How to Spend 5 Days in Tenerife South Without a Car
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Let’s be real: if it's your first time in Tenerife South, you don't want to spend your holiday guessing what to do or missing out on the best experiences. Five days is the absolute sweet spot to hit the best coastal spots and tick off the main bucket list experiences without feeling rushed.
Having lived here for a few years, I’ve packed this itinerary with the exact spots Carol and I go to on the south coast. I’ve designed this so you don't need to rely on a car, but if you do plan to rent one and want to explore the entire island instead, you can check out our 5-day itinerary with a car. Otherwise, let's dive into the itinerary.
How to spend the best 5 days in Tenerife (summary)
This is a brief overview of the ideal 5-day plan. I’ve only included activities that are either easily accessible or include convenient hotel pick-ups:
Day 1: Coastal stroll, local food, and beach time
Day 2: Mount Teide sunset and stargazing
Day 3: Siam Park
Day 4: Dolphin and whale tour
Day 5: Water activities and relaxation at a black sand beach
Best area to stay in Tenerife South?
Before I get into the itinerary, the area where you stay in Tenerife South can completely change your experience. Since you are not planning to rent a car, the ideal area to base yourself in, so you are close to activities, beaches, and restaurants, is between Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos.
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I know how difficult and personal choosing a hotel can be, so I’ve recommended a couple of my favourites depending on what you're looking for. Do feel free to email me if you’d like a specific recommendation. I’d be more than happy to help!
For families
Vincci Selección La Plantación del Sur: It has a kids’-dedicated zone and a kids’ club with fun activities.
Bahia del Duque: Kid-friendly beachfront hotel with a kids’ club, pool for kids, and stunning rooms.
For couples and adults only
JOIA El Mirador by Iberostar -Adults Only: Paradise vibes with very attentive staff.
Sir Anthony: Modern beachfront hotel with the option of rooms with private pools.
For a touch of luxury
Royal Hideaway Corales Suites: Premium apartment-style hotel with stunning ocean views.
Royal Hideaway Corales Villas: A more secluded hotel with the option of adults-only zones.
To get to these hotels, you can take bus line 40, which costs just a couple of euros and takes around 1 hour, depending on your final stop. However, I’d strongly recommend pre-booking a taxi. The prices are incredibly reasonable, usually around the €35 mark, and it takes just a third of the time.
Now we are ready to dive into this exciting 5-day itinerary!
Day 1: Coastal stroll, local food, and beach time
A charming side of Tenerife South is that most resorts are built so you can fully sit back and enjoy the facilities. Because of that, please feel free to skip, swap, or completely follow this itinerary at your own pace!
An interesting part of the south is that it offers different types of beaches, some with golden sand and others with volcanic black sand. Personally, I think hitting the coast is the perfect way to start your trip: sunbathing under the southern heat and dipping into the water every now and then.
These are some beaches worth visiting:
In Tenerife, there are no private beaches. However, on most beaches, you can rent sunbeds and umbrellas for around €3 to €5 per item for the day. For example, a set of two sunbeds and one umbrella will usually cost between €9 and €15 total.
These are all accessible by bus, but if you’d like more recommendations, feel free to check out our Google Maps list with over 100 locations in Tenerife, from local food spots and beaches, to natural pools, activities and much more.
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For lunch, a great area to stroll with plenty of food variety is the Paseo Marítimo in Costa Adeje. To be completely honest, it is very touristy, but it’s incredibly convenient. It sits right near Playa del Duque and Playa de Torviscas, and it has a beautiful, long coastal path that is perfect for a scenic walk after you eat.
For the rest of the evening, it’s best to take things easy. You can head back to the beach, enjoy your hotel’s facilities, or head out to try some local food. In all honesty, authentic local spots can be hard to find in the south, but one place that is worth trying is La Casita de Taby. If it helps you choose what to order, one of my personal favourite dishes there is the huevos rotos (broken eggs).
On the other hand, if you are still feeling energetic, feel free to check out some of the water activities listed on Day 5!
Day 2: Mount Teide sunset and stargazing
My original plan was to suggest the classic evening tour, where you get to see the sunset and stargaze from Mount Teide (with pickup available). Tenerife has one of the clearest skies in the world, so stargazing here truly feels like a must-do experience.
That said, I’d like to recommend three alternative experiences, just in case they suit your travel style better (though you can always combine two if you have the time!):
Mount Teide and historic towns full-day tour: While the evening tour focuses heavily on the night sky, this day trip lets you truly appreciate the dramatic volcanic landscapes that make Mount Teide so famous. Even better, this is the perfect opportunity to see the beautiful historic towns in the north, like Garachico, Icod de los Vinos, and the stunning village of Masca. Just make sure to check if your hotel is within the tour's pickup area before booking, as this can be a deciding factor.
Quad adventure tour in Teide National Park: This is a fantastic, adrenaline-filled option if you want to explore the volcanic landscapes in just a few hours. It’s perfect if you want a shorter activity or want to combine it with a sunset tour later. Just keep in mind that drivers must be at least 25 years old with a valid driver's license (though kids aged 7 and up can join as passengers!).
Loro Park ticket and hotel transfer: This is a great opportunity to see Loro Park if it’s on your bucket list. Since Loro Park is located in northern Tenerife, this tour is the only convenient way to visit without renting a car.
The sunset and stargazing activity starts around 8:30 pm, so my recommendation is to combine it with either Loro Park or the quad adventure. Even though you are already going to Mount Teide for the quad adventure, the sunset and stargazing tour is completely different; it won't feel repetitive at all!
Day 3: Siam Park
Carol at the Tower of Power in Siam Park, Tenerife
This is my personal favourite theme park in Tenerife and definitely a must-do for any visitor. It doesn’t matter if you are a kid or an adult; you are going to love it!
Siam Park is a full-day activity, typically running from around 10 am to 6 pm. To help you prepare, I’ve answered the most common questions below, though feel free to check out my full, detailed Siam Park guide here for a deeper breakdown!
What ticket should you buy?
This advice is based on the many times I’ve visited Siam Park myself. If you are on a budget, or simply want to check out the park and hope for the best, a standard ticket costs around €44. However, if you are visiting during peak season, be prepared for queues of up to an hour and a half for most rides.
If you are serious about trying as many slides as possible, or if your budget allows, I highly recommend opting for the all-inclusive ticket instead. This covers absolutely everything: your entry, a fast pass, unlimited food and drinks, towels, lockers, and more. Skip buying the standalone fast pass ticket at the park; once you add up the extra costs of food and amenities, it ends up costing roughly the same or more compared to the all-inclusive package but without all the extra perks!
This is something not many people know, but during July and August, the park opens for Siam Nights from 8 pm until midnight. It offers a completely different, lively atmosphere with illuminated rides, a live DJ, and significantly smaller crowds than the daytime sessions.
How to get to Siam Park without driving?
Although I highly recommend using Google Maps to help you navigate the public transport system, your best route really depends on where you are staying. Taking a taxi is always the easiest option. However, if you prefer the bus, line 424 is your best bet from the Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos, and Playa de las Américas areas, as it drops you off right outside the park.
What is the best time to arrive at Siam Park?
Personally, I like to make the most of the day and arrive early so I don’t miss a single minute. Ideally, try to get there around 9:30 or 9:45 am. Definitely don’t arrive too late; time absolutely flies once you are inside, and you don’t want to regret missing out.
When you arrive, there will be two separate lines: one for purchasing tickets and another for pre-bought tickets (which is usually much faster). Just make sure you join the correct queue!
Day 4: Dolphin and whale tour
It's time to head out onto the open water for one of Tenerife's absolute highlights: a dolphin and whale watching tour. Because these boat trips usually take around 3 hours of your day, the absolute best way to handle the rest of your itinerary is to keep things completely relaxed.
This whale and dolphin tour is ideal because, in addition to being a small-group experience, it includes drinks, food, and snorkelling equipment, which is a fantastic way to see the underwater marine life up close. For the highest chance of spotting the animals, I recommend booking the 9:30 am slot. Just keep in mind that these are wild animals in their natural habitat, so while sightings are highly likely, they can never be 100% guaranteed!
Ideas for the rest of Day 4:
Spend some relaxing time at the beach or back at your hotel pool.
Stroll along the Costa Adeje promenade. If you walk west, the path opens up to uninterrupted ocean views. If you walk east, you'll find a lively stretch packed with shops and restaurants.
Grab drinks and tapas. We’ve added a few recommendations to our Tenerife Google Maps list.
Treat yourself to dinner. Consider booking a table at one of the incredible Michelin-starred or high-end restaurants in the Costa Adeje area.
Day 5: Water activities and relaxation at a black sand beach
If you plan it right, Day 5 can easily be the most fun day of the entire trip. Sun, food, the beach, and water sports… what more could you ask for?
Before you settle into pure relaxation mode, kick off the morning with some adventure while the ocean is at its calmest. I highly recommend booking activities in advance to lock in your times. Best of all, all of these experiences are located right around the Costa Adeje area, to make your day incredibly convenient:
Beginner’s scuba diving and snorkelling. This would definitely be an unforgettable start to your last day.
One of my favourites is jet skis. It’s a combination of adrenaline, speed and open water. As a bonus, this activity offers optional photos of your ride, which are perfect for capturing memories!
While I’ve actually never tried it myself, parasailing is high on my bucket list. It looks like an absolute blast, and even though heights aren't for everyone, I love taking on activities that push me out of my comfort zone to overcome my fears!
While the main meeting point for these specific activities is Puerto Colón in Costa Adeje, you can also find plenty of great water sports departing directly from Playa de las Américas and Los Cristianos if those locations are more convenient for you.
After your water activities, you won't have to travel far to relax. Right next to Puerto Colón is Playa de la Pinta, but if you walk just a few minutes further north, you'll find Playa de Torviscas and Playa Fañabé.
While these beaches have a mix of golden and darker volcanic sand, they are the most convenient spots to grab a sun lounger, relax with a cold drink, and transition straight from your ocean adventures to a relaxed afternoon of sunbathing.
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