6 Things To Do When a Cruise Ship Stops At Tenerife For a One Day Visit
Six things to do when a cruise ship stops at Tenerife for a one day visit. There are lots of things to do when you visit Santa Cruz in Tenerife on a stopover on a cruise ship, take a look at my suggestions there is something there for everyone.
1. Go to the beach: – Las Teresitas beach is probably the best beach on Tenerife and fortunately is only a few minutes bus ride from the port of Santa Cruz. The beach is about 1.5km long and is formed of beautiful golden sand. The 910 bus will take you directly to the beach, and runs right along the promenade where the cruise ships dock approximately every 15 minutes, so it is very easy to catch a ride.
Playa las Teresitas, Santa Cruz, Tenerife
2. Shopping in Santa Cruz: – being the capital city of Tenerife and the western Canary Islands, Santa Cruz de la Tenerife is a shopper’s paradise with boutiques, department stores and coffee shops to keep you refreshed. The city has enjoyed the status as a duty free port since 1852. Many of the shops choose to close on a Sunday and on public holidays, and don’t forget that the Spanish practice ‘siesta time’ so shops are closed between 1pm and 5pm and open again for the evenings, normally until about 8pm.
3. Visit the museums of Santa Cruz: – The Museo Militar (military museum) where you will learn all about Nelson’s failed attempt to capture the town in 1797. The Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre (Museum of nature and Man) where there is an emphasis on the Guanche civilisation pre Spanish conquest and on display are some of their preserved mummies.
Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre (Museum of nature and Man) Santa Cruz Tenerife
4. Site seeing: – There is plenty to see if you just want to stroll about and take in the sites. Santa Cruz has many lovely plazas, such as the Plaza de Espania and Plaza de la Candelaria, and many historic buildings.
Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion, Santa Cruz, Tenerife
5. Visit La Laguna: – La Laguna is a historic town in the hills above Santa Cruz, a UNESCO world heritage site and was the original capital of Tenerife. The buildings date back to the 16th century and there are some excellent tapas bars and cafes where you can sit back and relax. Or you may choose visit the historic buildings such as the Iglesia de la Concepción (Church of the Conception) and the look around the Museo de Historia de Tenerife (Museum of the History of Tenerife). You can easily get to La Laguna using the tram from Santa Cruz that runs right up to the historic centre of La Laguna.
16th century buildings La Laguna Tenerife
6. Mount Teide: – Take a trip up to the mountains and look around the Las Canadas caldera, which are the remains of a previous much larger volcano that collapsed long ago. Mount Teide, a strato volcano, has formed in this caldera and is the 3rd largest volcano in the world and is also the highest peak on Spanish territory. The amazing landscapes have formed the back drop of some Hollywood films. The Teide national park is also a UNESCO world heritage site. You’ll need to hire a car for the day for this one.
Mount Teide in the Las Canadas Caldera