Travel Guide › Seasonal
Christmas & New Year in Tenerife
Warm-weather Christmas markets, fireworks over the Atlantic, and temperatures that rarely dip below the high teens — Tenerife does the festive season differently.
December is peak season in Tenerife, and it's easy to see why: while much of northern Europe is grey and cold, the south coast is still averaging around 20–22°C, making it one of the most popular winter-sun escapes for exactly that stretch of the calendar.
That doesn't mean the island skips Christmas — Santa Cruz and La Laguna both put up elaborate light displays and nativity scenes (belénes), which are taken seriously across the Canary Islands, and most resort towns run their own smaller markets and events through December.
What to Expect
Key dates & events
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Early December | Christmas lights switched on in Santa Cruz, La Laguna and the main resort towns |
| 24 December | Nochebuena — the main family meal happens on Christmas Eve, not Christmas Day, as in mainland Spain |
| 31 December | Nochevieja — New Year's Eve, with fireworks displays in Santa Cruz and along the southern resort seafronts |
| 5 January | Cabalgata de Reyes (Three Kings parade) — a bigger deal in Spain than Christmas Day itself, with parades in most towns |
- ✓Book accommodation and flights early — this is one of the two busiest periods of the year (alongside summer school holidays).
- ✓Restaurants get booked up for Nochebuena and Nochevieja — reserve well ahead if you want to eat out rather than self-cater.
- ✓It's still Tenerife weather, not tropical — evenings can be cool, especially inland or at altitude, so pack a light jacket even for a Christmas trip.