Cruise ships dock at the port of Santa Cruz. The distance to the town center is about half a mile or sometimes more, depending on where in the harbor you are docked. Smaller cruise ships tend to dock closer to town. Free shuttle buses are provided by the Tenerife Port Authority, which bring you to Plaza de Espana, the center of town, where pedestrian shopping streets converge. Taxis are generally available at the pier. If it is not too hot, it is pleasant walk into town.

The airport is about nine miles from Santa Cruz. Taxi is 15-20 Euro.

Hotels in Santa Cruz.

Printable map to take along.

Cruise calendar for this port.

Check here for festivals and events in Tenerife when you are in port.

Watch a destination video.

Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, is also one of the most scenically stunning islands in the world. Dominated by the gigantic outline of 12,402 ft.-high Mount Teide, this amazing volcanic island offers a wide variety of landscapes and tourist experiences.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the busy main port with ultramodern bank buildings and plenty of traffic. The pleasant town center is the Plaza de Espana. In its center stands an unusual tower in the form of a four-sided cross. Activities in town may include visits to several museums and strolling through the shady Municipal Park, where you can admire a unique assortment of tropical flora. Plenty of sidewalk cafes await your patronage.

It pays to compare your cruise line shore excursions here.

Also cabbies offer tours around the island, be sure to negotiate clearly beforehand i.e. is the price per party or per person.

Mount Teide (Tenerife's highest point), Las Canadas National Park (famed for its spectacular volcanic rock formations. From the parking lot tourists are brought to the volcano by a cable lift which ends at 3550m.

Tenerife has a more or less tax-free status: many electronics and perfume stores around.

Many shops observe siesta time between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. In the center of Santa Cruz main stores remain open throughout.

For upscale shopping head for El Corte Ingles, an upscale and large department store with a shopping center attached. A 15 minute walk from port or 4 Euro taxi ride away.

The euro

Currency Converter

Half way the cruise pier there is a Cyber cafe and more are found at the main shopping streets downtown. About 1 euro/hour.

Emergency number: Dial 112 free of charge (valid throughout Spain). Service is given in Spanish, and also in English, French and German in some tourist areas.

The most common business for shops and businesses hours are Monday through Saturday, from 9.30 h to 13.30 h, and from 16.30 to 20.00 h.

Big shopping centers and department stores open from 10.00 h to 21.00 or 22.00 h uninterruptedly. These big stores open sometimes on Sunday.

In coastal cities, in high season, shops are usually open passed 22.00 h.

Pharmacies open from 9.30 to 13.30 h, and from 16.30 to 20.00 h. In all major cities you can find pharmacies that open 24 hours. Pharmacies follow a rolling late-hour schedule, which is published in the newspapers, and is posted at all pharmacies.

Museums are in general closed on Mondays.

National public holidays.

Help us to keep this page up to date: Mail us your suggestions