Tenerife weather in JanuaryThe southern side of Tenerife is nearly always warmer and so might be the best spot to visit during the coldest month of the year.
While the rain can be fairly unpredictable, the south of the island will usually be drier and see the most sunshine, and may be the best area to visit at this time of year.
Roughly said, the northern part of Tenerife is great for hikers, outdoor activities in Tenerife and pristine nature lovers. I recommend the south of the island such as Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos or Los Gigantes for those who are looking for beach holidays and all the facilities of a tourist hub.
Tenerife's Weather in FebruaryTenerife South is much warmer than the North. An estimated 24mm of rainfall falls within 3.8 days of this month, with 18 of those days partially cloudy and an estimated 5.6 days sunny. Tenerife gets 7 hours of sunshine per day at this time of year and sea temperatures go down to 20°C.
Which are the windiest areas of Tenerife? The east coast of Tenerife tends to be windier than the south of the island. El Medano is popular for kitesurfing and there are a lot of kitesurfing schools around the area, so it's an ideal place to stay if you're interested in water sports.
Areas to AvoidBecause of its volcanic background, most beaches in Tenerife are volcanic with black sand which can be hot under the feet. If you're after a traditional sandy beach head to Los Cristianos and leave the southern resorts alone. Playa la Arena is also notorious for pickpockets.
Mount Teide is a dormant volcano in the middle of the island and divides the two halves. In the north, the climate is wetter and cooler, which means it attracts fewer tourists. The south has more sunshine and warmer temperatures. This southern half is also less windy with fewer clouds, which gives a hotter climate.
However, south Tenerife is great for a sunny holiday with a fun atmosphere – even in the winter months! Like Lanzarote and the other Canary Islands, the summer and winter temperatures in Tenerife only have about 8 degrees celsius/ 14 Fahrenheit difference, making it a fantastic winter sun destination.
Playa de las Américas, particularly in the area around Las Verónicas, is a loud and brash resort, not to everyone's taste. Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje are quieter, more sedate areas, attracting a more mature crowd of holidaymakers.
Temperature in Tenerife in DecemberTenerife is a popular place for sun seekers in December with average maximum temperatures a pleasant 22.2 °C (70 °F) combined with about six hours of sunshine.
The southern municipalities of Adeje and Arona saw the highest demand for real estate on Tenerife in 2022. Prices here also continued to rise. With average asking prices of just under 4,000 euros/m2, Costa Adeje and Playa de las Américas are the most expensive areas in the Canary Islands.
Puerto de la Cruz – poshest part of TenerifePuerta de la Cruz is the beautifully lush, green, and posh part of Tenerife. It is also the second biggest town and located on the north of the island, about an hour drive from Costa Adeje and the South Airport (North Airport is more convenient, if you can – 20 min by car).
January is peak cold and wet time in Tenerife, if you want to avoid the wettest month but equally not suffer high temperatures or high prices the best time for you to go is between March and June.
In February, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria enjoy average temperatures of 18°C, with highs of 21°C and lows of 14°C at night. Tenerife is slightly cooler at this time of the year, with an average temperature of 16°C. If you want to swim in the sea, the water is still a reasonably cool 18°C.
The south coast beaches like Playa de las Américas and Los Cristianos thrum with beach-goers, but those in the know go north instead for a slice of proper coastal wilderness and fewer crowds. Some of the best northern beaches are terrifically secluded, so much so that you can only reach them on foot or by boat.
Playa de Torviscas is a white sand beach and so is Playa Fañabé. Because of this, they both constitute one of the busiest and most popular areas in the south of Tenerife. Playa de Torviscas is one of the largest and most touristy beaches on the island.
The beach is located in the town of San Andrés, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and is almost one kilometre long. It was artificially created in the 1970s over another, volcanic sand beach that was in the same location.