12 Best Things to Do in Los Cristianos, Tenerife

Los Cristianos is one of the best places to stay when visiting southern Tenerife.

What began as a small fishing village has developed into a lively holiday resort with sandy beaches, waterfront restaurants, shops, bars and one of the island’s most important harbours.

It is relaxed enough for a quiet beach day but busy enough that you will never struggle to find something to do.

Whether you are visiting with friends, planning a hen or stag weekend, travelling as a couple or bringing the family, here are some of the best things to do in Los Cristianos.

1. Spend the Day on Los Cristianos Beach

Playa de Los Cristianos is the town’s original beach and remains one of its most convenient.

The sheltered location means the water is generally calm, making it suitable for swimming, paddling and relaxing close to the shore. Fishing boats and excursion vessels operating around the harbour give the area more character than a typical purpose-built resort beach.

You are also only a short walk from cafés, restaurants, shops and the town centre, so there is no need to pack everything for the entire day.

It is a particularly good choice when you want a relaxed beach without travelling away from the resort.

2. Walk Along to Playa de Las Vistas

Continue along the promenade and you will reach Playa de Las Vistas, one of the largest and most popular beaches in the area.

It has a broad stretch of golden sand, calm water and plenty of space to find a spot. The promenade behind it is lined with places to eat, drink and pick up anything you have forgotten.

Las Vistas has also been developed with accessibility in mind. Facilities include accessible routes, wooden walkways, ramps, adapted bathing facilities and support for visitors with reduced mobility.

For many visitors, the best plan is to start at Los Cristianos Beach and walk along the seafront until you find the section that suits you.

3. Join a Tenerife Boat Party

A boat party is one of the best ways to make your Tenerife holiday properly memorable.

Instead of spending another afternoon around the hotel pool, you can head onto the Atlantic for music, drinks, dancing, sea views and several hours with a crowd ready to enjoy themselves.

The coastline around southern Tenerife looks completely different from the water. You can see volcanic cliffs, coastal resorts and open ocean while enjoying the atmosphere on board.

Boat parties are particularly popular with:

• Groups of friends

• Birthday celebrations

• Hen parties

• Stag parties

• Couples looking for a lively day out

• Solo travellers who want to meet people

Spaces can fill quickly during the busiest holiday periods, so it is sensible to book before arriving rather than leaving it until the final day of your trip.

4. Go Whale and Dolphin Watching

The waters surrounding Tenerife are internationally known for whale and dolphin watching.

Excursions leave from several ports around the island, including Los Cristianos, with different options available depending on your preferred group size, duration and type of boat.

Wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed, but southern Tenerife provides opportunities to see marine animals in their natural environment rather than in captivity.

Choose a responsible operator that follows local wildlife-watching guidance, keeps a suitable distance from the animals and avoids chasing or surrounding them.

This is a calmer alternative to a party boat and works particularly well for families or anyone wanting to experience Tenerife’s marine life.

5. Explore the Old Fishing-Town Streets

It is easy to remain around the beach and miss the older side of Los Cristianos.

Walk away from the main waterfront and you will find smaller streets, local businesses, traditional restaurants and reminders of the town’s fishing history.

Los Cristianos has expanded significantly, but parts of the old town still retain a more local atmosphere than the larger tourist avenues nearby. The resort’s fishing heritage can also be seen through the seafood restaurants and activity around the harbour.

Spend an hour walking without a strict route. Stop for coffee, look around the smaller shops and see a side of Los Cristianos that many visitors overlook.

6. Eat Beside the Waterfront

One of the easiest ways to enjoy Los Cristianos is to find a waterfront table and take your time over lunch.

You will find everything from British holiday favourites and casual cafés to seafood restaurants and Canarian dishes.

Look out for options such as:

• Grilled fish

• Canarian potatoes with mojo sauce

• Calamari

• Garlic prawns

• Paella

• Tapas

• Fresh salads and local vegetables

Restaurants directly overlooking the water may charge slightly more for the location, but the views can make them worthwhile for an evening meal.

For better value, walk a few streets back from the main promenade and check where local residents are eating.

7. Walk the Seafront Promenade

Los Cristianos is an excellent resort for exploring on foot.

The seafront connects beaches, restaurants, shopping areas and neighbouring resort districts, allowing you to cover a large part of the coastline without needing a taxi.

You can start near the harbour, pass Los Cristianos Beach and Playa de Las Vistas, and continue in the direction of Playa de las Américas.

There is no need to complete the entire route. Walk until you find a beach bar or restaurant you like, stop for a drink and continue later.

Early morning and the period around sunset are generally the most comfortable times for a longer walk, particularly during the hotter months.

8. Try a Water Activity

The harbour gives visitors access to far more than sightseeing cruises.

Depending on current availability and weather conditions, activities around Los Cristianos can include:

• Scuba diving

• Fishing trips

• Kayaking

• Paddleboarding

• Boat excursions

• Whale-watching tours

• Coastal sightseeing trips

The nearby port is one of the main reasons Los Cristianos offers such a broad selection of marine activities.

Book through an established operator, check what equipment is included and confirm whether previous experience is required.

For diving and other specialist activities, ask about qualifications, insurance and instructor-to-customer ratios before paying.

9. Browse the Shops and Pick Up Souvenirs

Los Cristianos has a mixture of independent shops, tourist stores, fashion retailers and small bazaars.

The passage connecting the resort’s principal beach areas is one of the places visitors commonly browse for souvenirs and holiday essentials.

You can pick up:

• Beachwear

• Sunglasses

• Jewellery

• Local crafts

• Gifts

• Aloe-vera products

• Holiday clothing

• Snacks and drinks

As with any busy resort, compare prices before buying higher-value items and be cautious about branded goods offered at unusually low prices.

10. Take a Ferry to Another Canary Island

Los Cristianos is not only an excursion harbour. It is also a major passenger-ferry terminal with connections to La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro.

La Gomera is the most obvious option for many holidaymakers staying in southern Tenerife.

A day trip requires more organisation than a beach or boat-party day, but it gives you the opportunity to experience a quieter island with dramatic landscapes, mountain roads and a noticeably different atmosphere.

Check the current ferry timetable before planning the day and allow enough time to return to the port. Schedules and journey times can change, so avoid building your plans around outdated information.

11. Enjoy Drinks and Evening Entertainment

Los Cristianos is generally more relaxed at night than the busiest parts of Playa de las Américas, but it is far from silent.

You will find:

• Waterfront terraces

• Sports bars

• Cocktail bars

• Live entertainment

• Karaoke

• Restaurants open into the evening

• Busier venues within walking or short taxi distance

The atmosphere works well for groups that want a lively night without immediately entering a full nightclub environment.

Start with food near the waterfront, move to one of the local bars and then continue towards Playa de las Américas when your group wants something busier.

12. Watch the Sunset

After a full day, find a spot near the waterfront and slow things down for an hour.

The harbour, beaches and promenade all provide places to sit with a drink while the temperature begins to drop.

Cloud cover and the direction of the sunset vary throughout the year, so you will not always see the sun disappear directly into the ocean. Even so, the evening light over the harbour and surrounding coastline can be excellent.

It is also a good time for photographs because the light is softer than during the middle of the day.

A Perfect Day in Los Cristianos

Struggling to decide how to fit everything in? Try this simple itinerary.

Morning

Start with breakfast near the seafront before spending a couple of hours at Los Cristianos Beach or Playa de Las Vistas.

Lunchtime

Choose a waterfront restaurant for seafood, tapas or a light lunch. Avoid eating too heavily when you have booked a boat excursion for the afternoon.

Afternoon

Join a boat party, wildlife-watching trip or coastal cruise. Bring sun protection and check the meeting instructions before leaving your accommodation.

Evening

Return to Los Cristianos for dinner, drinks and a walk along the promenade. Continue towards Playa de las Américas when your group wants a later night.

Is Los Cristianos Worth Visiting?

Yes. Los Cristianos works particularly well for travellers who want beaches, restaurants and activities within walking distance.

Its harbour makes it one of the best-connected locations in southern Tenerife for boat trips and ferry journeys, while the promenade provides straightforward access to neighbouring beaches and resort areas.

It may not feel as quiet as Tenerife’s smaller coastal villages, but that convenience is precisely why so many visitors choose it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Los Cristianos best known for?

Los Cristianos is known for its beaches, harbour, boat excursions, waterfront promenade and history as a fishing community.

Is Los Cristianos good for groups?

Yes. Groups have easy access to beaches, restaurants, bars, boat parties and other excursions without needing to travel long distances between every activity.

Which beach is best in Los Cristianos?

Playa de Los Cristianos is convenient and close to the harbour. Playa de Las Vistas is larger and often better for visitors wanting more space and extensive facilities.

Can you take boat trips from Los Cristianos?

Yes. The harbour is used by sightseeing boats, wildlife-watching excursions and passenger ferries. Exact departures depend on the operator and season.

Is Los Cristianos suitable for nightlife?

Los Cristianos has restaurants, terraces, bars and evening entertainment. Visitors wanting larger clubs can continue towards nearby Playa de las Américas.

Book Your Tenerife Boat Party

A day on the Atlantic is one of the highlights of any Los Cristianos holiday.

Join us for music, drinks, incredible coastal scenery and a proper Tenerife party atmosphere aboard our pirate-style boat.

Check the available dates, gather your group and book your place before your preferred sailing sells out.