Driving in Tenerife: do you need a car, and what to know if you rent one

A practical guide to getting around Tenerife by car

One of the first questions people ask when planning a trip to Tenerife is whether they need a rental car. The short answer: it depends on what kind of holiday you want.

If you’re staying in the south (Costa Adeje, Playa de las Américas, Los Cristianos) and your plan is mainly beaches, restaurants, and organised excursions, you can manage perfectly well without a car. The resort areas are walkable, the bus network covers the main routes, and most excursions and activities include hotel pickup.

If you want to explore the island properly (the north coast, mountain villages, hidden beaches, wine country, the Anaga forest), a rental car makes a big difference. Public transport reaches most towns but not on your schedule, and the more scenic and remote spots are either poorly served or not served at all by bus.

What driving in Tenerife is actually like

The road network is good. The two main motorways, the TF-1 (south coast) and the TF-5 (north coast), connect all the major towns and are fast, well-maintained dual carriageways. You can drive from Costa Adeje to Santa Cruz in under an hour.

The mountain roads are a different story. Routes like the TF-436 to Masca, the road up to Teide through Vilaflor, or the winding roads through Anaga are narrow, steep, and full of hairpin bends. They’re well surfaced but demanding if you’re not used to mountain driving. Take your time, use your horn on blind corners, and pull over to let faster traffic pass.

Driving is on the right (same as mainland Spain). Speed limits are clearly signposted: 120 km/h on motorways, 50 km/h in towns. Roundabouts are common. Fuel stations are easy to find on the main roads but sparse in rural mountain areas, so fill up before heading into the interior.

Parking in the resort areas can be tight, especially in Los Cristianos and Las Américas. Most shopping centres have free parking (Siam Mall has 1,100 spaces). Street parking in Santa Cruz and La Laguna uses the blue zone pay-and-display system. In smaller towns and villages parking is usually free and easy.

Practical tips for renting a car in Tenerife

Book in advance. Prices are lower and availability is better, especially during high season (Christmas, Easter, July to August). Last-minute airport rentals cost significantly more.

Consider local companies. International chains (Hertz, Europcar, Avis) are at both airports, but local companies like CICAR and Autoreisen are often cheaper and have good reputations on the island. Compare prices online before arriving.

Pick up at the airport if you can. Tenerife South Airport (TFS) has all the major rental desks. Picking up and dropping off at the airport avoids extra delivery charges. If you’re only renting for a few days mid-trip, many companies also have offices in the resort areas.

Check the insurance carefully. Basic rental usually includes third-party liability but not full collision damage. The excess on a standard rental can be €800 to €1,500. You can buy excess reduction from the rental company (often overpriced) or take out an independent policy before your trip (usually much cheaper). Read the terms before you sign.

Inspect the car before driving off. Walk around the car with the rental agent, photograph any existing damage, and make sure it’s noted on the contract. This protects you from being charged for scratches that were already there.

Fuel policy. Most reputable companies use a full-to-full policy: you get the car with a full tank and return it full. Avoid companies that charge you for a full tank upfront, as you’ll rarely get a refund for unused fuel.

A small car is usually enough. Unless you’re travelling with a lot of luggage or need space for car seats, a compact car (Fiat 500, VW Polo, or similar) handles the narrow mountain roads better than a larger vehicle and is much easier to park.

GPS or phone navigation. Google Maps works well in Tenerife and is usually more up to date than rental car GPS units. Download the offline map of Tenerife before your trip in case of patchy signal in the mountains.

Places worth driving to

These are the spots that really benefit from having your own car:

Masca. A tiny mountain village in the Teno massif, reached via the TF-436, one of the most scenic (and hair-raising) roads on the island. The drive from Santiago del Teide down to Masca takes about 20 minutes but feels much longer because of the views and the bends. Go early in the morning before the tour buses arrive.

Anaga Rural Park. The northeast corner of the island, covered in ancient laurel forest. Narrow roads wind through cloud forest with views down to remote beaches like Playa de Benijo and Playa de las Teresitas. Best combined with a stop in La Laguna on the way back.

Teide National Park. You can reach Teide by bus (Route 343 from the south), but having a car lets you stop at viewpoints along the way, visit at sunrise or sunset, and take the scenic route through Vilaflor or Chío rather than just the motorway.

The west coast. Los Gigantes, Playa de la Arena, and Playa San Juan are all reachable by bus but much easier to explore by car. The coast road between Los Gigantes and Buenavista del Norte is one of the most scenic drives on the island.

The Orotava Valley and wine country. La Orotava, the Tacoronte-Acentejo wine region, and the rural villages above Puerto de la Cruz are best explored by car. Stop at a guachinche (family-run eatery serving house wine and home cooking) for lunch.

If you don’t want to rent a car

You can still see most of these places without driving yourself:

Guided bus tours cover Teide, the north coast (La Laguna, Anaga, Icod de los Vinos, Garachico), and the west coast. Hotel pickup included.

Jeep tours go to Masca, the Teno mountains, and other off-the-beaten-track spots that would require confident mountain driving to reach on your own.

The Teide Quad Safari and buggy tours take you through the volcanic landscapes above the coast.

For the south coast, boat trips, water sports, and theme park visits all include hotel pickup, so you don’t need a car at all.

Browse the full range of Tenerife excursions and activities at CanaryVIP. Every booking comes with our Best Price Guarantee.