As well as year round sunshine and warm temperatures Tenerife offers plenty to keep children occupied during your holiday.
You just need enough time and planning to tick off as many of these great places off your bucket list when visiting the island.
Take a look at 15 of the favourite things to do while you’re in Tenerife with your children.
1. Cool off at Siam Park
We have visited some of the world’s best water parks in Dubai and Florida but little did we know that the top rated water park in the world according to Trip Advisor was in Tenerife.
Siam Park is one impressive water park that your kids will love so much that one visit won’t be enough – expect lots of fun from the wide range of slides which cater for water babies to thrill seeking children and adults.
As you walk through the gates you feel as though you have been transported to Thailand, the Thai-inspired landscaping and architecture is so impressive – it’s one beautiful water park with the flumes blending in with the lush surroundings.
The highlight of which is the Tower of Power, a 28m vertical plunge in a slide past sharks and stingrays.
Kids will love playing on the huge white sandy beach, a rare sight in Tenerife with its typical black volcanic sand and swimming in the stunning turquoise lagoon or relaxing on the world’s longest lazy river.
Web – https://www.siampark.net/index.php/en/siam-park-en/attractions
2. Stop off at Teide National Park
On our drive from the west coast along the winding, twisting mountain roads towards Mount Teide was incredible.
We passed banana plantations, gorgeous traditional Canarian towns, pine forests until eventually we reached the dramatic lunar landscapes of Teide National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Driving through the park was such a memorable experience passing craters, its dramatic ochre-coloured volcanic dust and rocky terrain with lava flow formations and vents.
It really did feel as though we had left the beaches of Tenerife and arrived on an alien planet, it was a surreal experience like nothing we had seen before – we learned that NASA tested their Mars rover here and I can see why.
There were so many places to stop en-route taking in the sights and photographing parts of Tenerife that lots of visitors miss.
3. Walk at the top of a volcano at Mount Teide
No visit to Tenerife would be complete without a trip to its most famous and iconic landmark, Mount Teide, the huge volcano that makes up the core of Tenerife.
Visiting Teide National Park and taking the excursion at the top of Mount Teide is highly recommended, it was one of the highlights of our trip to Tenerife.
At an impressive 3,718 metres high it’s the world’s third highest volcano after Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea in Hawaii and the highest point in Spain.
We could see it clearly from our hotel but nothing can prepare you for when you get close to this magnificent location.
Many visitors just take the 8 minute cable car ride to the summit for a few photos and then catch it back down to the visitor centre, but they are missing out on so much more of what Mount Teide has to offer.
I highly recommend booking a “Mount Teide for Families” excursion for a private 2 ½ hour guided tour of the volcano to one of its most dramatic viewpoints of the Pico Viejo crater.
web- https://www.volcanoteide.com/en/volcano_teide/special_activities/mount_teide_for_families
4. Get closer to nature at Loro Parque
Loro Parque is one of the most beautiful zoos we have visited and I can see why it has recently been voted the best zoo in Europe by Trip Advisor.
The 13.5 hectare park is home to the world’s largest collection of parrots but over the years it has evolved to become a world class zoo and birds now only represent a small part of what is on offer.
The spectacular shows at Loro Parque are really informative and are not to be missed.
web – https://www.loroparque.com/index.php/en
5. Experience the wonder of the Pyramids of Guimar
Kids and adults will love the adventure of visiting the mysterious pyramids at Guimar located towards the north of the island.
The origins of the site remain unknown but it has been linked to the ancient civilizations of the Mayans and Egyptians.
Similar to its more famous relatives the pyramids are perfectly aligned and astronomically oriented according to the winter and summer solstice.
Web – http://www.piramidesdeguimar.es/en
6. Have fun in the trees at Forestal Park
If you are fans of Go Ape in the UK then you will love Forestal Park located just outside Teide National Park.
In the pretty surroundings of pine forests you ascend into the treetop canopy 100ft above the ground where you move from tree to tree via rope bridges, ladders, swings, wooden ledges.
There is also the longest zip-line in the Canary Islands at 230 metres long to zoom down – it’s great fun for older children and adults.
Younger children are also catered for with another course much closer to the ground, suitable for children aged six an over.
Web – https://www.forestalparktenerife.es/en/
7. Have fun at Lago Martianez
Whilst Siam Park and Aqualand get all the attention when it comes to water parks it’s also worth checking out the lesser known Lago Martianez on the north coast of Tenerife.
This huge man made saltwater lake was built in the 70’s and is one of the most impressive water complexes you will visit.
With seven swimming pools to suit all the family, lots of sun terraces to relax, restaurants and beautifully landscaped grounds it’s a place that all the family will love and it’s different .
Don’t forget to check out the huge geyser it’s like being in Iceland minus the snow and ice.
Web – https://ociocostamartianez.com
8. Monkey Park – the biggest little zoo in the world
As an alternative to the brilliant Loro Parque check out Monkey Park which boasts an impressive 20 different types of monkeys and apes.
It is advertised as the biggest little zoo in the world and there is plenty to keep the kids entertained at this family-friendly zoo. It’s not just monkeys here you will also see iguanas, crocodiles, turtles, lemurs and snakes.
You can also purchase dried fruit and nuts to feed some of the lemurs, monkeys and parrots.
Web – http://monkeypark.com/en/
9. Learn about Space at the Museum of Science and the Cosmos
Fans of space will love visiting the Museum of Science and the Cosmos. With over 70 interactive exhibits on the earth, sun and the universe as well as a planetarium it’s great for the children to learn about space in a fun hands-on way.
Web – https://www.museosdetenerife.org/mcc-museo-de-la-ciencia-y-el-cosmos
10. See the animals at Jungle Park
This large natural wildlife park is set in 19 acres of jungle and is home to over 500 animals including tigers, leopards, alligators, sea lions and tropical birds.
Along with seeing the animals there are several shows throughout the day are informative and engaging. Don’t forget to check out their toboggan run and the ropes, bridges, caves and tunnels of the jungle area – kids won’t want to leave.
Web – https://www.junglepark.es/en/
11. Hike in the Jurassic like world of Anaga Rural Park
What we love about Tenerife is the contrast between each part of the island. This is evident in the Unesco-protected Anaga rainforest park in the north west of the island.
This stunningly beautiful landscape of volcanic mountains and giant flowers – it is like stepping into a Jurassic world without the dinosaurs especially as some of the laurel forests here have been around for more than 40 million years.
For families the most accessible trails in the Anaga reserve is the Sendero de los Sentidos and you have a guide who takes you on the three hour hike around the Anaga Mountains in this amazing part of the island.
web – https://www.volcanoteide.com/en/volcano_teide/hiking/visit_to_anaga
12. See the dolls at Artlandya
ARTlandya will be one of the most unique and interesting museums that you will visit. Set in beautiful countryside this museum is a hidden gem in Tenerife with over 300 dolls and teddy bears on display which kids will love seeing.
The museum also has an onsite workshop so you can see and learn how these amazing porcelain dolls are made.web – http://www.artlandya.com
13. Aqualand Costa Adeje
Although not as impressive as Siam Park, Aqualand is a great option for younger kids as many of the attractions are better suited to younger children with a huge family section with themed pools, small slides and even a kids wave pool.
For adrenaline seeking older children and adults you are catered for with slides including the Twister and Kamikaze.
The other benefit of Aqualand is that the queues are typically shorter here than Siam Park.
Along with the water park there is also a dolphin show to see during your visit.
Web – https://www.aqualand.es/costa-adeje/en/
14. Go underground at the Cave of the Wind
Having scaled the top of the volcano at Mount Teide go underground at the Cave of the Wind. You set off on a guided tour to check out the 18km of lava tunnels which were formed 27,000 years ago from the nearby Pico Viejo volcano.
It’s the fifth largest lava tube in the world with the other four being in the Hawaiian islands and this is one unique experience as you walk towards the centre of the earth.
web – https://www.cuevadelviento.net
15. Set Sail and go Whale and Dolphin Watching
You can set sail on a family boat trip from the South Coast of the Island to spot pilot whales, turtles and bottlenose dolphins that live off the coast of Tenerife.
There are several companies who offer various packages and typically last around 3 hours.
Many companies will offer drinks and snacks in your package and will have an informative and knowledgeable crew.
If you are feeling brave then some trips even give you the chance to go swimming in the Atlantic Ocean.
For a fun twist that kids will love you can go on the lookout for dolphins and whales on an actual pirate ship.
web – https://www.freebirdone.com
Bonus – Visit the Volcanic Sand Beaches
You can’t come on holiday without taking the kids to the beach and you are spoilt for choice in Tenerife with an abundance of family friendly beaches to choose from.
With many of the beaches in Tenerife having dark volcanic sand like ours in the west of the island at the beautiful and peaceful Guía de Isora it added a unique twist of visiting the beach with the kids.
How to book your tickets
Many of these activities are available to pre-book before your holiday either direct on the attractions website or via a UK company such as AttractionTix or 365 tickets before your holiday and will often be cheaper than the “on the gate” price.