How to get to Tenerife: the complete guide

Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands and a great destination for holidays all year round. On our Tenerife travel guide, you can find detailed information about what to do on the island, the best beaches, sights, activities and nightlife. But before that, let’s see how you can travel to Tenerife by ferry or plane with ease.

Flight or ferry to Tenerife?

Tenerife is one of the few Canary Islands that you can visit both by ferry and plane. There are various domestic and international flights to the island’s 2 airports: Los Rodeos Tenerife North Airport and Reina Sofia Tenerife South Airport. 

You can also get a ferry to either of the 2 ports of Tenerife: Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the northeast coast, or Los Cristianos on the southwest coast.

Wondering what's the best way to get to Tenerife? Our personal favorite is traveling by ferry. Here, you can read the key benefits of traveling by ferry to Tenerife:

• Ferry traveling is more comfortable as you can stroll around and breathe fresh air at the deck, overlooking the amazing Atlantic Ocean.
• You can bring your car on the ferry to Tenerife and easily explore every corner of the island. 
• Traveling by ferry with your pet is more convenient than flying. You can bring your little friend onboard and make the trip more comfortable for both of you. 
• Traveling by ferry to Tenerife is the most eco-friendly way to explore the Canaries. Read all about sustainable ferry travel on Ferryhopper.

The 19th-century lighthouse at Punta de Teno of Tenerife

How to get to Tenerife from the Canary Islands

Getting to Tenerife from the rest of the Canaries by ferry is one of the easiest ways to reach the beautiful island. We gathered below information about the most popular ferry connections and how long it takes to get to Tenerife from nearby destinations. 

Tip: should you need more detailed information about ferry travel and island hopping in Tenerife, make sure to read our blog!

Traveling to Tenerife from Gran Canaria

This is one of the most popular ferry routes in the Canary Islands and can often get busy. There are daily ferry crossings from Gran Canaria to Tenerife all year long, with increased frequency in summer.

Ferries from Gran Canaria depart either from the port of Agaete or from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and they reach the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

The Gran Canaria - Tenerife ferry duration is 1 hr 20 min to less than 3 hr depending on the port of departure and the type of ferry. Ferry ticket prices range between €42 and €60.

Note: there are also direct flights between Gran Canaria and Tenerife (South). The duration of the Gran Canaria - Ibiza flight is around 40 min.

Traveling to Tenerife from La Gomera

This is the fastest way to get to Tenerife, as the trip duration from La Gomera to Tenerife is about 50 min. 

Normally, there are at least 4 daily ferry crossings from the port of San Sebastián in La Gomera to the port of Los Cristianos in Tenerife. 

Ticket prices for the La Gomera - Tenerife ferry route start as low as €42.

Traveling to Tenerife from El Hierro

The El Hierro - Tenerife route is a great idea for a day trip or a long weekend, moving from the relaxing vibes of El Hierro to the vivid lifestyle of Tenerife.

The ferry route is usually served 6 days per week and the duration of the trip is approximately 2.5 hr.

Ferries from El Hierro depart from the port of Valverde (or Puerto de La Estaca) and reach the port of Cristianos in Tenerife. The ferry price from El Hierro to Tenerife is approximately €54.

Note: there are no direct flights from El Hierro to Tenerife (South) but you can travel indirectly via Gran Canaria about 3 to 4 times a week. The total duration of the El Hierro - Tenerife flight route is around 2 hr. 

Tip: you can find more information about the available ferry crossings and island hopping in the Canary Islands in our relevant blog post.

Playa de Las Américas on the southwest coast of Tenerife

How to get to Tenerife from mainland Spain

Are you thinking of getting to Tenerife without flying?

You can travel by ferry from the southern coast of Spain to Tenerife and the Canary Islands. You can catch the ferry to Tenerife either from the port of Cádiz or the port of Huelva.

Despite the long duration of the trip, traveling by ferry from mainland Spain to Tenerife is a great way to transfer your vehicle to the island and enjoy the ride through the Atlantic Ocean. It's also one of the least pricey and most convenient ways to get to Tenerife.

Discover more tips about the ferry from mainland Spain to Tenerife on our travel guide and read below about the ferry crossings from Huelva and Cádiz to Tenerife.

How to get to Tenerife from Huelva

The Huelva to Tenerife ferry crossing is served at least 3 times per week throughout the year, with ticket prices starting at €96-€120.

The trip duration from the port of Huelva to the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is between 31-39 hr.

The port of Huelva is in Andalusia, close to the Spanish borders with Portugal.

How to get to Tenerife from Cádiz

There is 1 crossing per week on the Cádiz - Tenerife ferry route. One-way ticket prices start at €175.

The ferry trip from Cádiz to the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife lasts approximately 44 hr. 

The port of the Bay of Cádiz is in Andalusia, close to the city of Seville. 

Roadtrip in the mountains of Tenerife

Book ferry tickets to Tenerife

Now that you have all the information you need on how to get to Tenerife, you can book tickets with confidence. On Ferryhopper, you can find all the ferry schedules for Spain, compare ferry companies and prices, and buy your ferry tickets online easily and quickly, with no hidden fees.

Pro tip: for combining multiple destinations in one booking, make sure to check out our interactive Map of ferries and plan every step of your excursion in the Canaries.