Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the carnival-loving capital of the Canary Islands – an expert guide

Don’t leave Santa Cruz without…

Remember that sales tax is lower here than in mainland Spain, so make the most of that by indulging in a spot of retail therapy. To get your finger on the retail pulse of the island capital take your credit cards for a stroll along Calle del Castillo.

Need to know

Flight time

Ryanair and easyJet fly direct to Tenerife South from London with a flight time of around four hours.

Safety 

Most visits are trouble-free. Santa Cruz de Tenerife is a port city, though, with the seedy element that can entail, so be aware around the port area at night, and in crowded places for pickpockets during the day too.

Best time to go

This is the land of eternal spring, so there is no bad time to visit. Saying that, the biggest crowds descend in European summer and around Christmas, so if you want a more relaxed experience visit outside these peak periods.

Closures 

Shops tend to open at around 9am and then close at either 5pm or 6pm, though many more traditional businesses still observe the afternoon siesta (between around 2pm and 5pm), then stay open later. Malls tend to keep longer hours, while many businesses tend to operate reduced hours or close on Sundays.