My daughter’s first holiday abroad was to the Canary Islands – with almost guaranteed sun, a relatively short flight and no time difference, the islands are always tempting with a baby (and older kids!), especially the biggest of the group, with so many things to do in Tenerife with kids.
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Since then, she’s visited Lanzarote twice more as well as Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura, while I’ve been to Tenerife several times myself, exploring the green north as well as the gorgeous beaches of the south.
Because this island is so family-friendly, there’s masses beyond the pool – not least these 18 great things to do in Tenerife with kids.
Jungle Park Tenerife (Parque Las Águilas)
More than 400 animals and over 100 different species live in 75,000 square metres of jungle at Parque Las Aguilas-Jungle Park, including two rare white lions – but also lemurs, penguins, exotic birds, monkeys and more.
You can also discover Tenerife’s unusual flora and fauna as you explore the animal park, and watch the bird of prey show, with falcons, vultures and eagles flying free in the park, one of several shows taking place during the day.
Plus there are some fun jungle play areas for kids to discover at the Jungle Park Zoo, with rope bridges and tunnels along a 300m trail.
It’s easy to get to if you’re staying in one of the main tourist areas, not far from Playa de Los Cristianos, with a free bus running via Costa Adeje, Playa de Las Américas and Los Cristianos.
Monkey Park (Tenerife Zoo)
Walk among the animals, feeding monkeys, lemurs and parrots at Monkey Park, the smallest zoo in the world – although don’t expect to whizz around, you’ll want to take your time among all the furry inhabitants.
No bananas allowed in this breeding centre for endangered primates – you’re asked not to bring your own food, but you’ll be the centre of attention if you pick up some of the food sold at reception.
While the focus is firmly on conservation and protecting the animals, you can walk through the enclosures as part of the experience – the next best thing to being with them in their natural habitat.
Loro Parque
Another award-winning spot, voted the number 1 zoo in Europe, Loro Parque has also picked up awards for for its protection, conservation and education programmes, with over 350 species of parrot alone, as well as an aquarium, new lion habitat and shows throughout the day.
Planet Penguin has its own iceberg and over 200 penguins, while there’s also an aquarium with a mix of sea life and shark tunnel, as well as a family of gorillas.
More controversially, there are regular shows featuring orcas at Loro Parque, some of which have been rescued and are unable to be returned to the wild.
Along with the animals, there’s a kids’ play area called Kinderlandia – designed to look like an African village among the palm trees, with hanging bridges and snake slide among the attractions.
There’s a free train from Puerto de la Cruz, as well as buses from Los Gigantes and Costa Adeje, among other locations in the south of Tenerife, or you can also buy tickets including transportation.
If you want to explore independently, it’s easy to hire a car in Tenerife – Zest Car Rental is my go-to for car hire, with locations including the airport and Costa Adeje, or Discover Cars is a good alternative to compare rates
Submarine Safari
If you’d rather spot marine life in the wild, how about boarding a real submarine? These submarine tours from Submarine Safaris are suitable for kids aged over two, so you’ll get close to the fish without getting wet as you head 30m down into the Atlantic.
Departing from Amarilla Marina (Marina San Miguel), you could see octopus and sting rays, as well as barracuda and parrot fish during the hour-long dives, plus shipwrecks along the way.
During the tour, the submarine will actually sit on the ocean bed with divers encouraging the fish closer to your yellow submarine, so you can get some great views of the underwater world down there, plus a dive certificate to take home with you.
If you’ve got kids aged 8+, you could even choose to walk on the ocean floor near Los Cristianos, on a Sea Trek experience wearing a special helmet
Whale spotting
The Canary Island are renowned as one of the best places in Europe to go whale watching, so if you prefer to stay above water, you could spy some of the countless whales and dolphins which make their home in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean – bottlenose dolphins and pilot whales are some of the most common, but you can also spot Sperm Whales, Sei Whales, and False Killer Whales.
There’s a great choice of boat trips including options to suit young children, mostly departing from Puerto Colon – try the shorter catamaran trips for littler whale watchers, as part of the wide choice of certified boats.
This two-hour cruise has big underwater windows so you can get a glimpse of them swimming as well as leaping.
Or this two-hour whale-watching tour guarantees a sighting or you get another ticket free – suitable for all ages, plus you can expect to hear about giant squid on this boat trip as well as a good chance of seeing pilot whales.
This three-hour whale and dolphin-watching boat tour includes the chance to swim and snorkel, with a chance of spotting sea turtles as well, while this three-hour cruise includes lunch and pick-up from Costa Adeje as well as a dip and snorkel time.
Take a Viking boat trip
As well as whale-watching and general sightseeing boat trips in Tenerife, kids will love the chance to set sail on a Viking boat during their holiday.
There’s a choice of two different trips departing from Los Cristianos harbour – a two-hour Viking boat cruise aboard Ragnarok, as well as a three-hour Viking ship cruise with drinks (and food available to purchase on board).
There’s a chance you’ll spot dolphins and whales on both trips, while Vikings will chat to you about life as a warrior and show you some traditional Viking equipment in between. On the longer tour, there’s also a chance to swim and snorkel as well.
Siam Park
Siam Park has repeatedly topped the list of the world’s best water parks, and there’s something for the whole family to enjoy on a day out – a Lazy River and beach-side pool if you want to chill out, plus adrenaline-thrill water slides and rides if you don’t.
Check out my tips for getting the most out of your day at Siam Park with kids or buy skip-the-line tickets here to discover the world’s best water park for yourself
If you’re visiting with younger kids, there’s a children’s area with baby pool, The Lost City, which is like a waterpark within a waterpark, as well as Coco Beach with its wave pool – the waves are gentle and there’s a white sand beach to relax on for some family friendly fun.
For older thrill-seekers, the vertical drop Tower of Power is 28m high – you’ll shoot down at up to 50mph and zoom through a tank of rays and sharks.
Or the Sawasdee children’s area has its own water slides, including a mini version of The Dragon, one of the water park’s popular attractions, plus a toddler area.
Aqualand Costa Adeje
The second best-known water park in Tenerife, Aqualand is a good option if you have younger kids.
The queues are often shorter and there’s still plenty of choice for little ones who might be under some of Siam Park’s height restrictions, including the lazy river and the smaller slides of the kids pool, as well as some areas with heated water.
You can also discover Pirates Port and Adventure Land with more water fun that’s great once you’re beyond the preschool years, and Mega Adventure Land, new a few years ago, with a few more thrills aimed at younger kids.
It’s worth knowing there is also a dolphin show here – while it’s an added attraction for some families, others will prefer to avoid anywhere with dolphins in captivity.
We also visited Aqualand in Gran Canaria for a look at what you can expect if you’re visiting the water park with kids
Visit a black sand beach
Who could imagine not hitting the beach while you’re visiting Tenerife with kids? But sitting on the natural black sand beaches is even more memorable than everyday gold, with the colour a legacy of the island’s volcanic past, some of it eroded over centuries from lava flows and volcanic rock.
Do bear in mind that black sand can be hotter than golden, if you’re visiting with younger kids.
Playa Jardin on the northern coast, near Puerto de la Cruz, is one of the best in Tenerife for families, and easy to combine with a visit to Loro Parque – officially it’s divided into Playa del Castillo, Playa Chica and Playa Maria Jiménez.
In the south and west, Playa de los Guios near Los Gigantes (also known as Playa de los Gigantes) sits under some dramatic cliffs, with shallow waters (although there can be strong currents if you venture further out).
Nearby Blue Flag beach Playa de la Arena (not to be confused with Playa de las Arenas on the east coat near Santa Cruz de Tenerife) is another lovely option.
More of the best beaches in Tenerife with kids
If you want some more traditional golden sand, that’s not hard to find in Tenerife either, with some great beaches to enjoy on a family holiday – even if the sand itself has been imported from the Sahara Desert.
If you’re exploring the north of the island, Playa de las Teresitas, not far from Santa Cruz de Tenerife has some gorgeous fine, golden sand and calm waters thanks to the breakwater. There’s even a bouncy castle in the sea.
Or Playa Las Vistas, near Los Cristianos beach in the south of Tenerife, has its own calm waters and plenty of facilities – there are showers as well as sunbeds, lifeguards and water sports to enjoy.
The Blue Flag Playa Fanabe is another good option if you’re looking for plenty of facilities and fun activities.
This lovely beach at Costa Adeje in the south of the island has changing rooms as well as fine sand and calm waters, and a promenade links it to another of the best family beaches, called Torviscas if you want to beach hop. Or not far away, Playa del Duque is a Blue Flag beach with a more sophisticated vibe, great for teens.
There’s a huge choice though, so wherever you’re staying you’ll find beautiful beaches nearby to enjoy the island’s warm temperatures – no need to travel miles to find the perfect beach!
Mount Teide National Park
Exploring the peak of the world’s third largest volcano, Mount Teide, is an unmissable experience. Take the Mount Teide cable car, or Teleferico de Teide, for the final stretch to 3,555m for fabulous views out to La Palma, El Hierro and La Gomera.
While you can hike up, it’s a very challenging one even with older children – this is the highest peak in Spain after all, so not ideal for anyone planning relaxing family holidays.
There’s a fun new exhibition giving some history and background on the Unesco World Heritage site: Teide Legend shares some of the myths as well as how Spain’s highest mountain was created.
You can explore independently, book a tour along with your entrance ticket, as well as a day trip guided tour if you don’t want to drive to the volcano yourself – don’t forget to dress for mountain weather once you’re away from the beach! If you do want to visit the highest point, you need to apply for a permit in advance; this is an active volcano, although the last eruption was in 1909 and it’s constantly monitored.
A visit is also fantastic for astronomers of all sizes, with day trips to the observatory plus sunset and stargazing excursions for older kids.
If you can’t get enough of volcanoes, the island is also home to the second highest mountain in Spain, Pico Viejo, around 3,135m above sea level, part of the Teide volcano complex
Anaga Rural Park
Mount Teide isn’t the only great place to get outdoors in Tenerife with kids. If you fancy heading off the beaten track, away from the big tourist resorts, this really is one of the loveliest and most dramatic places on the island.
The mountains here are covered with laurel trees, and one of the easiest places to explore them is the Vueltas de Taganana pathway, but there are walking trails galore through the slopes and valleys including several others starting from the visitor centre at Cruz del Carmen, plus guided routes.
It’s one of the oldest parts of Tenerife, formed millions of years ago before the island’s original inhabitants, the Guanches, lived here.
You can also explore some of the little villages, including historic Taganana, San Andres and Igueste de San Andres, to step back in time and get a feeling of what life was like on the island in the days before tourism.
The whole area is a Unesco World Heritage Biosphere Reserve and only around an hour from Santa Cruz de Tenerife, where you can also see one of the best preserved Guanche mummies – the Mummy of San Andres – in the Museum of Nature and Man (Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre).
You can also join guided tours of Anaga Rural Park for kids aged 8+ including a visit to the Enchanted Forest
Forestal Park Adventure Park
If a walk in the trees doesn’t cut it for your kids, there’s more of an adventure to be found at Forestal Park Tenerife, in the pine forests of Las Lagunetas in the heart of the island.
With more than 90 tree-top activities, including high altitude trails and zip lines, a climbing wall, rope bridges and lots more, there are different circuits suitable for different ages and fitness levels.
Not suitable for kids aged under 5, the minimum height is 1.1m, with children under 11 needing to be supervised at altitude on all the circuits. Children aged 11-12 can climb alone on the easy and medium circuits (green and blue), supervised by an adult on the ground if you don’t fancy joining in.
Pyramids of Güímar Ethnographic Park
There’s another chance to learn more about Tenerife’s history with a visit to the Pirámides de Güímar Ethnographic Park and Botanical Garden, an open-air museum in Santa Cruz de Tenerife that’s home to six stepped pyramids.
All built to mark the direction of the solstices, no-one quite knows why the pyramids of Guimar were built – although there are plenty of theories!
There are also routes which will also take you through the strange lava rock formations and the museum’s botanical gardens (one of five on the island), plus a chance to learn more about other indigenous cultures from around the world.
The park even has its own poison garden, with some of the most dangerous plants on the planet among its 70 poisonous plant species – not one for toddlers!
Museum of Science and the Cosmos
Theme park meets museum at this child-friendly spot, with plenty of chances to get hands on at the Museum of Science and the Cosmos. In fact, it’s not so much a museum as a succession of museums, with exhibitions on the earth, sun and the universe as well as a planetarium and plenty of interactive exhibits for kids of all ages.
Touch a meteorite, discover optical illusions, take on a string of challenges or discover more about black holes, while you’re there – there’s even a model of the Mount Teide observatory.
The museum in San Cristóbal de La Laguna is also worth bearing in mind if you’re visiting Tenerife with kids during the winter: the islands are famous for their year-round sun but it’s still possible to encounter the occasional rainy day in Tenerife so this is the perfect place if the weather’s bad.
Castillo de San Miguel
If you’re thinking an old fortress won’t keep your kids entertained, the Castle of San Miguel is rather different than the average medieval fort. Instead, it’s designed to recreate what an evening might be like with the Knights of the Round Table.
From the outside, it looks properly historic, with 16m stone towers, and plenty of armour, swords, scrolls and other historic paraphernalia dotted around. Once you’ve been welcomed by the Count and Countess, it’s time for the games to begin in the Tournament Hall.
While you tuck into the medieval-style banquet, you’ll see six knights on horseback arriving, with each table cheering for its own knight as they joust, fight and strive to prove who’s worthiest. Plus there’s dancing to finish, with some acrobatics to watch on the side.
You can find tickets including transport to Castillo de San Miguel or there’s also free parking if you’re got your own rental car. It’s close to Golf Del Sur and around 15 minutes’ drive from Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje
Botanical Gardens, Puerto de la Cruz
Founded in 1788 on the orders of Carlos III, the Jardin Botanico is a relaxed and shady spot that’s perfect to explore with kids if you’re visiting Puerto de la Cruz, in the north of the island.
With older kids, you can discover some of the collections of tropical and subtropical plans, as well as the garden dedicated to flowers and plants from the Canary Islands.
Or simply spot lizards, picnic under the shady trees or just wander the lush shady plant-lined paths of the botanical garden.
Tenerife Carnival
The Tenerife Carnival is the second largest in the world after the glitzy samba-fuelled event in Rio de Janeiro, so if you’re looking for an unforgettable experience on Tenerife with teens, it’s definitely one to consider.
Needless to say, the island is hugely busy over the Carnival period which normally takes place during February (the dates move each year, depending when Easter falls) and lasts for a couple of weeks.
There are two parts, with the Official Carnival featuring over 100 groups of dancers, musicians, singers and other performers, while the Street Carnival is open to anyone who wants to dress up and dance.
Everything kicks off properly with the election of the Carnival Queen, on the Wednesday of the first week, followed by the starting Parade on Friday. The final parade comes on Carnival Tuesday, held on Shrove Tuesday, before the festivities end on Ash Wednesday with the ‘Burial of the Sardine’, where the fish is carried through the streets before being set on fire.
For more ideas, check out my guide to the Canary Islands with kids
*first published 2018, updated 2025*
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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission. All opinions on the best things to do in Tenerife with kids are my own.
Images courtesy of Depositphotos
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