A few things that can make your first Tenerife holiday considerably easier
Tenerife is an easy destination to fall in love with. Sunshine, beaches, excellent restaurants and a relaxed atmosphere have made the island particularly popular with older British and European visitors.
However, first-time visitors occasionally arrive with the wrong idea about distances, terrain, weather or how they will get around.
None of these things should put you off. Knowing about them before you arrive simply makes it much easier to choose the right resort, accommodation and style of holiday.
1. Tenerife is much hillier than many people expect
The postcard images show beaches and promenades, but Tenerife is a volcanic island.
- ⛰ Some resort areas are surprisingly steep
- 🚶 A hotel described as “close to the beach” may still involve a hill
- ☀ Walking uphill feels considerably harder in warm weather
- 📍 Hotel location can matter more than its star rating
If walking is becoming more difficult, our guide to the flattest Tenerife resorts for older visitors is worth reading before you book.
2. The south and north can feel like different islands
Tenerife has considerable local variation in climate and landscape.
- ☀ The south is generally sunnier and drier
- 🌿 The north is greener and typically receives more rain
- 🌴 Southern resorts dominate traditional beach tourism
- 🏘 Northern Tenerife can feel less resort-orientated
Neither is automatically better. They simply offer different kinds of holiday.
For older visitors primarily looking for dependable sunshine and convenient resort facilities, the south is often the easiest starting point.
3. You probably don’t need to hire a car
Many first-time visitors assume exploring Tenerife requires a hire car. It doesn’t.
- 🚕 Taxis are widely available in the main resorts
- 🚌 Tenerife has an extensive public bus network
- 🚶 Many southern resort areas can be explored on foot
- 🚌 Organised excursions cover the major attractions
If you prefer not to drive abroad, it is perfectly possible to enjoy Tenerife without getting behind the wheel.
Our guide to taxis and transport options in Tenerife explains some of the choices available.
4. Tenerife South Airport can involve more walking than expected
The first mobility challenge may arrive before you have even reached the resort.
- ✈ Gates can be some distance from arrivals or departures
- 🚶 Airport walking can be tiring after a flight
- 🧳 Luggage makes the journey more demanding
- ♿ Assistance can be requested when needed
Do not feel you have to struggle through the airport simply because you can normally walk reasonable distances at home.
Our guides to walking at Tenerife South Airport and airport assistance in Tenerife explain what to expect.
5. The sun is stronger than the temperature sometimes suggests
This catches out plenty of winter visitors.
- ☀ You can burn even when the air feels pleasantly mild
- 🧴 Sunscreen is useful throughout the year
- 🧢 A hat can make long periods outdoors more comfortable
- 💧 Staying hydrated remains important
Cloud, breeze and cooler winter temperatures can disguise how much sun exposure you are actually getting.
6. Pharmacies are easy to recognise
Pharmacies are common throughout Tenerife’s towns and resorts and are normally identified by a green cross.
- 💊 Everyday pharmacy products are readily available
- 🩹 Pharmacists can advise on many minor health problems
- 📍 Main resorts have numerous pharmacies
- 🌙 Duty pharmacies provide cover outside normal opening hours
However, regular prescription medication should still be organised before travelling rather than assuming an identical product will be available locally.
Our guide to travelling to Tenerife with medication may help with preparation.
7. Spanish eating times may be later than you’re used to
Traditional Spanish meal times can surprise British visitors, particularly dinner.
- ☕ Breakfast is often relatively light
- 🍽 Lunch is an important meal and can be later than in Britain
- 🌙 Spanish dinner times are traditionally late
- 🏨 Tourist resorts cater for international schedules
In places such as Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje, finding dinner at 6pm or 7pm is rarely difficult. You do not need to adopt local meal times unless you want to.
8. Distances that look short on a map can feel very different on foot
A kilometre along a flat promenade and a kilometre involving slopes, steps and warm sunshine are not the same thing.
- 🚶 Check actual walking routes
- ⛰ Look at gradients around your accommodation
- ☕ Allow for regular stops
- 🚕 Use taxis rather than exhausting yourself unnecessarily
Our guide to how much walking a Tenerife holiday can involve is particularly useful for first-time visitors.
9. You don’t have to spend every day sightseeing
Tenerife has plenty to explore, but some of the best holidays involve doing remarkably little.
- 🌊 Morning walks beside the sea
- ☕ Long coffee stops
- 🍽 Lunch overlooking the promenade
- 😴 An afternoon rest
- 🌅 A gentle evening out
Older visitors often discover that Tenerife becomes more enjoyable when they stop treating every day as an itinerary.
Our article on why slower Tenerife holidays often work better explores this in more detail.
10. Help can be arranged if you discover you need it
Perhaps the most reassuring thing to know is that needing some help does not necessarily mean the holiday has gone wrong.
- 🤝 Companionship and practical support
- ♿ Mobility assistance and equipment
- 🚕 Help with appointments and outings
- 🏥 Support if an unexpected health problem arises
Some visitors arrange support before travelling. Others only realise after arriving that an extra pair of hands would make the holiday easier.
You can explore our care services in Tenerife or read about the types of holiday care support that can be arranged.
One final piece of advice: choose the location carefully
For a first Tenerife holiday later in life, convenience is often worth far more than being a few pounds cheaper or having a slightly larger hotel room.
A good location can put the promenade, restaurants, shops, taxis and beach within easy reach. A poor one can turn every outing into a logistical exercise.
Our guide to the best Tenerife resorts for older travellers is a useful place to continue your research.
The bottom line
Tenerife is an exceptionally easy destination for many older first-time visitors, particularly when the right resort and accommodation are chosen.
Expect hills, strong sunshine and more walking than you might initially imagine — but also excellent tourist infrastructure, plentiful taxis, welcoming resorts and a style of holiday that can be as busy or as relaxed as you want it to be.
For official destination information before travelling, visit:
Tenerife’s official tourism website.
If you are planning your first Tenerife holiday and would like to discuss practical support while you are here, you can request care or get in touch with Tenerife Carers.