The unique volcanic landscapes of the Canary Islands make for some of the best views in Tenerife. Between lush mountain backdrops, verdant spaces, and ocean vistas for miles, you won’t be able to put your camera down on this photogenic island.

Let’s uncover some of the most breathtaking Tenerife viewpoints that you’ll hardly believe are real!

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Let’s kick this list off with one of the two views that inspired me to visit Tenerife in the first place – Masca.

The Masca Valley not only offers one of the best views in Tenerife, it’s actually one of the most visited locations on the island – and for good reason. While this intimate mountain village is home to less than 100 inhabitants, it manages to attract over seven million tourists a year!

In fact, even if you’re visiting Tenerife in January (or in one of the other winter months), this spot will still be plenty busy!

Seeing the famous viewpoint in Masca was the absolute highlight of our trip to Tenerife, and this Insta-famous spot is now on our list of top-favorite views in Europe, a high honor (literally)!

I’m not going to sugarcoat it – while driving in Tenerife is generally pretty straightforward, getting to Masca isn’t for the faint of heart. It will definitely require a spirit of adventure and a mastery for navigating steep, narrow, and mountainous terrain. (My pro-driver hubby actually managed it in a manual car, but many people advise against this.)

Another important thing to understand is that parking is incredibly limited here, so you’ll want to factor that into your planning.

Many people advise coming around sunrise to secure a spot nearby, so if you can manage that, great.

Otherwise, if you’re not a morning person (or if you’re traveling to Tenerife with a toddler in tow like we were), this may not be a practical option.

The other bit of advice I heard is that you should avoid the drive to Masca between 10AM and 2PM, as this is when it’s the most crowded (and when you’ll have the harshest lighting for pictures). We arrived around 1:30 or so and couldn’t find a place to park our rental car within a doable walking distance from the famous viewpoint.

Instead, my hubby dropped me off right at the prime spot so I could capture some pictures and explore a bit and then he circled back to pick me up about 45 minutes later.

So if you decide to visit from late morning until early afternoon, be prepared to either drive around for a while in search of a spot or arrange to have someone drop you off.

One more thing to note – which wasn’t at all clear before we visited – is that there’s not just one section for parking. While there is a small, designated area for cars right by the prime view, you can technically park elsewhere at your own risk (like if you find a good side spot off the main stretch). Just be sure you’re not blocking traffic!

As an aside, some people choose to do the challenging hike to Masca (a 6-hour-round-trip trek), but that’s an entirely separate experience. For that, you’ll require a permit.

The famous viewpoint pictured above is located below the Masca roundabout (TF-436, Masca) at the intersection of C. Lomo del Medio and Cam. El Guanche.

GPS Coordinates: 28.304538, -16.840496

To reach Masca, take TF-82 to Santiago del Teide and follow TF-436 out of the center of town.

If you subscribe to the belief that the journey is as beautiful as the final destination, then you’ll understand why the road to Masca itself deserves its own spot on this list.

This stretch of road is part of Teno Rural Park and was so unexpectedly beautiful that we just had to stop the car to capture some photos.

Fortunately, there’s a little pull-off point here for about three cars, so if you’re lucky enough to find a spot, grab it while you can!

Our daughter was actually just waking up from her nap when we got here, so it was the perfect place to take her out of the car seat for some fresh mountain air – and an insane view!

The pull-off point mentioned above is located along the Road to Masca / TF-436 near what’s known as the “Masca Serpentine”.

GPS Coordinates: 28.303465, -16.830589

The second of the two views that inspired me to visit the amazing island of Tenerife is the viewpoint overlooking Playa de Las Teresitas.

Popularly known as the most beautiful beach in all of Tenerife, Playa de Las Teresitas is a sight to behold from above – and you won’t even need a drone to capture it!

Between its brilliant turquoise water and soft, golden sand, this beachside panorama is easily one of the best views in Tenerife.

You won’t be able to capture the full panorama at sea level. Instead, you’ll need to navigate to the specific viewpoint included below.

While the beach is also worth visiting separately, it’s not as glam and pristine looking as it may seem from above. Although it’s relatively clean and safe, it was a bit more rugged and graffiti-ridden at sea level than I’d anticipated.

To reach the viewpoint overlooking Playa de Las Teresitas, head north from Santa Cruz de Tenerife on TF-11. When you reach San Andrés, keep right while following signs for Playa de Las Teresitas. Once you approach the traffic light near the beach parking area, bear left onto TF-121 and continue on this road for about one mile.

GPS Coordinates: 28.512168, -16.179198

No visit to Tenerife would be complete without a stop at the famous Los Gigantes.

Located on the west coast of Tenerife, this resort town is named after the dramatic, 500+-meter rock formations – Acantilados de Los Gigantes – that rise majestically out of the water.

Los Gigantes is also one of the best areas to stay in Tenerife, which is why I included it in my full neighborhood guide. Be sure to check that out and discover my top recommendations for where to stay on the island!

This viewpoint is located at Av. Jose Gonzalez Forte 38683 Santiago del Teide in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

You’ll find it just across the street from Restaurante Pizzería Mamma Lucia.

GPS Coordinates: 28.240972, -16.837661

Garachico quickly became my favorite town on the island, and it’s also home to some of the best views in Tenerife. In fact, I couldn’t decide on just one view to share with you here, so I’m including two!

The first is the incomparable Mirador de Garachico, my top favorite.

The bird’s-eye view showcases everything from the iconic white church (Iglesia de Santa Ana) to the colorful buildings and the stunning surrounding sea.

This gem can be reached atop a steep climb (which I recommend doing by car).

Mirador de Garachico is located at C. el Volcán, 2-48 38450 Garachico in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

GPS Coordinates: 28.369776, -16.763356

To reach this next amazing viewpoint, you’ll need to drive (or walk, if you’re up for the steep climb!) just outside Garachico proper for a unique, bird’s-eye perspective.

While many people go directly to the famous Mirador del Emigrante viewpoint which is at sea level, I recommend visiting this alternative viewpoint, Mirador San Pedro. It’s a bit higher up the hill and offers an even better panoramic shot.

This stunning scenic lookout point is a wonderful way to see the town in miniature against the brilliant ocean backdrop.

Mirador San Pedro is located at 19 Trans. Mency Caconaymo in Garachico.

You can access the exact location via Google Maps here.

A view that took me completely by surprise was the promenade above Playa de Martianez in Puerto de la Cruz.

Though Puerto de la Cruz is one of the busiest of bustling resorts on the northern side of the island, it still offers some more tranquil spots like this one.

The promenade above Playa de Martianez is located at the intersection of Av. Aguilar y Quesada and TF-31 in Puerto de la Cruz. 

GPS Coordinates: 28.417187, -16.541423

One of the lesser-known best views in Tenerife can be found atop Marquesado de la Quinta Roja (a.k.a Jardines Victoria), located in the historic town of La Orotava.

Designed by French artist Adolph Croquet in the 19th century, this tranquil greenspace is a welcome respite from city life.

This is another viewpoint that took me completely by surprise, as one of the entrances to the garden is a bit tucked away behind a gate off of the cobblestone streets. We were actually scouting the city for a pretty backdrop to use for some family portraits, and this place quickly won our hearts (and our disc space)!

The standout feature of this garden is absolutely the stunning panorama over Orotava atop the tiered terraces.

Marquesado de la Quinta Roja is located at C. San Agustín, 8, 38300 La Orotava in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

To capture this view, you’ll need to climb up to the top of the garden.

One of the best views in Tenerife that I’m sad I missed is the famous Mount Teide, one of the most popular hiking spots on the island.

The highlight of Teide National Park, Mount Teide is located smack in the middle of the island and offers adrenaline-pumping adventure with some of the most breathtaking vistas in all of Tenerife.

(For the record, in my pre-baby days we definitely would’ve made a point of visiting, but I wasn’t up for any sort of hiking with our 2-year-old toddler.)

The main road through Teide National Park is TF-21.

If you’re struggling with the decision of whether to visit Tenerife North or South, I personally promote visiting both sides of the island.

While the lion’s share of the best views in Tenerife are found on the northern side of the island, the southern end offers its own beauty in the form of beaches.

One of the top Instagrammable spots that’s irresistible to tourists (and that I admittedly thought was very cute) is the Costa Adeje sign, overlooking Playa de Fañabé.

Letters Costa Adeje is located along the promenade above the coast.

GPS Coordinates: 28.088838, -16.740088

That brings us to the end of these dreamy island spots. Which of the best views in Tenerife have made your travel wishlist? Let me know in the comments below!

Ready to discover Tenerife beyond its famous viewpoints? Check out my other guides:

• Is Tenerife Worth Visiting? 10 Reasons to Love the Largest Canary Island (Or Not)
• Best Areas to Stay in Tenerife: Neighborhood Guide & Top Accommodations
• Tenerife with a Toddler: Key Travel Tips & Family-Friendly Attractions
• Essential Guide to Driving in Tenerife (Plus Key Tips)
• Tenerife North or South: Which Side of the Island Should You Visit?
• Tenerife in January: Essential Guide to Europe’s Winter-Sun Paradise
• Tenerife vs Mallorca: Which Stunning Spanish Island Should You Visit?