Santa Cruz Mini Guide
Santa Cruz, Tenerife occupies an arc of land between the sea and the base of dramatic mountains piled up behind. The huge port handles everything from yachts to ocean going trawlers, cruise ships and the large tankers.
The promenade of Plaza de Espana is a tourist hub of the town and has a big shopping area and beautiful villas. Places to see in Santa Cruz, Franco monument, Iglesia de Nuestra, Mercado De Nuestra, Museo Arqueologico, Museo Militar, Museo Municipal de Belles Artes, Parque Santiago Garcia Sanabria, Plaza 25 de Julio, Las Teresitas. Santa Cruz is not only the capital of Tenerife but the capital of the whole of the Canary Islands along with Las Palmas. Located on the eastern end of the volcanic island of Tenerife, Santa Cruz is a Spanish speaking city and learning a little bit of the language will certainly help you on your trip.
To get to Santa Cruz from abroad you will fly into the Tenerife South Reina International Airport. The airport is 60 kilometres away from Santa Cruz and so you will need your Rhino rental car to make the drive to the city. Having a rental car will also save you about 15 Euros on hiring a taxi and give you the freedom to explore the island of Tenerife at your convenience. In addition some of the best accommodation in Santa Cruz is only really accessible by car.
If you are coming to Santa Cruz from one of the other Canary Islands you may also fly into the Tenerife North Los Rodeos International Airport which is a bit closer to Santa Cruz. Parking in the city is not easy but apart from that driving is very stress free in Santa Cruz, though the speed limits are variable.
There are two main shopping options in Santa Cruz. You can take the easy option and go to the Spanish chain department store El Corte Ingles which has pretty much everything. Or you can take a little more time and have a more pleasant shopping experience by going to the local flea market, while the main market has all sorts of flowers, food and local crafts on offer.
Food is pretty good in Santa Cruz and if you are looking to have a meal out in one of the restaurants why not try some of the local freshly caught seafood? Bars are not that plentiful but you will find local people in them while there are a couple of decent hotels to stay in including the NH Tenerife Hotel which is modern and has three stars. The Residence Maeva Marazul del Sur is an attractive option as it has two swimming pools, one with fresh, heated water and another which is a sea water swimming pool. With lush, green grounds and sea views this apartment complex has much of what the average holiday maker wants. It is also a short drive away from Medano which has good waves for surfers.