Visiting Tenerife was a last-minute decision for us. We knew we wanted to get away from the wet weather and mud season in France, and Spain never disappoints in the winter months.
After some cursory research and a booking on the sunnier southern end of the island, we decided renting a car would be the best way to experience Tenerife in all its glory.
Do you need a car in Tenerife? Well, it depends. Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands, but it’s still not huge. There is a lot to see if you want to explore, from black sand beaches to mountain trails to hidden villages.
Seeing all of that without a car is possible, but it comes with some extra logistics.
I’ll break down why renting a car in Tenerife can make your life easier, when you might be able to skip it, driving tips, and what to expect in terms of costs and rentals. While we wouldn’t change our decision on renting a car in Tenerife, it may not be a must for you!
Quick Tips for Your Tenerife Visit
Your Flight: The island has two international airports, Tenerife South Airport (TFS) and Tenerife North Airport (TFN). Both offer car rental agencies for your convenience.
Find deals to Tenerife on Skyscanner. Love deals? Subscribe to Going.
Your Accommodations: We stayed at the Perla Gris Aparthotel while in Tenerife. It fulfilled our needs for budget-friendly, comfortable accommodations in the south.
Browse Booking.com or Hotels.com for more options. Vrbo is my Airbnb alternative.
Your Ride: I’ll answer whether you need one in this guide, but if you’re already sold, book a rental car ahead of time.
Top Spots: Wander the cloud forests of Anaga Rural Park, hike amongst volcanoes at Tiede National Park, and go whale-watching near Los Gigantes.
Disclosure: Travel on the Reg uses affiliate links to keep things running around here. At no additional cost to you, I earn a lil’ commission if you make a purchase. Any income earned supports the upkeep of this site. I appreciate you!
Should you rent a car in Tenerife?
In most cases, yes, renting a car in Tenerife makes your trip easier and more flexible. But whether you actually need one depends entirely on where you’re staying and what you want to do.
Tenerife isn’t huge, but it’s diverse. The resort-heavy south feels like a completely different island from the wet, dramatic north.
If your plans include exploring both sides on a road trip, chasing down hidden beaches, or driving up into the mountains, a rental car will make your life easier.
If you’re planning a relaxed resort stay with a few organized excursions sprinkled in, you may be able to skip it. Here’s how to decide.
Why Renting a Car in Tenerife Makes Sense
We knew we wanted to explore Tenerife outside of our resort after we plotted out our itinerary. While we wanted to make sure to get plenty of sun in the south, where we decided to stay as our base, we wanted to see the rest of the island, too.
Renting a car just made logistical sense and would make our week on the island more efficient.
READ MORE: Steal our Tenerife itinerary for five incredible days in Tenerife!
Freedom to Explore the Whole Island
Tenerife may look small on a map, but getting from one side to the other without a car can eat up a lot of time.
The island is anchored by Mount Teide in the center, which means roads curve around mountains rather than cutting straight through them. This isn’t like driving from the ‘burbs into the city in more well-connected destinations around the world.
With a rental car, we were able to pull off at random viewpoints that intrigued us. We could start our morning on one side of the island and finish on the other. Renting a car also means you can adjust your day based on the weather.
While Tenerife is known for its sunshine, the weather on the northern side of the island can get pretty wild. Having a car to escape to means you’re not stuck when those winds and wet conditions pick up.
If you like flexibility, this alone makes renting a car in Tenerife worth it.
Visiting Teide National Park Is Much Easier by Car
Public transport to Teide National Park is limited and time-consuming. Buses run on restricted schedules and don’t give you much flexibility once you’re there. You’ll also likely arrive with the majority of the other tourists, which is an actual nightmare.
Seriously, at the busier spots in the park, we watched cars and tour buses park in the middle of the literal road because they dared to arrive after 10am.
With a car, you can arrive early before the tour buses and explore multiple viewpoints at your own pace. Heck, you can stay for sunset or drive back for stargazing if you want. (We booked a tour for the stars, but driving up there on your own is also a thing.)
Organized tours to Teide are an option, but again, you’ll be on someone else’s schedule, and that schedule involves exploring the park elbow-to-elbow with other travelers.
If Teide is high on your priority list, which I hope it is, renting a car in Tenerife gives you a much better experience.
Access to Remote Beaches and Hidden Villages
Places like Playa de Benijo, Masca, and Los Gigantes are much easier to reach with your own vehicle. Some of Tenerife’s most beautiful spots aren’t directly connected by bus.
While you can get to some of them using public transport if you believe in yourself, it takes longer, may require transfers, and limits how long you can stay.
If you want to linger at a beach until golden hour or explore small mountain villages without watching the clock, a rental car makes it much easier.
I know I want to feel less stressed out on holiday, even when I’m doing all of the things and navigating my personal FOMO.
Fun fact: Tenerife’s coastline is dotted with dozens of black sand beaches, many of which are tucked away in small coves that aren’t accessible by bus.
Better for Families or Multi-Stop Trips
We stayed in south Tenerife for our week on the island, but if you’re splitting your stay between north and south, renting a car becomes even more practical.
Dragging luggage onto buses, coordinating schedules, or booking multiple transfers sounds awful, to be honest.
With a car, you can change hotels easily, make spontaneous detours on moving day, and avoid paying for multiple taxi rides.
If you’re traveling with the family or with a group, you can use it to pick up groceries, too. That actually makes it a more cost-effective option.
When You Might NOT Need a Car in Tenerife
Even though we leaned toward renting a car for our Tenerife trip, there are situations where you might not need one.
If you plan to stay in the south in a resort hub like Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos, or Playa de las Américas for a beach/poolside vacation, a car might feel like a hassle. There were plenty of folks at our resort doing just that, spending their days lounging.
These towns are all compact, walkable, and full of restaurants and shops, so you can get by on foot. Most hotels also offer excursions with pickups included, but again, you’ll be limited to the timing of those guided tours.
It just depends on what you want out of your vacation.
Tenerife’s Bus System (TITSA)
Tenerife has a public bus system, operated by TITSA. The green buses are clean, air-conditioned, and cover major towns and tourist areas. If you don’t want to drive, buses can be a solid option to get you to some of the most popular attractions around Tenerife.
Tickets for the TITSA buses are easy to get. You can buy them directly from the driver in cash when you board, or load a rechargeable Ten+ card if you plan to ride more than once.
The catch is flexibility. Routes to small villages, remote beaches, or mountain trails are limited, and schedules don’t always line up with sunrise hikes or late-night dinners. You might spend a lot of time waiting or transferring, which can eat into your sightseeing.
Organized Tours as an Alternative
Organized tours can fill in the gaps if you don’t want to drive but still want to see the island. They’re especially useful for short visits or for anyone nervous about navigating Tenerife’s winding mountain roads.
I was a passenger princess in Tenerife, by the way, so there’s zero judgment here.
Popular tours include transportation to Teide National Park, Anaga Rural Park, and whale-watching areas near Los Gigantes. We booked a few ourselves, visiting Teide after dark for stargazing and whale-spotting on a catamaran.
Check out more highly-rated options below:
What It’s Like Driving in Tenerife
If you decide to rent a car, Tenerife is mostly fine for drivers. At least that’s what Brian would tell you, as he was the one behind the wheel during our week on the island. (I can’t drive manuals, so I’ve been pretty relaxed on trips throughout Europe.)
The highways between major towns are smooth and well-marked, and traffic is usually reasonable. The real adventure starts when you head into the mountains or the northern coast. Roads can get twisty and narrow, especially around Anaga and Masca.
Note: We didn’t even attempt to visit Masca for this reason. Everything I’d read about it sounded too sketchy, and I didn’t want to put Brian through that. I’m a giving passenger princess.
Gas stations aren’t always 24/7 in rural areas, so it’s smart to refuel before heading up into the mountains or setting out on a longer drive.
Tips for Parking in Tenerife
Parking in Tenerife is mostly easy in smaller towns and at beaches, though city centers like La Laguna or Puerto de la Cruz can be trickier. Expect to hunt for a spot and pay attention to signage. Sometimes spots are free, and sometimes you’ll need to pay.
Many popular towns and attractions have paid parking lots, usually with meters or barriers, and most accept card payments.
Fun fact: Sometimes, like we learned the hard way after our whale-watching tour, the machine might reject your card if it’s even slightly bent. That means you may need to pay a portly parking attendant in cash to gain your freedom. Sketchy? Maybe.
Free street parking is sometimes available in quieter areas, but it can be limited and hard to find near major sights. If you plan to drive into the mountains or explore northern villages, keep in mind that some lots are small and fill up quickly.
Cost of Renting a Car in Tenerife
Renting a car in Tenerife is pretty affordable, especially if you book in advance. A small economy car typically runs around €25-€30 per day in low season, and €35-€60 during the busy summer months.
Note: Automatics always cost more in Europe, so if you need one, reserve early.
Fuel prices are fairly standard for Europe, and there are no toll roads to worry about.
For our visit, we went with Cicar, a budget-friendly local rental company, and picked up a tiny Fiat 500 for about €180 for the week. Everything was included, which made things simple, though the car showed its age.
It had a rubbed-down shifter and a sunroof that didn’t always cooperate, but it got us everywhere we wanted to go. For travelers looking to save a few euros, spots like this can be a solid choice, as long as you’re not expecting some luxury vehicle.
Keep in mind that extras like GPS, child seats, or additional drivers can add €5-€15 per day. Full-to-full fuel policies are the norm, so plan to top up near the drop-off point. (Our rental came about midway full, so that’s what we were responsible for.)
Tenerife Car Rental FAQs
Do you need an International Driving Permit to drive in Tenerife?
If you’re from the EU, your regular driver’s license is all you need. Travelers from the U.S., Canada, or other non-EU countries generally don’t need an International Driving Permit, either. (It can make things smoother if your license isn’t in Spanish or English, though.)
Always double-check with your rental company before you go, just to be safe.
Is driving in Tenerife safe?
For the most part, yes. The main highways are in excellent condition, and traffic is predictable. The mountain roads, particularly in the north and around Anaga or Masca, can be steep, narrow, and full of tight curves, so it’s important to drive cautiously if you’re not used to that.
Is parking free in Tenerife?
It depends. Smaller towns, beaches, and rural areas often have free parking, but popular spots and city centers usually have paid parking lots or meters.
Card payment is generally accepted, but sometimes you’ll need cash, like we found out the hard way after our whale-watching tour, when our card was rejected.
What is the minimum age to rent a car in Tenerife?
Most rental agencies require drivers to be at least 21, with some applying a “young driver” fee for anyone under 25.
Certain vehicles, like SUVs or luxury cars, may have a higher minimum age requirement. Always check the rules for the specific rental company and car type.
Which Canary Island is best without a car?
If you want a Canary Islands trip without renting a car, Lanzarote is a strong pick. The main towns are walkable, public transport is decent, and tours make it easy to see highlights without driving.
Tenerife is doable without a car if you stick to the south, but for full flexibility, a rental really opens up the island.
Do you need a car in Tenerife?
After a week exploring Tenerife from our little Fiat, the answer for us was a definitive yes, but it really depends on your travel style. Having a car gave us freedom, especially when we had to switch up plans because of bad weather in the north.
That said, if you plan to stay put at a resort, a car might feel more like a hassle. You can get around on foot, take a few organized tours, and still see the highlights.
Ultimately, if you’re weighing whether to rent a car in Tenerife, think about your itinerary, your comfort behind the wheel, and how much freedom you want. For us, a car turned a good trip into a much more adventurous one.
Visiting elsewhere in Spain? Read these next:
European destinations with road trip potential:
- A Guide to Car Rentals in Crete
- Should You Plan a Trip to Crete, Greece?
- Plan an Adventurous Iceland Road Trip
- A Trip to Get the World’s Best Beer
- A Guide to Brittany’s Top Spots
Want to see more?
Subscribe to my biweekly newsletter for hot travel tips I come across, weird stories you won’t see elsewhere and perhaps lifelong friendship.
Too much, or just enough?
