Best Time to Visit Tenerife - When to go for a sunny holiday

When to visit tenerife
Wondering what is the best time of the year to go to Tenerife?

Tenerife is the largest and most popular of the Canary Islands and during the past years, tourism has grown, reaching 6 million tourists in 2016. With these numbers, it's clear that the island has become a popular tourist destination, especially for European visitors. 

A few facts about Tenerife as a tourist destination

  • Tenerife is a year-round destination
  • Bars, restaurants and attractions don't close up for winter
  • Winter is actually a busy time in Tenerife and the Canary Islands in general
  • The south of the island is warmer than the north

When to visit Tenerife

Tenerife is a year-round tourist destination, due to its beautiful, warm and sunny weather throughout all seasons. 

There is a difference in temperatures during the winter season between the south of the island and the north of the island, which gets considerably cooler, so it's best to stay in the south of Tenerife if you're coming over in one of the winter months.

Visit Tenerife in Spring

best time to visit tenerife
Springtime on a beach in Tenerife, one of the best times to visit for a quiet holiday

Tenerife is known as the island of the eternal spring as it gets temperatures in the mid-20s even during winter and spring.

The busiest time in Tenerife in spring is during the Easter period, especially the week before Easter, known as Semana Santa (Holy Week). During this time there are a lot of religious processions as it is a very important holiday in the Spanish culture, so many Spaniards take time off for a holiday and choose to come to the island to enjoy the beautiful weather.

The prices for accommodation and flights go up during Semana Santa in Tenerife and it gets very busy, so if you're after a more relaxed atmosphere, just avoid this time frame.

February and March are the months when it's most likely to snow on Teide and the weather, in general, is more fickle and moody, since the seasons are changing from winter to spring. 

If you're choosing to visit Tenerife in Spring and you're looking for warm weather, we would suggest you choose accommodation in the Tenerife south area: Playa de las Americas, Los Cristianos, Costa Adeje, Playa San Juan and also Puerto de Santiago and Los Gigantes.

Visit Tenerife in Summer

best time to go to tenerife spain
When to visit Tenerife for guaranteed HOT weather? Summer is the best season!

Summer is one of the 2 high seasons in Tenerife.

The island gets very busy during the summer months, especially between July and August, during the school summer holiday.

Tenerife is transformed during summer, chances of rain are almost null, temperatures often rise above 30°C during the day and there's the threat of calima, which sometimes happens during the summer season (at that point the temperatures often rise to abnormal values and it gets very hot).

However, Tenerife is beautiful and lively during the summer months and if you want to go swimming all day long, this is the best time to visit Tenerife.

Summer is also the perfect season to explore the north of Tenerife - you can choose to stay in Puerto de la Cruz and from there explore the beaches in Taganana, the Anaga forest or the natural pools in Bajamar and Punta del Hidalgo.

If you're planning a holiday in Tenerife in July or August, make sure to book in advance, as the prices skyrocket and you might end up paying a small fortune.

Summer is also when people in their 20s choose to visit Tenerife and they usually choose the area around Playa de las Americas, where most clubs in Tenerife are located. Also, during the summer there are more music festivals and beach parties, so its a popular time for partygoers, who enjoy long nights out, followed by lazy days on the beach.

If you want to visit the island in summer, but you want to get away from the noise and the crowds, read our article about where to stay in Tenerife.

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Visit Tenerife in Autumn

when is the best month to visit tenerife spain
October and November are probably the best months to visit Tenerife if you want to go hiking

The month of September is usually still as hot as August and July, but by October the temperatures cool down a little, staying below 30°C most days.

It's the ideal season to walk and explore Tenerife on foot, not just spend time at the beach.

Autumn in Tenerife means that families with school-aged children leave the island and they are replaced by visitors from northern Europe, mostly couples, who come here to escape the cold back home.

The north and the south both have pleasant temperatures, so it's again the perfect season to go hiking in the north or to explore the trails inside Teide National Park.

Visit Tenerife in Winter

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 Playa de Las Teresitas on a winter day | Visit Tenerife in December if you're looking for a sunny winter break

Winter is Tenerife's second high season since the Canary Islands are the warmest place in Europe, situated only 3-4 hours away from the mainland. 

When the rest of Europe is covered in snow, people in Tenerife are still enjoying temperatures above 20°C and sunny days on the beach.

The pace is a bit slower compared to summer since most of the visitors are elder couples from northern Europe who come here for the mild weather (the so-called "swallows").

Winter visitors in Tenerife are different from summer tourists and the days seem more relaxed and chilled, with fewer young people arriving in Las Americas for partying all night long.

If you're worried about the weather in Tenerife during winter, you can read more details in our article about the hottest Canary Island during winter,

Also, see more photos and info about Tenerife in December, if you're thinking of spending a Christmas or New Year's Eve in the sun.

Tenerife low season - When is the cheapest time to visit Tenerife

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Playa Jardin in Puerto de la Cruz on a winter day in Tenerife

If you're looking for a cheap holiday in Tenerife, then you should avoid the summer months and also the months of December, January and February.

February is usually carnival month, with the carnival in Tenerife being the second largest in the world after the one in Rio de Janeiro.

Other busy and expensive times are Christmas, New Year's Even and Easter, so you should avoid those times also.

Low season in Tenerife means the months of October (except October half-term week), November and March, April, May, with the exception of Easter break.

During these months you'll find the best flight deals to Tenerife, as well as cheaper accommodation.

But if you're looking for a cheap holiday in Tenerife, you should still book ahead of time, since the island is pretty full all year long, especially since other beach destinations preferred by Britons have suffered setbacks due to safety reasons.

The upside is that Tenerife is a year-round resort island, meaning that you can enjoy its beauty at any time of the year since none of the attractions close down for winter or any other time.

Even during the winter months, when the ocean water is colder compared to the summer months, you still have plenty of heated pools as an alternative or water parks such as Siam Park, where you can enjoy swimming without having to worry about the water temperature.

So if you're wondering when it's the cheapest time to visit Tenerife, definitely go for one of the autumn or spring months and you'll still enjoy a fabulous time on this privileged island.

FAQ about the best time of the year for a holiday in Tenerife

What is the best month to go to Tenerife?

In our opinion, the best months to visit Tenerife are December, February and March, when it's cold everywhere else in Europe, but your criteria may differ, depending on what you're looking for in a holiday.

What is the coldest month in Tenerife?

Statistically, the winter months of January and February register the lowest temperatures, but it's still much warmer than continental Europe. Also, Tenerife south is much warmer than the north.

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