Book the cable car online at volcanoteide.com -there is NO ticket office. Choose the 9:00 slot for easy parking and fewer people. Bring warm clothes: it can be 5 degrees C at the top even when it's 28 at the coast. No summit permit? Trail 12 to Pico Viejo is free and the views are spectacular.
Arrive before 9am -parking is extremely limited (max 2 hours, 8-2pm). If you rented a large car, enter from Buenavista instead (wider road). The village is free to visit; the new gorge regulations only affect the hiking trail. Have papas arrugadas on the terrace at Bar Fidel with canyon views.
Fog is your friend here -misty days make the laurel forest magical. Head to Camino Viejo al Pico del Ingles for THE Instagram shot (moss-covered rock walls, 10 min walk). End the day at Playa de Benijo at sunset for black sand and dramatic rock pillars. Bring a jacket -it's always damp.
Start with the history (Puerta de Tierra park, Castle of San Miguel) and finish at El Caleton for a swim -every black lava rock takes on meaning when you know it destroyed a trading empire. Bring water shoes for the sharp volcanic rock. The lava-terrace restaurant next to the pools is a holiday-defining spot.
Go up to the first floor of the town hall - from the balcony you can see the entire plaza, and in June it's the best spot to photograph the monumental sand carpet.
Don't eat on the beach -walk 5 minutes to San Andres village for fresh fish at local prices. After lunch, grab artisan ice cream at Bambola Gelato. Then drive up to the Mirador Las Teresitas for THE most iconic Tenerife photo, looking down on the entire golden curve.
The smartest highway stop in Tenerife: exit the TF-1, see the Basilica + Menceyes + cave in 45 min, then walk 5 min to La Cofradia de Caletillas for fried octopus on an ocean terrace at local prices. Don't skip the Cave of Achbinico behind the basilica -it's where the Guanches found the Virgin in 1392.
You can see the Drago for free from Plaza Andres Lorenzo Caceres, but pay the €5 for the park -the interior viewpoint with Drago + village + Teide is worth it. Arrive at 9am before tour buses. Book Cueva del Viento weeks ahead -it sells out fast and the lava tube experience is extraordinary.
Don't skip the Poison Garden inside the pyramid park -over 70 poisonous plants, unique in Spain. Combine with the Malpais trail (7km, easy, no shade -bring water and a hat) and finish at a tasca in Puertito de Guimar for shrimp and beer by the sea.
Arrive early - the car park fills up by 10:00 at weekends. Check the flag colour before entering the water.
This is where real locals swim -not a tourist spot. Eat at the Cofradia de Bajamar for fresh catch of the day with ocean views. At high tide, the waves crashing against the breakwater are spectacular; at low tide, the rock pools reveal crabs and limpets perfect for kids.
Weekday morning - the coast all to yourself. Check the gate times! On the seabed lies a 1966 DC-3 wreck.
Head down to Parque de los Lavaderos just before sunset -look for the stone arches that frame Teide for the perfect photo. Then walk up to Casa del Vino for a wine tasting with local cheeses.
Use Google Maps to navigate - without it you won't find the entrance, hidden between houses. Bring water and good footwear.
Park at Mesa del Mar, swim in the pool, then walk the 900m coastal path to El Pris. Sit at Bar Pescador I, order the fresh catch of the day with mojo and a house Tacoronte wine, and walk back at sunset.
Weekday morning, the park is empty. Kids will find the maze and zip line. For adults, the upper section among the pines - the best views.
Come on a weekday morning. The 'El Lago' and 'La Escombrera' viewpoints offer the best views of Puerto and Teide.
Time your visit so you can sit down at a guachinche for lunch (13:00-16:00). Afterwards, take a relaxing stroll through the Jardines Hamilton.
Even when it's 30°C and sunny at the coast, bring a sweater and shoes with good grip - the paths are slippery from moisture. And be sure to tell the kids the story of the forest mice that get drunk on tree sap before you enter the forest.
Tenerismo
