Tenerife has two airports, a cheap and surprisingly far-reaching bus network, a modern tram in the north and ferries to the neighbouring islands — but no metro or train. How you get around depends on whether you're staying put at a beach resort or exploring Teide, Masca and the wild north. This guide covers every option, with prices in euros and money-saving tips.
Getting around Tenerife in detail
1.Arriving at Tenerife's two airports
Tenerife is served by two airports, and knowing which you're landing at shapes your transfer. Tenerife South (Reina Sofía, TFS) handles most international charter and long-haul holiday traffic and sits about 15–20 minutes from the southern resorts of Costa Adeje, Playa de las Américas and Los Cristianos. Tenerife North (Los Rodeos, TFN), up near La Laguna, handles many inter-island and mainland-Spain flights and is best for the capital and the greener north. From TFS, TITSA buses 111 and 343 run to the southern resorts (around €3–€10), while a taxi costs roughly €20–€55 depending on distance; there is no train. From TFN, buses 102/103/107 link the airport with Santa Cruz, La Laguna, Puerto de la Cruz and beyond. Pre-booked private transfers and hire cars are widely available at both. If you're staying in the south, always try to book flights into TFS to avoid an hour-plus cross-island transfer; if you're heading north or island-hopping, TFN is far more convenient.
Hours
TFS 24h; TFN roughly 06:00–24:00
Price
Airport bus €3–€10; taxi ~€20–€55 to the resorts
Getting there
TFS serves the southern resorts (Adeje, Las Américas); TFN serves Santa Cruz, La Laguna and the north
Insider tip: Most holiday and long-haul flights land at TFS in the south; inter-island and mainland flights often use TFN in the north.
2.TITSA public buses (guaguas)
Tenerife's public buses, run by TITSA and known locally as guaguas, form a genuinely useful network that reaches almost everywhere on the island cheaply — a real money-saver for visitors happy to travel a little slower. Modern, air-conditioned coaches connect the airports, resorts, capital and mountain villages, with key tourist routes including the 111 and 343 along the south, the 342 and 348 up to Teide, and services into Anaga and the north. Single fares run from about €1.50 for short hops to €9.60 for the longest cross-island trips. The smart move is to buy a rechargeable green Ten+ contactless card (a small deposit plus credit), available at stations and kiosks: you tap on and off and pay roughly half the cash single fare, and the same card works on the Santa Cruz tram and gives free transfers within an hour. Major hubs are the interchanges in Santa Cruz, Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos. For getting to Teide, Masca or the beaches on a budget, the bus is slow but effective. Download the TITSA app for timetables.
Hours
Main routes ~06:00–22:00; some night buses on the south coast
Price
Singles €1.50–€9.60; ~50% cheaper with a Ten+ card
Getting there
Buy the Ten+ card at bus stations, kiosks and machines; tap on and off each journey
Insider tip: Buy a green Ten+ contactless card and tap on and off — it roughly halves single fares and covers the tram too.
3.Hiring a car
To see the real Tenerife — Teide National Park, the Anaga and Teno mountains, the north-coast towns and hidden beaches — a hire car is transformative, giving you freedom the buses can't match. Rates are among the cheapest in Europe, often €25–€40 a day, and roads are generally excellent, with the fast TF-1 motorway serving the south and the TF-5 the north. That said, the island's interior means serious mountain driving: the roads up to Teide, out to Masca and through Anaga are steep, narrow and full of hairpins, so take them slowly, use low gears on descents and don't attempt them nervous or in a rush. Fuel is notably cheap thanks to the Canaries' low taxes (around €1.40/litre). Choose a reputable local company such as Cicar or PlusCar, which offer fair full-to-full fuel policies and include sensible insurance without the airport hard-sell of some international brands. Book online in advance for the best rates, especially in peak season. Parking is easy in most towns but can be tight in the old quarters of La Laguna and Garachico.
Hours
Airport desks open for all flights; 24h pickup at TFS/TFN
Price
From ~€25–€40/day; fuel ~€1.40/litre
Getting there
Book online in advance; collect at TFS, TFN or resort offices
Insider tip: Use a reputable local firm like Cicar or PlusCar — fair terms, full-to-full fuel and no hard-sell insurance.
4.Tenerife Tram (Tranvía)
While the resorts of the south have no rail of any kind, the northern cities are connected by the Tranvía de Tenerife, a modern, comfortable tram system. Line 1 runs from the Intercambiador transport hub in central Santa Cruz up to San Cristóbal de La Laguna in about 35–40 minutes, passing the university and threading through both cities' streets, while Line 2 links residential suburbs. For visitors it's most useful as a hassle-free, scenic way to combine a day in the capital — its plazas, market, shops and the Auditorio — with the UNESCO-listed old town of La Laguna, avoiding any parking headaches. Fares are cheap, around €1.35 a journey with the same Ten+ contactless card used on the buses, which also gives free transfers between tram and bus within an hour. Trams run frequently from early morning until midnight, later at weekends. Simply tap your card on the platform validator before boarding. If you're staying in or visiting the north, the tram is a genuinely pleasant and efficient way to get around the two historic cities.
Hours
~06:00–24:00, later on Fri/Sat nights
Price
€1.35 single with a Ten+ card
Getting there
Line 1 Santa Cruz (Intercambiador) to La Laguna; Line 2 links the suburbs
Insider tip: The tram is the easiest, most scenic way to shuttle between the capital and historic La Laguna.
5.Taxis
Tenerife's taxis are white, metered and regulated, making them a safe and fairly priced option for shorter journeys, airport runs with luggage, or nights out when the buses have stopped. You'll find ranks at both airports, at the resorts and in the towns, or you can order one by phone or app; an available cab shows a green light on the roof or a 'libre' sign. Fares are metered at roughly €1.10 per kilometre with a minimum charge, so short hops around a resort typically cost €5–€12, while longer cross-island trips add up quickly and airport pickups carry a supplement. Always make sure the meter is running, and for longer routes it's fine to agree an approximate fare first. Ride-hailing apps like Uber and Bolt have only limited presence, so the traditional taxi remains the norm. Tipping isn't expected but rounding up is appreciated. For late returns from the Las Américas nightlife or getting to an early flight, taxis are invaluable; for day-to-day sightseeing, the bus or a hire car will usually work out far cheaper.
Hours
24h at ranks and by phone
Price
~€1.10/km; short resort hops €5–€12; airport supplements apply
Getting there
Ranks at airports, resorts and towns; hail white taxis showing a green light
Insider tip: Taxis are metered and regulated — check for the green rooftop light and insist on the meter for longer trips.
6.Ferries to the other islands
Tenerife is the hub of the western Canary Islands, and frequent ferries make island-hopping easy — whether for a day trip or onward travel. Two operators, Fred Olsen Express and Naviera Armas, run fast catamarans and larger ferries from two main ports: Los Cristianos in the south, best for the smaller western islands, and Santa Cruz in the northeast, best for Gran Canaria. The most popular excursion is to lush, mountainous La Gomera, reached from Los Cristianos in under an hour and comfortably done in a day; La Palma and El Hierro are longer hauls better suited to overnight trips, while Gran Canaria is served from the capital. Foot-passenger return fares to La Gomera start around €35, and you can also take a hire car across (book ahead and check your rental firm allows it) to explore at your own pace. Sailings run several times daily but the timetable thins in winter, so always check return crossings before you set off. Booking online in advance secures the best fares and your preferred departure. For nature lovers, a ferry day trip is one of the island's great add-ons.
Hours
Multiple daily sailings; earliest ~08:00
Price
From ~€35 return foot passenger to La Gomera
Getting there
Fred Olsen & Naviera Armas from Los Cristianos (south) and Santa Cruz (northeast)
Insider tip: Fred Olsen's fast ferry from Los Cristianos reaches La Gomera in under an hour — ideal for a day trip.