Puerto de la Cruz Holidays

This town, on Tenerife's northern shores, has sussed out the perfect old-meets-new balance. It's bigger than the island's tourist-free villages, where you won't hear a word of English, but doesn't adopt the same Brit-friendly approach as Playa de las Americas. Instead, you've got a melting pot of museums, cannon-lined promenades and multi-coloured plazas. Contemporary hotels add a dash of familiarity, and the two black-sand beaches play to a sun-seeking crowd.

It didn't take nature-lovers long to realise that Puerto de la Cruz has the ideal climate for flourishing greenery, and the town's botanical gardens are testament to that. More than 5,000 exotic plants are grouped together here, including the 'Drunken Tree', which appears to sway, and Higuera – a huge, 200-year-old tree with twisted, above-ground roots. Look inland, and the colour chart turns a more earthy shade, thanks to the volcanic plains of Spain's famous Mount Teide National Park.

Nothing was left to chance when the resort's main beach was being designed – one of the Canary Islands' most famous artists, César Manrique, masterminded the shoreline at Playa de Jardin. Palm trees and exotic lawns face up to the black sand, and there's a pretty waterfall that's popular for photos. The sunbathing territory stretches out quite a way, and there's a scattering of sea pools and splash parks just around the headland.