Why this classic Tenerife resort still works so well later in life
Los Cristianos has been welcoming holidaymakers for decades, and while newer Tenerife resorts have appeared around it, it remains an enduring favourite with older visitors.
Part of the appeal is familiarity. Los Cristianos feels like a real town as well as a holiday resort, with beaches, cafés, restaurants, shops and everyday services all concentrated within a relatively compact area.
For older travellers who want sunshine and plenty to do without needing an action-packed holiday, that combination can be difficult to beat.
The seafront is one of Los Cristianos’ biggest advantages
The promenade is at the heart of daily life in Los Cristianos.
- 🌊 Long stretches of seafront to explore
- ☕ Plenty of places to stop for coffee or lunch
- 🌴 Benches and opportunities to take a break
- 🚶 Easy connections towards Las Vistas and neighbouring resort areas
You do not need to plan a formal day out. A gentle stroll, lunch overlooking the sea and an afternoon coffee can easily become the day’s entertainment.
For visitors concerned about walking, our guide to staying in Los Cristianos with mobility problems looks at the resort from a more accessibility-focused perspective.
You can have an enjoyable holiday without constantly travelling elsewhere
This is particularly important for older visitors who no longer want to spend every holiday rushing between attractions.
- 🏖 Beaches within the resort
- 🍽 Restaurants covering everything from Canarian food to familiar international favourites
- 🛍 Shops and supermarkets close at hand
- ☕ An enormous choice of cafés and terraces
It is perfectly possible to spend several days simply enjoying Los Cristianos without feeling that you are missing the point of visiting Tenerife.
The beaches work for more than sunbathing
Playa de Los Cristianos sits directly alongside the town and has generally calm water, while nearby Playa de Las Vistas provides a much larger sweep of golden sand.
- 🏖 Easy access to the seafront
- ☀ Sun loungers and beach facilities
- 🌊 Sheltered areas for enjoying the water
- ♿ Accessible facilities at Las Vistas
Even visitors who rarely go swimming often enjoy having the beaches at the centre of the resort. They give Los Cristianos much of its relaxed daytime atmosphere.
There is always somewhere to stop
This sounds like a small detail until walking becomes a little more tiring than it used to be.
- ☕ Cafés throughout the central area
- 🍦 Seafront terraces and ice cream stops
- 🍽 Restaurants close to the promenade
- 🪑 Plenty of opportunities to break up longer walks
For many older visitors, being able to walk for 10 or 15 minutes and then comfortably stop somewhere is far more useful than having a long list of tourist attractions.
Los Cristianos has excellent transport connections
You certainly do not need to spend your entire holiday in the resort.
- 🚕 Taxis are readily available
- 🚌 Bus services connect with other parts of Tenerife
- 🚢 Ferries leave from the harbour for neighbouring Canary Islands
- 🌴 Playa de las Américas can be reached along the seafront
This makes Los Cristianos a practical base for visitors who want occasional excursions without necessarily hiring a car.
Our guide to taxis and transport in Tenerife explains some of the options in more detail.
It feels established rather than purpose-built
Los Cristianos existed as a fishing community long before mass tourism arrived, and parts of that older identity remain.
For some visitors, this gives it a different atmosphere from newer resort developments.
- 🐟 A working harbour alongside the tourist resort
- 🏘 Residential streets mixed with holiday accommodation
- ☕ Local life continuing beyond the hotel complexes
- 🌴 A resort that feels lived-in throughout the year
That can be particularly appealing during longer stays, when having ordinary shops, cafés and services nearby becomes more important.
Choosing the right part of Los Cristianos still matters
Los Cristianos is often described as relatively easy for older visitors, but that does not mean every hotel or apartment is equally convenient.
- ⛰ Some accommodation sits uphill from the seafront
- 🏨 Large complexes can involve more walking than expected
- 📍 Distance from the promenade can make a big difference
- 🚕 Nearby taxi access may be worth checking
If walking ability is limited, being close to the seafront can be much more important than choosing a hotel purely on price or star rating.
Our guides to choosing Tenerife accommodation when mobility matters and the flattest Tenerife resorts may help.
It suits the slower style of holiday many people eventually prefer
Perhaps the biggest reason Los Cristianos remains so popular is that you do not have to work very hard to enjoy it.
- ☀ Breakfast in the sunshine
- 🌊 A stroll along the seafront
- 🍽 A leisurely lunch
- 😴 An afternoon rest
- 🌴 Dinner and an evening walk
There is nothing particularly complicated about that kind of holiday — and that is precisely the attraction.
Our article on why slower Tenerife holidays often work better for older visitors explores this idea in more detail.
The bottom line
Los Cristianos is not the newest or smartest resort in Tenerife, but for many older travellers that is almost beside the point.
Its appeal comes from convenience, atmosphere, beaches, a superb seafront, plentiful cafés and restaurants and the ability to enjoy a genuinely relaxing holiday without constantly needing transport or complicated plans.
For official information about Los Cristianos, its beaches and the surrounding Arona area, visit:
Arona’s official tourism website.
If you are planning a Los Cristianos holiday and would like extra help while you are here, you can explore our care and support services in Tenerife, request care or get in touch with Tenerife Carers.