FREE THINGS TO DO IN Tenerife

This extremely picturesque valley offers the chance for some hiking and an opportunity to get close to the more rugged side of Tenerife. There are several options for exploring this beautiful valley. If you have hired a car, you can make the drive to Masca Village, but be aware the road is quite hair-raising to navigate with lots of hairpin bends. The tiny village has some charming little cafes selling local delicacies like cactus ice cream.

If you come via taxi, you can then hike down from the village to the beach. This is a fairly arduous trek and practical shoes are essential, along with a good supply of water. The walk takes around 2-3 hours, and from the beach you can then take a water taxi over to Los Gigantes (or walk back up if you’re not exhausted!). Prebooking is advised. It’s not recommended if you have mobility issues or a fear of heights, but is perfect if you want an invigorating walk with stunning views.

This charming coastal town on Tenerife’s north coast nestles at the heart of one of the island’s most unspoilt areas. The town has natural rock pools formed by lava flow; these have been joined by manmade steps and are used as a series of swimming pools, sure to delight both young and old alike. Garachico has an interesting history, as it was destroyed by a massive earthquake 300 years ago and subsequently rebuilt. Many of the buildings from this reconstruction remain.

The old town is very picturesque and very pleasant to walk around in, with a wide selection of gift shops and restaurants with local cuisine. There is an old monastery next to the main square which you can visit, and museums housed in an old water mill and in Castillo San Miguel, also home of the Medieval Night (link).

To get to Garachico you must travel along the coastal ride either by car or bus. Be aware there are a lot of sharp bends and twists and turns!

It’s well worth taking a trip to the quaint former fishing village of Los Gigantes to see these magnificent cliffs towering from the ocean to the sky. They reach a height of 500-800m.

There are three main viewpoints to see the cliffs: the easiest one to find is on the main road to Tamaimo, but there is also one above the sports club and one from the coastal path around the Hotel Barcelo. However, to get even closer, a boat trip is a great idea. You will often be lucky enough to see whales and dolphins. Jet skis are also available.

The town itself has some lovely bars and restaurants as well as an art gallery and marina. You can savour some delicious local cuisine and watch the world go by. Just a short walk from the marina is Playa de Los Gigantes with its dark coloured sand. If you’re feeling more active, Los Gigantes has a dive centre offering the opportunity to explore the undersea world in crystal clear water.

This striking and distinctive modernistic structure sits adjacent to the Atlantic coast at Santa Cruz de Tenerife. It has a very large central arch overhanging the building, inviting differing interpretations; some say it resembles a ship’s sail, others a leaping fish, and many draw comparisons to the Sydney Opera House. The building was constructed between 1997-2003.

The auditorium hosts a great variety of concerts and shows, but it’s more than worth going just to see the outside. Also, along the sea wall there are hundreds of rocks with images of famous musicians painted on them, making a fascinating sight.

If you want to venture inside, free tours take place at 12.30pm from Monday to Saturday, as well as 5.30pm during the summer. Prior booking is required.

The main hall has 1,616 seats, and two large organ pipes on either side of the pit. The chamber hall seats 422. There is also a press room, shop and cafe.