National park · Spain
Teide National ParkParque Nacional del Teide
Entry to the park is free; the only real costs are the cable car (€40 return, book days ahead) and a car. Go for the cable car at 09:00 and the Montaña Blanca trail in May–June or September–October; skip the summit crater unless you have a permit.Entry to the park is free; the only real costs are the cable car (€40 return, book days ahead) and a car. Go for the cable car at 9:00 AM and the Montaña Blanca trail in May–June or September–October; skip the summit crater unless you have a permit.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
190 km² (73 sq mi)73 sq mi (190 km²)
approximate
Established
1954
Best months
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 9Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Iberia ↗Plan meals on the Iberian clock: Spanish kitchens serve lunch from about 13:30–14:00 and dinner from 20:30–21:00; Portugal eats an hour or so earlier. Early evenings are for tapas or petiscos, not full meals.
- Iberia ↗Inland Spain and Portugal (Seville, Córdoba, Madrid, the Alentejo) pass 40 °C in heatwaves from late June to August: sightsee before 11:00 and after 18:00, and keep July–August for the coasts and the green north.
- Iberia ↗Andorra and Gibraltar have their own border and customs rules and are reached only through Spain (or France for Andorra); read their pages before adding them, especially if you hold a limited Schengen visa.
- Spain ↗Spain is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
- Spain ↗High-speed trains have airport-style baggage screening at the station and boarding gates that close a few minutes before departure: arrive early.
- Spain ↗Carry your passport or ID: police may ask for it, and hotels must register every guest's document.
- Spain ↗The Alhambra in Granada and the Sagrada Família in Barcelona sell timed tickets that sell out weeks ahead in season; book on the official sites before you fix your dates.
At a glance
- Country
- Spain
- Area
- 190 km² (73 sq mi)73 sq mi (190 km²)
- About 190 km², roughly the highest 10% of Tenerife's land area.
- Established
- 1954
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
Teide National Park covers the high caldera of Tenerife, the highest 10% of the island, and is built around two volcanoes: El Teide (3,715 m) and Pico Viejo (3,135 m). It is the most visited national park in Europe, the largest and oldest in the Canary Islands, and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2007. The park itself is free to enter and open all year; what you pay for is the cable car, a rental car, or a bus ticket. The summit crater needs a free permit on top of that.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 2007Teide National Park, inscribed for its volcanic geology.
Size and age
190 km² (73 sq mi)73 sq mi (190 km²) · national park since 1954
About 190 km², roughly the highest 10% of Tenerife's land area.
Why go
- A free national park you can drive into: no gate, no ticket, open 24 hours.
- El Teide is the highest mountain in Spain measured from sea level and the highest volcano in the Atlantic.
- The cable car lifts you to 3,550 m in 10 minutes, with views over the whole island on a clear day.
- Trails range from 30-minute walks at the roadside to the 8.8 km (5.5 mi) climb from Montaña Blanca.Trails range from 30-minute walks at the roadside to the 5.5 mi (8.8 km) climb from Montaña Blanca.
- The caldera rim, Roque Cinchado and the lava fields are the reason most people come to Tenerife.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarGo
- AprGo
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulGo
- AugCaution
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecCaution
- JanCold at altitude; snow possible on the summit
- FebCold, clear spells; snow on the peak
- MarMild; wind on the rim
- AprWarming up; flowers start
- MayFlowering season; comfortable temperatures
- JunBest for botanists; dry and clear
- JulHot at the base, cool up top; busy
- AugPeak crowds; cable car sells out
- SepClear, quieter than summer
- OctDry and mild; good walking
- NovCooler; fewer visitors
- DecCold; snow and ice on the summit
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teide bugloss (Echium wildpretii) in flowerMay–Jun · Tall red spikes; the park's signature plant. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| White broom and Teide daisyApr–Jun | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Canary Island pine forest on the lower slopesAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Canary Island lizard and geckoMar–Oct | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Bats at duskMay–Sep | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Costa Adeje and the south
Bus line 342 to the crater, or drive the TF-21/TF-38 up; the road has a 70 km/h (43 mph) limit inside the park.Bus line 342 to the crater, or drive the TF-21/TF-38 up; the road has a 43 mph (70 km/h) limit inside the park.
1–1.5 h by car
From Puerto de la Cruz and the north
Bus line 348, or drive via La Orotava and the TF-21.
1–1.5 h by car
From Tenerife South airport (TFS)
Rental car up the TF-1 then TF-38; a taxi is possible but expensive.
1–1.5 h
From Spain
Fly to Tenerife, then use the island guide for the drive up.
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Las Cañadas caldera rim | The crater edge at 2,000–2,500 m, with viewpoints, Roque Cinchado and the Parador. | Open; drive and stop freely. |
| El Teide and the cable car | The main cone, the lower station at 2,350 m and the upper station at 3,550 m. | Cable car ticket; summit crater needs a permit. |
| Montaña Blanca and the north flank | The long trail up to Refugio Altavista and the cable car. | Open on foot; no facilities. |
| El Portillo and the visitor centre | The park's main information point, museum and botanic garden on the north side. | Open; small entry charge for the visitor centre (check). |
Sketch map
- 1El Portillo visitor centre · Headquarters≈28.304, -16.566Map ↗
- 2Lower cable car station · Ranger station≈28.255, -16.626Map ↗
- 3Upper cable car station · Ranger station≈28.270, -16.639Map ↗
- 4El Teide summit · Summit≈28.273, -16.642Map ↗
- 5Pico Viejo · Summit≈28.264, -16.665Map ↗
- 6Roque Cinchado · Viewpoint≈28.227, -16.636Map ↗
- 7Montaña Blanca · Trail≈28.268, -16.613Map ↗
- 8Refugio Altavista · Sleep≈28.274, -16.629Map ↗
- 9Parador de las Cañadas del Teide · Sleep≈28.224, -16.627Map ↗
- 10Teide Observatory · Viewpoint≈28.300, -16.510Map ↗
Take the points offline
10 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions across the caldera and the summit, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | No entrance fee; the park is open 24 hours. |
| Teide cable car, return | EUR 40 (≈ US$50) | person | 2026 estimate; about half price for Canary Islands residents and children. One-way is €22. |
| Summit crater permit | Free | person | Free, but required and limited; book online in advance (check). |
| Public bus from Costa Adeje | EUR 8 (≈ US$10) | person | 2026 estimate; the Puerto de la Cruz bus is cheaper. Weekday fares may be lower (check). |
| Taxi from the airport to the cable car base | EUR 100–150 (≈ US$120–180) | vehicle | 2026 estimate; only worth it if you are splitting it. |
| Teide Observatory guided visit | EUR 21 (≈ US$25) | person | 2026 estimate; book through the operator. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Summit crater permit (El Teide) permit or guide
Cable car ticket permit or guide
Refugio Altavista stay permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- €40≈ US$50
- €8≈ US$10
- €100–150≈ US$120–180
- €21≈ US$25
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Organismo Autónomo Parques Nacionales — Teide before you go.
Park rules
- No entrance fee
- The park is open 24 hours; you pay only for the cable car, permits and transport.
- Summit crater permit
- Required to walk the last section to the 3,715 m peak; free but limited (check).
- Speed limit
- 70 km/h (43 mph) throughout the park; expect about an hour from the south coast to the crater.43 mph (70 km/h) throughout the park; expect about an hour from the south coast to the crater.
- Cable car health limits
- Children under 3, pregnant women and people with heart or mobility conditions cannot ride.
- Stay on trails
- Do not walk off marked paths; the terrain is loose lapilli and sharp lava.
- No camping
- Camping is not allowed in the park; sleep at the Parador, the refuge or outside the boundary.
Where to stay
In the park
Parador de las Cañadas del Teide
The only hotel inside the park, on the caldera rim; roughly €150–300 a night (2026 estimate).
In the park
Refugio Altavista
Bunk refuge at 3,260 m, reachable on foot only; closed for refurbishment (check).
Near the park
La Orotava and Puerto de la Cruz
North-coast towns about an hour from the crater, with the widest choice of rooms.
Near the park
Costa Adeje and the south resorts
Beach hotels 1–1.5 h from the park; the usual base for a day trip.
Safety
Altitude sickness medium
Cold and wind at the top medium
Calima dust haze low
Snow and ice on the road medium
Loose gravel on descents medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The caldera rim, Roque Cinchado and the visitor centre are reachable by car with short, mostly level walks.
- The cable car is not open to people with heart conditions, pregnant women or those with mobility impairments, and the summit trail is rough.
- The Montaña Blanca and Guajara trails are steep and unsurfaced; not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Take all rubbish down with you; there are few bins at altitude.
- Do not pick plants or rocks; several species grow only here.
- Use the public buses from Costa Adeje or Puerto de la Cruz instead of driving if you can.
- Book cable car slots online so you are not turned away after driving up.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Teide National Park?
Nothing. There is no entrance fee and the park is open 24 hours. The costs are the cable car (€40 return, €22 one-way, 2026 estimate), a rental car or bus ticket, and the free summit permit if you want to walk the last stretch to the peak.
What are the best hikes in Teide National Park?
For most people, the short summit crater walk from the upper cable car station (30–60 min, permit needed). For a full day, the 8.8 km Montaña Blanca trail to the cable car (3–5.5 h one way) or the Pico Viejo descent to Boca Tauce (5–6 h). Alto de Guajara (2,718 m) needs no permit and takes about 2 hours from the Parador.
When is the best time to visit Teide National Park?
May, June, September and October: mild temperatures, clear skies and the flowering season for the Teide bugloss. July and August are the busiest and the cable car sells out. Winter is cold and the summit can hold snow, though the park stays open.
Do I need a permit for the Teide summit?
Yes, for the final section from the upper cable car station to the 3,715 m crater. The permit is free but limited and must be booked in advance online (check). Staying at Refugio Altavista covers access before 09:00.
Can I visit Teide National Park without a car?
Yes, but it is slow. Two public buses a day run from Costa Adeje and Puerto de la Cruz to the crater and return in the afternoon, and bus line 341 circles between El Portillo and the Parador roughly hourly from about 10:45 to 16:00. A rental car gives far more freedom.
Is the cable car worth it?
If the sky is clear, yes: 10 minutes to 3,550 m and views over the whole island. If it is cloudy or a calima is blowing, save the money. Tickets are timed and sell out, so book a few days ahead.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go