When it comes to enjoying our holidays, choosing activities and excursions can be a little overwhelming if we have a tight budget. However, did you know that Tenerife offers a wide variety of economic and free tourist activities?
Free activities on the island
1. Walking through the wide network of trails
Tenerife has numerous trails of different difficulties around the island that allow us to enjoy nature outdoors. Some of these trails cross lush forests or deep ravines and others cross volcanic mountains or coasts sculpted by the sea. The Trail of the Senses in Anaga is especially recommended. Moreover, the Montaña Blanca trail to climb Teide and the Teno trail to know the Rural Park are excellent choices too.
2. Discovering historical centers
If you like to stroll, Tenerife has several historic centers to walk and know the culture of the island. Some of them are:
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, capital of the island, preserves 5 centuries of history. Despite being a very commercial area, you can walk through its streets observing historical buildings such as the church of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción. From there, you can head to Calle de la Noria and admire its picturesque houses. The most emblematic squares are Plaza Weyler, Plaza del Príncipe and Plaza Candelaria. In addition, we advise you to go through the Market of Nuestra Señora de África, which offers a wide variety of quality products.
San Cristóbal de La Laguna is the first city founded after the conquest: an authentic historical jewel declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999. By walking through its cozy helmet, you will know its history and its cultural and religious architecture.
Villa de la Orotava was another of the main settlements of the colonizers. You will be surprised by the preservation of its streets, as well as the most visited places, including Casa de los Balcones.
Candelaria is the main pilgrimage site of the entire island. It stands out for its extensive cultural and religious heritage. In fact, some of its elements have been recognized as Cultural Assets by Unesco.
3. Visiting churches and cathedrals
Tenerife has a lot of historical religious buildings, but the one you cannot miss is the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, which boasts hosting the Patron Saint of the Canary Islands. We encourage you to enter so you can contemplate the interior of the building (neo-classical style) and the image of the virgin.
Outside, you will be surprised to see how the Guanche and Castilian culture is reflected in some of the monuments or the imposing statues of the 9 Menceyes, ancient kings of Tenerife at the time of the conquest.
4. Get to know the museums of the island
The most important museums are located in the cities of Santa Cruz and La Laguna.
The Museum of Nature and Archaeology (in spanish Museo de la Naturaleza y Arqueología) is an ideal museum to know the origin and formation of the Canary archipelago. From the formation of the continents and the volcanic eruptions that occurred over the years to the very functioning of a volcano. In addition, you can learn about the aboriginal culture of the islands and how their funerary world worked. You can also learn about insects, botany and fossils. Finally, you will discover about the biodiversity of the oceans at the marine biology exhibition.
The Museum of Science and the Cosmos (in spanish Museo de la Ciencia y el Cosmos) is a more experiential museum, where most exhibitions encourage you to participate through activities and games. In addition to the exhibition circuits, it has a planetarium where materials of scientific dissemination are projected and a children’s room.
The Carnival House (in spanish La Casa del Carnaval) is an interactive space where the most outstanding elements of Carnival are exhibited. Visitors can get to know the artistic and heritage value of this unique party, participating in activities with digital applications during the tour.
The Military Historical Museum of the Canary Islands (in spanish El Museo Histórico Militar de Canarias) was a fortress that was built following the attack of the English. Currently, it is a museum that represents the military history of the Canary Islands.
The Museum of History and Anthropology (in spanish El Museo de Historia y Antropología) is a museum that investigates, preserves and exhibits the socio-cultural and economic heritage of Tenerife. In this way, visitors can discover the island’s past and understand its present through the activities and exhibitions that take place.
All of them offer free admission. Specifically, in the Museum of Nature and Archaeology and in the Museum of Science and the Cosmos you can enter for free Friday and Saturday from 16:00 until half an hour before closing.
5. Visiting the Teide National Park
You cannot leave Tenerife without seeing the third highest volcano in the world. This natural wonder has a unique fauna and vegetation. You can see the landscape by car, on foot, walking along its amazing trails, or climbing the cable car. You can also reach it by taking the bus. There are two lines that reach Teide: line 342 and line 348. If in the end you do not have time to visit it in your stay, do not worry, because it may be observed from different points of the island, especially the north.
6. Spend the day on spectacular beaches
If you are looking for isolated and wild beaches, we recommend Benijo beach in Taganana and Del Ancón beach in La Orotava.
If, on the contrary, you are looking to be close to the urban centers, Las Teresitas beach in Santa Cruz, the beaches of Candelaria, Radazul, El Médano and La Tejita are ideal choices. The natural pools are also another good option, some examples are: Charco de la Laja in La Rambla de Castro, Charco Verde and Charco del Viento in La Guancha and the natural pools of Los Abrigos.
Save money traveling
In addition to the economic activities that we have already suggested in this post, here are some additional tips so you can enjoy your trip without spending too much.
Compare accommodation prices according to the season: depending on whether it is high or not, it will affect the price. Moreover, it depends on the type of accommodation. There are some that are cheaper than others and where the variation in price is less significant.
Use public transport: there are tickets that will allow you to move easily throughout the island. For example, the bus service offers two kind of tourist tickets:
Tourist card 1 day: allows unlimited travel to one person by tram and bus for 24 hours from the first use.
Tourist card 7 days: allows unlimited travel to one person by tram and bus for 7 days from the first use.
Look for free or affordable attractions, like the ones we have mentioned in this article.
Enjoy your meal in small regional places, for example, the guachinches.
If possible, talk to the locals. They know more than anyone how to save money on their island.
If you want to discover the surprises that Tenerife has prepared for you and minimize your expenses, choose Dream Apartments to rest after a long day visiting the island. On our website you can find your ideal apartment.