You want to visit Tenerife and are wondering where to go: Santa Cruz de Tenerife or Puerto de la Cruz?
We love both destinations. The choice is difficult, but we’re here to help you with our opinions on specific criteria.
Here’s our Santa Cruz de Tenerife vs Puerto de la Cruz battle with tips and photos:
- Atmosphere
- Beaches, monuments and museums
- Location
- Hotels and restaurants
- …
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Content
Santa Cruz de Tenerife or Puerto de la Cruz: comparison summary
Short answer
Both towns offer distinct experiences on the island of Tenerife.
Santa Cruz, Tenerife’s dynamic capital, seduced us with its historic heritage, modern architecture and intense cultural life. It is the island’s administrative and commercial center.
Puerto de la Cruz charmed us with its relaxed resort atmosphere, lush gardens and natural pools. This town in the north of the island favors relaxation and contact with tropical nature.
Depending on what you’re looking for…
- for relaxation and well-being: Puerto de la Cruz
- for the most beautiful beaches: Santa Cruz
- for families with children: Puerto de la Cruz
- for the most beautiful hotels: Puerto de la Cruz
- for a cultural break: Santa Cruz
- for gastronomy: Santa Cruz
- for nightlife: Santa Cruz
- for gardens and nature: Puerto de la Cruz
- …
See the best rated accommodations in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
See the top-rated accommodations in Puerto de la Cruz.
Access + Location to explore the island
The 2 towns are located in the north of Tenerife, offering easy access to the island’s various regions.
Santa Cruz, on the northeast coast, provides easy access to the Anaga massif and its spectacular hiking trails. Puerto de la Cruz, on the northwest coast, is an excellent base for exploring the Teide National Park and its laurel forests.
Here are a few timetables to help you assess the situation:
- Santa Cruz to Puerto de la Cruz = 40min drive
- Santa Cruz to Anaga massif = 40min drive
- Puerto de la Cruz to Teide = 1h10 drive
- Santa Cruz in the south of the island = 50min drive
Tenerife Nord airport (Los Rodeos) mainly serves inter-island flights and a few European destinations.
Puerto de la Cruz to Tenerife Nord airport = 30min
Puerto de la Cruz to Tenerife South airport = 1h10min
Santa Cruz to Tenerife Nord airport = 20min
Santa Cruz to Tenerife South airport = 45min
The main Tenerife Sud airport handles international flights.
Compare available flights
Did you know that the port of Santa Cruz hosts regular shipping services to the other islands of the archipelago and to the Iberian Peninsula?
See ferry offers
Note that both towns have good public bus links (TITSA) for exploring the island without a car. Find all the lines, timetables and routes here.
OUR TIPS TO RENT A CAR IN Tenerife
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- If you’re planning to explore the mountains, don ‘t take the smallest cars. A more powerful engine will be more comfortable.
- But don’t take too big a car either, as some roads are narrow.
- There’s a lot of demand and it’s an island, so book early.
Hotels: Santa Cruz vs Puerto de la Cruz
Hotels in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz’s hotel offer favors sophisticated urban establishments, often with panoramic rooftops.
We particularly recommend:
- Luxury and colonial architecture: Hotel Iberostar Heritage Grand Mencey – See prices, photos and availability
- Historic Boutique Hotel: The Park Suites by IRES LAR – See prices, photos and availability
- Central location in the old town: AC Hotel by Marriott Tenerife – See prices, photos and availability
- Exceptional Rooftop: Hotel Taburiente S.C.Tenerife – See prices, photos and availability
Read our article on where to stay in Santa Cruz.
Hotels in Puerto de la Cruz
Puerto de la Cruz’s hotel offer is distinguished by its wellness and relaxation-oriented establishments, often nestled in tropical gardens.
We particularly recommend:
- Luxury and spa: Hotel Botanico y Oriental Spa Garden – See prices, photos and availability
- Resort adults-only: Atlantic Mirage Hotel – Check prices, photos and availability
- Aparthotel: Tigaiga Suites – See prices, photos and availability
Read our article on where to stay in Puerto de la Cruz.
Our review
Puerto de la Cruz wins out for relaxation and wellness holidays. If you’re looking for a refined urban experience, Santa Cruz is the place for you!
Attractions, museums and monuments
Attractions in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz’s main attractions are
- Explore the old town of Santa Cruz
- Contemplating ocean views at Palmetum
- Enjoy the avant-garde architecture of the Tenerife Auditorium
- Santa Cruz Carnival festivities
- Recharge your batteries in García Sanabria Park
- Discover the works of César Manrique
- Taste local produce at Marché Notre-Dame d’Afrique
- Immerse yourself in contemporary art at TEA
- Stroll through the historic squares
- Recollection in theChurch of Notre-Dame de la Conception
- Shopping
- …
Find out more in our article on the best attractions in Santa Cruz.
Attractions in Puerto de la Cruz
Puerto de la Cruz’s main attractions are..:
- Sunbathing in the garden at Playa Jardin
- Marvel at the Jardin Botanico
- Relax at Lago Martianez
- Stroll along the Paseo Maritimo
- Recollection at Nuestra Señora de la Peña de Francia church
- Explore the Castillo San Felipe
- Admire Street Art on the walls of Puerto de la Cruz
- …
Find out more in our article on the best attractions in Puerto de la Cruz.
Our review
Santa Cruz offers greater cultural diversity, while Puerto de la Cruz focuses on natural attractions and seaside recreation.
Our winning city: Santa Cruz for its cultural richness.
HAVE FUN IN TENERIFE: activities
Most beautiful beaches
Santa Cruz beaches
In our opinion, the best beaches are to be found north of Santa Cruz in the Anaga massif. In the town itself, swimming is prohibited due to potentially contaminated water. However, you can enjoy a swim in the Parc Maritime César Manrique, close to the town center.
Instead, we recommend heading for the San Andrés area, home to the famous Playa de Las Teresitas, whose golden sands and turquoise waters seduced us. If you’re looking for wilder, more secluded beaches, push on to Igueste and the surrounding area:
- Playa de Las Teresitas
- Playa de Las Gaviotas
- Playa Cueva del Agua
- …
See our article on the most beautiful beaches in Santa Cruz.
Beaches of Puerto de la Cruz
Puerto de la Cruz offers volcanic black sand beaches in an exceptional tropical setting. Between Tenerife’s superb landscapes and the movement of the Atlantic Ocean, you’ll have a great time, alone or with friends:
- Playa de Martiánez
- Playa del Castillo
- Playa Jiménez
- …
See our article on the most beautiful beaches in Puerto de la Cruz.
Our review
Santa Cruz comes out on top for the quality of its beaches, especially the superb La Playa del Castillo, a unique beach also known as Playa Jardin. We were charmed by its picturesque setting: the San Felipe Castle, from which it takes its name, on one side, and the garden with its palm trees on the other. It’s a veritable oasis between the city and the ocean.
Our winner: Santa Cruz.
Excursions around the cities
Excursions from Santa Cruz
From Santa Cruz, you can visit..:
- Massif d’Anaga: rent a car and drive along Route TF-12, which offers some of the best views of the north of the island. Although you have to drive slowly, the panoramic views of the mountains and ocean are breathtaking! For added comfort, opt for a private tour with pick-up – see photos, photos and availability.
- Teide National Park: a UNESCO World Heritage site, it transports you to a lunar landscape dominated by Spain’s highest peak. It’s a must-see destination not to be missed – see tour details.
- The complete island tour: discover Tenerife’s exceptional diversity in just one day. From traditional villages to lively seaside resorts, each stop reveals a new face of the island – find out more here.
- And the village of San Cristobal de la Laguna, the former colonial capital.
The Anaga massif particularly impressed us with its primary forests and breathtaking panoramas. We also recommend a visit to La Laguna, a remarkably well-preserved former colonial capital.
Excursions from Puerto de la Cruz
From Puerto de la Cruz, you can visit:
- Teide National Park and its iconic volcano: why not take a 3-hour guided hike up the slopes of the volcano, Spain’s highest point (3,718 m)? From the departure point of the cable car, you’ll be blown away by the panoramic views over the island and the entire Canary archipelago. See prices, photos and availability.
- The region’s laurel forests
- The traditional villages of La Orotava and Los Realejos
- Garachico‘s natural pools
We particularly enjoyed the excursion to Teide from Puerto de la Cruz, where you can admire the island’s spectacular volcanic landscapes.
Our review
Both towns offer similar excursions: between forests, colonial heritage, volcanoes and typical villages.
Equality for the diversity of possible excursions!
A LITTLE MORE patience
All the photos, maps, information and addresses you need to make your stay in the Canaries a success will soon be available in a single ebook!
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Best gastronomic offer
Restaurants in Santa Cruz
Tenerife’s vibrant capital, Santa Cruz boasts an excellent culinary scene that skilfully blends tradition and modernity. We were particularly impressed by Santa Cruz’s diverse offering. From sophisticated establishments to small, friendly addresses, we’ve selected the very best restaurants:
- Restaurant Etéreo by Pedro Nel: creative cuisine open on Sundays
- Restaurant El Aguarde: authentic traditional Canarian cuisine
- Restaurant Sagrario: local specialities in a historic setting
- Restaurant Kiki: innovative Japanese fusion cuisine
- Restaurant Jaxana: refined Asian fusion cuisine
Discover our selection of the best restaurants in Santa Cruz.
Restaurants in Puerto de la Cruz
Puerto de la Cruz offers a gastronomic experience based on conviviality and local produce. As an appetizer, here are our 3 favorite restaurants:
- Restaurant Tasca Ihüey: a refined, authentic culinary experience in an elegant woodland setting
- Restaurant Vinoteca con Pasion: a chic wine bar whose exceptional wine selection won us over
- Restaurant Olea Pintxos Bar: a tapas bar featuring local produce, a must on any Canary Islands holiday.
Discover our selection of the best restaurants in Puerto de la Cruz.
Our review
Santa Cruz wins out for the diversity and sophistication of its gastronomic offering.
Our winner: Santa Cruz.
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Easy to get around these cities
Getting around Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, which is larger, has an excellent streetcar network linking the main districts. City buses are an effective complement to public transport. The historic center is easily accessible on foot.
We found the streetcar particularly convenient for getting to different parts of the capital quickly.
Getting around Puerto de la Cruz
Puerto de la Cruz is easy to explore on foot, thanks to its human scale. The city center is home to most of the main attractions. The local bus network efficiently serves more remote sites such as Lago Martianez.
We appreciated how easy it was to get around in this compact city, where everything is within easy reach.
Our review
Puerto de la Cruz is best suited to car-free holidays, while Santa Cruz offers more public transport options.
A slight preference for Puerto de la Cruz in terms of simplicity.
Can we visit Santa Cruz and Puerto de la Cruz on the same trip?
The two towns are just a 45-minute drive apart.
By public bus, the journey between the two destinations takes about 1 hour.
So it’s perfectly possible to combine the two cities on the same Tenerife holiday.
And why not other towns in Tenerife?
Tenerife has many other attractive destinations to discover. You might also consider:
- La Laguna (UNESCO heritage site)
- La Orotava (colonial architecture)
- Los Cristianos (southern seaside resorts)
- Garachico (natural pools)
- …
Read our article on the most beautiful towns in Tenerife.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO tenerife
- Best of
What to do in Tenerife
Most beautiful towns and villages
Most beautiful beaches
Best natural pools
Most beautiful landscapes
Most beautiful roads
Amusement parks
Best boat tours (coming soon)
Secret places, off the beaten track (coming soon)
- Practical advice
25 tips for a successful trip to Tenerife
How to get around
How to rent a car in Tenerife
Driving tips
Best excursions (coming soon)
Where to stay in Tenerife
Itineraries: 3 days – 4 days – 5 days – 6 days – 1 week – 10 days
- The must-dos
Dolphin watching in Tenerife (coming soon)
Teide National Park
Anaga Rural Park (coming soon)
La Orotava (coming soon)
Garachico
Village of Masca
Pyramids of Güimar
SHE MADE THE TRIP Claire
