Accessible Tenerife: a practical guide for wheelchair users and reduced mobility

Tenerife is one of the more accessible holiday islands in Europe, provided you choose the right base. The southern resorts, especially Los Cristianos, have long flat promenades, adapted beaches with ramps and amphibious chairs, and many hotels with accessible rooms. Hillier towns, older streets in the north and mountain areas such as Masca are much harder going.

Here is what to expect and how to plan.

Choosing where to stay

Area	Accessibility	Notes
Los Cristianos	Very good	Flat seafront, Playa de las Vistas has adapted facilities; long popular with visitors with reduced mobility
Playa de las Américas	Good	Long seafront promenade; some steep side streets
Costa Adeje	Mixed	Promenade is good, but many hotels are on hillsides
Golf del Sur	Mixed	Flat in places; spread out
Puerto de la Cruz	Mixed	Seafront areas are manageable; the town is hilly and has cobbles
Los Gigantes	Challenging	Very steep streets

When booking, ask specific questions: door widths, roll-in showers, grab rails, lift sizes and the route from the hotel to the promenade. “Accessible” can mean different things at different hotels.

Beaches

Several beaches in the south have accessibility features, usually including ramps, boardwalks to the water’s edge, adapted toilets and changing rooms, and amphibious chairs to help users into the sea with the support of trained staff.

Playa de las Vistas in Los Cristianos is the best known, with ramps, smooth walkways, amphibious chairs and crutches, adapted changing facilities and reserved parking nearby. Other beaches in Arona and Adeje have similar facilities, but services are typically staffed during set hours and may be seasonal. Check with the beach or the local tourist office before you go.

See Tenerife beaches for more on the island’s beaches.

Getting around

Buses and tram

Most TITSA buses on the main routes are low-floor with a ramp and a dedicated wheelchair space. The tram between Santa Cruz and La Laguna is step-free. Some rural and mountain routes use older or smaller vehicles, so check before travelling. See Tenerife buses.

Taxis

Adapted taxis (often called eurotaxis) operate in the main municipalities, with ramps or lifts. There are fewer of them than standard taxis, so book in advance, especially for airport transfers. See Tenerife taxis.

Hire cars and mobility scooters

Some rental firms offer cars with hand controls, but availability is limited, so reserve well ahead. Several companies in the southern resorts rent mobility scooters, wheelchairs and other equipment and will deliver to your hotel.

At the airport

Both Tenerife South (TFS) and Tenerife North (TFN) provide free assistance for passengers with reduced mobility, from check-in to boarding and on arrival. Request it through your airline at least 48 hours before you travel. See Tenerife airports.

Attractions

• Mount Teide: the cable car has accessibility provisions at the base station, but conditions at the top station are uneven and at high altitude. Check with the operator first. The views from the road and the visitor areas around the Parador are spectacular and easier to reach.
• Theme parks: Siam Park and Loro Parque both have accessibility information and can advise on which rides and areas are suitable.
• Whale watching: some boat operators can accommodate wheelchair users. Ask about boarding when booking; see whale and dolphin watching.
• Old towns: La Laguna’s historic centre is relatively flat and partly pedestrianised. La Orotava and Garachico are hillier.

Evenings out

Many bars and restaurants along the southern promenades are at street level, and some larger venues have accessible toilets, but plenty of older bars have steps or narrow doorways. It is always worth calling or messaging ahead. DoTenerife’s what’s on tonight listings and map can help you find shows near your hotel to cut down on travel.

Health and medical equipment

• Bring prescriptions, spare parts and chargers for powered equipment.
• Note which local suppliers rent or repair wheelchairs and scooters.
• Make sure your travel insurance covers mobility equipment.

See Tenerife hospitals and pharmacies for local healthcare.

Visual and hearing impairments

Major attractions and some hotels have provisions such as induction loops, tactile maps and assistance dogs welcomed. Assistance dogs are allowed on public transport and in most public places under Spanish law; bring their documentation.

Planning tips

• Book adapted rooms and transfers early, especially in winter, when long-stay visitors fill many accessible rooms.
• Use resources such as TUR4all, which lists the accessibility features of many Tenerife beaches and attractions.
• Check the weather and terrain before day trips; see Tenerife weather by month.
• Ask locally: tourist offices in Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje can advise on accessible beaches and routes.