Family Holidays: Tenerife family holidays and breaks

Take the Family holiday rating 4 stars out of 5

Why

Tenerife is one of the most popular destinations for family holidays, especially during the winter and spring. And you can visit the largest of the Canary Islands, located 200 miles off the coast of Africa, all year round. It's a four to five hour flight from the UK.

Beaches and sun are Tenerife's main draws, though the island has other striking attractions. Not least of which is Spain's highest peak (3700 metres), Mount Teide. Your kids will enjoy a cable car ride and snowball fight before returning to the hot beach. Other highlights include the terrific Loro Parque and getting away from the crowds to explore the scenery and atmospheric old towns in the North.

If you're travelling with young kids in the summer prepare well for a hot midday sun. And note that parts of Tenerife are very developed (lots of appropriate accommodation and activities for kids, at least).

Top left: Corpus Christi
Top middle: Lago Martianez
Top right: Las Teresitas

Bottom left: Dolphinarium
Bottom right: Medano Beach

When

The Canary Islands have great weather all year, temperatures rarely rise above 30°C, or drop below 20°C. Be prepared for a hot sun in the summer.

How

There are two airports in Tenerife – North and South. Most flights from the UK land at the South airport (Tenerife Sur Reina Sofia). There are regular charter flights from most UK airports, as well as scheduled flights with British Airways and Iberia from Gatwick. We prefer Excel Airways for Tenerife as they fly from 7 UK airports plus you can usually get a great deal, especially with our exclusive additional £5 off. The flights take around four hours from London, and under five hours from Glasgow.

Stay

Most families visiting Tenerife descend on the South West. It's heavily developed which has advantages and drawbacks. If you've got kids you'll benefit from being near loads of activities. Consider Adeje and Los Cristianos over noisier Playa de las Americas. Thomson have many family friendly accommodations from budget aparments Villa Mandi, Tenerife to the fabulous five star Gran Melia Bahia Del Duque. Also well worth considering and a terrific value for money option is a self catering villa. Browse villas in Tenerife with partners James Villas . The majority of their villas are on the South West of the island, all with pools, sleeping up to 8, and a short distance from beaches and entertainment, whilst still offering a peaceful retreat for relaxing in secluded grounds or by your private pool.

Do

Warmth in the winter and the beaches all year round are the most compelling reasons for visiting Tenerife. You'll find dramatic black sand beaches throughout the island, except where it’s been imported from the Sahara.

Loro Parque is Tenerife’s impressive wildlife park located in Puerto de la Cruz in the Orotava valley. You'll find a large dolphinarium, aquarium, sharks and a range of other exotic animals.

Aqualand Aquapark Tenerife in Costa Adeje, near Playa de las Americas offers water slides, rapids, lots of swimming pools and dolpinarium. There is a free Shuttle Bus from Playa de las Américas and Los Cristianos, and it is also on other bus routes. (For autumn kids can get in free with each paying adult if you print their voucher.)

Parque Nacional del Teide has Spain’s highest mountain at 3718m. The park itself is mostly above 2000m. and is an amazing moon-like spectacle. Your kids will probably love taking the cable car to within 200 metres of the summit, where you'll enjoy outstanding views, including four of the other Canary Islands. Or you'll be surrounded by clouds! Go early in the day to avoid crowds. There are two public bus routes: the 348, from Puerto de la Cruz, and line 342, from Playa de las Américas.

Other day trips include a visit to the Botanical Gardens in Puerto de la Cruz, the Camel Centre in El Tanque or the Eagle Park in Adeje.

Eat

You'll find plenty of Canarian specialties and Spanish tapas served in restaurants on the island. If you've opted for a self catering break supermarkets are well stocked with just about everything you'll need. Samu is a local fish baked on a bed of salt and served with small jacket potatoes and ‘mojo’, a spicy garlic sauce.

Cost

From £1,500 to £3,500 for a family of four including flights and accommodation. Exact prices depend on standard of accommodation and time of departure.