surf spots.
• El Médano: windy, relaxed, popular with kitesurfers and windsurfers.

The downsides: the landscape is barren, much of it was built in recent decades, and on some streets you hardly hear any Spanish. The individual beaches are covered under Beaches on Tenerife, and the boat trips under Whale and dolphin watching.

The north: green, Canarian, more changeable

Most locals live in the north. Here you will find old towns, banana plantations, vineyards and the laurel forest of the Anaga mountains.

• Puerto de la Cruz: the classic holiday town of the north, with an old quarter, seawater pools and Loro Parque.
• La Orotava: manor houses with wooden balconies on the slope above the valley.
• La Laguna: a university town whose old quarter is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is cooler here than on the coast.
• Santa Cruz: the capital in the northeast, sunnier than the north coast, with Las Teresitas beach on its doorstep.

The downsides: you have to expect overcast days, and the sea is rougher. What there is to see is listed under Tenerife sights.

How big is the difference in the weather?

Temperatures on the coast are closer together than many people think. The difference lies in sunshine and rain.

For reference: according to AEMET, the average daily maximum in Santa Cruz de Tenerife is 21.0 °C in January and 29.0 °C in August (reference period 1981 to 2010). Santa Cruz is in the northeast, but it is sheltered by the Anaga mountains and drier than Puerto de la Cruz or La Laguna. The full table is in the article Canary Islands weather.

Which is more expensive?

Rent levels give you a point of reference: according to Idealista, asking rents in September 2026 were 19.0 € per square metre in Adeje and 18.9 € in Arona, 16.5 € in Puerto de la Cruz, 14.0 € in Santa Cruz and 12.7 € in La Laguna. These are listing prices for long-term rentals, not holiday apartments. But the trend holds for holidaymakers too: in the north you usually get more for the same money.

Getting there, getting around and excursions

The island has two airports. Check where your flight lands before booking your accommodation, or your holiday will start with a long drive. North and south are connected by the TF-5 and TF-1 motorways, which meet near Santa Cruz.

You can reach Teide from both sides: from the north via La Orotava or La Esperanza, from the south via Vilaflor. Hikers staying in the north are closer to Anaga and Teno, see Hiking on Tenerife.

Frequently asked questions

As of October 2026. Opening hours, prices and entry rules change. Check them on the official websites before your visit.

Cover image: Diego Delso · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0