Compare Costa Adeje holidays

What to do in Costa Adeje

Costa Adeje’s high-end hotels and luxurious resorts may well make you want to stay by the pool and sip sangria all day but, while sun-bathing days are certainly heavenly, be sure to drag yourself off the sun-lounger from time to time to see what else Tenerife has in store (which, you’ll be pleased to hear, is plenty).

Beaches

Tenerife’s southern coastline has a mix of dark volcanic beaches and gold-sand stretches – and Costa Adeje is home to some of the best.

Playa de Fañabe is the main beach with volcanic sand, shallow waters and plenty of family-friendly facilities. A little further north, Playa del Duque is the headliner, with chic beach bars and restaurants, watersports, and plenty of space to spread out on a sun-lounger.

Mount Teide

Towering over the entire island, Mount Teide is not only the crowning glory of Tenerife but also, with a summit that reaches a staggering 3,718m (12,198ft), the highest peak in Spain.

From Costa Adeje, take a tour or drive to the Teide National Park. The journey is nothing short of epic – resort scenery changes to pine trees then moon-like craters as you travel upwards. Unless you're feeling hardy enough to make the five-hour trek, there's a cable car to the highest viewing point.

Los Gigantes

These volcanic cliffs are just as their name describes: gigantic. A ridge of 600m (1,969ft) rock rises up out of the ocean, creating jaw-dropping views along the coast.

Hop on a boat trip from Los Cristianos to see the peaks at their best and look out for dolphins and pilot whales along the way. The area is renowned for marine wildlife, so don’t forget your snorkel.

Siam Park and Aqualand

These two waterparks are enough to keep even the most energetic of offspring busy for a week. At the Thai-themed Siam Park you’ll find all sorts of crazy slides and rides for all ages. Feeling steely-nerved? Try tackling the Tower of Power, a near-vertical 28m (92ft) chute that guarantees to leave you trembling.

Aqualand, meanwhile, has everything from tsunami slides to twisting rapids and a wave pool. Just don't be surprised if you have just as much fun as the kids!

La Gomera

You’ll need to take a ferry trip from Los Cristianos to visit this tiny island – but it’s worth the effort. The quiet capital, San Sebastian, feels like it’s a world away from the built-up resorts of southern Tenerife. Many day trips take in the Garajonay National Park, stopping at viewing points to see the untamed rocky landscape where laurel forests thrive among the deep valleys.

While La Gomera is a walker’s paradise, you really need to spend a few days here to make the most of its hiking trails.

Where to stay in Costa Adeje

For food and drink

The area around Playa del Duque is home to numerous high-end beach cafes, cocktail lounges and stylish waterfront restaurants. Dress code here is suitably smart – no bikinis or bare feet in sight – so pack to impress. Further north of here, towards La Caleta, the gourmet choices continue, as do the luxurious hotels.

Playa de Fañabe is busy with family-friendly restaurants and bars to suit all tastes. The neighbourhood also has its fair share of fine dining away from the main beachfront, including gourmet takes on traditional Canarian cuisine.

For nightlife

Costa Adeje’s nightlife is low-key and relaxed compared to its lively neighbours. That said, there’s still plenty of lounge bars with live music and chilled-out DJs to keep you entertained. While many are located along the beachfront, there are several inland.

If you want the luxury of Costa Adeje and the booming nightlife of Playa de las Americas in one holiday, stay in the south. While Playa de la Pinta (also called Puerto Colon), has plenty of bars, it’s also possible to walk or take a taxi to the Veronica’s Strip nightclubs from here, giving you the best of both worlds.

For culture

Wherever you stay in Costa Adeje, day trips to Tenerife’s cultural attractions are easy to organise through local tour operators. Often, bus pickups are direct from your hotel and will transport you to Los Cristianos, Santa Cruz or the Teide National Park.

Stay in the south of the resort, close to Playa de Troya, for a shorter journey to and from Los Cristianos port. Or, if you’re planning to visit Los Gigantes and the mountain village of Masca by car, stay further north in La Caleta. From there, you’ll be able to swiftly get on to the road you need.