Tenerife is a wonderful desired destination for these seeking to love the solar, sand, and surf while also exploring the exceptional landscape. With only patchy general public transportation options offered, renting a car is the best way to see Tenerife’s gorgeous seashores, rugged mountains, and lush forests.
The island’s road perimeter is a mere 359 km, this means you can circumnavigate the entire landmass in just 3-4 several hours by car.
The greatest automobile rental deals can typically be identified at the airport. Nonetheless, there are two airports in Tenerife, so be guaranteed to assess rates ahead of you guide. The extensive greater part of cars and trucks are rented out at Tenerife South Airport, which is closest to the resorts, but Tenerife North is also a correctly superior area to hire your car or truck in Tenerife.
With DiscoverCars you can review charges from all readily available auto rental firms. This search engine will check the two familiar intercontinental brands (e.g. Hertz) and neighborhood providers in the Canary Islands (like Cicar).
Simply use the lookup box underneath:
You will will need to have a credit rating card and a legitimate driver’s license to choose up your car or truck. Be sure you comprehend the phrases and circumstances of leasing right before signing any arrangement, as some organizations may possibly cost added for things like journey coverage, tag service fees, mileage service fees, and more.
The charge of choosing a motor vehicle in Tenerife typically ranges from 25 – 50 Euros a day for a compact 4-seater and fuel costs are typically small.
Is driving in Tenerife tough?
Driving in Tenerife feels like driving in most European international locations. If you are used to driving in other nations around the world, then you need to feel at ease driving the wheel. The roads are generally well-preserved and obviously marked, the rules are the very same as in Spain, and there are a lot of scenic routes to appreciate.

It is essential to take note that the speed limit is a bit decreased than what you may well be made use of to – 50km/hr on ordinary streets and 90km/hr on highways. In addition, make certain to enjoy out for the neighborhood animals like goats and donkeys that may possibly wander on to the roads. This happens only not often but is a likelihood.
A person of the significant worries concerning driving in Tenerife is the visitors. Considering that the road perimeter is so quick, it can be very crowded with locals and travellers. In the past couple decades it has increased dramatically in some parts building visitors congestion.
That explained, on the TF1 motorway it’s frequently very quick to drive with two lanes on just about every aspect. On the north coast component of the TF-5 ring highway only has 1 lane on each individual side and it is a little bit extra crowded as a consequence, with often a continual stream of cars and trucks flowing down this narrower part.
Some of the street journey routes described even more below adhere to scaled-down mountain streets, which are not particularly complicated.
What are the driving distances?
Below are some of the normal driving distances in between towns and cities in Tenerife.
- Santa Cruz to La Laguna – 11 km (7 miles)
- Puerto de la Cruz to Adeje – 56 km (35 miles)
- Playa de las Americas to Teide Nationwide Park – 60 km (37 miles)
As you can see, the distances in between every single of these locations are relatively shorter. This tends to make it simple to explore the island by auto!
In Tenerife, they travel on the proper facet of the highway, as in the United States and in Europe (other than for the United kingdom and Cyprus).
Driving tips for Uk inhabitants in Tenerife
Renting a car or truck in Tenerife is comparatively straightforward for any nationality, but there are a couple matters to preserve in head if you are from the Uk. Make confident that your license is valid and up-to-date, as rental organizations may not accept expired paperwork or paper files. You will require a difficult duplicate of your driver’s license and will need to be at minimum 18 years aged.
You never require an intercontinental driving permit to drive in Spain as you do in other European nations around the world.
You will have to have to supply insurance plan, as rental providers typically require some type of coverage. If you don’t have a policy, then you can buy insurance plan via the car or truck rental business or your vacation supplier.
One of the most difficult matters to get utilized to when driving in Tenerife is that they travel on the suitable aspect of the highway with the wheel on the remaining. This can take a minor little bit of obtaining utilized to, so make guaranteed to be added cautious when driving all around corners.
This can be a little bit complicated in the beginning as you could possibly conclude up rolling down your window vs shifting gears but just after about an hour or two at the rear of the wheel, you really should get the dangle of it.
You can check out vehicle rentals on Tenerife right here.
Driving tips for Americans or outside the EU
Now for Americans, you would imagine it’s comparatively simple to lease a automobile as you can do it in the US. However, when driving abroad there are a couple of extra issues to hold in thoughts.
To start with off, if you’re from outside the house of the EU or have an international driver’s license, you will have to have to current both of those documents upon rental. Furthermore, most organizations have to have that you have at minimum 1 calendar year of driving practical experience ahead of renting a motor vehicle.
The final point to try to remember is that lots of of the cars and trucks are not automatic, so if you are applied to driving an automatic, you may well want to look at if the vehicle rental companies have a car offered with that selection.
4 street excursions in Tenerife
There are some astounding drives in Tenerife. The island is basically truly worth exploring as a whole and if that’s anything you’d like to do, don’t pass up my finish journey manual to Tenerife. In this article, I will give a rapid overview of four really great highway excursion routes.
1. Northwest street vacation
One of the best road outings in Tenerife is the mountain travel via Rural de Teno Park. This 40 km (25 mile) generate will take you via some of the most spectacular surroundings Tenerife has to supply.
Along the way, you will pass by quaint villages and farms, lush vineyards, and amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean.
A will have to-visit on this street excursion is the town of Masca, a picturesque mountain village ideal right before you make your way to the coastal town of Buena Vista. When you make it to the coast, love a scrumptious meal in Garachico, which has some of the best food items on the island.
2. North coast
To check out additional of the island, then take into account using a street excursion through the north of Tenerife. This route will acquire you as a result of some of the most attractive towns on the island, and you are going to have plenty of possibilities for sightseeing, museum visits, and town hopping.
The very first quit on this road vacation is the town of Garachico. This charming coastal city is known for its black sand beach locations and lively nightlife.
Upcoming, head inland to the city of Icod de los Vinos. This little city is house to some of the best vineyards in Tenerife, so be guaranteed to end by 1 of the community wineries for a tour and tasting. You can also pay a visit to the world’s major dragon tree while you’re in Icod.
From there, keep on on to La Orotava, house to some beautiful architecture and lovely plazas. When you are in town, be absolutely sure to go to the Museo de la Historia de Tenerife for a glimpse into the island’s earlier.
Eventually, conclusion your road excursion in La Laguna, a UNESCO Earth Heritage Web-site known for its fantastically preserved colonial-period buildings.
3. Anaga nationwide park
If you are wanting for an adventure, look at taking a highway trip through Anaga park in the northeast. This route will choose you up by way of the mountains, and you’ll have loads of prospects for mountaineering, sightseeing, and wildlife looking at.
The first halt on this road excursion is the town of La Laguna. This charming colonial-era city is dwelling to some beautiful architecture and attractive plazas. Though you’re in city, be certain to go to the Cathedral of La Laguna and the Museum of Science and Technological know-how.
From there, head north into Anaga Rural Park. This area is regarded for its lush forests and beautiful mountain sights. Be positive to cease by the Cruz de Carmen viewpoint for some astounding sights of the surrounding space.
The remaining halt on this road vacation is the city of San Andrés, a smaller fishing town on the coast. This city is dwelling to some of the best seafood on the island, so be confident to cease by just one of the area places to eat for a bite to try to eat.
4. The central crater
To encounter just one of my most loved road excursions, you’ll need to have to push by means of the Parque Nacional do Teide in the central crater. This route will acquire you up to the summit of Mount Teide, which is the best mountain in Spain. be positive to stop at the cable vehicle station on your way up for a journey to the best of the mountain.
The moment you achieve the summit, be confident to end at Roque Cinchado for some wonderful sights of the bordering region. From there, head again down the mountain and finish your highway excursion in the town of La Orotava.
When you are in city, be confident to pay a visit to the Church of La Concepción and the Casa de los Balcones for some lovely architecture. There are also a good deal of restaurants and bars in La Orotava, so be absolutely sure to consider some classic Canarian delicacies while you are in city.
No make a difference which highway journey you select, the island of Tenerife presents some spectacular scenery, proving that Tenerife is more than just beachside fun. So what are you waiting around for? Strike the road and explore the island!
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Posted DEC 28, 2022
· Previous Updated Dec 29, 2022