Europe > Spain > Tenerife North (TFN)
The Car or no Car advice for Tenerife North can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Tenerife North ; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Tenerife North ?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Tenerife North?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
✈️ A More Domestic, Inter-Island Airport
Tenerife North handles a much higher proportion of Spanish domestic flights than Tenerife South.
-
Frequent flights to Gran Canaria, La Palma, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura
-
Strong links to mainland Spain
-
Fewer mass-tourism charter flights
This gives the airport a more everyday, local character compared with the resort-focused south.
📍 Much Closer to Santa Cruz
One of the biggest differences is geography.
-
Tenerife North is much closer to Santa Cruz, the joint capital of the Canary Islands
-
Transfers into the city are short and straightforward
-
The airport feels like part of the urban network rather than a remote gateway
For city stays, this matters a great deal.
🚋 The Canary Islands’ Only Tram System
Santa Cruz (together with La Laguna) has something unique in the Canary Islands: a modern tram system.
-
This is the only tram network in the Canaries
-
It links Santa Cruz with La Laguna and intermediate districts
-
Services are frequent and reliable
If you’re staying in the city, this dramatically reduces the need for a car.
🚌 Public Transport Is Simply Better in the North
Public transport around Santa Cruz is far stronger than in the south of Tenerife.
-
Dense bus network
-
Better frequencies
-
More commuter-style services rather than tourist shuttles
In fact, Santa Cruz is one of the best-served cities in the Canary Islands, rivalled only by Las Palmas in Gran Canaria. This is why Tenerife North scores differently from Tenerife South for car dependence.
🚗 Comparing Tenerife North and Tenerife South
Despite being close together, the airports serve different travel styles.
-
Tenerife South is built around resorts, where cars or transfers dominate
-
Tenerife North supports urban and inter-island travel, where buses and trams work well
That difference justifies a noticeably lower “must-rent-a-car” score for Tenerife North.
🚌 Easy Connections Between North and South
It’s also worth noting that the island is well linked internally.
-
Regular bus services connect Playa de las Américas and southern resorts
-
Many routes run via Tenerife South Airport
-
Santa Cruz is easily reachable even if you land in the south
This makes it entirely feasible to stay car-free in Santa Cruz regardless of which airport you use.
Conclusion: should you rent a car when flying into Tenerife North?
Not necessarily — especially if you’re staying in Santa Cruz.
Tenerife North benefits from proximity to the island’s best public transport, Spain-focused air links, and the Canary Islands’ only tram system. While a car still makes sense for exploring rural or coastal parts of the island, Tenerife North is one of the few places in the Canaries where a city-based, no-car stay genuinely works.