What budget for a trip to Tenerife?

Here I am again with an article to give you an idea of the budget to plan for traveling to Tenerife. I know, it’s not the most fun part, but it’s still important. After going there twice, I can assure you that Tenerife is a destination that adapts a bit to every budget. In fact, it all depends on your travel style.

Unsurprisingly, the biggest chunk goes to accommodation on site, while activities remain fairly affordable, knowing that some of them are free, like going on hikes in Tenerife. In any case, I can assure you that you won’t get bored, quite the opposite. Even after going there several times, I still have a list of things to do in Tenerife, even though I’ve done the must-sees and more.

As for transportation, as you can imagine, renting a car does bump up the budget a bit, but in my view, it’s almost essential for getting around Tenerife. But anyway, I’ll break all that down for you below so you have a good overview of everything. As you’ve probably guessed, the goal of this article is to share good tips and estimates with you so you know what to expect! It should save you time and give you a clearer idea of the kind of trip you can plan in Tenerife.

So, I’m going to try to answer this question as best I can, even though it’s quite broad. What I can already tell you is that it’s totally possible to travel there on a small budget. On top of that, Tenerife is the most developed Canary Island for tourism, which means there is accommodation and activities at all price ranges. In general, the cost of living there is even 15 to 20% cheaper than in mainland Spain. In this section, we’ll go over all the expense categories for your stay: from accommodation to meals, etc.

First step in planning your trip to Tenerife: plane tickets to reach the island and the Canary archipelago. If you’re flying from France, you’ll arrive at Tenerife South Airport. I find that, given the distance and flight time, prices remain reasonable, especially in the low season. Plus, most flights are operated by low-cost airlines like Ryanair and EasyJet. From certain European cities, with these low-cost airlines, you can get round trips between 70 and 220 €.

Of course, if you’re traveling in high season and from a less-served and less popular city, prices increase quite a bit. For my part, when I went in the low season but from Toulouse, I was more in the higher range.

I recommend booking quite early, as soon as you can. And if you’re flexible on departure dates, that’s even better (avoid school holidays and plan departures and returns outside weekends). It might not seem like it, but it really makes a difference. That’s about all I can tell you about flights to Tenerife. Personally, I find that, given the distance and flight time, prices remain reasonable, with better deals if you book in advance.

As I was saying, it’s the accommodation(s) that take up the biggest part of the overall vacation budget in Tenerife. Having stayed there twice, I’ve found that Tenerife offers a very wide range: from the most affordable to the most luxurious. So no worries, you can find really nice places at decent prices.

To travel without breaking the bank, you can find simple places to stay like studios or homestays around 45 € per night in low season. Plus, there are real gems with good reviews and in natural surroundings. If you’re leaning more towards this type of option, know that you’ll find them in the north of Tenerife, as it’s much less touristy than the south. For a good compromise, there are also good mid-range hotels starting around 60 € per night with breakfast included.

If you’re aiming for a more high-end stay, there’s no shortage of upscale hotels with pools, suites, spas and sea views. Prices for 4 and 5 stars start around 150 €, or even 200 €. That’s just a starting rate, because in Costa Adeje, prices are much higher; which makes sense, since it’s kind of the Saint-Tropez of Tenerife.

As with plane tickets, prices vary a lot depending on the season. To give you an example, the first time I went to Tenerife, in August, prices were twice as high as the first week of September. No need to tell you which period I decided to go in ahah.

Even though Tenerife is fairly well served compared to the other islands in the archipelago, I still recommend planning your transportation before arriving. I’ll detail all the options available to you right here:

• Bus (TITSA network): this is simply the cheapest option for getting around the island. Roughly speaking, you should count between 1.50 and 3 € per trip. If you’re taking longer routes or traveling from Tenerife South Airport, it’s slightly more expensive, around 5 €. But you’ll only go to the airport twice, for example. And if you plan on moving around a lot, get the Ten+ card, which you can top up and which offers more advantageous fares.
• Car rental: that’s what I did both times I went, because I really wanted the freedom to go even to the most remote corners of the island. Honestly, prices stay reasonable, especially in low season. It’s around 20 to 30 € per day. In high season, obviously, it goes up because demand is much higher; you’re more in the 40–50 € per day range, or more depending on the model you choose. Personally, I recommend taking a medium-sized city car with some power, because there’s a lot of climbing. You’ll be more comfortable and sure you can start on hills without a problem. For example, a Seat Ibiza or a Hyundai i20 is enough. I don’t think there’s any point in getting something bigger, because when the roads are narrow, you need a good eye for distances, especially with the drop-off next to you ahah. To compare prices and book easily, you can go through Discover Cars in Tenerife.

• Tram (Metrotenerife): I was surprised that there’s a tram on the island of Tenerife, but it only runs in the north. More precisely, in the capital Santa Cruz and linking it to La Laguna. I think it’s already a nice modern infrastructure, but it’s limited to very specific routes. On the other hand, it’s cheaper than the bus: 1.35 € per ride, and even less with the Ten+ card.
• Taxis and VTC: in general, rides are affordable and recorded by an official meter for taxis. To give you an idea, a ride within a city ranges between 5 € and 10 €. For the airport, it’s more like 25 € to 35 €, depending on your destination. That’s not very surprising either and it’s the same as anywhere: with the taxes, it always costs more going to or from the airport. As for VTC, it depends on current demand, and they’re mainly around tourist areas like Costa Adeje, Las Américas or the capital.

If, in one trip, you want to visit several Canary Islands, you’re absolutely right to make the most of the opportunity. For those of you concerned, here’s an idea of the prices for going from one island to another. Naturally, the closer they are, the cheaper it is. You mainly have two options, here they are:

By ferry: if you don’t get seasick, this is a good option for crossing with your rental car, for example. Unless, like me, you’re going from Tenerife to Lanzarote, which are kind of opposite each other ahah.

Here’s an average of the prices for the most common trips from Tenerife:

• Tenerife to La Gomera: from about 35 € per person (one way), or 80 € to 100 € with a car.
• Tenerife to Gran Canaria: generally 40–55 € per person for a one-way ticket.
• Tenerife to La Palma: around 55–70 €, but that varies a lot depending on the season.
• Tenerife to Lanzarote: it’s not the most common route, but I’m mentioning it anyway because I looked it up while doing my research. It’s not cheap: you have to count 200 € for a one-way ticket, plus about 50 € with a car.

I recommend booking as early as possible; that way, you’ll be more in the lower price range for these crossings. Another little tip: carefully compare prices between the two companies Fred. Olsen Express and Naviera Armas; depending on the dates, there can be differences between the two.

By plane

Even though it surprised me, it’s often cheaper to fly. It’s also obviously faster, except for the Tenerife–La Gomera route, because you have to factor in the time to arrive early at the airport. Once again, here’s an average of prices, which vary depending on the season and how far in advance you book (just to be clear):

• Short routes (Tenerife–Gran Canaria, Tenerife–La Palma, etc.) usually start around 30–40 € one way when you book early.
• Longer routes, like Tenerife–Lanzarote or Fuerteventura, are more around 80–250 €, knowing that even in low season I was more in the middle of that range.

In short, for short crossings, I’d recommend going with the ferry (like La Gomera or Gran Canaria). For longer connections to Lanzarote or Fuerteventura, fly instead; it’s really faster and cheaper.

Okay, let’s move on to the most fun part to plan! Good news: one of the advantages of Tenerife is that there are both great free and paid activities. That means you don’t have to stretch your budget too much ahah. When it comes to paid activities, there are options at every price point. On my side, I did a mix of both and it was the perfect balance!

In my eyes, and without exaggerating, I think Tenerife is a true natural paradise. There are as many sightseeing opportunities as there are beautiful discoveries to be made in town. I’ll let you judge for yourself with a few activities I consider must-dos:

• strolling through the little colorful streets of La Orotava (it let me soak up the local atmosphere),
• discovering La Laguna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,
• hiking the trails of Anaga Rural Park,
• going to see the impressive cliffs of Los Gigantes,
• touring the beaches of Tenerife like Playa Benijo, El Médano, Las Teresitas, La Tejita, etc.,
• exploring the lunar landscapes around Teide, in the national park, which are just incredible.

I could keep going, but I think you get the idea. Put simply, Tenerife is full of wonderful surprises like hikes, volcanic landscapes, colorful villages and wild beaches that make it so beautiful. I was blown away and I’m sure you’ll feel the same. All that is the “base” of Tenerife, while the paid activities are the bonus.

If you want to treat yourself and there are activities that catch your eye, I think there are paid activities in Tenerife for every budget. I’ll give you a few ideas.

For everything related to cultural visits, museums and attractions:

• The ticket for the Teide cable car costs around 40 € round trip per adult.
• Visit to Loro Parque: 44 € per adult. It may seem expensive, but I found it worth it!
• Siam Park (one of the best water parks in the world!): 44 € per adult as well.

On the water side:

• Boat trip to see dolphins and whales: between 30 and 80 € depending on the duration and type of boat. For me, it was a sailboat with a small group, so I was in the higher range: 75 € per person, but I don’t regret it at all. Simply put, this whale and dolphin watching trip in Tenerife is one of my best memories.
• Guided snorkeling trips: plan between 35 and 45 €, it’s great for discovering the best spots and seeing as many fish as possible. If you’re interested, I did a guided snorkeling trip in Tenerife that I talk all about in a dedicated article.
• Introductory scuba dive: from 60–70 €, and about 80–90 € for a full session. Marine life around the Canary Islands is just incredible. I did an introductory dive in Lanzarote and saw both tropical fish and Atlantic fish. I didn’t know where to look first.
• Kayak or paddleboarding: about 15 to 25 € per hour.

For private or premium activities, prices go up more quickly and vary from one operator to another. For example:

Private boat: 250 to 500 € depending on the duration and type of boat.
Quad excursion in Tenerife:

• around 100–120 € for a driver,
• 170–200 € for driver + passenger.

I don’t know what you think, but I feel there are plenty of options for enjoying great activities with family, friends or as a couple. I’ve already shared my favorites; now it’s up to you to see what appeals to you!

Calling all foodies, you’re going to love eating in Tenerife, and at very reasonable prices. What I liked during my two stays is that I could eat at pretty much any time of day. This is Spain, and kitchens, even in bars, are open almost continuously, at least to grab a bocadillo (sandwich) or tapas. But even for main dishes, lunch service easily runs until 5 p.m., then starts up again from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. It’s really convenient on vacation: you don’t have to rush, you know you’ll always find something.

Okay, let’s talk prices: these are averages of what I saw there.

Restaurants and everyday meals

• In a guachinche (the little local spots I like), you can eat for 10 to 15 € per person, drinks included.
• In a regular restaurant, count more like 12 to 20 € for a main dish, so 20 to 30 € per person with a drink.
• In more touristy restaurants in the south, prices can go up a bit, but remain very reasonable considering the setting and level of comfort: around 25 to 40 € per person depending on what you order.

And if you prefer to grab something on the go, it’s really cheap:

• A sandwich, bocadillo or empanada often costs between 2 and 5 €.

Groceries in supermarkets

There’s the well-known chain Mercadona or, otherwise, Lidl, which is really inexpensive. You’ll see that prices are lower than in France and mainland Spain.
In short, I can tell you that I treated myself in Tenerife without worrying too much and by taking little breaks on terraces. I have to admit that at these prices, it makes you want to enjoy it even more!

For a break over a long weekend, Tenerife is a great option. It lets you get away from it all and I’d even say: feel totally disoriented for a few days. I’m repeating myself a bit, but Tenerife is an island for every budget. So here are a few estimates for 4-day vacations in Tenerife depending on the type of trip you’re planning:

• Small budgets: between 350 and 500 €, which is what you should count if you choose simple accommodation like a hostel, studio or Airbnb, with simple meals or food on the go and mostly free activities.
• Medium budgets: between 500 and 800 €, for a comfortable hotel with breakfast included, a few paid activities and nice restaurants, plus a rental car for your trips.
• Large budgets: between 800 and 1,200 €, if you want to enjoy Tenerife without too many limits, with high-end hotels, more premium paid activities, theme parks and more elaborate restaurants.

Even though 4 days in Tenerife goes by quickly and it’s hard to do everything, I think it’s still a great destination to get away or take a little sunny break in winter, for example.

To give you a better idea, here are more detailed estimates for a week on a budget:

• Round-trip flight: 120 to 250 €
• Car rental (7 days): 150 to 300 €
• Gas: 60 to 100 €
• Accommodation: 55 to 85 € per night
• Meals: 25 to 40 € per day
• Alternative transport (bus + possible ferry): 25 to 70 €
• Activities: 90 to 170 € (Teide cable car, boat trip, a park, etc.)

That gives us a total between 850 and 1,200 € for small budgets for a week in Tenerife. For more comfort and a few extra activities and restaurants, it’s better to plan between 1,200 and 1,800 €. Finally, if you move into the high-end range, you’re more between 1,800 and 2,500 €. Be aware that some prices can double in high season.

Starting from the basis of a one-week stay in Tenerife, here’s a realistic estimate for 10 days there, depending on your travel style:

Small budgets: about 1,100 to 1,450 €
For a simple trip that’s still rich in discoveries, with affordable accommodation, public transport or a small rental car, local meals and a few paid activities.

Medium budgets: between 1,500 and 2,100 €
Perfect for comfortable accommodation with breakfast, more restaurant meals, a rental car for freedom and several excursions.

Large budgets: between 2,200 and 3,000 €
To fully enjoy the island: high-end hotel, more refined restaurants, premium activities (private boat, guided outings, foodie experiences), a more comfortable car and total freedom all over the island.

• In 10 days, I can tell you that you already get a great overview of the island while going at your own pace! You’ll have more than enough time to see the must-sees while taking breaks and enjoying the local atmosphere.

By simply doubling the estimates for a week in Tenerife, here’s what you can plan for two weeks on the Canary Island:

• Small budgets: 1,700 to 2,400 € for a simple, economical trip without extras.
• Medium budgets: 2,400 to 3,600 € for a more comfortable stay with a few treats.
• Large budgets: 3,600 to 5,000 € for two weeks of limitless luxury.

Two weeks is the total amount of time I’ve spent in Tenerife. I really got to know the island. Between us, I’m not very objective, but that’s the length of stay I recommend. Plus, know that we’ve put together a full article on itineraries in Tenerife depending on how long you stay.

There you go, we’ve done a good overview of the budget to plan for a trip to Tenerife. Again, these are estimates and averages to give you useful guidelines for planning your trip. At least now you have some idea of what you’re in for ahah, even though, as you’ve seen, the island adapts to all types of budgets and trips.
While we’re at it, I suggest helping you choose your travel dates with our article on the best times to go to Tenerife. In any case, I hope Tenerife enchants you as much as it has enchanted me!

See you soon to plan your trip to Tenerife,

Written by Laura CALLES

Thanks to Mélanie and Sylvain, I had the chance to discover the Canary Islands, specifically Tenerife and Lanzarote, so that I could share these island paradises with you. Two real favorites of mine!

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