Tenerife is the Canary Islands’ crowd pleasing launchpad, with year round sunshine and two well placed airports that keep you moving without stress. Whether you live on the island or you are wrapping up a beach break, it is an easy place to find onward options across Spain, Europe, and beyond.
Tenerife South and Tenerife North split the load nicely, so you can pick the airport that suits your plan rather than fight your way across the island. The south caters to most international leisure traffic, while the north excels at fast domestic hops, which means more flight choice day to day. The island’s winter peak from November to March draws in extra capacity, and that often means more nonstop options to pick from, particularly to major hubs and UK and German cities.
On the ground, both airports are compact enough to stay calm, with familiar amenities, fast security lanes by time of day, and bus and taxi links that keep transfers straightforward. If you are flexible, Tenerife is also a clever origin for cheap one way flights and quick weekend flights from Tenerife to mainland Spain or nearby islands, since inter island services are frequent and short.
From quick inter island hops to longer European getaways, flights from Tenerife cover a lot of ground. Here are some traveler favorites and why they work so well, with timings and frequencies given as examples and subject to change.
Inter island routes from Tenerife North to Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, La Palma, and El Hierro are the islanders’ bread and butter, with flight times around 35 to 40 minutes and multiple daily departures on Binter Canarias and Canaryfly. These are ideal for last minute flights from Tenerife when plans change, since schedules are dense most days.
Mainland Spain is a constant draw. Tenerife North to Madrid runs at high frequency, with examples like around 17 daily flights taking about 1 hour 30 minutes nonstop, subject to change. That makes it a reliable feeder for long haul connections via Madrid if you are piecing together a bigger trip. From Tenerife South, UK and Germany routes surge in winter, with examples including London Gatwick and Manchester at about 4 hours nonstop, and German favorites like Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, and Munich. Carriers include Jet2.com, easyJet, Eurowings, Condor, and TUI Fly on various routes by season, plus Ryanair on a spread of UK and Irish city pairs. Destinations in Ireland, the Low Countries, and Italy round out winter and seasonal schedules. For long haul trips, use a European hub connection—Kiwi.com's self transfer can splice separate tickets into one for a seamless journey.
Flight prices move with the seasons, so timing matters. Winter is peak on the island, and spring and autumn shoulder periods can offer more breathing room, though exact prices vary by route and date.
As a rule of thumb, looking 4 to 6 weeks out for short haul often hits a helpful window, while big holiday weeks and school breaks tend to price higher. Shoulder months like April to June and late September to October can be good hunting grounds for cheap flights from Tenerife, yet everything is subject to change based on demand.
Turn on Set a Price Alert for your exact dates and route. Kiwi.com will monitor fare moves and notify you when the price changes, so you can grab a fare you like without refreshing searches every day. Consider the Nomad Search Tool for multi city escapes, and for last minute flights, check midweek and off peak times for best fares.
Tenerife has two main airports, each with its own strengths. Pick the one that matches your route and starting point on the island, then fine tune with flight times and connection plans.
Tenerife South Airport TFS sits in Granadilla de Abona about 60 kilometers south of Santa Cruz. It is the busiest, serving mostly international leisure routes, and is easily accessed via the TF 1 motorway, Titsa buses, and taxis. Facilities include free Wi Fi, lounges, shops, and food spots. Tenerife North Airport TFN in San Cristóbal de La Laguna is 11 kilometers from Santa Cruz, focuses on domestic and inter island flights, and is reachable via the TF 5 motorway, buses, and short taxi rides. Both have a single terminal and free Wi Fi.
Tenerife South draws more leisure and low cost carriers, while Tenerife North leans to domestic brands like Binter Canarias and Iberia Express. Kiwi.com can build self transfer itineraries with the Kiwi.com Guarantee for extra protection, and Disruption Protection offers compensation via Kiwi.com Credit if things change. Arrive roughly 2 hours early for domestic or 3 hours for international at Tenerife South, and 1.5 to 2.5 hours at Tenerife North as a general example.