Tenerife Holidays

Tenerife’s big-name resorts, like Playa de las Americas, Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos and Playa de la Arena, boast XL sandy beaches that keep package holiday crowds returning year after year. It all started with Britain’s Queen Victoria in the 19th century, and – despite the hotels and resorts looking newer – it’s still one of Europe’s top picks. The year-round sunshine, plus watersports, seafront cafes and bars, make this Canary Island’s beaches hard to beat. Flights from Ireland’s Dublin Airport don’t take any longer than a box set binge, either.

Although the beaches of Tenerife understandably get most of the good press, the island also boasts the tallest point in Spain – Mount Teide. Topping out at 3,718 metres, the summit of this gigantic peak – which has taken a break from eruptions for over a hundred years – is accessible via cable car. As you can imagine, the views from the top are nothing short of breathtaking. No Tenerife holiday’s fully complete until you’ve snapped pictures from the summit. And when you’re back at ground level, the surrounding volcanic landscape is a dramatic, lava-scarred scene that’s begging to be explored.

You might not realise it, but Tenerife’s got plenty of history to go with its sunbathing set-up. Colonial towns and villages crop in some of the island’s quieter corners. For example, Garachico is well worth a visit. As you walk through its cobblestoned streets, you can soak up sites that date back to 1496, when the town had to deal with pirate landings and volcanic eruptions. Also, check out the university town of La Laguna, with its lively social scene and typical Canarian architecture.