5 top attractions in Tenerife and Tenerife forum community? A visit to Garachico is like going back in time: this small town has a rather dark history, being destroyed 2 times by volcanic eruptions. Walk on its narrow streets, eat a great ice cream on the sea shore and swim in the rocky pools during those hot summer days. El Drago or the Dragon Tree is the island’s most popular tree. The best view is the one from the town square, so there’s no need to pay to see it up close. If you want more ideas for a holiday that doesn’t break the budget, read our article about free things to do in Tenerife. The town of San Cristobal de la Laguna is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it deserves at least a few hours to walk around and see the beautiful buildings. If you’re with the kids you may want to visit the Museum of Science and the Cosmos and why not also the Museum of History and Anthropology. See more information on Tenerife Forum Community.
Puerto de la Cruz has a lot to keep culture-hungry travellers satiated: the city is like an open-air art museum thanks to the Puerto Street Art Project, which began in 2014 in the historic quarter. The oldest drago plant in Tenerife. Technically a plant rather than a tree, the drago tree is synonymous with Tenerife. The oldest known drago is in Icod de los Vinos, and is known as Drago Milenario. You can see it when you visit the 15th century historical quarter. If you’re looking for more things to do in Icod, try the Museo de Malvasia wine museum or the Mariposario Del Drago, which is a butterfly nature park – a good option if you need alternative things to do with kids in Tenerife.
These natural salt water pools are plenty of fun to cool off in – particularly if you’re coming down from one of the mountain hikes or golf courses nearby. There are also showers and bathrooms to get changed in too. Whilst the golden sands of Médano are ideal for posing and sunbathing with the best of them, you should really try your hand at kitesurfing here. This is a great, safe spot to surf for experienced riders, with Médano and Tejita offering two different spots to ride the waves. Whilst Rio may have the biggest carnevale in South America, the Canary Islands are the place to be for it in Europe. Over the course of a week, festivals, processions and parties flood the streets of Santa Cruz with colour, feathers and glitter. The Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival is a fun event to attend with a group, or with the family – you’ll never see anything quite like it.
Many of Santa Cruz’ top attractions sit within its historical triangle, which takes up the area between Calle la Noria, Plaza de Espana and Plaza de Candelaria and Plaza de Weyler. Visit the state-of-the-art Auditorio de Tenerife Adán Martín, which may remind you of Sydney’s iconic Opera House. Another thing you shouldn’t miss is Tenerife Espacio de las Artes. This building’s architecture is truly something! The window designs are based on blown-up pixelated images of the sun reflecting off the Tenerife sea, and the lights inside the 24/7 library, ‘Biblioteca Municipal Central de Santa Cruz de Tenerife‘, are made to resemble droplets of water. Much more elegant than my old uni library! British tourists in particular might be interested in paying a visit to the Military Museum to see ‘El Tigre’, the cannon that claimed Admiral Horatio Nelson’s arm while he was trying to take the Canaries from Spain in the name of the British Empire. Nelson’s statue sits in London’s Trafalgar Square today, minus an arm.
Tenerife is a great place if extreme and active sports are your thing. A sea kayaking or a canoeing trip is a great alternative to discover the island and its coastal parts. Don’t be scared of embarking on such extreme activities, since all trips are done with the help of a professional canyoning guide, who will guide you through this unique and majestic experience.