Family Holidays in Tenerife

Family hotels in Tenerife

Family holidays to Tenerife are a dream at these hotels with kids’ clubs, splash parks and jam-packed entertainment programmes.

Tenerife is home to a host of amazing hotels that cater specifically to families. These resorts offer a range of activities and amenities to keep children entertained, like playgrounds, sports facilities and fun waterparks. Many also have kids’ clubs on site, where littles ones can spend hours enjoying exciting activities like games, arts and crafts, treasure hunts and even wall-climbing. Check into a hotel that offers spacious family rooms or interconnecting rooms for added convenience.

Family-friendly hotels in popular resorts like Playa de las Americas, Costa Adeje and Puerto de la Cruz are great if you want to be close to top attractions, beautiful beaches, shops and restaurants. Whether you want to relax by the pool, try thrilling water sports or explore the island's natural wonders, Tenerife's family hotels provide the perfect base for an unforgettable holiday.

Best beaches in Tenerife for families

Take advantage of the island’s year-round balmy weather and beautiful coastline at these family-friendly beaches in Tenerife.

Playa de Las Teresitas

A 1.6km-long arc of golden sand, Playa de Las Teresitas is a calm bay sheltered by an artificial reef. Shallow waters lap powdery sand, all against a dramatic backdrop of the Anaga Mountains. There’s a lifeguard on duty, plus showers, deck chairs and parasols.

Playa Jardín

Part of a swimming complex designed by César Manrique, this black volcanic-sand beach is edged by botanical gardens dotted with terraced waterfalls. Views are spectacular – the churning Atlantic on one side and the banana plantations of the Orotava Valley on the other. Tide pools dot the shoreline, and a playground with a lovely garden backs onto the beach.

Playa de Fañabé

A Cappuccino-coloured stretch of sand, Playa de Fañabé is an adventure hotspot with parasailing, banana boat rides, jet skis and pedalos. For little ones, there’s a children’s playground, crazy golf and a palm-lined oceanfront promenade.

Playa Honda

While buzzy Playa de Troya is the largest beach in Playa de las Américas, nearby Playa Honda is its quieter alter ego. Though considered more of a surfing beach, a large tide pool and a scattering of smaller pools are ideal for small kids. At low tide, the warm, shallow water is perfect for non-swimmers to splash and play in.

Playa de Los Gigantes

Just a tiny 200m-long stretch of black sand, this slender west-coast beach is dwarfed by the 800m-tall cliffs it’s named after – Los Gigantes. Bookended by these sheer rock faces and the marina’s sea wall, this sheltered beach is an idyllic swimming spot when the water is calm. Whale watching and scuba diving trips can be booked at the marina.

Playa de las Vistas

Sieved every morning to keep it clean and soft, the honeyed sands of Playa de las Vistas started life in the Sahara Desert. Now it is lapped by calm waters on Tenerife’s most family-friendly beach. Perks include pushchair access and lifeguards on duty.

Things to do for families in Tenerife

From racing down water slides through shark tanks, to climbing through a Jurassic world of volcanic mountains, family holidays in Tenerife aren’t short on adventure.

Siam Park waterpark

Siam Park consistently tops Tripadvisor’s hotlist of the best waterparks in the world, and it’s easy to see why. Flumes and pipes wind through lush tropical gardens, and a man-made white-sand beach wraps around a turquoise lagoon. Thrill-seekers will love the Tower of Power which plunges 28m down a near-vertical slope, zooming at speeds of up to 80kph through a shark tank. To bring the heart rate back down, shift down a few gears in the wave pool or lazy river.

Mount Teide

For a dose of adventure on your Tenerife family holiday, you can’t beat Mount Teide. At a staggering 3,718m, the dormant volcano is Spain’s highest peak. While you can hike to the summit in 5 hours, the most kid-friendly ascent is by cable car. Gawp at the Martian landscapes of Parque Nacional del Teide, watching looming rock formations shrink to the size of raisins as you climb ever higher. The whole family will be captivated by views from the snow-capped summit of the world’s 3rd-largest volcano.

Forestal Park

Kids can channel their inner Tarzan at the Canary Islands’ largest woodland adventure park. Whizz from tree to tree 30m above the ground, scaling rope bridges, wooden ledges, ladders and swings. The highlight is zooming through the forest canopy on ziplines suspended among the treetops. The longest zipline spans over 200m and is the longest in the Canaries.

Whale-watching trips

Catch a glimpse of pods of bottlenose dolphins and pilot whales skimming through the waters on an ethical wildlife-spotting tour. Puerto Colon Marina in Costa Adeje is the best place to board a boat trip, as the surrounding waters brim with cetaceans.

Lago Martiánez

This impressive leisure complex is made up of a large artificial lake surrounded by glistening swimming pools. There are 7 in total, as well as sun terraces and beautifully landscaped grounds, all designed by local artist César Manrique. Be sure to look out for the huge geyser! A cluster of restaurants and bars makes this a great day trip for Tenerife family holidays.

Museum of Science and the Cosmos

Aspiring astronomers will love the Museum of Science and the Cosmos. Set in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, this cultural centre reveals the natural spectacle of the planets and the galaxies in all their glory. Expect traditional exhibits interspersed with hands-on experiments. This is a fun place for the whole family to learn and be inspired.