The best way to get around Tenerife is to hire a car. There are numerous local and international car-hire agencies located at the airports and in all major resort areas.
Tenerife is also excellent for cycling – many of the world's top cycle racing teams use the island to train.
Alternatively, a useful bus network links all the major towns and attractions. Taxis are generally expensive and are best for short distances only.
The established road network and clear signage makes Tenerife an easy island to get around by car and motorcycle.
Tenerife's motorway network is toll-free and connects the capital city and airports with most of the island's major resorts.
Motorways and major roads are paved to a high standard. Mountain roads are often narrow and winding. There are also unpaved rural roads.
Car hire: All the major international car-rental companies are represented in Tenerife, including Avis (www.avis.es), Budget (www.budget.es), Hertz (www.hertz.es) and Europcar (www.europcar.es). There are also numerous local operators, including Cicar (www.cicar.com), a well-regarded company that operates on Tenerife.
You can find car hire companies at the two airports and in the main urban centres.
To hire a car you need a valid driving licence, be aged 21 or over and have a credit card. Visitors with a non-EU licence should also have an International Driving Permit (IDP), however national licences from countries like Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA are generally accepted.
You're not allowed to take a hire car from Tenerife to another island without the car-hire company’s explicit permission. (An exception for most companies is the Fuerteventura–Lanzarote sea crossing.)
It's a good idea to reserve in advance during high season.
Third-party motor insurance is compulsory in Tenerife. Be careful to understand what your liabilities and excess are, and what waivers you are entitled to in case of accident or damage to the hired vehicle. Proof of identity and your driving licence must be carried in the car at all times.
Larger international car-rental firms such as Avis tend to have a comprehensive vehicle insurance policy built into the quote, so you are pretty well covered for damage to the car, but check when you hire.
Note: Driving on a dirt road may render your policy null and void, so check with the car-hire firm.
Traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road. The speed limit in built-up areas is 50kph (31mph), increasing to 90kph (56mph) on major roads and up to 120kph (74mph) on autovías (motorways).
Speed cameras are in operation on motorways and major roads. Safety belts are compulsory front and rear. Drink driving is a serious offence in Tenerife. The legal limit is just 0.25%, equivalent to less than one pint of beer or two glasses of wine.
Parking laws are rigorously enforced and illegally parked cars are often towed away.
Motorcycles and mopeds are available for hire in most major towns and resorts. Riders of motorcycles over 75cc must be at least 18. Crash helmets are compulsory.
Taxi: Taxis (www.officialtaxitenerife.com) are one of the most expensive ways to get around Tenerife. However, they can be useful for getting to and from the airport and around town. Taxis are regulated, have metres and you can flag them down on the street.
Bus: The public bus service – TITSA (www.titsa.com) – called 'guaguas' by the locals provides a comprehensive network of routes in Tenerife and is an inexpensive and reliable way of getting around the island.
The network operates to all the major towns and popular tourist attractions during weekdays, but services are less-frequent on weekends. Bus line 343 (€9.70) links Tenerife Norte Airport with Tenerife Sur Airport.
If you plan on travelling frequently by public bus transport then it is worth purchasing a plastic Ten+ Travel Card (www.titsa.com), which can be used on all bus routes (except on Teide and Teno lines) and offers 30% off the trip fare.
The travel card costs €2, with top-ups from a minimum of €5 to a maximum of €100, available at bus stations, tram-station vending machines and some newspaper kiosks.
You swipe your card when boarding and swipe off as you disembark (if you don't swipe your card when you get off you will be charged for the entire route). The same card can be used by multiple users.
Fares are reasonable; destinations within each island are calculated according to distance: ticket fares vary from €1 for a short city hop to €10 or so for journeys of more than an hour (on the larger islands).
It pays to have small notes and coins as change, as the bus driver may not be able to break a large note.
Train: There is no rail network in Tenerife, although a light-rail tram service (www.tranviatenerife.com) operates between the northern cities of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and San Cristobal de La Laguna, a distance of 12.5km (7.8mi).
Bicycle: Tenerife is cycle friendly, and cycling is a very pleasant (and healthy) way to get around and see the sights. Local drivers are generally tolerant and patient with cyclists, although on narrow and hilly roads some drivers may become impatience.
Road and mountain bikes can be hired from resorts and towns across the island, but be warned; there are some very steep hills in Tenerife.
Expect to pay a minimum of €12 per day, with a standard deposit of around €50. Rental rates typically include a helmet and some basic equipment. Some rental outfits offer guided bike tours.
Latest update: How to get around Tenerife: 11 May, 2022
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