The Best Resorts in Tenerife for a Canary Island Escape

A sprawling lagoon of a pool, edged by smooth boulders and towering palms, gives this slick resort on the Southwest Coast an almost Polynesian feel. Spacious rooms with polished wood floors, chaise longues and generous balconies spoil guests at every turn. Indeed, people cross the island for Nub restaurant’s boundary-pushing tasting menus, full of Canarian delicacies such as corn crème brûlée and pig’s-trotter broth.

Also on the beach-trimmed Costa Adeje, Guayarmina is a few metres from silver-sanded Playa Fanabe. This 16-plus, adults-only resort is a towering, ice-white affair with grand columns and an enormous infinity pool, where glamorous couples and groups of friends lounge on huge, half-sphere wicker day beds and the sail-shaded pool bar serves mojitos and champagne. Chic teal, white and pale-gold rooms give a restful night’s sleep.

Slightly inland, but still only a 10-minute walk to the beach, this palatial white resort is trimmed with lofty palms and thatched cabanas. There are plenty of treats for kids: a pirate play ship in the children’s pool, cartoon pancakes at breakfast and a nursery that looks more like Silicon Valley offices; but the rooms are sophisticated enough for grown-ups, with ice-white beds and sofas and sunken bathtubs. Oh, and there’s a stand-out spa, too.

Styled like a Canarian village with whitewashed buildings and swaying palms in luscious gardens, this glamorous spot is style-central. Lounge on spacious terraces or in kitsch rooms with blue wall tiles and tasselled pink lamps, or float in the undulating lagoon pool with its shimmering sea views. Stay in the hotel’s boutique Club section for a more intimate VIP feel, with bigger suites, better views and glitzier interiors.

Close to golf courses and designer shopping in Costa Adeje, Nivaria is a laid-back affair with a glorious half-moon pool surrounded by tropical foliage and soft cushioned loungers to hail cocktails from. Inside the building are a glassy rotunda restaurant, a show-stopping stained-glass dome and a cavernous thermal spa doling out rigorous massages; plus light-filled rooms with comfy, classic furniture.

This large-scale resort in Puerto de la Cruz was refurbished in 2019 to reveal cream-and-chocolate rooms, with smart desks and flat-screen TVs. Larger suites have generous living areas and terraces, and there are a minigolf and a tennis court for active types outdoors. You’re close to the relaxing Las Martianez saltwater pools, as well as the local botanical gardens.

This cheerful building, painted sky-blue, coral and yellow, has inviting sun-drenched terraces to dine on and traditional rooms with wooden ceiling fans, cool floor tiles and wicker furniture. It’s friendly and unpretentious, with a selection of restaurants (Pan-Asian, Italian, Mexican and Brazilian) to please all ages and tastes. Book a massage in a breezy outdoor gazebo, or perfect your swing at the local golf course, a 10-minute drive away.

On a dizzying cliff in Northwestern Puerto de Santiago, the Barcelo juts out into the royal-blue ocean like the bow of a ship. Crisp, calm rooms in ice white and earthy, muted accents start the holiday feel, which continues in the chic white cocktail bar, 360-degree views from the curvaceous restaurant, and huge, refreshing pool on the oasis-like terrace.

Consistently voted a favourite with families, this Los Cristianos hotel is slightly in from the coast, so it’s all about its grounds and enormous swimming pool. Rooms have playful, colourful decor, with coral-print fabrics or lime-green scatter cushions. Many have kitchenettes, too, giving the option of self-catering. Mums and dads will love the proximity to local golf courses and the shuttle bus to nearby attractions.

This suave resort’s glossy reception sets the tone for your glamorous stay: polished marble floors, huge potted palms and low, stylish charcoal sofas. Once you settle in you’ll discover lantern-lit, sultry bars with live music and fruity cocktails, as well as a selection of restaurants (El Mercado’s seafood is the stand-out) and cool white rooms with four-poster beds, terracotta floor tiles and sliding doors to breeze-cooled balconies. A class act from top to bottom.