Is Tenerife safe?
Safe with normal care. Theft from rental cars and beaches, drowning in strong surf and mountain driving are bigger risks than violent crime.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2025-05-11.
- Homicide rate in Spain: 0.7 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Spain: 3.9 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 091 · Ambulance 112 · Fire 112 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Tenerife at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Theft from hire cars and beaches, pickpocketing in busy south resorts, and occasional bag snatching in Santa Cruz at night. |
| At night | Resorts are lively and safe. Elsewhere towns are quiet after midnight; taxis and apps work in the south but buses are limited at night. |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women. Catcalling is occasional in resorts; watch drinks in Playa de las Américas bars and take taxis late. |
| Other risks | Rip currents and unflagged surf; Steep mountain roads and fog around Teide; Sunburn at altitude and strong UV |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Timeshare touts offering free gifts or 'scratch cards' in the south
- Overpriced boat or whale-watching tours from street sellers
- Fake taxi drivers at the airport
Take care
- Beaches with strong surf: Playa del Duque and Bajamar rip currents
- Rental cars at viewpoints and parking lots: break-ins
- Teide road in winter: ice and fog
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Drinking alcohol in the street is banned in many cities, with on-the-spot fines.
- Wearing swimwear or going shirtless away from the beach is fined in Barcelona and many resorts.
- Police can ask for photo ID at any time and hold you until it's confirmed; carry it.
How Tenerife compares in Spain
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| San Sebastián | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Bilbao | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Córdoba | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Menorca | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Toledo | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Santiago de Compostela | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Salamanca | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Barcelona | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Madrid | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Seville | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Valencia | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Málaga | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Mallorca | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Ibiza | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Tenerife | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Gran Canaria | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Granada | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Palma | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Las Palmas | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lanzarote | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Alicante | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Fuerteventura | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Marbella | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Cádiz | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Benidorm | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Maspalomas | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Sitges | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
Quick answers
Is Tenerife safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women. Catcalling is occasional in resorts; watch drinks in Playa de las Américas bars and take taxis late.
Is Tenerife safe at night?
Resorts are lively and safe. Elsewhere towns are quiet after midnight; taxis and apps work in the south but buses are limited at night.
What is the crime rate in Tenerife?
Theft from hire cars and beaches, pickpocketing in busy south resorts, and occasional bag snatching in Santa Cruz at night. Nationally, Spain records 0.7 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Tenerife?
Police 091 · Ambulance 112 · Fire 112 · All emergencies 112.
More about Tenerife
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- TITSA (Tenerife buses)
- Tranvía de Tenerife
- Tenerife South Airport (Aena)
- Turismo de Tenerife
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.