There are two Tenerifes. There’s the sun-baked, resort-lined south that most visitors know — and then there’s the north: lush, green, dramatic and steeped in history, where banana plantations climb misty hillsides, colonial towns cluster around cobbled plazas, and the Atlantic crashes against black-rock coasts. It’s the island the package crowds miss, and it’s made for a road trip.
This guide maps out a north Tenerife road trip you can drive at your own pace — a connected route linking the region’s finest towns, viewpoints and coastline. Do it in a packed day or, better, spread it over two. Either way, it’s the side of the island that turns a holiday into a love affair.
🌿 Quick Answer
A classic north Tenerife road trip runs along the green northern coast, typically linking La Laguna, Puerto de la Cruz, La Orotava, Icod de los Vinos and Garachico, with the wild Anaga mountains to the east and Teno to the west. It’s a string of colonial towns, gardens, dragon trees and dramatic coast, easily driven on the TF-5 motorway with scenic detours. Allow a full day at minimum, or an overnight to do it justice — and a hire car is essential.
🗺️ The Route at a Glance
A logical west-to-east (or reverse) string of stops along the north. Mix and match to taste:
| Stop | Don’t Miss | Drive to Next |
|---|---|---|
| 🏛️ La Laguna | UNESCO old town, university buzz | ~30–40 min |
| 🌺 Puerto de la Cruz | Sea pools, gardens, old harbour | ~15 min |
| 🏰 La Orotava | The island’s prettiest historic centre | ~30 min |
| 🐉 Icod de los Vinos | The thousand-year-old dragon tree | ~15 min |
| ⚓ Garachico | Volcanic rock pools, postcard streets | ~25 min |
| 🌊 Buenavista / Teno | Wild western tip & lighthouse | — |
To the east, the Anaga Rural Park extends the trip into ancient laurel forests; to the west, Punta de Teno caps it with cliffs and ocean. A car makes the whole chain effortless — compare options in our Tenerife car hire guide.
🏛️ The Historic Heart: La Laguna & La Orotava
The north is the island’s cultural core, and two towns capture it best. La Laguna (San Cristóbal de La Laguna) is a UNESCO World Heritage city — the former capital, with a perfectly preserved colonial grid of candy-coloured mansions and a lively student scene. La Orotava, perched above its namesake valley, is arguably Tenerife’s most beautiful old town, all carved wooden balconies and cobbled lanes.
Both reward slow wandering on foot — park on the edge and explore. Dive deeper with our La Laguna by car and La Orotava by car guides.
🌊 The Coast: Puerto de la Cruz & Garachico
The northern coast has a character all its own — Atlantic surf, black sand and natural rock pools instead of resort beaches. Puerto de la Cruz is the grande dame of northern resorts: elegant, green and full of charm, with the Lago Martiánez sea pools and lush gardens. Further west, Garachico is a postcard — a historic harbour town rebuilt around a volcanic eruption, with natural pools carved into the lava where you can swim.
These two are the soul of the northern coast. Plan them with our Puerto de la Cruz by car and Garachico day trip guides.
🐉 The Curiosity: Icod’s Dragon Tree
Between the towns, make time for Icod de los Vinos, home to the Drago Milenario — a vast, ancient dragon tree reputed to be many centuries old and one of the island’s most famous natural icons. The town around it is worth a wander too, with wine bodegas reflecting its name. It’s a quick but memorable stop, covered in our Icod de los Vinos by car guide.
⛰️ Wild Ends: Anaga & Teno
If you have the time, the north’s two mountain ranges bookend the route with raw drama:
- 🌿 Anaga (east) — prehistoric laurel forests, knife-edge ridges and tiny hamlets, just above La Laguna. One of the island’s great drives and walks.
- 🌊 Teno (west) — beyond Garachico and Buenavista, the land crumples into cliffs ending at Punta de Teno’s lighthouse (note the access restrictions).
These are where the north feels most untamed. Add either (or both) and your road trip goes from lovely to unforgettable. For the most scenic stretches of tarmac throughout, see our best roads to drive in Tenerife and best viewpoints guides.
🕐 One Day or Two?
How long you need depends on how deep you go:
| Plan | Covers | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| ☀️ One full day | La Laguna → Puerto → La Orotava → Icod → Garachico | A focused taster of the north |
| 🌙 Two days (overnight) | All the above + Anaga and/or Teno, at a relaxed pace | Doing the north justice |
A single day is achievable but brisk; an overnight in the north (Puerto de la Cruz makes a natural base) lets you add the mountains, linger in the towns and enjoy the famously atmospheric northern evenings.
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🚗 Doing It From the South
Based in the southern resorts? The north is very reachable, but it’s a committed day trip — roughly 1 to 1.5 hours each way on the motorway. To make the most of it:
- 🌅 Start early to maximise your time in the towns.
- 🛣️ Take the TF-1/TF-5 across, and consider looping back a different way.
- 🌙 Or stay a night up north to avoid a long there-and-back in one day.
This route also slots neatly into the northern days of our 5-day and 7-day itineraries. New to the island’s roads? A quick read of driving in Tenerife helps before you set off.
🍷 Flavours of the North
The green north isn’t just about scenery — it’s the island’s larder. The cooler, wetter climate makes this prime growing country, and a road trip here is as much about what’s on the plate and in the glass as what’s out the window. This is wine country: the hillsides around the north and northeast produce distinctive Canarian wines (Icod and the surrounding valleys have a long winemaking heritage), and roadside bodegas and guachinches — informal, family-run eateries — serve them alongside hearty local cooking.
Look out for northern staples: fresh Atlantic fish straight off the boat in the coastal towns, papas arrugadas (wrinkly salt potatoes) with fiery mojo sauces, toasted gofio, and local goat’s cheeses from the highlands. Stopping for a long, unhurried lunch at a guachinche is, for many, the highlight of a northern day — it’s where the region’s slower, more authentic rhythm really shows. Build a relaxed meal into your route rather than rushing town to town, and the north rewards you twice over.
💡 Tips for the North Road Trip
- 🧥 Pack a layer — the north is greener because it’s cooler and cloudier than the south.
- 🅿️ Park on the edge of the old towns and walk in; see our parking guide.
- 🌅 Start early to beat coach groups at the popular towns.
- ☀️ Pick a clear day if you can — northern cloud can roll in.
- 💰 Book the car early for the best rate — see our cheap car hire guide.
✅ North Road Trip Checklist
- 🚗 Hire a car — the route depends on it.
- 🗺️ Plan your stops — towns, dragon tree, coast, mountains.
- 🕐 Decide one day or two (overnight does it justice).
- 🧥 Pack a layer for the cooler north.
- 🅿️ Park on the edge of old towns and explore on foot.
- ⛰️ Add Anaga or Teno if time allows.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best road trip route in northern Tenerife? A classic loop links La Laguna, Puerto de la Cruz, La Orotava, Icod de los Vinos and Garachico along the green northern coast, with optional extensions into the Anaga forests (east) or Teno (west). The TF-5 motorway connects them with scenic detours.
How long do you need for a north Tenerife road trip? A full day covers the main towns at a brisk pace. To include the Anaga or Teno mountains and explore without rushing, an overnight stay in the north is far better.
Do I need a car to explore northern Tenerife? Effectively yes. The northern towns, viewpoints and mountains are spread out and slow to reach by bus, so a hire car is essential to link them into a satisfying road trip.
Can I do the north as a day trip from the south? Yes, but it’s a committed day — around 1 to 1.5 hours each way by motorway. Start early, or better, stay a night in the north to avoid a long round trip in a single day.
What are the must-see stops in the north? La Laguna’s UNESCO old town, Puerto de la Cruz’s sea pools and gardens, La Orotava’s historic centre, Icod’s ancient dragon tree, and Garachico’s volcanic rock pools — with the Anaga and Teno mountains for the more adventurous.
Why is northern Tenerife so green? The north catches more cloud and moisture than the arid south, feeding lush vegetation, banana plantations and laurel forests. The flip side is cooler, cloudier weather, so pack a light layer.
Where should I base myself for the north? Puerto de la Cruz is the natural northern base — central to the coastal towns and within easy reach of both La Orotava and the mountains. From there, the whole route is on your doorstep.
Is the north better than the south of Tenerife? Neither is “better” — they’re different. The south offers sun and beaches; the north offers greenery, history and dramatic scenery. A road trip north is the perfect contrast to a southern beach base.
What food and wine is the north known for? The cooler, greener north is wine country, with local bodegas and informal guachinche eateries. Look for fresh Atlantic fish, papas arrugadas with mojo, gofio and highland cheeses — a long lunch is part of the experience.
Is the north of Tenerife good for families? Yes. Alongside the towns and scenery, there are sea pools at Puerto de la Cruz and Garachico, the dragon tree at Icod and gentle forest walks in Anaga — plenty to keep children engaged, just with cooler, cloudier weather than the south.
🌿 Discover the Other Tenerife
The green north is the island at its most soulful — historic towns, misty forests and a wild Atlantic coast, all linked by gorgeous driving roads. Give it a day, ideally two, and you’ll see a side of Tenerife most visitors never do.
👉 Compare car hire deals in Tenerife and point the car north. This route is part of our complete Tenerife by Car guide — packed with more drives, towns and viewpoints across the island.
