Last updated: September 2026
Tenerife was our first proper week-long hotel holiday with R, when he was eight months old, and it turned out to be one of the easiest places we could have chosen for winter sun with a baby. The flight is manageable from the UK, there is only a one-hour time difference and the south of the island has a huge choice of family hotels and beaches.
If I were booking again with a baby or toddler, I would start with the south-west of the island. Costa Adeje gives you the widest choice of family resorts and an easy base for beaches and days out; Los Cristianos is practical and walkable; and the quieter Guía de Isora/Abama area works if the hotel itself is a bigger part of the holiday.
We stayed at the Ritz-Carlton Abama with R, but we explored well beyond the resort too. This guide covers the areas and hotels I would shortlist now, plus the beaches, whale watching, Mount Teide and other things actually worth leaving the pool for.
In this guide:
Where to stay Family hotels Why Tenerife works When to go Baby & toddler Things to do Eating out Getting around
Where is best to stay in Tenerife with kids?
If you are visiting Tenerife with younger children, I would usually stay in the south or south-west. It is sunnier and drier than the north, closer to Tenerife South airport and has the biggest concentration of family-friendly hotels and easy beaches. The best area then depends on the type of holiday you want.
| Area | Best for | Why choose it | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Adeje | First family trip / resort choice | Biggest choice of family resorts, beaches, restaurants and easy access to attractions. | Can feel busy and prices vary sharply by hotel. |
| Los Cristianos | Walkability and a practical family base | Beach, supermarkets, restaurants and boat trips close together. | Less polished/resort-like than Costa Adeje. |
| Playa de las Américas | Convenience and lively atmosphere | Huge choice of restaurants and accommodation. | Busier, and not the area we would choose for a quiet baby holiday. |
| Guía de Isora / Abama | Quiet luxury / hotel-led trip | Quieter west-coast setting and high-end resorts. | Less walkable; a car is much more useful. |
| Puerto de la Cruz / north | Greener scenery and exploring | More local feel, lush landscapes and good access to northern sights. | Cloudier/cooler than the south, especially in winter; not our first choice for winter sun with a baby. |
Best family hotels in Tenerife
If you just want the quick answer, here’s our shortlist. More detail on each, plus villas and holiday homes, follows below.
| Best for | Hotel | Why it makes the shortlist |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall family resort | Iberostar Selection Anthelia | Costa Adeje location, strong children’s facilities and useful first-hand feedback from a close friend. |
| Luxury with older children | Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama | Beautiful resort and excellent service, but no crèche and the kids club starts at 4. |
| Good-value resort option | H10 Costa Adeje Palace | Useful mid-range alternative in the south. |
| Self-catering / more space | A villa in the Costa Adeje hills | Useful for toddler meals, naps and families who do not want a full resort set-up. |
This is the biggest decision you’ll make, so it’s worth going into some detail. Tenerife has accommodation for every budget and travel style, and the right choice depends on whether you want a self-catered base to explore from, or a resort where you barely need to leave.
Budget and mid-range family hotels in Tenerife
Tenerife has a huge range of good-value family hotels and apartment complexes in the south. All-inclusive complexes in Costa Adeje or Las Americas work really well with babies because you’re not constantly worrying about finding baby-friendly restaurants.
The Iberostar Selection Anthelia in Costa Adeje is one of the most consistently recommended all-inclusive options for families with young children, and my best friend has just come back from a stay with her little one. What stood out most was the kids area, which she said made a real difference: astroturf so they could run around safely, baby slides, and an indoor area set up like a nursery room with loads of activities. The kids club staff were really on it, running activities like painting and necklace making, and you can get snacks and drinks delivered right there. The food was a highlight too, with proper sit-down options like fresh salmon, creamy prawn pasta and spinach and feta pie. It never felt crowded or chaotic, which is always the worry with a big all-inclusive.
The H10 Costa Adeje Palace is another solid mid-range choice, also well-reviewed for families.
Luxury family hotels in Tenerife
If budget stretches to it, Tenerife has some really special luxury family properties.
The Ritz-Carlton Abama is the hotel we know best because we stayed there for a week with R at eight months old. It is a beautiful luxury resort with excellent service, but I would not choose it specifically for its baby facilities: there is no crèche, the grounds are steep and the kids club starts at 4. We still had a lovely stay, but I think it becomes an easier recommendation once children are old enough to use Ritz Kids. Multiple pools, a complimentary spa visit if you stay in the Retreat, and children under 4 eating free at all restaurants are all worth knowing about.
👉 Read our full Ritz-Carlton Abama family review for the detailed baby verdict →
Other well-regarded luxury family hotels in Tenerife:
- Gran Hotel Bahía del Duque (Costa Adeje): a classic choice with a strong family reputation, several pools, and beautiful grounds. More central than the Ritz so easier to base day trips from.
- Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife (Costa Adeje): more lively, great pool complex, and popular with families who want more energy and entertainment.
- Royal Hideaway Corales Resort (Costa Adeje): more adults-focused in atmosphere, but with a baby in tow and a preference for quiet and refinement, it can work well.
Best villas and holiday homes in Tenerife
If you’re travelling as a bigger family group or just prefer the space, renting a villa is a great option and something we did on our first trip to the island. Look around the Costa Adeje hills for places with private pools, as these are brilliant with babies as you get pool access without the crowds, plus a proper kitchen and outdoor space. We also found the north of the island bought us a lot more for our money, although we did have to chase the sun and drive south on quite a few days.
Why Tenerife works for families
Tenerife sits close enough to the African coast to be a reliable winter-sun option, one of relatively few destinations within easy reach that works well for families with babies in autumn and winter.
A direct flight of around four hours from most UK airports is manageable even with a young baby, and the time zone difference is just one hour, so you won’t be dealing with jet lag. That alone puts it ahead of most long-haul alternatives at this age.
Beyond the weather, Tenerife offers:
- Calm, warm waters in the south that are ideal for paddling with small babies
- An enormous range of family hotels at every price point
- Good infrastructure, with high chairs widely available and buggies welcome
- Plenty to do beyond the hotel, including whale watching, easy hikes, and pretty coastal villages
When to visit Tenerife with kids
There’s rarely a truly bad time to visit Tenerife, but the season still affects the trip. October/November is when we would look first for a family visit: warm, quieter than school holidays, and good value.
| Season | What to expect |
|---|---|
| October / November | Our favourite window: warm, quieter than school holidays and good value. |
| Late April / May | Another sweet spot before the summer rush. |
| July / August | Peak season, and can get very hot. We’d try to avoid this with young children if you can. |
| December to February | Cooler in places, especially the north, but the south stays pleasant and it’s a good escape from the UK winter. |
One thing to note: the north and south of the island have noticeably different climates. The south (where most resorts are) is generally sunnier and drier, while the north can be cloudier and cooler, particularly in winter. On our first trip to Tenerife, we stayed in the north but found ourselves driving south most days. If you’re travelling in autumn or winter with kids, we’d stay south.
Getting to Tenerife
Most UK airports have direct flights to Tenerife South (TFS), which is where you want to land as it puts you close to the main resort areas in 30-45 minutes. Flight time from the UK is around 4 hours. easyJet and Jet2 both reliably serve most UK airports with competitive prices, and British Airways offer direct flights from London Heathrow.
Tenerife with a baby or toddler
Tenerife is particularly easy with a baby because the logistics are fairly forgiving: a direct flight from the UK, almost no time difference and lots of resort accommodation where you can spend the day around naps. With a toddler, I would pay more attention to walkability and what is actually available at the hotel. A kids club that starts at 4 is irrelevant with a two-year-old, so shallow pools, playgrounds, safe outdoor space and somewhere easy to walk for dinner matter more.
For the practical side of travelling with a baby, see our baby travel packing list, child carrier backpack guide and, if you’d rather not fly with all your kit, our note on hiring baby equipment on holiday.
Things to do in Tenerife with kids
Tenerife has far more to offer beyond the hotel pool than people realise. Here’s a quick summary before the detail below:
| Activity | Best with | Our practical take |
|---|---|---|
| Whale watching | Toddlers + older kids | Choose a shorter family-friendly sailing if motion sickness or naps are a concern. |
| Mount Teide | All ages with planning | Great scenery; temperature and altitude change quickly, so check current guidance and conditions. |
| Beach day | Babies + toddlers | South-coast beaches are the easiest option for a low-logistics day. |
| Easy walk / viewpoint | Carrier-age babies + older kids | A carrier is more useful than a pram on rough volcanic terrain. |
| Siam Park | Older toddlers / children | Strong family attraction; check current age and height rules before you go. |
- Whale and dolphin watching: this was one of the highlights of our whole trip. Tenerife is one of the best places in the world to see resident pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins year-round, as they live in the waters off the southwest coast. We went with Whale Watch Tenerife, which is run by marine biologists who take a responsible, non-disruptive approach. Tours are around two hours, so manageable with kids (maybe less so a baby), and the sightings were brilliant.
- Los Gigantes cliffs boat trip: this is one we’re adding to the list for next time. The cliffs on the west coast of the island rise over 600 metres straight out of the sea, and the only way to properly appreciate them is from a boat. Operators run two-hour trips from Los Gigantes marina that combine whale and dolphin watching with a swim stop in a sheltered bay, with babies going free on most tours. The shorter two-hour trips work well with young children; the longer catamaran excursions with lunch are probably better saved for when they’re a bit older. It’s about a 40-minute drive from Costa Adeje.
- Masca gorge: Jack had this firmly on the list and we didn’t get to it this trip, so it’s top of our agenda for next time. The gorge is one of the most dramatic hikes on the island, cutting down through the Teno mountains to a tiny black sand beach at the bottom, where a boat collects you. It’s not suitable with babies in arms, but you could take a backpack carrier providing your baby is content on this kind of remote hike. One important note: you have to prebook in advance online through the Tenerife government website as numbers are strictly limited, so don’t leave it until you arrive on the island.
- Roques de García hike (El Teide National Park): at the base of the El Teide volcano, this walk is flat-ish, easy underfoot, and spectacular. We went early morning and put R in a baby carrier, which worked perfectly. The scenery is otherworldly with red and ochre rock formations against a bright blue sky. The cable car up El Teide itself isn’t worth it with very young babies, the altitude made us feel odd on our first trip without R so we wouldn’t recommend it with small kids.
- El Médano town: we loved this slightly more bohemian town popular with kite surfers. The beach was nice (but the waves particularly choppy on the day we visited), a great place for a walk and a bite to eat.
- Submarine Safari: another one on the list for next time. Submarine Safaris run one-hour trips in a real submarine departing from Marina San Miguel, descending around 30 metres so you can watch the underwater world from your own viewing pod. It’s different from anything else on the island, suitable from age 2, and each passenger gets a dive certificate to take home.
- Lago Martiánez: we enjoyed a visit to this saltwater pool complex in Puerto de la Cruz, which is where we based ourselves the first time we visited Tenerife. With multiple pools, waterfalls, gardens, and restaurants, plus a lake, and all for around €5.50-€7 per adult (children €2.50-€4), it’s a steal.
- Playa San Juan: a lovely, local village just a few miles from the Ritz and easily reachable from the main resort areas by car. Very un-touristy, a relaxed harbour, good fish restaurants, and a buggy-friendly promenade. We walked along the harbour and had a long lunch here.
- Siam Park: we visited this fantastic water park pre-R and it was brilliant, we’ll absolutely be back with him when he’s a bit older. There are sections aimed at younger children too, and it gets busy so it’s worth booking ahead and checking current age and height rules for the slides you want.
- Loro Parque: one of the most-advertised attractions on the island. We chose not to visit as we don’t typically support facilities with animals in captivity. That said, many families with young children rate Loro Parque highly and it does have some conservation programmes, so we’d be doing you a disservice leaving it out.
Best beaches in Tenerife for families
The south of the island has calm, warm water and good sandy beaches, most of which are easy to navigate with a pram. A few worth knowing about:
- Playa del Duque (Costa Adeje): our favourite on this trip. Blue flag, golden sand, calm water, good facilities, and a lovely promenade.
- Playa Las Vistas (Los Cristianos): long stretch of golden sand with calm water, lifeguards, sunbeds, and showers. A reliable, well-set-up family beach.
- Playa de Los Cristianos: sheltered by the harbour so very calm, which makes it particularly good for toddlers just paddling.
- Playa de las Teresitas (near Santa Cruz): worth a day trip if you’re up in the north. Fine imported sand and a breakwater keeping the water unusually calm, popular with locals rather than tourists.
- Abama Beach: mostly used by guests at the Ritz Carlton, with a beach restaurant on hand.
Eating out in Tenerife with little ones
Restaurants in Tenerife are generally really welcoming with young kids. High chairs are widely available, staff are patient, and the pace of dining is relaxed. A few tips:
- Eat early: most restaurants open for dinner at 6pm or later, which can clash badly with baby wake windows. Eating at 6:30pm before things get busy is much easier than managing a tired baby at 8pm.
- Agua y Sal: a brilliant recommendation that turned into a trip highlight. Pick your fish fresh from the counter and they cook it to order.
- Kids under 4 eat free at the Ritz: if you’re staying there, this is a significant saving and worth factoring into the cost comparison. See our full review for more.
Getting around Tenerife with kids
You do not necessarily need a hire car if you are staying in one of the main southern resorts and mostly plan to use the hotel, beach and organised excursions. Within the main resort areas, most things are walkable and well set up for prams, with wide pavements, dropped kerbs, and lifts in the main shopping areas.
We would hire one again because it makes Teide, villages and quieter beaches much easier, and it gave us far more flexibility with R. If you are staying around Abama or planning to explore widely, a car becomes much more useful. Roads are generally good and driving is on the right; the motorway (TF-1) runs along the south coast and makes getting between areas easy, while the mountain roads up to El Teide are winding but manageable.
Hire a car at the airport and book in advance as prices go up closer to travel. We always use Auto Europe to compare rates across the major companies.
Hiring baby equipment in Tenerife
We brought our own pram and travel cot on this trip, but we’ve hired baby equipment on plenty of other holidays and it can make life a lot easier, particularly if you’re flying with hand luggage only or just don’t want the hassle of lugging kit through the airport. See our guide to hiring baby equipment on holiday for the full decision framework.
For Tenerife specifically, Tenerife With Kids hires out pushchairs, shoulder carriers, and travel cots, with delivery to the main southern resort areas including Los Cristianos, Las Americas, and Costa Adeje. Reviews are strong and the process looks simple, worth checking their current range and delivery areas before you book.
What to pack
A few Tenerife-specific things worth prioritising, beyond your usual kit:
- Strong sun protection: even in October the UV index is high. We used a UV sun suit and factor 50 on any exposed skin for R from the very first day.
- A carrier as well as a pram: essential for the Roques de García hike and useful on volcanic or uneven terrain in the older village areas.
- Swim kit: swim nappies and a UV swim vest with a collar are ideal for babies in pools and on the beach.
- A light layer: for cooler evenings or a trip up to Teide.
- Familiar baby food: supermarkets in the south are good, but having your own supply of trusted food and snacks for the first couple of days takes the pressure off.
👉 See our full baby travel packing list →
Family-friendly Tenerife: our verdict
Tenerife is one of those very versatile destinations, so whether you want a big resort or small villa, blow-out luxury or good-value apartment, pure relaxation or packed itinerary, there will be something to suit you. For families with kids, the combination of reliable weather, short flight, calm waters, and family-friendly infrastructure makes it hard to beat, particularly if you stick to the south and get the hotel choice right for your child’s age.
Getting there: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Direct flights from most UK airports, a little longer than I like at 4 hours but worth it for a reliable winter-sun option and only one hour time difference
Pramability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The main resort areas are very pram-friendly; some of the older village areas and hiking spots are better suited to a carrier
Adult fun factor: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent food, whale watching, beautiful scenery, and great resorts meaning there’s plenty here for grown-ups too
Cost: ⭐⭐⭐ Mid-range for Europe, with a huge spread from budget all-inclusive to five-star luxury. Good value in shoulder season.
Allie, Jack & R x
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