| Beach | Area | Size | Sand | Blue Flag | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Playa del Duque | Costa Adeje | 390 m x 60 m | Pale | Yes | Services, upmarket hotels |
| Las Vistas | Los Cristianos | 850 m x 80 m | Pale | Yes | Long walk, calm water |
| El Camisón | Playa de las Américas | 350 m x 40 m | Fine, pale | Yes | Calm water, bars |
| Las Teresitas | Santa Cruz | 1,300 m x 80 m | Pale | Not listed | A city beach with lifeguard |
| El Médano | Granadilla de Abona | 750 m x 43 m | Fine, grey | Yes | Windsurfing, kitesurfing |
| La Tejita | El Médano | 1,000 m x 33 m | Black, as listed | Not listed | Space, no cars |
| Playa de San Juan | Guía de Isora | 360 m x 30 m | Black | Yes | Calm, village feel |
| La Arena | Puerto de Santiago | 140 m x 40 m | Black | Yes | Under the Los Gigantes cliffs |
| Playa Jardín | Puerto de la Cruz | 240 m x 40 m | Black | Yes (complex) | Town beach, surf |
Sizes, sand and flags are taken from the tourist board's beach pages, read on 7 November 2026.
Best for families
The tourist board classes Las Teresitas as family friendly: breakwaters calm the water, there is a lifeguard service, parking for more than 100 cars, an urban bus and disabled access. In the south, Las Vistas and El Camisón both sit behind breakwaters that keep the water calm. See Playa de Las Teresitas, Los Cristianos and Playa de las Américas. For rooms on the sand, see beachfront hotels in Tenerife.
Best for services and a quiet resort feel
Playa del Duque has toilets, showers, changing rooms, bars, restaurants and loungers, and it is in front of some of the island's most luxurious hotels. A promenade links it with at least eight other beaches. See Playa del Duque and Costa Adeje.
Best for wind sports
El Médano has a windsurfing area, and the tourist board says the section furthest from town is the main area for windsurfing and kitesurfing, while the section nearest the town has gentler waves for families. It has hosted world windsurfing and kitesurfing championships. See where to stay in El Médano.
Best for black sand and fewer crowds
Playa de San Juan and La Arena have Blue Flags and lifeguards or diving areas; Playa Jardín is the town beach of Puerto de la Cruz; El Bollullo and Benijo are the wild ones. All are compared in Tenerife black sand beaches, with Playa de San Juan as the best-equipped.
Best for space
La Tejita is 1,000 m long beside Montaña Roja and cars cannot reach it: you park along the Médano to Los Abrigos road and walk about five minutes. Nudists are welcome, according to the tourist board. See La Tejita.
How to choose
- Staying in the south (Costa Adeje, Las Américas, Los Cristianos): Playa del Duque, El Camisón and Las Vistas are all on the same coast. Rooms are in where to stay in Costa Adeje.
- Staying in the north (Puerto de la Cruz): Playa Jardín in town, El Bollullo on foot.
- Day trip from Santa Cruz: Las Teresitas.
- Want wind: El Médano.
- Want to compare areas for the whole trip: where to stay in Tenerife.
Mistakes to avoid
- Assuming every beach has a lifeguard. The tourist board lists one at Playa de San Juan and Las Teresitas; its La Tejita page lists none.
- Driving to La Tejita. Cars cannot reach the sand.
- Taking a wheelchair or buggy to El Bollullo, Benijo or La Tejita, which have no disabled access.
- Choosing a north-coast hotel for a pale-sand holiday. The pale beaches of this guide are in the south and at Santa Cruz; the area comparison is in Tenerife north or south.
FAQ
What is the best beach in Tenerife?
There is no single answer. Playa del Duque has the most services, Las Vistas is the longest in the south, and Las Teresitas is the longest in this comparison at 1,300 m.
Which beaches in Tenerife have a Blue Flag?
Playa del Duque, El Camisón, Las Vistas, El Médano, Playa de San Juan, La Arena and the Playa Jardín complex in Puerto de la Cruz are all named as Blue Flag beaches on the tourist board's pages.
Are there black sand beaches in the south?
La Tejita, by Montaña Roja, is listed with black sand; the pale-sand resort beaches are the others.
Which beach is best for windsurfing?
El Médano, which has a windsurfing area and has hosted international championships.
The Tenerife Authority editorial team, 7 November 2026.
