How To Travel Around Tenerife – Public Transport, Car Rentals and Other Alternative Modes of Transport

Arranging your own transport abroad can be a challenge for many who are used to the convenience of organised tours. However, Tenerife is such a diverse island that it would be a shame to spend your entire holiday here in just one place. In this article, we will therefore present you with various ways to explore the island on your own, while saving the considerable sums you would otherwise pay for optional tours offered by tour operators.

Public Transport

Tenerife has a very dense and frequent network of public and intercity transport, which takes you almost everywhere on the island, including the towns, beaches and even Mount El Teide. All services here are operated by TITSA, whose website has all the information about its operations. The downside, however, is that the website only works if you are already in Spain. In case you want to plan your route using public transport while you’re still at home, you’ll need to use VPN or Google Maps, where connections are also available. Just enter your start point and destination and the app will offer you the connections that serve the route.

Ticket Price:

Fares vary according to the distance traveled. Here are some examples of connections and their prices:

Los Cristianos – Costa Adeje: 1,45 €
Puerto de la Cruz – cable car to Teide: 6,20 €
Santa Cruz de Tenerife – Los Cristianos: 9 €

All services are provided by modern buses, and there are even two tram lines in Santa Cruz de Tenerife connecting the city with the La Laguna area.

Discount tickets can also be purchased as part of the fare. The current options are as follows:

24-hour ticket: valid for all buses and trams on the island, allowing you an unlimited number of rides for 10€ (+2€ for the issue of a card that can be recharged after a given period)
7-day ticket: works on the same principle as the 24-hour ticket, the price is 50 € (+2 € for issuing a card)
Ten+Wallet: this card can be purchased for €2 and can be freely charged from €10 to €99. Its advantage is that it can be used by several people. In addition, you get a 20% discount on fares.

Where to Buy Tickets:

Individual tickets can be paid for directly from the driver by card. Discounted cards can be purchased or reloaded at both airports, at vending machines at major bus stops, or at all tram stops in Santa Cruz.

Getting from the airport by bus:

From both airports on the island, you can take public transportation to many tourist centers.

Tenerife South Airport (TFS)

Public transport stops directly at the terminal and serves the whole island. The airport shuttle also operates 24 hours a day.

Direction Santa Cruz de Tenerife: line 10 (711 at night)
Direction Los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas, Costa Adeje: lines 40 and 343 (711 at night)
Direction Puerto de la Cruz a letiště Tenerife Sever: line 343 (no night service, transfer required)
Direction Costa del Silencio, Las Galletas: line 415 (no night service, transfer required)

Tenerife North Airport (TFN)

You will find the public transport stop here on the right hand side of the airport exit (after about 20 metres).

Direction Santa Cruz and La Laguna: line 20 (104 at night)
Direction Puerto de la Cruz: line 30 and 343 (104 at night)
Direction Los Cristianos, Costa Adeje, TFS Airport: line 343 (transfer needed at night)

Transport Between Airports

Line 343 operates between the two airports, but there are only 4-5 connections per day. The other option is to go to Santa Cruz and change to the more frequent services there.
If you don’t subscribe to a VPN service, you won’t be able to get timetables for each line from your home country. However, we recommend searching for connections using Google Maps, which will give you a general idea.

Renting a Car

The most convenient option for traveling around Tenerife is undoubtedly renting a car. Although the island’s public transport network is really dense, if you want to explore the secluded beaches, go hiking or visit the smaller towns, you simply can’t do without a rental car.

How To Choose the Right Car Rental Company

There are countless car rental companies on the island. You’ll find their branches mainly in the arrival halls of both airports, but also in the biggest resorts such as Playa de las Américas, Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Remember, however, that if you rent a car in the city, the branch there may have more limited opening hours than at the airport, which may adversely affect your future plans.

You can use various comparison engines such as Booking.com or Discovercars.com to find the ideal car rental company. However, always book directly on the rental’s website. In most cases, Booking.com or other search engines will offer you their own insurance when you book, but this is usually not recognised by the rental company, so you will still have to pay the compulsory insurance with them when you arrive.

You’ll find almost all the big companies on the island, such as Hertz, Sixt, Avis and Budget. There are also local companies such as PlusCar and Canarias. The best rated ones are Autoreisen and CICAR, which also offer very reasonable prices. In any case, we always recommend reading Google reviews of individual rental companies before booking, which in many cases will give you feedback from several travelers.

TIP: Do you want to rent a car from locals? You can find a wide range of cars from reliable partners directly on our website.

When To Book and Which Car To Choose?

In general, the earlier you book your car, the better. Tenerife is a popular destination all year round, booking early will ensure not only a good price but also a wide choice of your car. Furthermore, in most cases you can cancel your booking for free up to a certain time, so you don’t have to worry about losing your money if you change your plans.

When it comes to choosing the right car, the choice always depends on the number of passengers and your preferences. You should always consider how much luggage you will be taking with you (especially if you are picking up the car at the airport) and whether you will have enough space in the car for the comfort of all passengers. Remember also that Tenerife is a really mountainous island, especially around the centre of El Teide, which reaches over 3,000m above sea level. There will undoubtedly be a few climbs as you explore, so make sure your car is strong enough for the load. It’s also not a bad idea to consider renting a car with an automatic transmission when driving on the winding mountain roads.

Extra Surcharges and Insurance

You can add a few extras to your trip. The most common is GPS navigation. However, if you have a smartphone with Google Maps, you probably won’t need it. Within the European Union, you can use mobile data in Spain just as you do at home, but if you don’t have a data connection, just download a free offline map of the whole island from the app, which will guide you reliably everywhere. If you do want to stay online during your trip, some car rental companies also offer the option to pay extra for a Wi-Fi modem, among other things.

If you’re traveling with children, you’ll need a child seat. Every rental company will offer this option, usually for free.

Some companies also offer a special roadside assistance service. This can include help if you get a flat tyre,or lose your car keys.

All car rentals always include unlimited third-party liability insurance, which is mandated by law in Spain. We also recommend that you pay for full insurance in the event of an accident, this is found under the term ‘Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)’ and sets out the maximum amount the customer can pay in the event of an accident. Please always refer to the booking conditions for information on whether CDW is included in the rental price.

Who Can Rent a Car In Tenerife

To rent a car in Tenerife you must be at least 21 years old, in many cases, car rental companies even require the age of 23. You only need a driving license issued in the European Union to rent a car, but you must have held it for at least 2 years. You will also be required to have a credit card as a deposit. Alternatively, you can also use a debit card, but in this case, you will have to expect less favorable conditions or an additional deposit of several hundred euros. CICAR and Autoreisen do not require a deposit.

Gas Stations, Parking, and Roads in Tenerife

Topping up your tank here can cost less than at home in mainland Europe. What’s more, there’s a petrol station on every corner. In popular tourist destination,s it’s no problem to find a large car park, which is also free in most cases. The roads here are in excellent condition, with a free motorway running practically around the entire island, from which roads continue to other towns and beaches. Asphalt roads await you even in the remote mountain areas. There are almost always free car parks in the popular tourist centers, but these are often busy. Therefore, in many places, there are underground paid garages where there is always space, but parking for longer periods can get expensive.

In Tenerife, they drive on the right, seat belt use is compulsory, and talking on the phone while driving is heavily penalized. The speed limit is 50 km/h in the village, 70 km/h outside the village, and 120 km/h on the motorway and expressways.

What To Watch Out For:

– Check that your booking does not include a mileage limit. If this is the case, you must not drive more than the maximum allowed for your stay.

– Always check the car for current defects and damage before handing it over; a rental company employee will usually check with you.

– Make sure the car is not missing equipment such as a spare wheel, warning triangles or reflective vests.

– If you commit an offence and are stopped by a police officer, you pay the fine on the spot. However, if it is a speeding offence, for example, the rental company will not know about it until later and may contact you several weeks after you return. However, they should always provide you with evidence of the offence and any relevant information from the police.

– If you are going to take your car to another island, make sure you can do so as part of your policy. This is because in some cases you may lose the services of a special assistance on a neighbouring island.

– Make sure you know how full your tank should be when you return the car. You will find cheaper petrol further away from the airport.

– Allow plenty of time on the day you return your car, especially if you are returning it at the airport. Always bear in mind that you may be delayed paying late fees or other charges.

How much does it cost to rent a car in Tenerife

Due to the high competition, it is possible to rent a car in Tenerife at a very affordable price. In addition, the earlier you make a reservation, the lower the price you will get. Prices also vary according to the season and length of rental – you can take advantage of quantity discounts for multi-day rentals. So in low season, prices for a weekly rental start at around €120, in high season at around €190. Waiting too long to book really doesn’t pay off, you can get a car for around €25/day with plenty of notice, whereas last minute bookings can go up to €80/day.

TIP: Rent a Caravan

Looking for an unusual experience to make your stay in Tenerife more enjoyable? How about renting a caravan! This type of accommodation has gained popularity on the island in recent years, which is why you’ll find many rental companies offering “house on wheels”. One particularly popular option is the “camper van“, which contains all the equipment you’ll need for your adventure, including a bathroom and kitchen. In addition, Tenerife has government-run campsites that you can use free of charge. However, in order to legally stay at a campsite, you must obtain a special “camping permit” which allows you to camp for up to 7 days. It is illegal to camp outside the designated sites.

Taxi

There are no Uber or Bolt drivers operating in Tenerife, to use taxis here you need to use the official white cabs you will find in every major town. You don’t have to worry about unfair treatment towards tourists, the taxi meter is always on, the boarding rate is around €3.20, and the rate per kilometre starts at €1.10. Expect rates to be slightly higher at night.

Private Airport Transfers

Particularly when traveling in large groups, it’s worth booking a private airport transfer to and from the airport in advance. These are usually multi-seater vans. The price depends on the distance travelled, usually starting at €45. There are several companies operating such services on the island, and we are one of them! If you are interested, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Organized Tours

If you want to explore Tenerife without the hassle, the easiest way is to book one of the organised tours. Usually a tour operator will offer these, but if you’re traveling on your own and not staying in a large hotel, you’ll probably have to find one yourself. You’ll find offers in most tourist centres, where you can buy a trip directly from the organiser. You can also try various portals offering island tours and other activities, such as GetYourGuide, Viator, etc. These portals work on a similar principle to Booking.com. Their advantage is that if you have any problems, just contact the customer service line, which will solve your problem reliably. If you are a member of the Lufthansa Miles & More programme, you can enter your membership number when booking with GetYourGuide and earn extra miles.

You can also book trips on our website

All data in this article refers to the year 2024