Places of interest in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Santa Cruz Beaches

There are no beaches to speak of near the city centre. However, a short bus ride takes you to the breathtaking golden Sahara sanded beach of Las Teresitas, which is dotted with palm trees and has a gentle shelving shoreline which is ideal for swimming.  Seven kilometres north of Santa Cruz near the fishing port of San Andres, you will find Teresitas Beach.  This is a beautiful beach created from golden Saharan sand. It stretches for 1.5 kilometres and has been planted with Canarian palm trees and sea grapes. One of the island's finest beaches. You will find there are numerous excellent seafood restaurants very close to this beach.  This is one of the island's finest beaches thanks to its imported Saharan sand. It's just to the north of Santa Cruz, along the coast near the village of San Andrés which is a great spot for fish restaurants.  Las Teresitas beach is just seven kilometres from the centre of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and attracts both locals and visitors alike. The most popular and family-friendly beach in the area, it is one and half kilometres long with golden sand and dotted with palm trees. There is also a breakwater that protects swimmers from the currents and waves. It has showers, changing rooms and sun loungers available.  Playa de Las Gaviotas, a nudest beach,  is the beach beyond Las Teresitas, and you get there along a narrow turn off along the road between San Andrés and Igueste de San Andrés, past Los Organos look out. It is a small, black-sand cove with several kiosks. where nudists go. Further inland, you can walk to Playa Chica. The Parque Marítimo,  in the City covers an area of 22,000 square metres, and offers visitors a choice of 3 swimming pools, sun terraces, and a gymnasium, along with a selection of bars and restaurants and provides lots of places to sunbathe. 

El Roque Beach -  Santa Cruz 

Along the road, after the hamlet of Taganana, first you come to Playa del Roque de las Bodegas, with its beautifully clean waters. From here, you can see Roques de Anaga. It is a black sand beach, suitable for surfing. Frequent currents and unexpected waves can make it dangerous, even when the sea appears calm. There are several fish restaurants and snack bars close to the beach. Along the coast road, you get to other similar beaches, like Playa de Almáciga, just below the hamlet of Almáciga .    Playa de Antequera is part of the coast that has an excellent, fine sand beach, which is by Roque de Antequera. From Antequera, you can see El Roquete, a promontory of Igueste de San Andrés, a village that is relatively close. The beach has no road access and it is difficult on foot. People generally go by boat from Santa Cruz.

Bajamar Natural Pools -  Santa Cruz

Bajamar is a small but lively holiday resort famous for its great climate and unusual seawater swimming pools. It is a perfect place for swimming with two large pools and one small one for children and has a range of facilities, including changing rooms. Near the pools there are various restaurants and cafés creating a pleasant, family-friendly atmosphere for visitors.  Located on the north coast of the Santa Cruz – Laguna area, the small towns of Bajamar and Punta del Hidalgo are great places to spend a relaxing, family holiday on Tenerife. This area has a long tradition of tourism and has some fantastic, natural seawater pools and charming volcanic sand beaches.

Santa Cruz  Nightlife

Santa Cruz is characterized for its nightlife consisting of discotheques and pubs in the Marina park named after César Manrique, Avenida 3 de mayo and Residencial Anaga, as well as pubs in La Noria street and surroundings, as well a nearby La Laguna. The city is also renowned for its massive, popular and at the same time sophisticated carnival, one of the biggest in the World, declared of International Tourist Interest after general Franco's death. It takes the city by storm in February or March every year.  One of the prime attractions of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife is its lively nightlife. Keep in mind that the night starts late in Santa Cruz, but when it does, it doesn't stop! Things are pretty quiet until about 10pm but after midnight the streets fill up with people headed to the discos and pubs. Avenida Anaga on the waterfront is the area to head for.  For a evening away from the city head inland to La Laguna which is a lively student town with some of the island's liveliest nightlife.

Santa Cruz  Carnival and Festivals

The Santa Cruz Carnival in Tenerife is one of the biggest and most spectacular events of its kind in a country famous for its fantastically colourful fiestas.  This is the Mardi Gras Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.  Every February, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the capital of the largest of the Canary Islands, hosts this historical carnival, attracting around a million people either participating or observing. Although loosely connected to Lent, unlike other Spanish fiestas this amazing celebration has little religious meaning and is simply an excuse for an enormous party. It boasts the most outlandish costumes, spectacular dancing and sensational music from locals who stop everything to abandon themselves to ‘carnival desire'.   The spectacular Carnival Queens are the most famous symbols of this Carnival.  It it is the competition to be the Queen of the Santa Cruz Carnival that attracts the most attention. All the candidates wear spectacular costumes known as fantasies, whose design and creation rely on a great number of people. The "comparsas" are dancing groups who initially imitated the samba schools of the Rio de Janeiro carnival. The first "comparsa" in Tenerife was "Los Cariocas," founded in the seventies by Manuel Monzón following his visit to Brazil where he was impressed by the rhythm and spectacle of its dancers. Nowadays, there are many of these groups with their own style and they play key parts in the Carnival.  On Ash Wednesday is the 'Burial of the Sardine' takes place- this event marks the end of the festivals for a year.  The locals swap their colourful costumes to be dressed in black -they parade as 'wailing widows' with a huge model fish to be cremated and it is a very comical show and they are accompanied by irreverent members of the clergy! 

Santa Cruz Activities 

There are a wealth of activities and excursions on offer.  Leaving  from the harbour area, there are many fishing trips, pleasure cruises, glass bottomed boats, diving excursions and ferries to La Gomera.  The coastline is very pretty and walking is a very pleasant pastime. The beach area offers a wealth of leisure activities including surfing, jet-skiing, hang-gliding, paracending, diving, snorkelling, windsurfing, catamarans, pedalos, banana boats  and so many more the list is endless.   Whale and dolphin trips are available.  Boat trips leave regularly and bottlenose dolphins and whales are often seen. The Sunday Flea Market is a good place to visit and a  good place to pick up crafts and souvenirs,  be prepared to haggle to obtain a better price.  Las Americas has entertainment for all ages including tennis courts, amusement arcades, bowling, water parks and go-carting. Bungee jumping can be done at the Sky Park and visitors can swim with dolphins at the Aqua Park. There is an 18-hole golf course on the way to Los Cristianos and horse and camel riding can be arranged nearby.  Other popular excursions include a trip to the capital, Santa Cruz, and to the Mount Teide National Park. A popular excursion might be to the mountain Monte de la Esperanza, located at 20 kilometers from the town, givin an outstanding view over all the island.  

Santa Cruz Cuisine

Local cuisine is represented by “pucheros” (meat and vegetable stew), “wrinkled potatoes” and fish, among which jack mackerel is the most representative, common sea bream, jewfish grouper, rock sea bream, parrot fish, etc., stews and marinated meats, roast leg of pork, subtropical fruits and the desserts (truchas de batata (pastries filled with sweet potato), huevos mole (eggs with gofio), tarta vilana etc.,) alternate with the wide selection of international cuisine.

Shopping at Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Shopping is a popular pastime in the city and centres on Calle Castillo and the other streets. There are often good deals to be had on electronics thanks to the island's duty free status but you'll also find stylish boutiques around with the latest fashions. Take a break at one of the open terrace bars in the attractive square of Plaza de la Candelaria. There's a flea market on Sunday mornings on Calle José Manuel Guimerá.  In the new, expanded area of Santa Cruz, a few meters from the Auditorium, the exhibition center Recinto Ferial and the Maritime Park you can find the best in fashion. There are brands form International Companies, boutiques, shoe shops, fur shop, perfume shop, jewellers, music, dvd's, light and sound, children's clothes and toys, sports clothes, fireplaces and furniture. To complement the retail there is a large cafeteria with views of the sea, an international restaurant, Canarian restaurant, travel agents and lots of other services such as opticians, newspaper ship, florist, dry cleaner's, cobblers, post office.  El Cortes Ingles is situated in Avenida de Tres de Mayo and provides the citizens and visitors to Santa Cruz de Tenerife a complete range of products.  La Laguna Market is situated in the historical center of the city in the “Plaza del Adelantado”, next to the Hermitage of San Miguel and the Court House. Of significant commercial and tourist interest, the La Laguna market is visited each day by a large amount of the public. 

History and Culture in  Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Santa Cruz is full of history and modern architecture.  Visit its museums such as the Museo Militar Regional de Canarias (military museum) and the Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre (museum of nature and man). The tree lined city streets are joined by numerous plazas and parks, the main one being the delightful Parque Municipal García Sanabria, which was laid out in the 1920s and is full of exotic plants, trees, flowers and fountains.   The most impressive sight in Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the new Auditorio, whose architecture is reminiscent of a ship's sail. It cost millions of euros to build but is almost as impressive as the Sydney Opera House. Its surface is covered in millions of reflective white tiles, in a mosaic fashion, which reflect in the abundant sunshine. It is the home of the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra who holds regular concerts there.  The main museum in Santa Cruz is the Museo de la Naturaleza y El Hombre which is dedicated to the fascinating geography of the island presented in various multimedia forms. The city's auditorium the auditorio de Tenerife,is also worth a look or book tickets for a classical music concert there. It's a magnificent building designed by the renowned architect Santiago Calatrava and has become a trademark of the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.  The “Museo Municipal de Bellas Artes” (Fine Art Museum) contains fourteen exhibition rooms, which hold works dating from the 16th to the 20th century. Located in Calle Jose Murphy.

Golf in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

The Real Golf Club in Santa Cruz is in the north of Tenerife,  2 kilometres from Los Rodeos airport, and 74 from the Reina Sof¡a. Take the highway north towards Puerto de la Cruz and turn off to Guamasa. Opened 1932. This is a mature golf course with well-established trees throughout the course.  It was founded in 1932, making it the second oldest golf course in the whole of Spain.   There is a distinctly British air about this golf club.   At 600 metres above sea level, its rolling fairways need fit legs to walk them but the views are well worth the effort. Most spectacular is Mount Teide which forms the backdrop.   Dry stream beds come into play on a number of holes while the 4th is one of the more difficult and where precision play is all important, especially on the second shot to the green, as there are out-of-bounds to the left and to the right.   The clubhouse is welcoming and houses a bar and restaurant. There is also a pro shop and equipment hire. Visitors are welcome to play Monday to Friday, tee off from 08.00 hrs to 13.00 hrs, except bank holidays.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife  Airport and Transport

The journey north from the Reina Sofia International Airport is possibly one of the longest journeys on the island, and although the main TF-1 motorway takes you almost all of the way, the geographic nature of Tenerife dictates that its route must follow within a few kilometres of the coast, which results in a transfer time of around 1.1/4 hours from the time you actually leave the airport grounds.  BA have introduced 2 new flights to the new terminal at the Los Rodeos airport, which on a good day, would reduce this transfer time into Santa Cruz to less than 20 minutes.