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What to see in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 1 day? In this article I will tell you about the city’s main attractions, nearby beaches, places I particularly like, and what to do in the evening, toghether with useful information for a great trip in one of Spain’s nicest cities.
If you have only one day, you can still get a taste of the most beautiful things Santa Cruz has to offer. Read on and find out what they are!
DIANA BANCALE
Founder and author, travel blogger since 2014.
USEFUL INFORMATION TO VISIT TENERIFE
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: European citizens: valid passport or national identity card / Extra UE citizens: Check on official Spanish government website HERE
AVERAGE TEMPERATURES: Average temperatures from 18°C to 24°C (64°F to 75°F) in winter and 24°C to 30°C (75°F to 86°F) in summer. The coastal areas, especially in the south are warmer and sunnier.
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What is beautiful about Santa Cruz de Tenerife?
For me the beauty of Santa Cruz is the feeling of being in a big city, with tall and elegant buildings and famous monuments, even though we are in a quite small island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
In Santa Cruz there is Calatrava’s famous Auditorium, the lush Palmetum botanical garden, the Parque Maritimo designed by Cesar Manrique. Plus, the bustling Nuestra Senora de Africa market, the nearby clear beach of Las Teresitas, and the beautiful Plaza de España with its beautiful fountain.
Also, let’s not forget that in February Santa Cruz de Tenerife hosts a very important event: the Carnival of Tenerife, the second most important and visites Carnival in the world!
Find out more about 2025 Tenerife Carnaval here!
Where is Santa Cruz de Tenerife?
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, capital of the province of the same name, is the main city of Tenerife and former capital of the Canary Islands from 1833 to 1927.
It is located in the northeast of the island of Tenerife and faces the Atlantic ocean. Due to its location, its port is one of the most important in all of Spain and it is a major cruise ports.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 1 day, what to do and what to see
In this article I recommend a 1-day itinerary in Santa Cruz de Tenerife based on what I think are the main attractions of the city. I would then tell you to start the day by relaxing at the beach and then sightseeing and end the day with dinner and a drink at one of the many nice bars in the city.
Where to go to the beach near Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Thanks to Tenerife’s mild climate, with daytime temperatures averaging between 20 and 24 degrees, it is possible to go to the beach all year-round. If you are planning to see Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 1 day, here is where you can go to the beach near the city.
Las Teresitas Beach
Just a 10-minute drive from downtown Santa Cruz takes you to Las Teresitas Beach, one of my favorite beaches on the island. Why? Because it has all the requirements I look for in a beach: golden sand (imported from the Sahara Desert), palm trees, mountains that protect it and being sheltered the ocean is very quiet and without waves. For this reason it is also very suitable for those traveling with children.
Also here you will find, toilets, showers and several bars and chiringuitos where you can eat and drink something facind the oecan. The beach has also a parking, so it is easy to reach.
César Manrique Maritime Park
Another option for swimming near Santa Cruz is Cesar Manrique’s Parque Maritimo. It is not a beach but a large center with outdoor pools, waterfalls, sunbeds, umbrellas, and a nice view of the ocean and the Auditorium. If you want something different than the beach, I recommend you try it. Inside, there are bars and restaurant if you get hungry.
What to see in the center of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
The center of Santa Cruz is not particularly large and has several pedestrian streets, so it can be visited on foot quite easily. Its main attractions are located in different points of the city, but everything is quite easy to reach.
I recommend starting at the beautiful Plaza de España, where there is a large fountain, and from there go up (in the opposite direction to the ocean) through the beautiful tree-lined avenues filled with elegant buildings, stores, bars, and restaurants.
Pay a visit to the churches of La Concepcion and San Francisco, and keep walking in the direction of Garcia Sanabria Park, one of the most beautiful green parks on the island.
If you have time to visit a museum, I recommend the Casa del Carnaval, where you will find out more about the important event of Tenerife Carnival.
Then ,heading back towards the ocean, you will find the Palmetum, a beautiful ocean-view botanical garden with an incredible collection of palm trees and plants of all kinds.
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La Recova Market (Nuestra Señora de Africa)
Another must-see stop in Santa Cruz is the “La Recova” a colorful market located in the center of town. It is a mostly food and flower market, but not only. If you want to see it at its best, I recommend going before 2 p.m. (Sunday 3 p.m.) because at that time the food stands close and only the permanent stores remain.
For a truly local (and very tasty) experience you must go to the basement level where the fish market is located. Here several stands prepare fresh fish dishes and local specialties that you can eat right on the spot.
Tenerife Auditorium
Among the best things to see in Santa Cruz de Tenerife i 1 day, you cannot miss the Auditorium, designed by world famous architect Santiago Calatrava and built in 2003. In addition to admiring its unique architecture from the outside, if you have time, I recommend attending a performance inside.
You can choose from opera, ballet and music. Be sure, however, in this case, you must book in advance directly on the official website here: https://www.auditoriodetenerife.com/en/
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Get a 10% discount for my readers here!Where to go in the evening in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
If you are wondering what to do at night in Santa Cruz, you should know that the city is really very lively in terms of evening and nightlife. Aside from the many restaurants where you can sample specialties of typical Canarian cuisine (and not only, because there are restaurants of all kinds), the city is full of small bars, rooftop bars and clubs.
For an aperitif or an after-dinner drink, I recommend going to Calle La Noria, where several bars and restaurants follow one another and it is always very busy. If, like me, you love rooftop bars, try Bamboo, El Atico at the NH Hotel, Baobab and Azotea at 31.
If you happen to have extra time to spend in Tenerife (definitely worthy), here you have some suggestions on things to do and see in my favorite island ever:)
The 15 best beaches in Tenerife (with map)
Top 30 restaurants where to eat in Tenerife South
Guide to Siam Park Tenerife, best water park in the world
5 things to see and do in Tenerife, the biggest of Canary Islands
Tenerife Carnival 2025: history, dates and guide
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