Puerto de la Cruz was the Canary Islands' first tourist destination, a destination for European aristocrats since the 18th century, and it retains an old-world cultural depth that the southern resorts lack. The microclimate is cooler and greener — the trade winds keep summer temperatures around 26°C and feed a lush subtropical vegetation. The town centres on the colonial-era Plaza del Charco, where bars stay busy until midnight, and the surrounding cobbled streets host one of the best concentrations of independent restaurants in the Canaries. Loro Parque to the west and the Botanical Garden inland anchor the family offer; Playa Jardín — designed by César Manrique — is the only safe family beach on the wave-pummelled north coast. Best for travellers who want cultural depth, walkable urban experiences and easy access to Mount Teide and the laurel forests of Anaga, accepting in return slightly cooler weather and more variable cloud cover than the south.
Cooler, greener, more European than the south. Cobbled streets, baroque churches, leafy plazas and a serious dining scene.
Cultured travellers, slow holidaymakers, mature couples, anyone who finds the south too commercial.
Grand classic hotels (Botánico), boutique guesthouses, and a growing number of design-led apartments.
From Mil Sabores in the old town to modern Canarian at Brunelli's; the tapas scene around Plaza del Charco rivals any Spanish city.
Stay in the old town, not the seafront — the architecture, restaurants and atmosphere are all richer.