The sea temperature at Tenerife today is 24.3 °C (76 °F) – refreshing to pleasantly warm water, ideal for most people. The usual October average is 22.7 °C. Over the last 30 days the sea has cooled from 25.2 °C to 24.3 °C. Swimmable all year – the sea averages 18 °C or more in every month. Source: Sea Temp Map (seatempmap.com) – NASA MUR satellite data and the Copernicus Marine sea forecast.
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 18.9°C / 66.0°F | 19.5°C / 67.1°F | 20.2°C / 68.4°F |
| February | 18.6°C / 65.5°F | 18.9°C / 66.1°F | 19.5°C / 67.2°F |
| March | 18.3°C / 64.9°F | 18.8°C / 65.8°F | 19.3°C / 66.7°F |
| April | 18.5°C / 65.4°F | 19.2°C / 66.5°F | 19.7°C / 67.5°F |
| May | 19.5°C / 67.0°F | 19.8°C / 67.7°F | 20.2°C / 68.4°F |
| June | 20.0°C / 68.0°F | 20.8°C / 69.4°F | 21.9°C / 71.3°F |
| July | 20.7°C / 69.2°F | 21.4°C / 70.5°F | 22.5°C / 72.5°F |
| August | 21.9°C / 71.3°F | 22.3°C / 72.2°F | 23.0°C / 73.4°F |
| September | 22.5°C / 72.4°F | 23.0°C / 73.3°F | 23.6°C / 74.6°F |
| October | 22.3°C / 72.2°F | 22.7°C / 72.9°F | 23.7°C / 74.6°F |
| November | 21.3°C / 70.3°F | 21.9°C / 71.5°F | 22.7°C / 72.8°F |
| December | 19.8°C / 67.6°F | 20.6°C / 69.0°F | 21.3°C / 70.3°F |
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 18.0°C / 64.4°F | 18.3°C / 64.9°F | 18.5°C / 65.2°F |
| February | 17.6°C / 63.6°F | 17.9°C / 64.1°F | 18.1°C / 64.5°F |
| March | 17.3°C / 63.2°F | 17.8°C / 64.1°F | 18.1°C / 64.6°F |
| April | 18.2°C / 64.7°F | 18.7°C / 65.6°F | 18.9°C / 66.1°F |
| May | 18.9°C / 65.9°F | 19.4°C / 66.9°F | 19.7°C / 67.5°F |
| June | 20.1°C / 68.1°F | 20.7°C / 69.2°F | 21.1°C / 69.9°F |
| July | 22.3°C / 72.2°F | 22.9°C / 73.3°F | 23.4°C / 74.2°F |
| August | 23.3°C / 73.9°F | 23.8°C / 74.8°F | 24.2°C / 75.6°F |
| September | 22.2°C / 71.9°F | 22.6°C / 72.7°F | 22.9°C / 73.2°F |
| October | 22.0°C / 71.6°F | 22.4°C / 72.3°F | 22.6°C / 72.7°F |
| November | 20.7°C / 69.3°F | 21.0°C / 69.8°F | 21.1°C / 70.0°F |
| December | 18.9°C / 66.0°F | 19.2°C / 66.5°F | 19.4°C / 66.9°F |
5-year averages (2021–2025). Min/Max are typical daily lows and highs, not record extremes. (Copernicus ERA5)
Tenerife holidays
Tenerife is the largest of Spain's Canary Islands, a volcanic island in the Atlantic about 300 km off the coast of Africa, crowned by Mount Teide (3,715 m), the highest peak in Spain. The capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, lies on the north-east coast. Most beach holidays are spent in the dry, sunny south, while the greener north keeps older towns such as Puerto de la Cruz and La Laguna.
Beaches
The south-west coast is lined with resort beaches, several of them topped up with golden sand. Playa de las Américas has surf breaks and a long promenade that continues into Costa Adeje, where Playa del Duque is backed by upmarket hotels. Next door, Los Cristianos has a sheltered harbour beach with calm water that suits children. Many of the island's beaches have dark volcanic sand, such as Playa Jardín in Puerto de la Cruz, while Las Teresitas near Santa Cruz has pale sand shipped from the Sahara in the 1970s. The sea temperature on this page is measured off the north coast of the Anaga massif, near Taganana.
Things to do
Teide National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007, is the big day out: a cable car climbs to 3,555 m, and the final trail to the summit needs an advance reservation, with an access fee for most visitors. On the west coast, the Los Gigantes cliffs drop straight into the sea, and boat trips from Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje go out to the pilot whales and dolphins that live offshore all year. The walk down the Masca ravine needs an advance booking; the laurel forest of Anaga in the north-east is the other classic hike. Families head for Loro Parque in Puerto de la Cruz and the Siam Park water park in Costa Adeje.
Weather and best time to visit
At Tenerife the sea stays above 20 °C / 68 °F from June to December.
The trade winds keep Tenerife's south dry and the north cloudier and greener, and winter is high season in the southern resorts. A few times a year the calima, a haze of Saharan dust, settles over the island for several days.
Hotels and where to stay
Playa de las Américas is the lively heart of the south, with bars and nightlife; Costa Adeje to the north-west is quieter and more upmarket, and Los Cristianos suits families and long winter stays. For a traditional town in the green north, choose Puerto de la Cruz.
Signature hotels: H10 Costa Adeje Palace (Costa Adeje) · Gran Tacande Wellness & Relax Costa Adeje
Airport and getting there
Tenerife South airport (TFS) handles most international flights and is about 20 minutes by car from Playa de las Américas. Tenerife North (TFN), near La Laguna, serves mainly the other islands and mainland Spain. Ferries sail from the port of Los Cristianos to La Gomera, and TITSA buses link the southern resorts with Santa Cruz and the north.