17 Best things to do in Costa Adeje 2023 - Top Attractions

The South of Tenerife is where most of the tourism on the island is concentrated, due to the great sunny weather all year round.

Costa Adeje is therefore situated right in the heart of the action, close to both Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos, the other 2 popular resorts in the south.

If you're planning your holiday in Costa Adeje and wondering what to do and what to see besides the pool and the beach all day, then you shouldn't worry because there are plenty of things going on in the area. Whether you have a car hire or not, you don't have to spend all your holiday with your feet in the sand if that's not what you want. Costa Adeje is great for shopping and also provides tons of opportunities for families traveling with kids.

What to do on holiday in Costa Adeje: beaches, top attractions, excursions

1. Explore the best beaches in Costa Adeje

• Playa Fanabe - the heart and soul of Costa Adeje
• Playa del Duque
• Torviscas Beach
• La Caleta Beach
• La Pinta Beach
• Troya Beach
• La Enramada Beach
• Diego Hernández Beach
• Playa El Bobo

As you can see, there are enough beaches in Costa Adeje to go to a different one each day for more than a week, so you won't get bored in this department. Also, you can check out our list of 101 beaches in Tenerife if you want to explore more around the island.

Water parks in Costa Adeje

If you're staying in Costa Adeje you have easy access to both waterparks on the island: Siam Park and Aqualand.

2. Siam Park

Siam Park is the most popular water park in Tenerife and probably in all the Canary Islands, so you should go out there for a day of total fun.

Remember that if you don't have a car, they provide their own shuttle service that you have to book ahead.

Siam Park is great for children as well as adults and it's one of the MUSTs in Tenerife. You can also buy combined tickets for Siam Park and Loro Parque (situated in the north, in Puerto de la Cruz). In 2019 Siam Park was named the no 1 waterpark in the world by Tripadvisor user, for the sixth year in a row!

• Full-day entrance ticket to Siam Park
• Experience the biggest man-made wave in the world
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity starts

3. Aqualand Costa Adeje

Another waterpark in the Costa Adeje area, Aqualand is best suited for families with young kids, which will have more rides to enjoy here compared to Siam Park. They have a great dolphin show and you can buy a twin ticket for Aqualand and Jungle Park, which will mean a better price than buying separately.

4. Jungle Park

Advertised as the last wild jungle in Europe, Jungle Park is an animal park with a great location, very green and with lots of animals to see, plus some amazing shows, including the one with birds of prey.

5. Whales and dolphins watching sailing tours

There are many tours to choose from, so it's best to see what's on offer when you get there and make your choice then. You can see also turtles and many types of fishes, so all in all it's a great way to explore the coast around the south of Tenerife. 

We recommend a 3 hours tour on a luxury yacht, with complimentary snacks and drinks included, as well as free use of masks and snorkels.

• Includes unlimited drinks
• Champagne, Ham, cheese, and salad baguettes
• Sonar equipment for listening to the dolphins and whales

Things to do in Costa Adeje when it's raining

Tenerife is well known for good weather all year round, but especially during the winter months (January - February mostly) there are some days of rain when going to the beach just isn't an option. Those are the perfect days to do some shopping, go to an escape room for some indoor fun (read no 15 on our list below) or if you have a car you can just get in and drive to another part of the island where it's not raining that day. Check out our infographic about weather in Tenerife for a better view of what you can expect depending on when you are visiting.

Shopping in Costa Adeje

From markets to shopping centers and even supermarkets, in Costa Adeje you have everything close by. If you want to go to one of the shopping malls further away from the resort you can use the public buses or the free shuttle in the case of Siam Mall.

6. Costa Adeje Market

• Weekly on Thursdays and Saturdays from 09:00 to 14:00

You can browse through the stalls and spend some time bargaining with the vendors. Costa Adeje Market is great for souvenirs but be careful at knock-offs and always haggle the price before buying.

7. Centro Comercial Plaza del Duque

With its futuristic architecture and looks, Plaza del Duque Shopping Mall is known for its designer stores and more upmarket brands, but there are also some nice places where you can sit to take a break during the day. The shopping center is also a good place to visit on a rainy day when you don't know what else to do.

8. Siam Mall

Another shopping mall in the Costa Adeje area, this time with the usual brands, bars, restaurants and cafes. Not worth a special trip if you don't have anything in particular to buy, but still a good way to spend 1 or 2 hours if the weather is bad.

Siam Mall is our favorite out of all the shopping centers in Tenerife South. It has the most shops, an interesting design, an outdoor terrace where we can have lunch and a free shuttle to get us there.

9. Centro Comercial Gran Sur

Typical shopping center and a good place to visit if you're staying in the area, although Siam Mall is much better and has more brands and options for restaurants.

10. Centro Comercial San Eugenio

Nice shopping mall, there is even a Mercadona inside in case you need to buy some bits and bobs.

11. Golf in Costa Adeje

Golf Costa Adeje is the best golf course in Tenerife and it's even considered as one of the best in the whole of Europe. The Golf Costa Adeje was designed by integrating the natural characteristics of the area in the course and it features some incredible views as well.

12. Day trip to Mount Teide

You can't visit Tenerife without going on a trip to Teide National Park where you can see up close the tallest peak in all of Spain.

There are many hiking trails inside the park and even a cable car, but if you want to go all the way to the top, remember that you will need an access permit from the Reservas Parques Nacionales.

You can also go on an organized tour like the Teide By Night, which offers day trips inside the park for a complete experience: they take you to the best viewpoints, followed by an amazing sunset and then a session of watching the night sky inside the park. Read our dedicated article about stargazing in Tenerife if you want more details about this tour.

• Includes transport from the North and South of the island
• Official guide
• Includes Teide cable car ticket
• Discover the most visited National Park in Spain

13. Barranco del Infierno - Hiking in Costa Adeje

If you want a day of adventure and you feel like burning off all those calories from cocktails and rich food, then a hike inside the Inferno Ravine is what you need. The road is well marked and you should get here in the morning because it can get very hot in the afternoons. There is a limit on the number of people that can visit in a day (300 people per day) so it's ideal for a day when you want to get away from the noisy resorts. Remember to bring comfortable shoes, as you won't be able to do the hike through Barranco del Infierno in flip-flops.

14. Paragliding over the coast of Adeje

Try paragliding with a national champion paraglider for a unique experience in Tenerife! Fly over canyons and the coast of Adeje with an experienced instructor in this magical paragliding experience. 

Paraglide over Tenerife with an experienced guide and admire fantastic views of the surrounding area.

15. Hop over to La Gomera

La Gomera is the closest sister island to Tenerife and you can hop on a boat and go over for a day trip to explore the landscapes and take in the views. The boat ride is pretty short and you'll get to see some amazing views, as the island is very green and has a much more relaxed vibe than Tenerife.

• Pickup from the south of Tenerife
• Transfers & ferry (with live tour guide)
• Lunch at Mirador Abrante
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before activity starts

Other things to do with kids in Costa Adeje

If the water parks and the animal parks weren't enough, we have more options for you:

16. Escape Rooms in Costa Adeje

You can choose between several options like Canary Escape Game, Escape Rooms Island Phobia Tenerife, The X-Door Tenerife, or AlcatraZ Escape Rooms, but you should look around and see if any other similar businesses show up in the meantime. It's a fun way to spend time as a family, plus it's challenging and helps you work better as a team.

Bonus - Participate in the events in the area

Check the list of events in Tenerife happening during the time when you're on the island and you can find plenty of things to do this way.

17. I Love Music Festival

I Love Music Festival is one of the largest music festivals in Tenerife, happening each year right in Costa Adeje.

This is an outdoor event with electronic music, usually organized during the month of April.