After visiting the largest Canary Island with my two-year-old, I’m happy to report that Tenerife is a wonderful travel destination for families with littles.

So if you’re also hoping to visit Tenerife with a toddler, I’ve got you covered. From top-rated Blue Flag beaches to awesome animal attractions,  I’m sharing everything you need to know for an unforgettable getaway.

Here are my favorite things to do in Tenerife with toddlers – plus firsthand insight for a smooth travel experience!

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There are loads of things to do in Tenerife with a toddler, whether you want to get out on the water (at beaches, water parks, or manmade saltwater pools) or discover interesting plants and creatures on land.

With its numerous microclimates and varied landscapes, Tenerife has something to offer every family, from the most adventurous to the beach bums.

Tenerife is absolutely worth visiting with kids – in fact, specific resorts and regions of the island (like Costa Adeje) cater to families with young kids with family-friendly attractions.

While there are many wonderful places to stay with kids on the island, the Costa Adeje region is the most popular, with plenty of resort areas such as Los Cristianos and Puerto Colon.

Overall, Tenerife is highly welcoming to children with its family-friendly resorts and child-focused attractions.

Here are some key tips for making the most of your family time on the island:

• Visit Costa Adeje – but explore up north, too – While the Costa Adeje region is undeniably kid-friendly with loads of family attractions, it’s also touristy and commercialized. Make sure to dedicate some time to exploring the natural beauty on the north side of the island as well, as I outline in my Tenerife North vs. South guide.
• Bring a stroller – With stroller-friendly streets throughout cities, plenty of parks, and loads of botanical gardens, I personally recommend traveling with a stroller in Tenerife. A stroller will also come in handy when you need to park in a garage and then walk to your desired destination.
• Prepare for parking garages galore – And speaking of parking garages, you’ll find quite a few in Tenerife! In fact, street parking can be hard to come by on this popular island (particularly in the touristy south), so be prepared to pay for parking – and drive several levels underground to find a spot.
• Manage your expectations about sea temps – While Tenerife is a wonderful year-round destination, the summer months into fall (July through October) are best if you’re hoping to swim in the ocean with your toddler. During that time, you can expect temps in the low-to-mid-70s (Fahrenheit). Outside of that, the Atlantic will feel pretty chilly (especially for little ones).
• Don’t expect to find the same berries you have back home – One of the things I quickly noticed while grocery shopping in Tenerife was the distinct lack of berries at the grocer. (If you have a toddler, then you already know half the monthly grocery budget is for berries!) While we always managed to find blueberries, that seemed to be the only berry available. My toddler is accustomed to eating strawberries on the daily, so this was something we had to adjust to.

If you want to get up close and personal with some of Tenerife’s most interesting creatures, don’t miss a trip to Jungle Park (a.k.a Park Las Aguilas Jungle Park).

This zoological/botanical park offers a jungle-like atmosphere and features over 500 animals and over 100 species, ranging from sea creatures, to birds, to mammals.

The park is open daily, so it should be easy to find a spot for it in your itinerary.

Siam Park isn’t just any ordinary water park – it’s the largest one in Europe!

As you can imagine, Europe’s biggest waterpark has a lot to offer, and there are several dedicated areas for the littlest of swimmers.

The main toddler areas to check out at Siam Park are:

• Lost City – This is one of the best water-slide areas for little swimmers, but be aware that some slides have height restrictions.
• Coco Beach – A kiddie-specific wave pool, Coco Beach also features a white-sand beach.
• The Wave Palace – This was easily the most beautiful wave pool we’ve seen on our travels – and it boasts the largest artificial waves in the world! Although all ages are permitted here, make sure to hold onto your toddler, as the waves could easily take them over.
• Bodhi Trail – A fun spot to dry off after swimming, Bodhi Trail is a giant suspended bridge/treehouse walk with plenty of fun obstacles and climbs for the whole family.

*Note: There are a few other “kid-friendly” attractions listed on Siam Park’s site, but after visiting, we discovered that they’re actually not suitable for the toddler age, due to height restrictions. Instead, these attractions are more appropriate for older children.

One of Tenerife’s biggest draws is its wide range of beaches, from (imported) golden-sand beaches to beaches with volcanic black sand.

Our favorite kid-friendly beaches in Tenerife are:

• Playa del Duque – A beautiful, Blue-Flag beach with golden sand located near upscale dining on the Costa Adeje
• Playa Fanabe – Another Blue-Flag beach located near Playa de Duque, featuring amenities like sun beds and showers and close to many restaurants
• Playa de Las Teresitas – A beach covered in golden sand imported from the Sahara Desert with one of the best views in Tenerife

(I’ve also heard good things about Los Cristianos Beach for toddlers, though we didn’t visit ourselves.)

Given the island’s lush northern landscape, Tenerife North has a variety of botanical gardens to explore.

We visited Jardín Botánico (featuring primarily greenery) while we were staying in Puerto de la Cruz and Jardin Marquis Quinta Roja (with beautiful architecture and an incredible view) when we did a day trip to La Orotava.

Here are some pretty botanical gardens to visit with a toddler:

• Jardín Botánico (Puerto de la Cruz)
• Garden Sitio Litre (Puerto de la Cruz)
• Jardin Marquis Quinta Roja (La Orotava)
• Parque del Drago (Icod de los Vinos)
• Santa Cruz Palmetum (Santa Cruz)
• García Sanabria Park (Santa Cruz)

We visited several playgrounds during our trip, and I wouldn’t have it any other way (nor would my toddler)!

As self-proclaimed “playground parents”, we actively seek out parks and playgrounds when we travel – though we were lucky enough to stumble on these gems spontaneously.

Our toddler’s favorite was Parque Infantil, which is located within Plaza del Charco in Puerto de la Cruz.

We also had some fun at Parque de La Constitución in San Cristobal de la Laguna, but we didn’t stay for long as it was nearly dinnertime.

“Resort town” doesn’t need to be synonymous with “tourist central” – and that’s exactly the case with Los Gigantes.

Although this stunning resort area is catered to tourists, it’s not cheesy over over-commercialized like many of the southern towns along the Costa Adeje.

I highly recommend a day trip here (or at least a few hours) to enjoy the giant rock formations that the town is famous for.

And, while you’re here, I recommend having dinner at one of the guachinches. We enjoyed a nice family meal at Buganvilla Plaza Restaurante. They really cater to children here with their comfy high chairs, full array of toddler tableware, and even a mechanical toy dog that barks!

Otherwise, if you’re interested in an overnight (or more) in Los Gigantes,  be sure to check out my guide to the best areas to stay in Tenerife, where I cover the town in more detail.

While much of the island’s kid-focused attractions are on the south side of the island, I’m a firm believer that you didn’t see the “real Tenerife” unless you visited the north.

Here are some of my favorite northern towns/cities we enjoyed visiting with our toddler:

• Garachico
• San Cristóbal de la Laguna (Las Lagunas)
• La Orotava
• Puerto de la Cruz

By the way, if you’re curious as to what you can expect on both halves of the island, check out my detailed guide on whether you should visit Tenerife North or South!

While we didn’t have time to do everything there is to do with kids in Tenerife, I’m including some more suggestions here in case you have additional room in your itinerary.

• Dolphin- & whale-watching
• Finca Las Margaritas Banana Plantation
• Aqualand Water Park with dolphin show

While the Costa Adeje region in Tenerife South is a hot spot for families with young children, you can actually find family-friendly accommodations all over the island.

To help narrow down your search, I’ve compiled the best places to stay in Tenerife – including top neighborhoods and accommodations for traveling with your toddler.

Personally, my family and I split our time between the north and south sides of the island (which I highly recommend!), and you can check out all of our accommodation details in that post as well.

I hope this guide has given you a good idea of what to expect when visiting Tenerife with a toddler. I wish you a wonderful escape to this family-friendly island!

What questions do you have for me about visiting Tenerife with kids? Let me know in the comments below!

Ready to travel to Tenerife with your toddler? 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 North or South: Which Side of the Island Should You Visit?
• Essential Guide to Driving in Tenerife (Plus Key Tips)
• 10 of the Best Views in Tenerife (With Exact Directions)
• Tenerife in January: Essential Guide to Europe’s Winter-Sun Paradise
• Tenerife vs Mallorca: Which Stunning Spanish Island Should You Visit?
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