Things to Do in Tenerife on a Rainy Day

Rain in southern Tenerife is genuinely rare - the south coast averages fewer than 40 rainy days per year, most of which involve a brief shower rather than an all-day washout. But it does happen, and if you're unlucky enough to hit a grey day, there's plenty to do that doesn't require sunshine.

In fact, several of the best things Tenerife has to offer are better on an overcast day - the museums, the old towns, and the rainforests of the north and Anaga are all enhanced by slightly cooler, cloudier conditions.

Head to the Anaga Rural Park

This is probably the best bad-weather move on the island. The Anaga mountains in the northeast are one of the oldest parts of Tenerife, covered in ancient laurel forest that has survived since before the last ice age. On a cloudy day, the forest feels genuinely magical - mist drifting through ancient trees, the smell of wet earth, dramatic views down ravines to remote villages.

The main walking trails are well-marked. Cruz del Carmen is the most accessible starting point, with a visitor centre and several trail options from there. The village of Taganana, accessible by a spectacular winding road through the mountains, is worth the drive and has a good local restaurant.

Take: A waterproof jacket, sturdy footwear, and a trail map from the visitor centre.

Explore Santa Cruz

The island capital is criminally undervisited by tourists who spend their whole trip in the south. Santa Cruz is a proper Spanish city - good museums, excellent restaurants, a lively local market, and architecture that ranges from colonial to contemporary.

What to see:

• Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre - one of the best museums in the Canary Islands, with an extensive collection of Guanche (pre-Hispanic Canarian) artefacts including mummies. Genuinely fascinating
• Parque García Sanabria - a large, beautifully maintained city park with tropical plants. Lovely even in light rain
• Mercado de Nuestra Señora de África - a bustling covered market with fresh produce, flowers, and local food stalls. Best on Saturday morning
• Auditorio de Tenerife - Santiago Calatrava's extraordinary wave-shaped concert hall is worth seeing even from the outside. Check for performances if you're visiting in the evening

Visit La Orotava

One of the most beautiful towns in the Canary Islands, La Orotava sits at around 400 metres in the north and is genuinely stunning. The old town is remarkably well-preserved - Canarian colonial architecture, wooden balconies, cobblestone streets.

The Casa de los Balcones is the most famous building - a 17th-century merchant's house with extraordinary carved wooden balconies. The interior houses a craft shop and occasionally artisans demonstrating traditional Canarian crafts.

The Hijuela del Botánico garden (a branch of the main botanical garden in Puerto de la Cruz) is beautiful in any weather - subtropical plants, ancient trees, and views down to the coast.

Loro Parque, Puerto de la Cruz

One of the best zoological parks in Europe, regardless of the weather forecast. Loro Parque houses the world's largest collection of parrots, plus orcas, sea lions, gorillas, tigers, penguins, and much more. It's a full day out.

The orca and dolphin shows (Sea World branded) are controversial from an animal welfare perspective - this is a personal choice about whether to support them. The rest of the park is generally regarded as excellent in terms of animal welfare and facilities.

Practical: Allow a full day. Tickets are cheaper booked online. Avoid the busiest periods (11am to 3pm in peak season).

Siam Park

If you're prepared to get wet anyway, Siam Park is regularly rated one of the best water parks in the world. Located in the south near Las Americas, it's a legitimately excellent day out - the rides are thrilling, the lazy river is enormous, and the wave pool is the largest in Europe.

A cloudy day with temperatures still in the low 20s is actually a great time to visit Siam Park - fewer people than peak season and you don't need to worry about sunburn.

Note: Closes in high winds, which are more common in rough weather. Check their website on the morning.

Spa and Wellness

Most large hotels in Tenerife have spa facilities available to non-residents. The Hotel Bahía del Duque in Costa Adeje has a beautiful spa. Alternatively, the Mar y Sol spa in Puerto de la Cruz is well-regarded.

A rainy morning followed by a spa session and a long lunch at a proper restaurant is a perfectly good way to spend a grey day in Tenerife.

Drive Up Above the Clouds

One of the most reliable tricks in Tenerife: if it's overcast on the coast, drive up to the Teide National Park. The cloud layer typically sits between 600 and 1,800 metres. Above it, you'll find blue skies, brilliant sunshine, and a spectacular sea of clouds below you.

This works the majority of the time. The main risk is that the cloud has risen to national park level, which happens occasionally in winter. Check the Teide National Park webcams before making the journey - they're updated every few minutes and give you a clear view of conditions at 2,000 metres.

Have a Long Lunch

Tenerife has genuinely excellent food, and a rainy day is a perfect excuse to stop rushing and eat well. Some recommendations across the island:

• El Rincón de Juan Carlos (Los Gigantes) - Michelin-starred, book in advance
• Mesón Los Gemelos (La Orotava) - Traditional Canarian cooking, excellent papas arrugadas
• La Hierbita (Santa Cruz) - Classic Canarian restaurant in the old town, great value
• El Cine (Puerto de la Cruz) - Excellent fresh fish, popular with locals

None of these require sunshine to be enjoyed. In fact, a long lunch with wine on a grey afternoon might be exactly what a holiday is for.