Free walking tours in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and what to see

Must-sees

The centre of Santa Cruz is easy to explore on foot. Start at Plaza de España, by the port, and continue to Plaza de la Candelaria and Calle Castillo, the main shopping street. Close by are the church of La Concepción, the oldest in the city, and the Nuestra Señora de África market, ideal for seeing local produce and having a drink among the fruit and fish stalls.

Further north is García Sanabria Park, a large shady garden, and the El Toscal district, with low colourful houses and traditional bars. By the sea stands the Auditorio de Tenerife, designed by Santiago Calatrava, with the Castillo de San Juan beside it. The Museum of Nature and Archaeology holds Guanche mummies. For the beach, Las Teresitas, in San Andrés, is a few kilometres away.

Free tours and guided visits

Free tours in Santa Cruz usually last about two hours and are tip-based. They cover the town centre, the main squares, the history of the port and Nelson's attack of 1797, with a stop at the market. It is a good way to understand the city.

Among paid visits, the excursion to Teide National Park is well worth it, with a cable car ride if the weather allows. There are also guided hikes in the Anaga massif, with laurel forest and remote hamlets, and visits to San Cristóbal de La Laguna, a World Heritage city reached by tram.

How long to spend

A full day is enough for the city itself: the morning for the centre, the market and El Toscal, and the afternoon for the Auditorium, the seafront and García Sanabria Park. If you want to use Santa Cruz as a base, allow three or four days: one for La Laguna, another for Anaga and Las Teresitas, and a full day for Teide.

Where to stay

The most practical option is to stay in the centre, between Plaza de España, Calle Castillo and Las Ramblas. Shops, restaurants and the bus and tram stops for La Laguna will be close at hand. El Toscal is a quiet option with a neighbourhood feel, a few minutes' walk away. If you want more calm and sea views, the Anaga and San Andrés area works well, although you depend more on the car or bus.