With its balmy temperatures, beautiful black and gold sand beaches, diverse scenery, plenty of opportunities to see the Milky Way and loads of fun activities to do with kids, it should come as no surprise that Tenerife ranks as one of Spain’s most family-friendly holiday spots and offers a wide range of kid friendly accommodation options from self-catering apartments and villas to luxury hotels and everything in between.
With many families opting to take a winter sun holiday with FlyDirect, we’ve selected our top five family-friendly activities on the island which are guaranteed to be a big hit with all ages.
Trips and excursions in Tenerife can be arranged through our partners at Musement before or during your holiday.
1. Explore Teide National Park
Exploring Mount Teide, the world’s third-largest volcano and Spain’s highest peak, is a unique expedition that travellers of all sizes should experience. Ride the cable car up to an altitude of 3500 metres for spectacular vistas of Tenerife and some of the neighbouring islands. Other areas of great interest include Roques de García, a bizarre landscape packed with unique lava formations, and the volcanic craters covering the subsidiary peak of Pico Viejo.
Fascinating by day, Mount Teide offers an even more breath-taking experience by night. Minimal light pollution allows for stunning views of the night sky and Milky Way and a range of experiences are offered from dinner under the stars to visits to the Teide observatory.
We recommend joining an organised tour and wearing warm clothes, since temperatures atop the mountain are lower than at the coast.
2. Spot Whales and Dolphins
Set aside some time to enjoy the sea as Tenerife is Europe’s premier whale and dolphin watching location, designated the Tenerife-La Gomera Whale Heritage Area by the World Cetacean Alliance since 2021. A wide selection of private or shared boat trips depart from south coast resorts, allowing visitors to observe whales and dolphins in their natural environment, tap into the ocean sounds and, depending on the tour you choose, perhaps a chance to snorkel in crystal clear waters.
The main departure points for sighting excursions are Puerto Colón in Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos and Los Gigantes. Whales and dolphins are so abundant in the Atlantic ocean around Tenerife that some boat operators claim a 99% success rate of sightings.
3. Siam Water Park
Siam Park, often dubbed as Tenerife’s Water Kingdom, has already made a name for itself as one of the best water parks in the world, winning the Tripadvisor Traveller’s Choice Award for Best Water Park for 10 years in a row. Set against a backdrop of spectacular Thai architecture, the whole family is in for an unforgettable adventure.
The youngest members of the family will enjoy The Lost City, the only purpose-built fun pool specifically designed for pre-schoolers in the Canary Islands, while older kids and adrenaline junkies can choose from a range of slides from the competitive Naga Racer to the heart-stopping Tower of Power or coaster-style Singha, and everything in between.
If it all gets a bit too much then relaxation can be found on the shores of Coco or Siam Beaches, or with a gentle journey on the Mai Thai lazy river. Situated between Playa de las Americas and Costa Adeje, Siam Park is easy to access from the major south coast resorts via their free shuttle bus, while guests staying in Los Gigantes, Playa Paraiso or Golf del Sur can pre-book a seat on Siam Park’s own bus service which picks up from selected hotels.
4. Loro Parque
A firm favourite with families visiting Tenerife, Loro Parque in Puerto de la Cruz offers a full day of wildlife, discovery and entertainment. Set among lush tropical gardens, the park is home to more than 400 animal species, including colourful parrots, penguins, gorillas, red pandas, lions, dolphins and sea lions.
Children will love exploring attractions such as Planet Penguin, where they can see hundreds of penguins in a carefully recreated Antarctic environment, while the park’s aquarium and impressive animal habitats offer plenty to discover along the way. Regular presentations provide opportunities to learn more about some of Loro Parque’s residents, making the experience both entertaining and educational. Conservation is also central to the park’s work, with Loro Parque Fundación supporting hundreds of conservation and research projects around the world. With dedicated children’s areas, restaurants and plenty to fill an entire day, Loro Parque is an easy addition to any family Tenerife itinerary.
While Loro Parque is situated in the North of Tenerife, visitors staying in the south coast resorts can take advantage of a dedicated shuttle bus service, pre-booking required.
5. Hit The Beach
No trip to Tenerife is complete without going to the beach. The island is most known for its spectacular volcanic black sand beaches, but there’s also loads of common golden sands to enjoy.
Most of the beaches in South of Tenerife are very family-friendly with plenty of nearby facilities and shallow waters for paddling. San Juan Beach (black sand), Playa del Duque, Fañabe Beach, Puerto Colón Beach and Playa Las Vistas are just a few of them.
Often named as one of Tenerife’s most beautiful beaches, the golden sand stretch of Playa de Las Teresitas is situated to the North of the Island’s capital Santa Cruz de Tenerife, taking about an hour by car from the south coast resorts, or around 90 minutes by public bus with a change in the city. Why not combine beach and city in one day? You can read more about Santa Cruz in our Marketing Manager Bex’s blog ‘Getting off the tourist trail in Tenerife’.
Banana rides, bouncy castles, floating assault courses, scuba diving, kayaking trips and boat tours await the entire family at many of these beaches, along with a wide choice of restaurants, bars, gift shops and other amenities.
Tenerife FAQs
Where is the best place in Tenerife to stay for families?
The south coast resorts such as Los Cristianos, Playa de las Americas and Costa Adeje offer a short transfer time of less than an hour from Tenerife South Airport, and a wide range of accommodation options in all budgets. Some of our favourites for families are Aguamar Apartments in Los Cristianos, The Alexandre Troya Hotel in Playa de las Americas and the luxury GF Victoria in Costa Adeje. The Bahia Principe Fantastia in Golf del Sur is a wonderland for young children, complete with a fairytale castle.
When is the best time to travel to Tenerife with kids?
With warm temperatures all year round there’s never a bad time to visit Tenerife, but temperatures hovering around 20-24 degrees Celsius throughout the winter make it a perfect escape from the chilly British winter. February half-term is our top time to visit for a family.
