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La Laguna: A Walk Through the World Heritage City in Tenerife (Updated April 2026)
La Laguna, Tenerife: what to see and why it’s worth your time
Most visitors to Tenerife never leave the southern beach resorts. That’s a shame, because an hour north there’s a city that feels like a different country entirely. San Cristobal de La Laguna (everyone just calls it La Laguna) is Tenerife’s former capital, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999, and one of the most atmospheric small cities in Spain. If you’re based in the south and don’t have a rental car, the easiest way to visit is on the CanaryVIP North Tenerife Guided Bus Tour, which includes La Laguna along with Anaga and other north coast highlights, with hotel pickup included.
The streets are lined with colourful colonial mansions from the 15th to 17th centuries. There’s a university that gives the place a young, lively energy. The food is better and cheaper than in the tourist south. And unlike the resort areas, this is where Canarians actually live, work, and socialise. If you want to see what Tenerife looks like when it’s not trying to sell you an excursion, La Laguna is the place.
The city’s grid layout was designed in the late 1400s as a model “ideal city” of the Renaissance, and it went on to influence the urban planning of Havana, Lima, Cartagena de Indias, and other colonial cities in the Americas. Walking through the old town today, that original structure is still completely intact.
What to see in La Laguna
La Laguna is compact enough that everything worth seeing is within walking distance. Here are the highlights:
Plaza del Adelantado. The main square and the natural starting point for any visit. It’s surrounded by the town hall (Ayuntamiento), the Palacio de Nava (a 16th-century palace with a mix of Baroque, Mannerist and Neoclassical elements), and the Convent of Santa Catalina. Grab a coffee at one of the terraces and watch the city go by for a while.
Cathedral of San Cristobal de La Laguna. The only cathedral in Tenerife. The current building dates from the early 1900s, though a church has stood on this site since the 16th century. The Neoclassical facade is inspired by the cathedral of Pamplona. Inside, there’s a 16th-century Baroque altarpiece and paintings by Cristobal Hernandez de Quintana, an important Tenerife artist from the 1700s. Free entry; audio guides available for a small fee.
Iglesia de la Concepcion. The island’s oldest church, declared a Site of Cultural Interest in 1948. The bell tower (nearly 28 metres tall) is one of La Laguna’s most recognisable landmarks and can be climbed for panoramic views over the rooftops. Inside, look for the carved cedar wood pulpit by French artist Verau.
Calle San Agustin. The most elegant street in the old town, lined with colonial mansions including Casa Salazar (Canarian Baroque, now the Bishop’s Palace, with art exhibitions inside) and the Palacio de Lercaro, which houses the Museum of History and Anthropology of Tenerife.
Museo de Historia y Antropologia (Casa Lercaro). This is the best museum in La Laguna and one of the most interesting on the island. Housed in a 16th-century mansion, it covers Tenerife’s history from the indigenous Guanche period through colonisation and into the modern era. Open Tuesday to Sunday (hours vary by day, check before visiting). Entry is around €5.
Casa Salazar. A 17th-century mansion with some of the finest Canarian Baroque details in the city, including gargoyles and an ornate facade. It was damaged by fire in 2006 but has been carefully restored. The interior courtyards and patios are worth seeing even if you don’t go inside.
Santo Domingo de Guzman Church. A 16th-century church with a surprisingly plain exterior that hides an ornate interior. The dark bell tower with its three bells is a nice contrast to the more famous Concepcion tower.
How to spend a day in La Laguna
A full day is enough to see the main sights and soak up the atmosphere. Here’s a practical route:
Start mid-morning at the Plaza del Adelantado. Have a coffee, get your bearings, and take in the Palacio de Nava and the convent facade. From there, walk down Calle San Agustin, stopping at Casa Salazar and the Museum of History (allow an hour or so if you go inside).
Continue to the Cathedral, then loop back towards the Iglesia de la Concepcion. Climb the bell tower for views if it’s open.
For lunch, skip the touristy spots around the main squares and look for a local restaurant or bar on a side street. La Laguna has excellent, affordable food. Papas arrugadas with mojo sauce, grilled meats, fresh fish, and Canarian cheeses are all easy to find. A full lunch with wine will cost €12-20 per person at most places. If you’re feeling adventurous, head slightly outside the centre to find a guachinche (a traditional family-run eatery serving homemade wine and simple food at rock-bottom prices).
Spend the afternoon wandering the smaller streets of the old town. Many of the colonial houses have internal courtyards that you can glimpse through open doorways. The independent shops, bookshops, and craft stores on the quieter streets are worth browsing.
If you have time at the end of the day, the bars and cafes around the old town have a genuinely local atmosphere that’s completely different from the resort-area nightlife. La Laguna is a university city, and it shows in the evening.
How long should you spend in La Laguna?
A day trip covers the main sights comfortably. If you enjoy historic cities and don’t want to rush, two days allows you to visit the museums properly, eat at several local places, and explore the surrounding area.
La Laguna also works well as a base for visiting Anaga Rural Park (a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with ancient laurel forests and spectacular hiking, about 20 minutes by car from the city centre) and the north coast towns of Bajamar and Punta del Hidalgo (which have volcanic natural swimming pools). Spending a night or two in La Laguna gives you easy access to all of this.
It’s also just a short tram ride from Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the island’s capital, which has good shopping (Calle del Castillo), the iconic Mercado de Nuestra Senora de Africa, and the Auditorio de Tenerife concert hall designed by Santiago Calatrava.
Getting to La Laguna
From the south (Costa Adeje / Playa de las Americas): About 1 hour by car via the TF-1 motorway, or 1 hour 15 minutes by TITSA bus (Route 110 express to Santa Cruz, then tram to La Laguna). The tram takes about 20 minutes between Santa Cruz and La Laguna and runs frequently.
From Tenerife North Airport: La Laguna is only 3 km from TFN airport. Bus line 20 connects the airport to the city. A taxi takes 10 minutes.
Parking: Free parking is available at the Aparcamiento Adelantado, just off the Plaza del Adelantado on the edge of the historic centre. It’s open 24 hours. The old town itself is largely pedestrianised, so you’ll want to park on the perimeter and walk in.
On a guided tour: The CanaryVIP North Tenerife Guided Bus Tour includes La Laguna as part of a full-day excursion that also covers Anaga Rural Park and other north coast highlights. Hotel pickup from the south is included, making it the easiest option if you don’t want to rent a car.
Practical tips
Wear comfortable shoes. The streets are cobblestoned and you’ll be on your feet all day. Sandals and heels are a bad idea here.
Bring a layer. La Laguna sits at around 550 metres above sea level and is noticeably cooler than the south coast, often by 5-10°C. It can also be overcast when the coast is sunny. A light jacket or hoodie is worth having.
Lunch hours matter. Most restaurants serve lunch between 1pm and 4pm. Outside those hours, your options are limited to tapas bars and cafes. Dinner is typically from 8pm onwards.
Some shops close in the afternoon. Traditional businesses still observe a break between roughly 2pm and 5pm. Restaurants stay open, but some smaller shops will be shut during this window.
Learn two words. A simple “hola” when entering a shop and “gracias” when leaving goes a long way. People notice and appreciate it.
The tram is excellent. If you’re combining La Laguna with Santa Cruz, the tram between the two cities is fast, frequent, and cheap. Use the Ten+ card for discounted fares.
What else to do in north Tenerife
La Laguna is the gateway to the rest of north Tenerife, and there’s plenty more to see:
Anaga Rural Park is the standout. Ancient laurel forests, hiking trails through misty mountain ridges, and dramatic coastal viewpoints. It’s a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and one of the most biodiverse places in Europe. Trails range from easy walks to full-day hikes.
La Orotava is a hillside town with traditional Canarian balconied houses, botanical gardens, and views over the Orotava Valley. About 30 minutes west of La Laguna.
Garachico has natural volcanic rock pools and some of the best-preserved colonial architecture on the island. About 50 minutes from La Laguna.
Tacoronte-Acentejo wine region. The vineyards between La Laguna and the north coast produce interesting wines from volcanic soil. Several bodegas offer tastings. Combined with a guachinche lunch, this makes for a great half-day outing.
For visitors who want to see the best of the north without organising everything themselves, the CanaryVIP North Tenerife Guided Bus Tour covers La Laguna, Anaga, and other highlights in a single day with hotel pickup from the south.
For evening entertainment back at the resorts, options include the Scandal Dinner Show, evening shows, and the south coast’s nightlife scene. Theme parks like Siam Park and Loro Parque (in nearby Puerto de la Cruz) are also easy day trips from the south.
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