Where to Stay in Puerto de la Cruz
Puerto de la Cruz is Tenerife’s original tourist town, predating the south coast’s resort boom by decades — which means it has real streets, squares and local life alongside its hotels, rather than being purpose-built for tourism. Where you base yourself within the town changes the trip noticeably.
Town centre vs Playa Jardín
| Area | Good for | Notes | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Town centre / harbour | Walkable restaurants, local atmosphere | Close to Lago Martiánez and the old town | See hotels |
| Playa Jardín area | Beach-focused stays, quieter evenings | A short walk or bus ride from the centre | See hotels |
Why stay here instead of the south
Puerto de la Cruz is the obvious base if Teide National Park, the Anaga rural park, or the La Orotava wine region are trip priorities — all are considerably closer than from the south coast. It also sees more cloud and rain than the south (see our north vs south comparison), so it suits travellers less fixated on guaranteed beach weather.
Practical tips
- Lago Martiánez, the César Manrique-designed seawater lido, is the town’s substitute for a conventional sandy beach and is walkable from most central hotels.
- Loro Parque is a short taxi or bus ride from the town centre — see our Loro Parque tickets guide.
- If you don’t have a rental car, Puerto de la Cruz is compact enough to explore on foot, unlike the more spread-out south-coast resort strips.
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