15 Best things to do in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife - Top attractions

Did you know Puerto de la Cruz is the oldest tourist resort in Tenerife?

The town of Puerto de la Cruz has always attracted foreign visitors, especially from Northern Europe, who come here during the winter months for the warm climate.

Although not as warm as the resorts in the South of Tenerife, Puerto de la Cruz still has temperatures around 20°C during the daytime in winter and it's much more greener compared to Costa Adeje, Playa de las Americas or Fanabe area.

Usually, Puerto de la Cruz attracts more mature tourists, who come here to relax and enjoy the beautiful nature and scenery. If you're looking for a chilled atmosphere, with lovely restaurants but not noisy club or wild parties, then Puerto de la Cruz is a great place to stay in Tenerife.

What to do in Puerto de la Cruz

There are lots of places to visit and discover inside the city, including beautiful beaches, parks and one of the best swimming pool complexes in Tenerife.

1. Visit Loro Parque, the best Zoo in the world

Loro Parque is considered the best zoo in the world and it's one of the top attractions for visitors in Tenerife.

The park offers plenty of activities and animal shows, so you'll easily spend an entire day there. If you're actually staying in Puerto de la Cruz and you want more than one day to explore, you can buy a discounted ticket for a second visit.

•  Tenerife’s world-famous animal adventure park
• One of the top attractions in the Canary Islands
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund

Explore the beaches in Puerto de la Cruz

You have several options in terms of beaches and places to swim right in Puerto de la Cruz, but there are many more great beaches outside of town, many of them wild and perfect for surfers or for people seeking privacy. 

2. Playa Jardin

Playa Jardin is actually a beach complex formed by several smaller beaches, with black volcanic sand and a beautiful design that is the creation of Cesar Manrique.

The beach is 600 m long and here you will find all the services and amenities you need for a great day in the sun: sunbeds, beach showers, a waterfall with seawater and lush vegetation.

Playa Jardin is one of the main attractions in Puerto de la Cruz, with lots of restaurants and bars nearby, so it's a great place to spend an entire day soaking up the sun. 

3. Playa Martianez

Martianez beach is a black sand beach, located very close to the famous Lago Martianez. It's not as large as Playa Jardin and here you won't find sunbeds and umbrellas, so you'll have to bring your own beach chairs or something to sit on.

Playa Martianez is popular among surfers who stay in the area, as on most days it offers great conditions for surfing.

4. Go on a tour to see Mt. Teide and pretty villages

Enjoy Tenerife's Teide National Park and tour the beautiful northern villages like Garachico, Icod de Los Vinos and Masca. Take in the breathtaking views of Tenerife's countryside as you travel with a local guide.

• Hotel pickup and drop-off included
• Explore Teide National Park
• See the Dragon Tree in Icod de Los Vinos
• Observe the landscape around Masca village and the Canarian architecture in Garachico

5. Costa Martianez Complex

Costa Martianez is a complex of seawater pools, plus several monuments by Cesar Manrique and a few restaurants where you can have lunch during your time there.

Costa Martianez is open all week and there are several large pools, including a geyser in the center or the big pool. You can buy a day ticket for just 5,5 euros, or you can get a ticket that includes entrance + lunch inside the complex, which is available on their website.

6. The Botanical Gardens

The Botanical Gardens in Puerto de la Cruz, also known as Jardin Botanico de Aclimatacion de la Orotava, provides a beautiful walk through a garden with beautiful scenery, lots of exotic flowers and a great collection of trees.

This place is recommended for a peaceful and quiet walk, as most visitors who come to Puerto de la Cruz just for the day choose to spend their time either at Loro Park or at Playa Jardin, so the garden is usually overlooked.

The entrance is just 3 Euros per person, so for such a small amount of money you can enjoy the beauty of the garden, plus a few hours of quiet and relaxation.

7. The Orchid Garden - Jardin de Orquideas de Sitio Litre

Inside this garden, you will find the oldest dragon tree (drago) in Puerto de la Cruz, as well as many beautiful orchids, the main attraction of the park.

The place is an oasis of calm and relaxation in the center of the busy town of Puerto de la Cruz and there's also a cafe inside, where you can enjoy a lovely drink, at reasonable prices. The entrance ticket is around 9 euros per person, which is more expensive compared to the Botanical Garden, although the Orchid garden is smaller in size. But if you're staying in Puerto de la Cruz and you're looking for new things to see and do, the Orchid Garden may prove to be a breath of fresh air and a green oasis, not too far from the ocean.

8. Walk to Playa Bollulo

There is a trail from Puerto de la Cruz that takes you from Puerto de la Cruz to Playa Bollulo. You can start in the area known as El Rincon, and up to there you can get by bus if you don't have a car. If you have a rental car you can drive all the way down to Playa Bollulo, where there is a paid parking at the restaurant (3€/day last time we went there).

From Playa Bollulo there you can continue your journey toward 2 more wild beaches: Playa Ancon and Playa del Pato. This walk provides amazing views of the ocean and the coastline, so it's a nice thing to do on a day with mild temperatures, otherwise, you'll have to be careful to avoid midday hours and always use sunscreen.

9. Plaza del Charco

This is the main square in Puerto de la Cruz, a lovely place to relax, chill and have ice cream (there was a really popular place on one of the corners of the Plaza). We also recommend going inside Columbus Plaza, just to see this beautiful historic building restored (although now it is a place for shopping and grabbing a coffee or something to eat).

10. Parque Taoro 

This is a beautiful park which offers a great view over Puerto de la Cruz. Of course, this means that you will have to climb a lot of steps in order to get to the top of the park, but the walk is lovely if you take you time and just enjoy the small waterfalls along the way.

11. VIP tour to Teide and Masca

Explore the volcanic landscapes of Tenerife and discover hidden places in Teide National Park in a 4WD vehicle.

The tour will also take you to visit Masca, one of the most spectacular and most beautiful villages in Tenerife.

• Includes transportation by 4WD vehicle and pickup at your hotel or nearby meeting point in Puerto de la Cruz
• Includes food
• Visit hidden places in Teide National Park and the village of Masca

12. Places of interest - what else to see while in Puerto de la Cruz

This a list of landmarks or interesting places to see during your stay in Puerto de la Cruz. The resort offers a lot of walking opportunities and it's nice to just walk and discover something new every day.

Don't miss:

• Plaza de Europa
• Paseo de las Palmeras
• Mirador de la Paz
• Castillo San Felipe
• A walk on Paseo San Telmo
• A walk on Paseo de Colon
• Iglesia de San Francisco
• Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de la Pena de Francia
• Anglican Church

13. Explore the north of Tenerife

From Puerto de la Cruz you have quick access to the north of the island, where you can visit many charming towns (like Garachico and La Orotava), or you can go hiking in Anaga, choosing from dozens of trails, suitable for all types of people.

See our recommendations for the best things to do in Tenerife North

14. Big events in Puerto de la Cruz

Depending on when you are visiting, you may have the chance to participate in one of the big and interesting events which are happening in Puerto de la Cruz each year:

• The carnival in Puerto de la Cruz - usually happening between in February - March
• Oktoberfest in Puerto de la Cruz
• The summer carnival (Carnaval de Verano)

15. Coastal walk with fantastic views on Rambla de Castro

Rambla de Castro is a coastal walk that offers breathtaking views of the ocean and the surrounding natural landscape, with lots of trees. 

You can start this walk from several points along the coast and it took us around 2 hours and 30 minutes both ways since we started from calle Romantica I.

Rambla de Castro is less than 10 km away from Puerto de la Cruz, so it's an interesting thing to do around Puerto de la Cruz if you're passionate about hiking, nature and outdoor activities.