Last updated: April 2026
Tenerife was our first proper week-long hotel holiday with R, and I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Could a five-star resort really work with an eight-month-old? Could we actually relax, or would it just be stressful with such little space, but with better weather?
The short answer is that aside from the 4 hour flight, Tenerife is brilliant with a baby, and we will almost certainly go back to the volcanic island with our toddler. And actually, the hotel worked really well! But there are a few things worth knowing before you book, from which part of the island to base yourself in, to what to do beyond the hotel pool. Here’s everything we’d tell a friend planning the same trip.
In this guide:
Why Tenerife works for families with kids | When to go | Getting there | Best family hotels in Tenerife | Things to do in Tenerife with kids | Eating out | Getting around | Baby equipment hire
Why Tenerife works so well for families with kids
Tenerife sits close enough to the African coast to enjoy warm, stable temperatures year-round, making it one of very few destinations within easy reach that genuinely works for families with babies in autumn and winter. When the UK is grey and miserable in October or February, Tenerife is reliably 22–25°C.
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
- Excellent infrastructure with high chairs everywhere, buggies welcome, and great medical facilities
- Plenty to do beyond the hotel, including whale watching, easy hikes, and pretty coastal villages
When to visit Tenerife
The beauty of Tenerife is that there’s rarely a truly bad time to visit. That said:
- October and November are our favourite months as it’s warm, quieter than school holidays, and great value
- Late April / May is another sweet spot before the summer rush
- July and August are peak season and can be very hot (30°C+), which can be tough with young children – I would try and avoid if you can
- December to February is 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 sunnier and drier while the north can be cloudier and cooler, particularly in winter. It’s really quite fascinating how the island can be so different and 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, definitely 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.
You’ll need a car once you’re there as the island is bigger than you’d think, and public transport is limited for families with prams and baby kit. We always use Auto Europe to compare rental prices across all the major companies, and it’s always found us a better rate than booking direct.
Best family hotels in Tenerife
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.
For families with babies and toddlers, stay in the south. It has the warmest, sunniest weather, the calmest beaches, and the lion’s share of family hotels. The main areas are:
- Costa Adeje – slightly more upscale, with some nicer stretches of beach and a good range of family resorts
- Playa de Las Americas – livelier but you’ll be surrounded by English families, best for families who want convenience and don’t mind it being busier
- Los Cristianos – a slightly more relaxed feel than Las Americas, with a good beach and easy access to supermarkets
- Abama / Guía de Isora area – further west along the coast, quieter and more authentic, and where the Ritz Carlton Abama sits
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. Decent options include the Iberostar Selection Anthelia and H10 Costa Adeje Palace, both 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 one we can speak to from first-hand experience, and it’s exceptional, particularly for babies and very young children. I’ve written a full review from our trip last October with R, but the highlights are: a kids club for ages 4–12, multiple pools, a complimentary spa visit if you stay in the Retreat, and children under 4 eating for free at all restaurants. The fact that it’s away from the main resort bustle is honestly part of the appeal for us, and this is where we’d likely stay again if we go back with R.
👉 Read our full Ritz Carlton Abama family review →
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. Search on Vrbo for a wide selection.
Things to do in Tenerife with kids
Tenerife has far more to offer beyond the hotel pool than people realise. Here’s what we loved doing on our trip:
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 absolutely 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 trip with R so we wouldn’t recommend it under one year.
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 ourself 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, genuinely 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.
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 it 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
You need a car in Tenerife, there’s really no way around it as a family with young children. Public transport exists but is limited and not practical with a pram and baby kit.
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. 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. The mountain roads up to El Teide are winding but manageable.
Within the main resort areas, most things are walkable and well set up for prams — wide pavements, dropped kerbs, and lifts in the main shopping areas.
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. I’ve written about hiring baby equipment on holiday in detail if you’re weighing it up.
For Tenerife specifically, Tenerife With Kids looks well worth a look. They hire out pushchairs, shoulder carriers, and travel cots, with free delivery to the main southern resort areas including Los Cristianos, Las Americas, and Costa Adeje. Reviews are very strong and the process looks simple. Worth bookmarking when you’re planning your kit list.
What to pack
The basics are the same as any hot weather trip, but a few Tenerife-specific things worth knowing:
- Sun protection is non-negotiable – 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 in any older village areas where surfaces are uneven
- Baby monitor – really worth it if you’re in a hotel, so one parent can have a swim during nap time
- Familiar snacks and pouches – supermarkets in the south are good, but having your own supply of trusted baby food for the first couple of days takes the pressure off
- Swim nappies and a UV swim vest – a UV vest with a collar is ideal for babies in pools and on the beach
👉 See our full baby travel packing list →
Family-friendly Tenerife
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.
Getting there: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Direct flights from most UK airports, a little longer than I like at 4 hours but worth it for the fairly reliable weather 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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