Tenerife

Spain's highest peak (3,715m) and a UNESCO World Heritage Site — the volcanic landscape looks like another planet. The cable car whisks you from 2,356m to 3,555m in 8 minutes, with views across five islands on clear days.

Santiago Calatrava's iconic wave-shaped concert hall dominates the Santa Cruz waterfront — one of the most photographed buildings in Spain. The bold white concrete structure curves against the Atlantic like a breaking wave.

The ancient laurisilva (laurel forest) cloud forest in the Anaga mountains — a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and one of Europe's most biodiverse habitats. Dramatic ravines, mist-covered peaks and isolated villages only reachable on foot.

Santa Cruz's magnificent covered market in Moorish-influenced architecture — stalls piled with tropical fruits (custard apple, papaya, local bananas), Canarian cheeses, mojo sauces and fresh fish from the Atlantic.

A local institution for traditional Canarian cooking — rabbit in salmorejo, fresh tuna in mojo verde and the classic papas arrugadas are all outstanding. Beloved by islanders, overlooked by tourists.

In the historic colonial town of La Orotava, inside a 16th-century mansion with a carved wooden balcony — the finest traditional Canarian meal on the island. Order the tasting menu.

Classic tapas bar in central Santa Cruz — counter service, enormous portions and the cheapest bocadillos (sandwiches) in the city. Where port workers and office staff eat lunch.

One of the oldest restaurants in the Canary Islands — a sprawling multi-room restaurant with 19th-century decor, serving Canarian classics alongside a serious Canarian wine list.

The food stalls inside the Mercado de África serve fresh-cooked tapas alongside the produce stalls — grilled fresh fish, papas arrugadas and local cheeses eaten at counter stools.

Specialist Canarian wine bar in central Santa Cruz — over 80 local wines from all seven Canary Islands, with knowledgeable staff and small plates.

Rooftop bar above the pedestrian shopping street — views across the Santa Cruz skyline towards the sea. Rum cocktails featuring local Ron Miel (honey rum) are the house speciality.

In the UNESCO-listed colonial town of San Cristóbal de La Laguna — student bar on the main square of Tenerife's original capital city, founded 1496.

The grand café of Santa Cruz — outdoor tables under ancient laurel trees in the shady Plaza del Príncipe, serving fresh pastries and excellent café solo.

Traditional Canarian confectionery shop on the main pedestrian street — serving truchas (pastries filled with sweet potato and almond), polvorones and the local mazapán de almendra.

A golden crescent beach 20 minutes north of Santa Cruz — golden Saharan sand imported from the Western Sahara in the 1970s, sheltered by a breakwater that keeps the water calm. The dramatic Anaga mountains backdrop is extraordinary.

Taking the cable car to 3,555m and standing above the clouds on Spain's highest peak is one of the most dramatic experiences in the Canary Islands — views reaching across to Lanzarote, La Gomera and Grand Canary.

The waters off Los Gigantes on Tenerife's western coast are home to a resident pod of short-finned pilot whales — sightings are almost guaranteed year-round. Bottlenose dolphins and loggerhead turtles also common.

La Orotava is Tenerife's finest colonial town — 16th-century merchant mansions with carved wooden balconies, cobblestone streets, and views of the Orotava Valley framing Mount Teide. The Casa de los Balcones is the centrepiece.

One of Europe's most respected wildlife parks — orca, sea lion and dolphin shows combined with excellent gorilla, tiger and penguin habitats. The penguin enclosure is refrigerated to -4°C.

Tenerife's premium wine region on the north coast produces Listán Negro and Albillo Criollo wines unlike anywhere else on Earth — volcanic soil, ancient vines and a micro-climate shaped by the Anaga mountains.