Living in Tenerife: a guide for property buyers
Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago in the Atlantic off the coast of north-west Africa. If you are thinking of buying property in Tenerife, to live or for holidays, this is the island in brief.
The island at a glance
- Size: about 2,034 km², the largest of the eight inhabited Canary Islands.
- People: around 970,000 residents.
- Mount Teide: 3,715 m, the highest mountain in Spain. The Teide National Park around it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Capital: Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which shares the role of capital of the Canary Islands with Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
- Airports: Tenerife South, in the south, and Tenerife North–Ciudad de La Laguna, near the capital.
- Taxes: the Canary Islands have their own indirect tax, IGIC, instead of the VAT used in mainland Spain.
North and south
The island is often described as two places. The south and south-west are drier and sunnier, and that is where the main resorts are: Costa Adeje, Playa de las Américas and Los Cristianos, with quieter places such as Palm Mar, Golf del Sur and El Médano nearby. Most of the property we sell is in the south.
The north is greener and cooler, with the Orotava valley, the old town of La Laguna, Puerto de la Cruz and the capital, Santa Cruz.
Beaches and the coast
Many of the south's beaches are of dark volcanic sand, and several resort beaches have had lighter sand added. El Médano is known for windsurfing and kitesurfing. Near Santa Cruz, Las Teresitas beach was built with sand brought from the Sahara.
Getting about
The TF-1 motorway runs along the south and east coasts between the south of the island and Santa Cruz, and the TF-5 continues along the north. Ferries leave Los Cristianos for La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro.
Things to do
Beyond the beaches, there are nine golf courses (see our golf courses map), marinas, walking in the Teide National Park and the Anaga mountains, whale and dolphin watching trips from the south coast, and a cable car that runs up much of the way to the summit of Teide.
Buying property here
If you are considering a home in Tenerife, start with our guide to the areas and the buyers guide, then see what is for sale.
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