Getting Around Tenerife: Buses, Taxis and Car Hire

Getting around Tenerife is easier than most people expect. The public bus network is affordable and covers the whole island, car hire is competitively priced, and taxis are metered and reliable. Here's our complete guide to transport on the island for visitors from the UK.

TITSA Buses: Better Than You'd Think

The TITSA network is the public bus service for Tenerife and it genuinely works well. Modern air-conditioned buses cover every major town, resort, and the two airports. For getting between the main tourist areas, buses are often the most sensible option.

Key Routes

• Line 111: Santa Cruz to Puerto de la Cruz - the main north-south route, takes about 45 minutes on the fast road
• Line 343: Playa de las Américas to Tenerife South Airport (TFS) - runs regularly and takes 20 minutes
• Line 111/110: South resorts to Santa Cruz - takes around 70 minutes
• Line 342: Playa de las Américas to Santa Cruz direct - useful for day trips to the capital

The TITSA website has a journey planner. Buses are generally punctual, though traffic around Santa Cruz can cause delays at peak times.

Fares and Payment

Single fares are very reasonable - typically €1.50 to €3.00 for most resort-to-resort journeys. The best value option is a BONO card (a reloadable smart card), which gives you a 30–50% discount on standard fares. BONO cards are available at bus stations, some tobacconists (estancos), and online.

Contactless payment (Visa and Mastercard) is now accepted on most TITSA buses, making it easy for visitors who don't want to buy a BONO card for a short stay.

Car Hire: Excellent Value

Car hire in Tenerife is among the cheapest in Europe, particularly when booked in advance through comparison sites. Having your own car gives you freedom to explore the north, the Anaga peninsula, Teide, and the smaller villages that buses don't easily reach.

Where to Hire

Both airports have major international hire companies on site (Hertz, Europcar, Avis, Enterprise) plus several local companies. Local companies at Tenerife South (TFS) are often significantly cheaper - look for companies in the off-airport car hire area a short shuttle ride from arrivals.

Recommended approach: Book through Rental Cars or Discover Cars and compare total prices including excess insurance. Then check directly with the hire company as sometimes their own website is cheaper.

Practical Tips

• Full insurance (zero excess) is worth paying for - Tenerife's narrow mountain roads and busy resort car parks make minor scrapes more likely than you might expect
• Fill up at supermarket petrol stations - Hiperdino and Mercadona both have petrol stations that are notably cheaper than standalone garages
• A small car is much easier on the narrow roads of the north and Anaga. A large SUV is fine for the motorways and south, but becomes difficult in villages
• Sat nav or phone mount - the roads are generally well-signed but the mountain areas can be confusing
• Parking in Santa Cruz can be expensive. Use the large underground car parks near the centre

Driving in Tenerife

Tenerife uses standard European driving rules - drive on the right. The main motorway (TF-1) connects the south to the north and is fast and well-maintained. Speed cameras are common. The mountain roads are often single-track with passing places - slow down and be prepared to reverse.

Taxis

Taxis are metered in Tenerife and fares are regulated by the Cabildo (island government). They're reliable and honest - overcharging tourists is not common here. For short journeys within a resort, taxis are affordable and convenient.

Airport fixed fares are displayed at all airport taxi ranks - agree the fare before getting in. From TFS, the fare to Las Americas is around €12–15 and to Los Cristianos around €18–22 depending on exact destination.

For longer island crossings, taxis become expensive. A taxi from the south to Puerto de la Cruz would cost €80+. Bus or hire car is much better value for those journeys.

Taxi Apps

The Free Now app (formerly Hailo) works in Tenerife and allows you to book taxis in advance, which is useful during busy periods. Uber also operates in some areas, though TITSA and taxis remain the primary options.

Getting to Teide

Mount Teide deserves its own note. You can get there by:

• TITSA Bus 342: From Puerto de la Cruz, takes about 1 hour 30 to the Teide cable car station. Runs a few times daily - check the TITSA website for current timetables
• Hire car: Most straightforward option. The TF-21 road from both north and south is well-maintained and open year-round (weather permitting)
• Organised tours: Available from all major resorts, include transport and usually a guide

If you're hiking Teide itself (not just the national park), note that the summit path (Ruta 10) requires a free permit booked in advance through the Teide National Park website. Permits are limited and go quickly in peak season.

Summary: Which Option Is Best?