One Day in Puerto de la Cruz – Activities & Walking Route

I’ll tell you right away – spending just one day in Puerto de la Cruz is not enough, so if you can extend your stay, do it to avoid regretting that you didn’t plan to spend more time there.

But if you can’t, use my sample itinerary packed with some interesting ideas for Puerto de la Cruz activities to maximize your time in this city.

I visit Puerto de la Cruz often (since it’s only a short drive from El Sauzal where we have a home) and know its best locations, things to do, and very good restaurants. Sharing some of them here below and more tips and posts are yet to come!

Quick Things to Know Before Going to This Coastal City

Puerto de la Cruz is an extremely safe city, something I’ve experienced firsthand as a woman who has often been there alone, has friends living there, and spends a lot of time out in the evenings and at night, meeting friends for a cocktail.

It is tourist-friendly, and while there are a few people on the main street trying to get you into restaurants or sell bags and other items, they can be a little annoying but nothing more.

As far as I know (and I keep up with the local news), there’s no serious crime in Puerto de la Cruz – just the occasional bar scuffle at night or minor traffic incidents.

The only caution I would give is to be mindful when taking evening walks along the coastline near the cliffs. Avoid heading after sunset to the trails towards Playa El Bollullo on the west side of Puerto de la Cruz or Roque Chico after sunset.

You never know who else might be on those trails, and the area is quite isolated with no other people. If something happens, like losing your way or running into trouble, no one will hear you, and it could be hard to get help. On top of that, from my experience, phone reception in some areas on those trails is unreliable, making it even more challenging to call for assistance.

If you want to go hiking near Puerto de la Cruz, better do it during the day!

One Day Puerto de la Cruz Itinerary At a Glance

• Morning – coastal walk to Playa El Bollullo, light breakfast on the beach or at the panoramic restaurant (alternative to breakfast), views of Puerto de la Cruz from above
• Early Afternoon – follow the footsteps of Agatha Christie, walk by the sea in the new part of Puerto de la Cruz, lunch
• Late Afternoon – self-walk through Old Town of Puerto de la Cruz, historic neighborhood of La Ranilla, Maria Jimenez beach, beer or juice break
• Evening – a free tour of Puerto de la Cruz’s spooky past, dinner trying traditional Canarian foods

Puerto de la Cruz in a Day – Activities & Detailed Route

Morning in Puerto de la Cruz

I suggest starting your day in Puerto de la Cruz with a light hike (actually more of a stroll) to one of the beautiful beaches of Northern Tenerife, a spot that’s popular among tourists. It runs along banana plantations and then a cliff, overlooking picturesque beaches.

If you have a car, head to Plaza Rotonda Aceviño, where parking is always available. From there, follow the path up to the cliffs towards Bollullo Beach (here is the route to follow) and get your camera ready as views along the way are beautiful.

Once you reach the Bollullo Beach area, you can go down to the beach by taking a long staircase and then dipping your toes in the volcanic sand while enjoying a peaceful walk. Otherwise, there is a chance to take another path to Playa Los Patos, but it is not always open due to safety concerns.

If you’ve had a light breakfast, you can stop by the nearby restaurant (Bollullo Beach restaurant, you’ll see it right there) for a smoothie or coffee with a pastry. If you feel like skipping this spot, I have other places I recommend later in this itinerary where it is also nice to stop for food and drinks.

NOTE: This walk and stop for photos should take you around 2-2.5 hours (if stopping in the restaurant then it may take more) which should be enough for a walk, stops to take photos, and some time on the beach.

Early Afternoon in Puerto de la Cruz

After this stroll, start making your way back toward the city, as there’s so much to see. When you return to the parking area, I suggest walking into Puerto along Cam de la Costa Street, heading toward the Atlantic Mirage Hotel. This street offers lovely views from above of Puerto de la Cruz and its surrounding area on the northern side.

From there, turn toward Finca La Paz, an old colonial-style home and one of the oldest buildings in the neighborhood, which once belonged to a well-known trader and settler from Europe.

In this area, you’ll also find information boards about Agatha Christie, who lived in the neighborhood during her visits to the island. Take a moment to read them, learn more about her connection to the place, and then follow the Agatha Christie painted stairs down to the city.

TIP: Before the stairs, there is a very good pizza place Luna Caprese where they make not just delicious pizzas but also Canarian-style appetizers. We like coming here for truffle and blue cheese pizza, octopus salad, and their in-house made white semi-sweet wine.

If you don’t want to stop for a snack or meal, then just continue down the stairs into the city and walk to the Playa de Martianez, a popular and nice beach where to sunbathe, surf (or watch surfers and paragliders), or just enjoy the scenic environment.

From there, follow the coastal pedestrian road by the Martianez pool and then Plaza de los Reyes Catolicos and towards Playa de San Telmo. The last one is a beach where you can watch the waves crashing against volcanic rocks, creating the effect of a big wave and lots of splashes. There’s also a small beach where you can swim or walk along the stone wall, enjoying the sea (when the tide is low).

For a meal, I recommend detouring to Ibericos Gastro-Bar where you’ll find homemade dishes and many traditional options, or Vinoteca con Pasion for a more upscale food and atmosphere.

Late Afternoon & Evening

After a snack and a short rest at the cafe, continue exploring the old town, but I suggest taking a stroll through the old fisherman’s district of La Ranilla (along C. Mequinez Street) and the surrounding alleys, where you’ll find plenty of restaurants with outdoor seating on mostly pedestrian streets.

This neighborhood is home to buildings with bright facades and balconies, alongside cute small houses. You’ll also find a wide array of street art, including impressive murals that contribute to the area’s unique character.

On the way there, take a look (inside and outside) at Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Peña de Francia and Casa de la Aduana. The first one is a beautiful church that hosts weddings almost every night with an attractive exterior and interior. The second one is the building of the royal customs from the past times.

If you follow my advice and join the spooky evening city tour (which I recommended earlier, this particular free tour), don’t linger too long in this district. You’d still want to visit Playa del Castillo and Playa Maria Jimenez, two of the best black sand beaches in Puerto de la Cruz with gentle access to the sea.

Although swimming is prohibited until summer 2025 due to a sewage issue, you can still enjoy the views, sunbathe, and take scenic walks around the area for some great Instagram-worthy photos.

If you don’t wish to join the tour, then stay in the area of the beaches to see the sunset. Sunsets here are spectacular!

Afterwards, at the end of the day in Puerto de la Cruz (or after the tour), return back to the Old Town, in particular, to Calle de la Verdad (Street of Truth), a hidden old street with beautiful Canarian-style homes named to reflect authenticity and transparency in the community (this name still comes from old times). There are various restaurants here that are excellent for eating traditional meals.

We’ve been to every single restaurant on this street and from my experience, Casa Pache and La Cocina restaurants are best suited for getting acquainted with Tenerife’s cuisine. They are located next to each other but La Cocina is a more upscale establishment where each dish is brought to the next level.

If You Have More Than a Day in Puerto de la Cruz

If you can slow down to stay longer in Puerto de la Cruz city and spend more than just one day, then I’d recommend one of the following activities to include in your itinerary. And they are:

• A visit to Loro Park (where you’d want to spend at least a full day, read my Loro Park tips before visiting)
• Go stargazing in Teide National Park area (follow my advice on Tenerife stargazing when to go)
• Visit Jadin Botanico, the oldest botanical garden in Europe with unique trees and plants from around the world
• Chill out in Martianez pool (looks like a waterpark but is one big pool complex with seawater)
• Travel to Gran Canaria (spend a full day on this trip visiting 3 major sights). If you go independently, then drive from Guia to Las Palmas or/and stay in one of these beautiful all-inclusive hotels.
• Go on full northern Tenerife tour – to Garachico, Buenavista, Los Silos, and more of northwestern part of the island