Los Cristianos
Los Cristianos is one of the most popular tourist centres in the south of Tenerife, and has become known for its sandy beaches. It is a town of about 21,000 permanent residents (2015) that is 2 km southeast of Playa de las Américas and 5 km southeast of Costa Adeje, but it is the most authentic of these three, where locals mix with tourists.
Understand
Los Cristianos offers a full holiday experience, with two sandy beaches, a multitude of bars and restaurants, and its year-round sunny climate. There is accommodation for different budgets, including hotels, self-catering apartments and timeshare resorts. There is also a wealth of excursions focused around the town's busy port including dolphin and whale watching as well as game fishing trips and party cruises.
The town has attracted British expatriates who emigrated either permanently or semi-permanently to escape the cold British winters. English is as widely spoken as Spanish, and there are British-owned bars, restaurants, shops and services aimed predominantly at the tourist sector.
Get in
By bus
- 🌍 Los Cristianos Bus Station (Estación Los Cristianos). Even though Costa Adeje Bus Station is the transport hub for Southern Tenerife, this station is also served frequently, just not by buses going up the western coast by Los Gigantes, Guía de Isora or Santiago del Teide—go to Costa Adeje Bus Station first. It has a ticket office for help regarding tickets and connections.
From Tenerife South Airport buses 343, 450, 111 and 40 run to and from Los Cristianos.
From the island's capital Santa Cruz de Tenerife, take bus 111. In addition there is the much faster and direct 110, but it only calls at 🌍 Magma bus stop, which however is quickly reach from Los Cristianos by another local bus.
By car
The island motorway TF-1 comes from Santa Cruz, about 70 km away. It continues north towards the Teno mountains and Santiago del Teide.
Aeroporto Tenerife Sud (TFS) is only 15 minutes away from Los Cristianos. From the northern airport the region can be reached via the TF-1 motorway, which also passes the capital Santa Cruz on the way to Los Cristianos.
Get around
On foot
Everything is walkable if you bring enough time. Walking to Costa Adeje can be a nice stroll during the day.
By bus
Many buses connect to nearby Playa de las Américas and Costa Adeje. Check Tenerife#By bus for general information on bus connections, or see the Titsa website for current connections from and to Los Cristianos bus station.
By train
- Tren Turístico (Tourist train), ☏ +34 922 78 05 94. A tourist train (Tren Turístico) serves Costa Adeje to Los Cristianos with several stops including in Playa de las Américas.
Do
- Whale and dolphin watching – Apparently also possible right at the beach where fish from the local fish farm is thrown into the water and attracts the dolphines—ask around for where. Otherwise, you will find many companies offering tours.
- 🌍 Jungle Park (4 km by car, taxi or shuttle). The bird of prey show is a must. There are free bus links to the park, but getting on one to get back is not much fun.
- 🌍 Monkey Park, Camino Moreque-Llano Azul 17 (TF662), ☏ +34 922 79 07 20, info@monkeypark.com. 09:30-16:00 daily. Zoo with emphasis on monkeys, roaming around the park freely in many areas. Other species include rodents, reptiles (snakes, tortoises), and parrots. Great for kids, terrible for the animals. Adults €10, children €5.
- 🌍 Piscina municipal (Public swimming pool).
- 🌍 Golf las Américas.
- 🌍 La Montaña de Guaza.
Buy
A resort that attracts thousands of visitors every year with an extensive range of shops, shopping malls, restaurants. Just take a walk through the streets and experience the charm of the local shops.
Eat
In Los Cristianos you will find a wide selection of restaurants and bars, where typical dishes of the island were offered as Conejo en salmorejo, carne de cabra or stew canario, and prawns calamari or traditional paella, as well as Spanish food of course.
- 🌍 Ricos, Paseo Estocolmo 10, ☏ +43 634 04 74 71, Elisa.mastracci@Virgilio.it. Small Italian restaurant with a twist of fast food. A bit of a hidden gem tucked away in the streets of the otherwise uninspiring Los Cristianos. Limited seating available, so making a reservation in advance is highly recommended. €7–35.
- 🌍 Taberna Cántabra, Calle Juan Reveron Sierra 2, ☏ +43 625 52 25 96, Albavt50@gmail.com. Tu-Su 13:00-midnight. Charming tapas bar. €15–30.
- 🌍 Restaurante Elcine, C/.Juan Bariajo, No. 8, ☏ +34 629 50 65 60.
Drink
In Los Cristianos and Playa de las Américas you can enjoy a unique night life. A variety of pubs and clubs entertain visitors every night until dawn.
Sleep
The choices are almost endless.
Go next
- Costa Adeje – Similar to Los Cristianos, but a different clientele.
- Granadilla de Abona – Interesting mountain town with the supposedly the best cuisine on the island. Also, Paisaje Lunar can be visited in its hills behind.
- National Park Las Cañadas del Teide – The highlight of Tenerife, reach easily by car or bus.