Getting around Tenerife: how to travel between resorts, towns and sights
Updated 29 October 2026 · DoTenerife
The easiest way to get around Tenerife is a mix of public buses for longer trips, taxis for short hops and late nights, and a hire car if you want to explore the mountains and the north on your own schedule. There is no train, but the TITSA bus network reaches almost every town on the island, and a short tram line links Santa Cruz and La Laguna.
Which option suits you depends mostly on where you are staying and how much you want to see. Here is how each one works in practice.
Quick comparison
| Option | Best for | Typical cost | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| TITSA bus | Resort-to-resort, Santa Cruz, Puerto de la Cruz, Teide | A few euros for short hops, around €9–14 for cross-island trips | Fewer services late at night and on Sundays |
| Tram | Santa Cruz and La Laguna | Roughly €1–2 per trip | Only covers the north-east metro area |
| Taxi | Short trips, nights out, airport runs | Metered; short resort trips often €6–15 | Night and holiday rates are higher |
| Hire car | Teide, Masca, Anaga, the north coast | From around €15–50 a day plus fuel | Mountain roads and resort parking |
| Ferry | La Gomera, La Palma, El Hierro, Gran Canaria | Varies by route and season | Book ahead in peak periods |
Prices change, so treat these as ballpark figures.
Buses (guaguas)
TITSA runs the island’s bus network. Buses are green, modern and air-conditioned, and the main motorway routes are fast. From the southern resorts you can reach Santa Cruz, La Laguna, Puerto de la Cruz, Los Gigantes and Teide National Park without changing more than once.
You can pay by contactless bank card or cash on board, or buy a Ten+ travel card or use the Ten+ app for day and seven-day passes. Our full Tenerife buses guide covers fares, key routes and passes in detail.
Good to know:
- The busiest hubs in the south are the bus stations at Los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas and Costa Adeje.
- Timetables switch between summer and winter, so check the TITSA app before you travel.
- Late-night services are limited. If you are heading out for a show, plan your journey back.
The tram
Tenerife’s tram runs between Santa Cruz and La Laguna, with a short second line in La Laguna. It is handy for a day in the capital or the UNESCO-listed old town of La Laguna, but it does not serve the airports or the south. Buy a ticket from the machine at the stop or use a Ten+ card or the app.
Taxis
Licensed taxis are white with a coloured stripe or logo, depending on the municipality, and are metered. They queue at ranks outside shopping centres, hotels and on main resort roads, and you can flag one down when the green light is on.
Taxis are the go-to option after a night out, especially around Playa de las Américas, Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje, where short rides between resorts are affordable. See our Tenerife taxis guide for fares and tips.
Hire car
A car opens up the island. The drive up to Mount Teide, the twisting road to Masca, the forests of Anaga and the north coast towns of Garachico and Puerto de la Cruz are all much easier with your own wheels. Fuel in the Canary Islands is usually cheaper than on mainland Spain because of lower taxes.
The flip side is narrow mountain roads, busy resort streets and paid parking in towns. Read our car hire and driving guide before you book.
Ferries to other islands
From Los Cristianos, ferries run to La Gomera (around 50 minutes), La Palma and El Hierro. From Santa Cruz there are crossings to Gran Canaria. Fred. Olsen Express and Naviera Armas are the main operators. A day trip to La Gomera is one of the most popular excursions; see La Gomera from Tenerife.
Getting around on a night out
Most of the south’s nightlife is concentrated in a few walkable areas: the Veronicas strip and the Starco centre in Las Américas, the seafront in Los Cristianos, and the bars around San Eugenio and Torviscas. Moving between them by taxi is quick and inexpensive.
If you are planning an evening around a particular show, DoTenerife lists what’s on tonight with Tenerife-time start times, which makes it easier to judge whether you will catch the last bus or need a taxi back. You can also browse by resort on the areas page.
Which option should you choose?
- Staying in one resort, mostly beach and evenings out: walk and use taxis.
- Want one or two day trips: take the bus or book an organised excursion.
- Keen to explore Teide, Masca and the north: hire a car for a few days rather than the whole holiday.
- Staying in Puerto de la Cruz or Santa Cruz: buses and the tram cover most of what you need.
Arriving and leaving
Most international flights land at Tenerife South (TFS), around 15–25 minutes from Los Cristianos and Las Américas. Tenerife North (TFN) mainly handles flights from mainland Spain and the other islands. Our Tenerife airports guide explains the transfer options from each.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to get around Tenerife without a car?
The TITSA bus network (locally called guaguas) covers the whole island and links the southern resorts with Santa Cruz, Puerto de la Cruz and Mount Teide. Within a resort, walking and taxis are usually easiest.
Is there a train in Tenerife?
No. Tenerife has no railway. The only rail-based transport is the tram between Santa Cruz and La Laguna in the north-east of the island.
Does Uber work in Tenerife?
Only in a limited way. Uber has operated in parts of the south (Adeje, Arona, Granadilla and Guía de Isora) since 2023, mostly dispatching licensed taxis, but coverage is patchy, so the taxi rank or a pre-booked taxi is more dependable.
Do I need to hire a car in Tenerife?
Not if you are staying in a resort and taking the odd excursion. A car is worth it if you want to explore Teide, Masca, Anaga or the north coast at your own pace.
How long does it take to drive across Tenerife?
Los Cristianos to Santa Cruz is roughly 45 to 60 minutes on the TF-1 motorway, and Playa de las Américas to Puerto de la Cruz is around 75 to 90 minutes depending on traffic.