If you go on a cruise holiday around the Canary Islands, your ship will undoubtedly dock at Tenerife cruise port. Located on the shores of the island’s capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, it is the largest cruise port of the Canary Islands and the most visited.
It also offers sea connections to the other islands and the Iberian Peninsula, one of the reasons why the port of Tenerife is so important.
Despite officially being part of Spain, Tenerife is located more than 1,000 miles away, meaning it is quite different to the mainland. When you dock at Tenerife cruise port, you’ll be able to experience these differences for yourself; its unique and spectacular landscape, fascinating history and inviting culture.
Our guide below shares all you need to know for your port day here, from where the cruise ships dock in Tenerife and how to get to Tenerife from the cruise port to the best activities when you arrive there.
Where do cruise ships dock in Tenerife, Spain?
Tenerife’s cruise terminal is found on the island’s northeast coast in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 195 miles west of the coast of Morocco.
With one of the deepest natural harbours in the world, Tenerife cruise terminal can accommodate very large cruise ships and has space for up to five ships to dock at any one time.
Most cruise ships will dock at the berths at Muelle Sur. Here, there is a long breakwater, which you can walk along to reach the terminal building and welcome centre, which are less than a mile away. There are also free shuttle buses from the berths to the cruise terminal building.
Tenerife’s cruise terminal building is an impressive 8473 m2 / 91200 ft2, making it the largest in the Canaries. There are 50 desks in its check-in hall, with a large waiting area and parking for buses and taxis.
How far is Tenerife from the cruise port?
Once you are at the cruise terminal building, the distance from Tenerife’s cruise port to the city centre is approximately just 300m away. Therefore, walking from Tenerife’s cruise port to the city centre is very accessible.
Sometimes you can get the shuttle bus, which continues from the cruise berths onto the city centre, stopping at the main historical square, Plaza de la Candelaria. Santa Cruz de Tenerife also has a regular bus service and plenty of taxis if you require an alternative way to get from Tenerife cruise port to the city centre.
Is there anything near Tenerife’s cruise port?
With the city centre of Santa Cruz de Tenerife only a 5-10 minutes walk away, there are plenty of things to do near the Tenerife cruise port.
Discover its impressive squares and colourful quarters, with a fascinating mix of modern and historical architecture. There’s the ultra-modern and iconic Tenerife Auditorium, which hosts world music events, then the Castle of San Cristóbal Interpretation Centre, where you can see the remains of the 16th-century castle wall and the infamous legendary bronze cannon, El Tigre.
Other top things that are near to Tenerife cruise port include Plaza de España, the largest and probably the most beautiful square in the city, centred around a seawater lake.
The traditional marketplace, Our Lady of Africa Market, and the 30-acre botanical garden and palm tree collection, Palmetum, are also worth a visit.
Other things to do nearby to Tenerife cruise port
If you have a more extended stop on your itinerary and are wondering what to do in Tenerife on port days, Teide National Park is a popular tourist attraction.
Named after Mount Teide, which stands at 3,718 m above sea level within the park and is the tallest mountain in Spain, Teide National Park offers stunning hiking trails and picnic areas. You can even take a cable car to the top of the mountain to enjoy breathtaking views across Tenerife.
Another one of the best activities by Tenerife cruise port is definitely heading to the beach. Playa de las Teresitas is regarded as one of the best beaches in Tenerife, located just 4 miles away in San Andrés.
There’s also Playa de las Americas, Los Cristianos, and Puerto de la Cruz, where you can swim, windsurf and sunbathe. If you love exploring historic buildings and are looking for what to do in Tenerife on port days, you’ll certainly enjoy visiting San Cristóbal de La Laguna.
Located around 11 km inland from Santa Cruz de Tenerife, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the former capital of the Canary Islands. Its well-preserved Spanish colonial architecture includes The Cathedral of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Casa Salazar and the Church of the Immaculate Conception.
Many cruise lines offer shore excursions to places a little further afield, such as Teide National Park and San Cristóbal de La Laguna, adding convenience to getting there and reassurance that you’ll be back in time for the ship’s departure.
