San Cristóbal de la Laguna (Tenerife, Canary Islands)

San Cristóbal de La Laguna

One of the most beautiful cities in Tenerife:

Tenerife

Streets that retain the layout of the 16th century town, historical mansions in pastel colours with stone porticoes, interior courtyards with wooden balconies, welcoming shops and restaurants, friendly people with a charming accent, a lively university atmosphere... 

The charms of San Cristóbal de La Laguna are many and varied. The city was the model for several colonial cities in Latin America, and these days is well worth visiting on a trip to the island of Tenerife. What’s more, bearing in mind that the temperature in the Canary Islands is mild all year round (it is rare for the temperature to fall below 20ºC in winter!), any time is a good time for a visit.

World Heritage Site since 1999

A gentle stroll through the streets of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, and you soon realise why it is on UNESCO's list. As though they are transported in a time machine, visitors feel like they have travelled back more than 500 years in time, when navigation charts inspired the street plan. In fact, the layout of San Cristóbal can be read as a star chart and it set a precedent for cities such as La Havana and Lima. Its colonial essence is still intact today.When you visit, we recommend booking one of the guided tours organised by the Tourist Office which start on the beautiful Calle de San Agustín, where you will find the Casa Salazar, the old Convent of San Agustín and the Palacio de Lercaro. The city also boasts other beautiful landmarks such as the Plaza de Adelantado, Calle Herradores and the Real Santuario del Santísimo Cristo de la Laguna. And there are two must-see attractions: the Cathedral (the only one in Tenerife) and the church of La Concepción. The church has a tower which you can go up to enjoy the curious experience of being in a small ‘skyscraper’ with views.

Canary Island cuisine, nearby beaches and trips round the island

Taking in the smells of the fresh produce and the flowers at the La Laguna Market and sitting back and watching the world go by on any of the terraces of the city’s restaurants is quite an experience. And if you're looking for the island's specialties, even better: waffle ice-cream, bienmesabe, puchero canario, papas arrugadas, accompanied by mojos, vieja sancochada (a typical fish dish) and much more. Those who enjoy authentic home cooking should head to one of the area's guachinches – traditional houses serving the traditional food of Tenerife – all accompanied by exquisite wines from Tacoronte-Acentejo.Because of its proximity to the sea, your plans could also include a trip to one of the beaches such as Arenal for a dip in the sea.A few kilometres away there are other towns such as Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Puerto de la Cruz and LaOrotava and the nearby Anaga Rural Park with its Sendero de los Sentidos, or Path of the Senses.And during your break in Tenerife, you can take the opportunity to visit the highest peak in Spain, the Teide, for an experience that includes watching the sunset from a cable car and then stargazing in one of the best locations in the world to observe the stars.

Don’t miss it

What to visit


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Practical information

How to get there - transport information


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How to get to aeroplane

  • Tenerife has excellent air transport connections, reaching practically any airport in Europe in 5 hours or less.

  • Tenerife Norte Airport, Los Rodeos, just 3 kilometres from the centre of La Laguna (public bus line 20). The hub for most national and inter-island connections. More information

  • Tenerife Sur Airport, Reina Sofía, about 60 kilometres from the centre of La Laguna (there are direct buses from private companies). The hub for most international connections. More information

How to get to boat

  • San Cristóbal de La Laguna has no passenger ports. The nearest are:Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 9 kilometres from the town, is a stopping point for cruises and operates connections to other islands.The Port of Los Cristianos, around 74 kilometres away, also has services to other islands.

How to get there by road

  • On the island of Tenerife itself, there are two main ways to get to San Cristóbal de La Laguna:TF-5 motorway: crosses the north and northwest of the island. For example, it takes about 20 minutes to reach Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and about 25 to Puerto de la Cruz.TF-1 motorway: crosses the east and south of the island. The drive to Costa Adeje takes under an hour.

How to get to bus

  • Buses in the Canary Islands are also known as guaguas.

  • The guaguas transport hub is on Avenida Trinidad and has direct connections to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tenerife Norte Airport, and all the towns in northern Tenerife. More information.

Practical information

  • It is easy to get around the town of San Cristóbal de La Laguna on foot. To visit other places on the island, travelling by car is the best option.

  • Buses in the Canary Islands are also known as guaguas.

  • You can collect a vehicle from the hire companies at the airport itself.

  • There are two tram lines between San Cristóbal de La Laguna and Santa Cruz de Tenerife. More information.

How to get around in road

  • It is easy to get around the town of San Cristóbal de La Laguna on foot. To visit other places on the island, travelling by car is the best option.

  • You can collect a vehicle from the hire companies at the airport itself.

  • To get to the town, you need to take the Autopista Norte de Tenerife or TF-5 motorway, the Autopista del Sur or TF-1 motorway or the Interconexión Norte-Sur or TF-2 motorway.