Best time to go to Tenerife for a perfect weather and where to go?
When is the best time to go to Tenerife?
With its pleasant climate all year round, Tenerife is attractive at any time; there are no off-peak seasons and hotel resorts remain lively throughout the year. The best time to go to Tenerife will therefore depend solely on your expectations and what you want to do there.
So, when to go to Tenerife?
If you dream of escaping the cold in the heart of winter, without traveling to distant lands, this is the ideal spot! Between December and March, it is also the best time for surf enthusiasts, as the trade winds create numerous and regular waves.
For relaxing and lazing on the beach, traveling to Tenerife in summer is perfect. During this period, those who are more active can enjoy scuba diving or snorkeling. In July and August, you can be sure to have perfect weather:
- blue skies,
- bright sun,
- pleasant water temperature!
Visiting Tenerife the rest of the year, in May-June and October-November, is also a great idea: the beaches are less crowded than during the summer period and the ocean water is perfect for swimming. It is also the best time for mountain hiking, so make sure to bring warm clothing, especially if you are planning to climb the El Teide volcano, as temperatures can drop rapidly.
Fans of cultural events will make sure to coincide their stay with the Santa Cruz Carnival in February, as lively and festive as the one in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Attendance is very high at this time, as well as during the Easter holidays. So, to take advantage of advantageous offers in terms of prices, accommodations, and air transport, it is better to book well in advance.
Annual weather on the island of Tenerife
For information about the climate and the weather city by city on the island of Tenerife for a specific month, click on the corresponding line below:
Month | Our opinion | View Details | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
January | 16°C to 20°C | good weather | |||
February | 15°C to 20°C | good weather | |||
March | 15°C to 20°C | good weather | |||
April | 16°C to 21°C | good weather* | |||
May | 17°C to 22°C | perfect weather* | |||
June | 18°C to 24°C | perfect weather | |||
July | 19°C to 25°C | perfect weather | |||
August | 20°C to 26°C | perfect weather | |||
September | 20°C to 26°C | perfect weather | |||
October | 20°C to 25°C | perfect weather | |||
November | 18°C to 23°C | perfect weather | |||
December | 17°C to 21°C | perfect weather* |
Best time to travel to Tenerife by cities
Climate and Weather on the island of Tenerife
Located in the Canary Islands archipelago, along with Lanzarote or La Palma, the weather in Tenerife is particularly pleasant all year round, which has earned it the nickname of “the island of eternal spring”. Situated at the same latitude as the Sahara Desert, the island is nevertheless protected from extreme weather conditions: the proximity to the African coast and the Tropic of Cancer raises the temperature, but the trade winds cool the atmosphere, tempering the heat to make it pleasant without being scorching.
Thus, the temperatures in Tenerife, as in southern Spain, especially in Andalusia, are mild and allow for a memorable trip!
On a smaller scale, Tenerife's climate still experiences three variations, due to its geographical configuration:
- The north is the wettest part of the island, experiencing some temperature variations and light, but regular rainfall. The vegetation is therefore more abundant, creating splendid landscapes.
- In the south, the air is very dry, as it receives very little precipitation. This region also has the most hours of sunshine per year, which is why the southern part of the island was chosen for tourist development!
- In the center, the Teide mountain range forms a natural border and divides Tenerife into two on a northeast/southwest axis. Rising to over 2,000 m in altitude, the days are often sunny but windy, and the nights are cool, even cold. In winter, it is not uncommon for snow to cover the mountain peaks.
Tenerife in Summer
Like the rest of the Canary Islands, the island of Tenerife enjoys mild and very pleasant summers. Far from being as stifling as in neighboring Morocco, the heat is moderate, with temperatures ranging between 21 and 29°C. During this time of the year, rainfall is almost non-existent. It is therefore the ideal time to enjoy the pleasures of a beach trip, especially to admire the wonders of the underwater world. Despite the high tourist influx, you can still find a quiet little corner of paradise, especially in the north.
Tenerife in Winter
The climate of Tenerife in winter is very mild. With temperatures ranging between 15°C in the morning and 20°C in the afternoon. However, this is the rainiest period, even though precipitation remains relatively low. Unlike cities like Santa Cruz, the west coast is the most humid, especially towards the La Orotava mountain. And what a joy to be able to swim while contemplating the snow-capped mountains! In your suitcase, make sure to pack for all weather conditions:
- raincoat to counter the occasional showers,
- t-shirt for sunbathing on the terrace,
- sweater for cool evenings,
- and don't forget the swimsuit to enjoy the beach!
Tenerife in Spring and Autumn
Spring and autumn are mild seasons in Tenerife, just like in the neighboring Canary Islands: Lanzarote or La Palma. Rain is less frequent than in winter and temperatures are warm during the day, but milder than in the heart of summer. These are the ideal seasons for great hikes:
- in spring, nature awakens and landscapes are dotted with colorful flowers,
- in autumn, vegetation is adorned with beautiful colors and the gentle breeze allows you to walk without getting too hot.
During these two shoulder seasons, tourist influx is limited, so you can fully enjoy the beauties of Tenerife in peace.
Temperatures and rainfall on the island of Tenerife
On these 3 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of Tenerife and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Playa de las Américas, Puerto de la Cruz, Costa Adeje and Garachico, as well as the month-by-month sea temperature for coastal cities.
Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons on the island of Tenerife
Find out when Tenerife has its high tourist season (the period when the influx of tourists is highest) and off-peak tourist season using our data and figures.
Tourist seasons on the island of Tenerife
The months with low numbers of tourists are: January, March, April, May, June, July, August and September. The number of visitors to Tenerife is high in: February, October, November and December.
- Very low season on the island of Tenerife: May, June, July and September.
- Low season on the island of Tenerife: January, March, April and August.
- High season on the island of Tenerife: February, October and November.
- Peak season on the island of Tenerife: December.
Figure: Visitor index for Tenerife month by month
Where to go on the island of Tenerife?
This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).
Cities | jan. | feb. | mar. | apr. | may | jun. | jul. | aug. | sep. | oct. | nov. | dec. |
Santa Cruz de Tenerife | 19°C | 19°C | 19°C | 19°C | 20°C | 22°C | 23°C | 24°C | 24°C | 24°C | 22°C | 20°C |
Playa de las Américas | 20°C | 20°C | 20°C | 21°C | 22°C | 24°C | 25°C | 26°C | 26°C | 25°C | 23°C | 21°C |
Puerto de la Cruz | 19°C | 19°C | 19°C | 20°C | 21°C | 22°C | 24°C | 24°C | 24°C | 24°C | 22°C | 21°C |
Costa Adeje | 20°C | 20°C | 20°C | 21°C | 22°C | 24°C | 25°C | 26°C | 26°C | 25°C | 23°C | 21°C |
Garachico | 20°C | 19°C | 20°C | 20°C | 21°C | 23°C | 24°C | 25°C | 25°C | 24°C | 22°C | 21°C |
Los Cristianos | 20°C | 20°C | 20°C | 21°C | 22°C | 24°C | 25°C | 26°C | 26°C | 25°C | 23°C | 21°C |
San Cristóbal de La Laguna | 19°C | 19°C | 19°C | 19°C | 20°C | 21°C | 22°C | 22°C | 23°C | 23°C | 21°C | 21°C |
Santiago del Teide | 20°C | 19°C | 20°C | 20°C | 21°C | 23°C | 24°C | 25°C | 25°C | 24°C | 22°C | 21°C |
Tegueste | 19°C | 19°C | 19°C | 19°C | 20°C | 21°C | 22°C | 22°C | 23°C | 23°C | 21°C | 21°C |
Teide National Park | 19°C | 18°C | 19°C | 19°C | 21°C | 22°C | 24°C | 25°C | 24°C | 24°C | 21°C | 20°C |
Abades | 20°C | 20°C | 20°C | 21°C | 22°C | 24°C | 25°C | 26°C | 26°C | 25°C | 23°C | 21°C |
Bajamar | 19°C | 19°C | 19°C | 19°C | 20°C | 21°C | 22°C | 22°C | 23°C | 23°C | 21°C | 21°C |
Barranco del Infierno | 20°C | 20°C | 20°C | 21°C | 22°C | 23°C | 25°C | 26°C | 26°C | 25°C | 23°C | 21°C |
Callao Salvaje | 20°C | 20°C | 20°C | 21°C | 22°C | 23°C | 25°C | 26°C | 26°C | 25°C | 23°C | 21°C |
El Médano | 20°C | 20°C | 20°C | 21°C | 22°C | 24°C | 25°C | 26°C | 26°C | 25°C | 23°C | 21°C |
El Sauzal | 18°C | 18°C | 18°C | 19°C | 20°C | 21°C | 22°C | 23°C | 23°C | 23°C | 21°C | 20°C |
La Caleta | 20°C | 20°C | 20°C | 21°C | 22°C | 23°C | 25°C | 26°C | 26°C | 25°C | 23°C | 21°C |
Las Caletillas | 19°C | 19°C | 19°C | 19°C | 20°C | 21°C | 22°C | 22°C | 23°C | 23°C | 21°C | 21°C |
Las Eras | 19°C | 18°C | 19°C | 19°C | 21°C | 22°C | 24°C | 25°C | 24°C | 24°C | 21°C | 20°C |
Las Galletas | 20°C | 20°C | 20°C | 21°C | 22°C | 24°C | 25°C | 26°C | 26°C | 25°C | 23°C | 21°C |
Legend:
perfect weather
good weather
About Tenerife
What can I do on the island of Tenerife?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Crafts / shopping
Gastronomy
Nightlife
Is this weather information for Tenerife reliable?
Climate data for Tenerife has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for Tenerife allows us to determine the average for each month in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Playa de las Américas, Puerto de la Cruz, Costa Adeje, Garachico, Los Cristianos, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Santiago del Teide, and 50 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.