Planning a holiday to Tenerife with kids? The island is one of our favourite choices for a family holiday in the Canary Islands, with everything from huge water parks and volcanic landscapes to whale-watching trips, beaches and family-friendly resorts.

There’s also far more to Tenerife than simply spending a week around the hotel pool. Families can ride the slides at Siam Park, explore the incredible landscape around Mount Teide, spot whales and dolphins off the coast, visit animal parks and discover some brilliant beaches.

In this guide, we’ll cover the best things to do in Tenerife with kids, including attractions for younger children, ideas for teenagers, free things to do and the experiences we think are genuinely worth adding to a family holiday.

Quick Answer: Best Things to Do in Tenerife with Kids

Tenerife is packed with brilliant family attractions, but if it were our first family holiday we’d put Siam Park, Mount Teide, a whale-watching trip and Loro Parque near the top of the list.

Some of our favourite things to do in Tenerife with kids include:

• 🌊 Siam Park – our top pick for families who love water parks and thrill rides
• 🌋 Mount Teide – Tenerife’s spectacular volcanic landscape
• 🐋 Whale & dolphin watching – one of the island’s best family experiences
• 🦜 Loro Parque – a hugely popular wildlife park in Puerto de la Cruz
• 🏖️ Playa de las Teresitas – a great family beach day
• 🐒 Monkey Park – a smaller animal attraction that’s particularly good with younger children
• 🚤 Family boat trips – an easy way to explore Tenerife’s coastline
• 🌲 Anaga Rural Park – beautiful scenery and walks for families wanting to explore beyond the resorts

💡 Holiday Blueprint Pick: If you’re only choosing three paid attractions, we’d start with Siam Park, Mount Teide and a whale-watching trip. They give you three completely different Tenerife experiences.

Book Tenerife’s Top Family Attractions

Planning your family days out? Start with these popular Tenerife experiences. Compare ticket options, what’s included and availability for your travel dates before booking.

Siam Park Tickets & Guide → Mount Teide Tours → Whale-Watching Trips → Loro Parque Tickets →

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1. Siam Park – Our Top Pick for Families

If you’re visiting Tenerife with kids, Siam Park is the attraction we’d put at the top of the list.

Located in Costa Adeje, this huge Thai-themed water park has everything from gentle family areas and a massive wave pool to some seriously impressive thrill rides for older children and teenagers.

Families with younger children can spend plenty of time around the calmer attractions, while confident swimmers and thrill seekers can tackle rides including Singha, The Dragon and Tower of Power.

Allow a full day for Siam Park rather than trying to squeeze it into a busy itinerary.

Is Siam Park Good for Kids?

Yes — but how much children can experience depends on their height and confidence in the water. Some of the biggest rides have minimum height restrictions, so it’s worth checking these before buying tickets.

We’ve covered the rides, height restrictions, Fast Pass, ticket choices and our ideal family day in our complete Siam Park Tenerife guide.

💡 Holiday Blueprint Pick: Families with older children or teenagers could easily make Siam Park one of the highlights of their entire Tenerife holiday.

2. Mount Teide – Explore Tenerife’s Volcano

A visit to Mount Teide is one of the best ways to show kids that there’s much more to Tenerife than beaches and swimming pools.

At 3,715 metres, Teide is the highest mountain in Spain, and the journey through Teide National Park is part of the experience. The landscape becomes increasingly volcanic as you climb, and in places it feels more like another planet than a holiday island.

One of the most popular ways to experience Teide is by taking the Teide Cable Car, which carries visitors high up the volcano and gives you spectacular views across Tenerife on a clear day.

Visiting Mount Teide with Kids

Teide can be a brilliant family day out, particularly with school-age children and teenagers.

Remember that temperatures at altitude can be considerably cooler than at the coast, so take an extra layer even when it’s hot around your resort.

You can visit independently with a hire car or book an organised excursion that includes transport, which can be easier if you don’t want to drive.

If you’re planning to explore Teide and other parts of the island independently, our Car Hire Tenerife guide covers driving, insurance, fuel policies and hiring a car at Tenerife South Airport.

💡 Holiday Blueprint Pick: We’d choose an organised Teide excursion if we weren’t hiring a car. If we already had a hire car, we’d enjoy the flexibility of exploring Teide National Park at our own pace.

3. Go Whale & Dolphin Watching

A whale-watching trip is one of the most memorable things to do in Tenerife with kids and gives families a completely different experience away from the water parks and beaches.

The waters around Tenerife are well known for marine life, with pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins among the species that can be seen around the island throughout the year.

Many family boat trips depart from the south of Tenerife, including Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos, making them particularly convenient if you’re staying in one of the main family resorts.

Trips range from shorter wildlife cruises to longer catamaran experiences that combine whale and dolphin watching with swimming or snorkelling stops.

Is Whale Watching Good for Children?

For most families, we’d choose a trip of around 2–3 hours rather than committing younger children to a full-day boat excursion.

Look for a boat with plenty of seating, shade and easy access to toilets, and remember to take sun protection even if it doesn’t feel particularly hot when you leave the harbour.

If anyone in the family is prone to seasickness, it’s worth being prepared before setting off.

💡 Holiday Blueprint Pick: We’d choose a smaller family-friendly whale-watching trip from southern Tenerife rather than a party-style boat. Seeing whales or dolphins in the wild could easily become one of the highlights of the holiday.

4. Loro Parque – Wildlife & Family Attractions

Located in Puerto de la Cruz in northern Tenerife, Loro Parque is one of the island’s best-known family attractions and can easily fill most of a day.

The park is home to a huge variety of animals and birds, with impressive themed habitats, aquariums and areas to explore as you make your way around.

It’s particularly useful for families wanting a day away from the beach or water parks, and there’s enough variety to keep both younger children and older kids interested.

Is Loro Parque Worth Visiting with Kids?

We think Loro Parque is most worthwhile if your family enjoys wildlife attractions or you’re already planning to explore the north of Tenerife.

If you’re staying around Costa Adeje, Playa de las Américas or Los Cristianos, remember that Puerto de la Cruz is on the opposite side of the island, so allow for the journey when planning your day.

Having a hire car gives you more flexibility, and you could combine the trip with some sightseeing in northern Tenerife. Our Car Hire Tenerife guide explains what to consider before renting a car.

💡 Holiday Blueprint Pick: We’d dedicate most of the day to Loro Parque rather than trying to combine it with several other attractions. Families staying in southern Tenerife should factor the travel time into their plans.

5. Playa de las Teresitas – One of Tenerife’s Best Family Beaches

Not every great family day in Tenerife needs an entrance ticket. Playa de las Teresitas is one of the island’s most distinctive beaches and a brilliant option for a more relaxed day with the kids.

Located near Santa Cruz in the north-east of Tenerife, the beach has golden sand, palm trees and a long stretch of coastline that’s very different from many of Tenerife’s darker volcanic beaches.

The sheltered setting generally makes the water calmer than at some of the island’s more exposed beaches, which is one reason it’s popular with families.

Is Playa de las Teresitas Good for Kids?

For families, the biggest attraction is simply having plenty of space for a traditional beach day without needing to book an expensive excursion.

Take the usual sun protection, drinks and beach essentials, and always pay attention to the local beach flags and sea conditions before children enter the water.

It’s particularly easy to include if you’re hiring a car and exploring Santa Cruz or the north-east of Tenerife.

💡 Holiday Blueprint Pick: We’d combine Playa de las Teresitas with some sightseeing rather than driving across Tenerife solely for the beach. It makes a great relaxed stop during a day exploring the north-east of the island.

6. Monkey Park – Great for Younger Kids

For families looking for a smaller animal attraction, Monkey Park Tenerife can be a good alternative to spending an entire day at one of the island’s larger parks.

Located near Los Cristianos in southern Tenerife, the park specialises in primates and other animals and is compact enough to explore without taking up your whole day.

That makes it particularly useful for families with younger children or anyone wanting to combine an attraction with some time back at the pool or beach.

Is Monkey Park Worth Visiting?

We’d consider Monkey Park if you’re staying around Los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas or Costa Adeje, especially with younger children who enjoy animals.

It’s a very different experience from Loro Parque. Rather than comparing the two directly, we’d think of Monkey Park as a shorter and simpler family outing.

Because you don’t need to dedicate an entire day to it, you can easily fit it around other Tenerife holiday plans.

💡 Holiday Blueprint Pick: Monkey Park makes most sense for families staying in southern Tenerife who want a relatively easy half-day activity with younger kids.

7. Explore Anaga Rural Park

For a completely different side of Tenerife with kids, head to Anaga Rural Park in the north-east of the island.

Instead of beaches and water parks, you’ll find dramatic mountains, winding roads, forests and spectacular viewpoints. It can feel like a completely different island compared with the busy resorts of southern Tenerife.

There are walking routes of different lengths and difficulty levels, so families don’t necessarily need to tackle a long hike to enjoy Anaga. Simply driving through the area and stopping at viewpoints can make for a memorable day.

Visiting Anaga with Children

With younger children, we’d keep things simple and choose shorter walks and viewpoints rather than attempting one of the more demanding hiking routes.

Older children and teenagers who enjoy exploring outdoors may get much more from spending several hours walking in the area.

Weather can also be noticeably different from the south of Tenerife, so we’d take an extra layer and suitable footwear even if it’s sunny when leaving the resort.

A hire car gives families the most flexibility for exploring this part of Tenerife. See our Car Hire Tenerife guide if you’re considering renting one.

💡 Holiday Blueprint Pick: Don’t try to see all of Anaga in one visit. Pick a few viewpoints and a family-friendly walk and enjoy the scenery without turning the day into a marathon for the kids.

8. Take a Family Boat Trip Along the Tenerife Coast

A boat trip is another brilliant way to experience Tenerife with kids, particularly if your family enjoys swimming and being out on the water.

Most family-friendly cruises operate from southern Tenerife, with departures available around Costa Adeje, Puerto Colón and Los Cristianos.

Depending on the trip, you could spend a few hours cruising along the coast, stop in a sheltered bay for swimming or snorkelling and enjoy views of Tenerife that you simply don’t get from the resorts.

Choosing a Tenerife Boat Trip with Kids

For younger children, we’d usually choose a shorter cruise rather than spending most of the day at sea.

Check what’s included before booking, particularly food, drinks, snorkelling equipment, toilets and shaded seating.

Families with older children and teenagers might prefer a more adventurous sailing or snorkelling trip with plenty of time in the water.

💡 Holiday Blueprint Pick: We’d choose a relaxed 2–3 hour coastal cruise with a swimming or snorkelling stop. It gives you plenty of time on the water without using up an entire holiday day.

9. Best Things to Do in Tenerife with Teenagers

Tenerife is particularly good for families travelling with older children and teenagers, especially if they prefer exciting activities to traditional sightseeing.

Some of our favourite choices for teenagers include:

• 🌊 Siam Park – particularly the bigger slides and thrill rides
• 🤿 Snorkelling – explore Tenerife’s marine life from the water
• 🌋 Mount Teide – cable car views and dramatic volcanic scenery
• 🐋 Whale watching – a completely different experience from a normal resort day
• 🥾 Anaga Rural Park – great for teenagers who enjoy walking and exploring
• 🚤 Boat trips – particularly trips combining cruising with swimming or snorkelling
• 🏖️ Beach days – easy to mix with more adventurous activities

If you’re travelling with teenagers, we’d avoid planning every day around organised attractions. Mixing a couple of bigger experiences with beaches, pool days and exploring the island usually makes for a much more relaxed holiday.

💡 Holiday Blueprint Pick: For an adventurous teenager, we’d combine Siam Park + Mount Teide + snorkelling or whale watching. That’s a pretty impressive three-day Tenerife activity line-up.

10. Free Things to Do in Tenerife with Kids

You don’t need to book an attraction every day to have a brilliant family holiday in Tenerife. Some of the island’s best experiences cost little or nothing.

Our favourite free things to do in Tenerife with kids include:

• 🏖️ Spend the day at the beach – Tenerife has plenty of family-friendly beaches, including Playa de las Teresitas
• 🌋 Explore Teide National Park – you can drive through the spectacular volcanic landscape without taking the cable car
• 🌲 Discover Anaga Rural Park – enjoy viewpoints, scenery and family-friendly walks
• 🌅 Watch the sunset – particularly along Tenerife’s western coastline
• 🚶 Explore the resort promenades – Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos are great for an evening family walk
• 🏊 Have a pool day – sometimes the simplest holiday days are the ones kids enjoy most
• 🏘️ Explore Tenerife’s towns and villages – break up beach days with a little sightseeing around the island

Don’t Overplan Your Tenerife Family Holiday

With so many attractions available, it’s easy to fill every day before you’ve even arrived.

We wouldn’t.

If you’re staying for a week, we’d choose a few must-do experiences and leave plenty of space for beaches, swimming pools and spontaneous days out.

For a two-week Tenerife holiday, having more free days between the major attractions can make the whole trip feel considerably more relaxed.

💡 Holiday Blueprint Tip: Decide on your family’s two or three must-do paid attractions before travelling. Everything else can be fitted around the weather, how everyone feels and what the kids actually want to do.

Best Tenerife Activities by Age

The best things to do in Tenerife with kids will depend heavily on their age. A toddler and a 14-year-old are probably going to have very different ideas of the perfect holiday!

Tenerife with Toddlers & Younger Children

For younger children, we’d keep days relatively short and avoid packing too much into the itinerary.

Good options include:

• 🐒 Monkey Park
• 🏖️ Family beach days
• 🌊 Younger children’s areas at Siam Park
• 🚶 Resort promenades and short walks
• 🏊 Plenty of hotel pool time

Choosing the right accommodation can make an enormous difference at this age. Our Best Tenerife Family Hotels guide includes resorts with kids’ clubs, family pools and facilities aimed at younger children.

Tenerife with School-Age Kids

Once children are a little older, considerably more of Tenerife opens up.

Our picks include:

• 🌊 Siam Park
• 🐋 Whale watching
• 🌋 Mount Teide
• 🦜 Loro Parque
• 🚤 Family boat trips
• 🌲 Short walks in Anaga Rural Park
• 🏖️ Exploring different beaches

This is probably the easiest age for combining traditional family attractions with exploring the island.

Tenerife with Teenagers

Teenagers who enjoy adventure have some brilliant choices:

• 🎢 Siam Park’s bigger rides
• 🤿 Snorkelling
• 🌋 Mount Teide
• 🥾 Hiking and exploring Anaga
• 🐋 Whale watching
• 🚤 Boat trips and water activities

Older children may also appreciate having some say in the itinerary. We’d let everyone choose one must-do activity rather than having one person plan the entire holiday.

💡 Holiday Blueprint Tip: Don’t judge a Tenerife itinerary by how many attractions you’ve managed to squeeze into it. A good family holiday should still leave plenty of time to actually enjoy the hotel, beach and pool.

How Many Days Do You Need in Tenerife with Kids?

For most families, we’d recommend at least 7 days in Tenerife, although 10–14 days gives you a much better balance between attractions and relaxing around the hotel or beach.

7 Days in Tenerife with Kids

With one week, we’d avoid trying to see the entire island.

A simple family plan could include:

• 🌊 1 day at Siam Park
• 🌋 1 day exploring Mount Teide
• 🐋 1 whale-watching or boat trip
• 🏖️ 2–3 beach, hotel and pool days
• 🚗 1 day exploring another part of Tenerife

10–14 Days in Tenerife with Kids

With a longer holiday, you can add attractions such as Loro Parque, Monkey Park, Anaga Rural Park and snorkelling without making every day feel rushed.

You could also hire a car for only part of the holiday rather than the entire trip, giving you a few days to explore independently.

Our Car Hire Tenerife guide explains the different options, while our Tenerife Airport Transfers guide is useful if you’d rather stay car-free around your resort.

💡 Holiday Blueprint Pick: For our ideal Tenerife family holiday, we’d choose around 10–14 days. That gives you enough time for the big attractions without sacrificing those lazy pool and beach days that are supposed to be part of the holiday too!

Tenerife with Kids FAQs

Is Tenerife good for a family holiday?

Yes. Tenerife is one of the Canary Islands’ most popular family destinations, with beaches, family-friendly hotels, water parks, wildlife attractions and plenty of activities for both younger children and teenagers.

The year-round mild climate also makes Tenerife particularly useful for families looking for some sunshine outside the main summer holiday period.

Which part of Tenerife is best for families?

Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos and Playa de las Américas are popular choices for families because they offer easy access to beaches, restaurants and many of Tenerife’s major attractions.

The best area will depend on whether you want a lively resort, quieter surroundings or easy access to particular attractions.

Our Best Tenerife Family Hotels guide compares some of our favourite family-friendly places to stay.

What is the best thing to do in Tenerife with kids?

For many families, we’d put Siam Park at number one, particularly with school-age children and teenagers.

However, we’d also make room for Mount Teide and a whale-watching trip because they show children completely different sides of Tenerife.

Is Tenerife good for teenagers?

Yes. Tenerife is particularly good for teenagers who enjoy water parks and outdoor activities.

Siam Park, snorkelling, boat trips, Mount Teide, whale watching and exploring the island by car can give older children far more variety than a traditional beach-only holiday.

Can you visit Tenerife with kids without hiring a car?

Absolutely. Families staying around the main southern resorts can enjoy plenty of Tenerife without a hire car.

Airport transfers, taxis, buses and organised excursions can cover many of the major attractions.

However, we’d consider hiring a car for at least a few days if you want to explore places such as Teide National Park, Anaga and some of Tenerife’s less touristy areas.

Is Siam Park suitable for younger children?

Yes, although younger children won’t be tall enough for some of the larger rides.

There are family and children’s areas within the park, but we’d check the current height restrictions before visiting so you know which attractions your children can use.

Our Siam Park Tenerife guide covers the rides, height restrictions, tickets and Fast Pass in much more detail.

How many days is enough for Tenerife with kids?

We think 7 days is enough for a good Tenerife family holiday, but 10–14 days is better if you want to combine the major attractions with plenty of beach and pool time.

A longer stay also gives you more flexibility if you want to explore different parts of the island.

Final Verdict: Is Tenerife Good with Kids?

Absolutely. Tenerife with kids works particularly well because you can build completely different types of days into the same family holiday.

You could spend one day racing down the slides at Siam Park, the next exploring the volcanic landscape around Mount Teide, then head out whale watching before having a couple of days doing absolutely nothing except enjoying the beach and hotel pool.

For our first Tenerife family holiday, our must-do experiences would be:

• 🌊 Siam Park
• 🌋 Mount Teide
• 🐋 Whale watching
• 🏖️ At least one proper beach day
• 🚗 A day exploring somewhere beyond the main resorts

With a longer stay, we’d then add Loro Parque, snorkelling, Anaga Rural Park and some of the island’s smaller family attractions.

💡 Holiday Blueprint Verdict: Tenerife is one of the strongest all-round family destinations in the Canary Islands. There’s enough to entertain younger children, teenagers and adults without needing to fill every day with expensive attractions.