Where to stay in Tenerife with kids: best areas and hotels

Tenerife is one of Spanish families’ favourite destinations. The island has so much to offer: spectacular nature, pleasant temperatures all year round, amazing things to do with kids like Siam Park and a huge choice of places to stay.

But there’s something important you should know before booking your accommodation in Tenerife: choosing the right area really matters, because the north and the south are completely different.

That’s why I’ve put together this post — to help you choose where to stay in Tenerife with kids depending on the kind of trip you want. You’ll also find a selection of family hotels in Tenerife that I recommend.

📖 I recommend reading: Tenerife North or South? A guide to choosing the best area to stay

Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Santa Cruz is the island’s capital and, while it isn’t the most touristy choice, it can be a really interesting option if you want to combine beach with city and culture. It has the most local, authentic feel in Tenerife, with markets, museums, parks and a lovely neighbourhood vibe.

The Playa de Las Teresitas is a few minutes away by car: a golden-sand beach brought over from the Sahara, with calm water that’s perfect for kids. And the Parque García Sanabria, one of the prettiest urban parks in the Canaries, is ideal for the little ones to run and play.

Santa Cruz also has very good links to the rest of the island, so if you rent a car you can reach anywhere without trouble.

Recommended hotels in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

• Iberostar Heritage Grand Mencey ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: the only five-star in Santa Cruz and a real island classic. It sits right on La Rambla, next to Parque García Sanabria. It has an outdoor pool, beautiful gardens, a spa area and very spacious rooms. The decor blends colonial Canarian elegance with urban art, and the result is spectacular. Perfect if you want to stay in the capital with every comfort.
• Silken Atlántida Santa Cruz ⭐⭐⭐⭐: well located in the centre, modern, with a pool and very well rated by families. A more affordable option without giving up quality.

Costa Adeje and Playa de las Américas

Costa Adeje is, for many families, the star area of Tenerife. And rightly so. It has calm, sheltered beaches, a seafront promenade that’s ideal for a stroll with the buggy, and every service to hand: supermarkets, restaurants, ice-cream shops and playgrounds.

It’s also the closest area to Siam Park, the best water park in the world according to TripAdvisor. If you’re travelling with kids and want everything close by, this is your spot.

📖 I recommend reading: Things to know before visiting Siam Park

Recommended hotels in Costa Adeje and Playa de las Américas

• Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: spectacular pools, huge family rooms, a very rock-and-roll style that older kids love, and a perfect seafront location. Lively and full of atmosphere.
• Iberostar Selection Anthelia ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: one of the great family resorts in the south. Five pools, the Landi kids’ club, several dining areas and superb access to the Costa Adeje promenade. Very complete.
• Mare Nostrum Resort ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: a huge complex right on the front at Playa de las Américas, with connecting family rooms, the Mare Kids miniclub, pools just for the little ones and loads of activities for children of all ages.
• Luxury apartments in Costa Adeje: if you prefer more independence, there’s a great choice of four- and five-star apartments with a fitted kitchen, private pool and all the comforts. Perfect if you’re travelling with babies or young children.

Playa del Duque

Playa del Duque is the most exclusive and quiet area in the south of Tenerife. If you’re after luxury, calm and one of the island’s best beaches, this is your area. It’s perfect for families who want to really unwind, with a blue-flag golden-sand beach and calm water that kids love.

It’s part of Costa Adeje but has its own identity: more boutique, more peaceful, with exclusive designer shops at the Plaza del Duque shopping centre and high-end restaurants just a few metres away.

Recommended hotels in Playa del Duque

• Hotel Bahía del Duque ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: the great classic of the area and one of the most iconic hotels in all of Tenerife. Several pools, a kids’ club, very spacious family rooms and villas, and the Michelin-starred Nub restaurant. A hotel with real character and exceptional quality. If you want to treat yourself, this is the place.
• GF Victoria ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: just 150 metres from Playa del Duque, this hotel is literally designed around family wellbeing. It has seven pools, its own water park with a surf pool, a kids’ area with activities by age group, a glass-bottomed pool and the Sky Bar Zambra on the rooftop. Spectacular.
• Gran Tacande Wellness & Relax ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: right on the front at Playa del Duque, with the sea a few steps away and views of La Gomera from the rooms. Calmer and more relaxation-focused than other big resorts in the area. Saltwater pools, the Vitanova spa with thalassotherapy, beautiful gardens and carefully crafted cuisine. Ideal if your kids are a bit older and the family is after calm and wellbeing.

El Médano

If you’re more about natural beaches, wind and a laid-back vibe than theme parks and entertainment, El Médano is one of the best-kept secrets in the south of Tenerife. It has a gorgeous sandy beach and a very chilled atmosphere that we love.

It doesn’t have Adeje’s mass tourism, and that’s exactly what makes it special. That said, the sea here isn’t as calm — it’s a wind- and kitesurfing area — so if you’re travelling with young children, keep that in mind.

Recommended hotels in El Médano

• Hotel Médano ⭐⭐⭐⭐: right on the beachfront, with a terrace and incredible sea views. Simple but very comfortable and full of local charm. One of the best-rated hotels for those after something authentic in the south of Tenerife.
• Luxury apartments in El Médano: there are high-end holiday rentals with a terrace, sea views and a full kitchen. Perfect for families who want independence and a more authentic setting.

🏨 Search for places to stay in El Médano

Puerto de la Cruz

Puerto de la Cruz is the big destination in the north, with a completely different character to the south. The landscape is green and lush, the atmosphere is calmer and more cultural, and the local food is amazing. It’s ideal if you want to combine beach with nature and discover the most authentic side of Tenerife.

This is home to Loro Parque, one of the best zoos in Europe and a must if you’re travelling with kids. And the Lago Martiánez, a complex of seawater pools designed by César Manrique, is perfect for a pool day with the kids without taking the car.

📖 I recommend reading: Everything you should know before visiting Loro Parque

Recommended hotels in Puerto de la Cruz

• Botánico & Oriental Spa Garden ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: an elegant, very special hotel with beautiful tropical gardens, several pools, spacious rooms and a first-class spa. A completely different experience from anything in the south. You fall in love the moment you arrive.
• Hotel Tigaiga ⭐⭐⭐⭐: small, full of charm, with breathtaking views of the Teide and the ocean. Very family-friendly, very cosy, with the kind of personal service you really appreciate when travelling with kids.

Which is the best area to stay in Tenerife with kids?

Well, it depends a lot on the kind of family you are and what you want from your holiday, but as a Tenerife resident here are my takeaways:

• If you want a calm beach, theme parks nearby and everything to hand, Costa Adeje or Playa del Duque are the safest bet. The choice of hotels is huge, the beaches are perfect for kids and you won’t need the car for practically anything.
• If you’re after real luxury and calm, Playa del Duque is without doubt the best option. The hotels are spectacular, the beach is gorgeous and the vibe is far more exclusive and relaxed than the rest of the south of Tenerife.
• If you like a local, authentic feel without the crowds, El Médano is a really nice surprise. Different, relaxed and with a beautiful beach. Perfect if you don’t need entertainment or water parks two steps away.
• If you want nature, greenery and to discover the other side of Tenerife, the north and Puerto de la Cruz will win you over. The contrast with the south is striking — suddenly you’re surrounded by green, with the snow-capped Teide on the horizon.
• And if you’re only staying one night or want an urban base, Santa Cruz is very practical, with lots of local charm and great connections across the island.

Distances in Tenerife aren’t that big, so wherever you choose, you can explore the whole island without trouble.

📖 I recommend reading: The 6 best hotels with water slides in Tenerife for families

And once you’ve chosen your base, don’t miss the best water parks in Tenerife for families.