Car hires in Tenerife: practical information
Where to rent a car in Tenerife
Tenerife has two airports, one in the north and one in the south. There are car hire companies at both airports as well as in the island's main towns and cities. At Aeropuerto de Tenerife Sur you'll find CICAR, Goldcar Rental, Hertz, Record Go, Inforentacar, Avis and Atesa, among others. Aeropuerto de Tenerife North has 11 car hire companies, all located at the arrivals gate.
There are literally tons of car hire places around the island. Playa de las Americas and Playa de Fañabe are surrounded by them, just off of the Autopista del Sur. Further up the western coast, you can find an affordable car hire in Acantilado de Los Gigantes and in Puerto de Santiago. Puerto de la Cruz, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and San Cristobal de La Laguna are all well-equipped with can rental companies.
Parking in Tenerife: what you should know
Free parking spots are a hot commodity everywhere on the island. While the locals and seemingly get away with parking just about anywhere, you shouldn't follow their lead. If you park on the street, make sure you feed the metre enough change to cover your stay, otherwise you may come back to see your rental on the back of a tow truck. Do not park on yellow lines and be wary in blue zones. You do not need to put money in the blue parking zones unless it says to do so. In terms of lot parking, stick to underground ones so your car doesn't bake in the heat.
If you plan to rent a car for the entirety of your trip, make sure you book a hotel in Tenerife that offers free parking. In some places this service is a luxury and comes at a price. In other resort hotels, this service is free. It's always better to check before you book.
Road trips from Tenerife: what to do, what to see
Despite Tenerife being the largest of the Canary Islands, you can get around it quite easily in a day if you don't make too many stops. That being said, if you take your time, you can see many things and enjoy the slower pace of the island life. Here are a few trip ideas to inspire your holidays in Tenerife.
- A stone's throw away: Of course everyone comes to Tenerife for the beaches and for the sun. The most famous is the Playa de las America on the island's south-western tip. It's all about high-rolling here, so bring your shades and your dancing shoes. The nightlife here is buzzing in the summer, with enough to do to keep you up all night and all day.
- A little further: Loro Parque in Puerto de la Cruz has one of the largest parrot collections in the world. With 3000+ parrots, tigers, chimpanzees and gorillas, how can you pass a place like this up?
- A proper day-trip: Mount Teide is the third largest volcano in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site, this is reason enough to visit the mountain in the centre of the island. Park your rental and take the hike up or enjoy the great views from the cable car. Apart from the views, El Teide National ark is also home to a variety of wildlife and plant species.
For more things to do in Tenerife, check out Mini-guide: Tenerife.
