The south gets 320 days of sunshine a year. The north is green, lush, and sometimes cloudy. Here's an honest comparison to help you decide where to base yourself.
Ask anyone who's been to Tenerife more than once and they'll have an opinion on north versus south. The difference in weather isn't subtle — on the wrong day you can drive 45 minutes and go from brilliant sunshine to steady drizzle. Here's what you actually need to know before you book.
The Short Version
The south has better weather. By almost any measure — sunshine hours, days without rain, temperatures — the southern resorts come out ahead. If predictable, reliable sun is your priority, base yourself in the south.
But the north isn't bad. It's different. And if you value lush scenery, cooler temperatures, fewer tourists and a more authentic Canarian atmosphere, the trade-off in weather is often worth it.
South Tenerife: The Weather Stats
Playa de las Américas, Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje are in the rain shadow of the central mountain range. The trade winds that bring cloud and moisture to the north have already dumped it on the mountains before they reach the south.
The result:
- 320+ days of sunshine per year — consistently among the highest in Europe
- Average rainfall under 100mm annually — some years it barely rains at all
- Summer highs of 28–32°C, winter highs of 19–22°C
- Very little seasonal variation — this is the most genuinely year-round reliable weather on the island
The south can get cloud, particularly in winter and in the mornings. But it usually burns off by mid-morning and the afternoon is reliably clear. Extended bad weather in the south is unusual enough that locals comment on it.
North Tenerife: The Weather Stats
Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz sit on the north and northeast of the island, facing directly into the trade winds. The moisture those winds carry doesn't get a chance to blow over.
- Around 2,000–2,500 sunshine hours per year — still well above the UK, but noticeably fewer than the south
- 300–400mm of rainfall annually, mostly from October to March
- Cooler temperatures — typically 3–5°C lower than the south year-round
- More cloud, particularly the low-level trade wind cloud that can sit over the hills and northern valleys for hours
None of this sounds tropical, but context matters. Puerto de la Cruz still gets considerable sunshine — just less predictably than the south. A week in the north in November is a genuine gamble on weather. A week in the south in November is almost certainly going to be fine.
Where the North Wins
The weather being less reliable is a real trade-off. But there are reasons people choose the north anyway:
Scenery. The trade wind moisture that keeps the north cloudy also keeps it spectacularly green. The Orotava Valley, the Anaga mountains, the laurel forests — none of this exists in the south, which is largely dry scrub. If you're coming for the landscape rather than the beach, the north is considerably more beautiful.
Temperature. In the summer months, the south can feel overwhelming — 32°C with strong sun at midday is genuinely uncomfortable for many people. The north stays 3–5°C cooler, which makes it far more pleasant for walking, exploring and generally being outside rather than hiding under a parasol.
Fewer people. The northern resorts see a fraction of the tourist numbers of the south. Restaurants are cheaper, beaches are quieter, and the atmosphere is noticeably more local.
The sea. Puerto de la Cruz has unusual black volcanic sand beaches that look extraordinary. The water temperature is roughly the same across the island — Atlantic water, typically 19–23°C depending on season.
Where the South Wins
This comes down to one thing primarily: reliable sunshine. If you're a UK visitor who has booked two weeks in November and you want to come home with a tan, the south is the only sensible choice.
The southern resorts are also better developed for the classic beach-holiday infrastructure — large hotel complexes, extensive promenade dining, water parks, boat trips and so on. This isn't everyone's preference but it's what the south does well.
What About East and West?
El Médano (east) often has good sunshine but is one of the windiest spots on the island — the trade winds hit the east coast directly with nothing to shelter behind. It's brilliant for windsurfing and kitesurfing. Less ideal if you want to read a book on the beach without sand in your face.
Los Gigantes (west) combines reasonable sunshine with the dramatic cliffs of the Teno peninsula. It tends to be a few degrees warmer than the south in winter. A good choice if you want a slightly quieter alternative to the main southern resorts.
A Practical Decision Tree
Choose the south if:
- Weather reliability matters more than anything else
- You're visiting in autumn or winter
- Beach and sun are the main objectives
- You want the widest range of tourist infrastructure
Choose the north if:
- You're visiting in summer and prefer cooler temperatures
- Scenery, hiking and authentic Canarian life interest you
- You're prepared to accept more cloud for a more varied experience
- You're coming for more than one visit and already know the south
Split your stay if:
- You have two weeks or more
- This is a first visit — understanding both sides gives you a much better sense of the island
The weather is genuinely different enough that spending a week in each is worth the logistics. Take a car and drive across on the TF-1. The transition between the two is striking — you can watch the cloud layer from above on the motorway, thick on the northern slopes, absent on the southern side.