10 of the best family hotels in Tenerife for 2024

In the north, the climate is wetter and cooler, with rugged terrain and dramatic landscapes, while the south has more sunshine, less rain and wind, and (manmade) sandy beaches. Consequently, the south is where you’ll find the vast majority of tourist resorts, including Playa de las Americas, Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos, filled with water parks, theme parks and buzzing nightlife. The north of the island, meanwhile, is home to incredible restaurants, the best views of Mount Teide and cultural destinations such as art galleries, museums and historical sites.

Whichever part of the island you head for, having family-friendly accommodation is a must, so we've picked some of the best hotels for a break with little ones to suit every budget.

To help you choose the best holiday for you and your family we have included distance from the nearest airport, an example price for the accommodation for a week in August 2024 where available, and all the important details and added extras you should know about before booking your holiday.

If Tenerife doesn't take your fancy, take a look at the best family hotels in Crete or the best family hotels in Lanzarote. Staying in England this year? We also have a roundup of the best New Forest hotels and accommodation for families.

10 of the best family hotels in Tenerife at a glance

• Best for active families: Gran Melia Palacio De Isora, Booking.com
• Best location: Bahia Del Duque, Expedia
• Best for accessibility: GF Victoria, Booking.com
• Best for large family groups: GF Isabel, Expedia
• Best for babies: Bahia Principe Fantasia, Expedia
• Best budget hotel: HD Parque Cristóbal Tenerife, Booking.com
• Best for older children: Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife, Expedia
• Best self-catering apartments: Apartmentos Casblanca, Booking.com
• Best hotel with a water park: Roca Nivaria, Expedia
• Best for nature-loving families: Barceló Tenerife, TUI

When is the best time of year to visit Tenerife?

Nicknamed the Island of Eternal Spring, Tenerife boasts year-round sunshine and an average temperature of 23 degrees, making it a great place to visit at any time.

David Pérez, CEO of Tenerife Tourism Corporation advises, “For families with young children we would recommend visiting in March and April, when the temperature is between 22 degrees and 25 degrees, and the weather is more settled”. Another benefit to this is it’s when the island is less busy. In autumn and winter, the south of the island is warmer than the north and temperatures tend to stay above 20 degrees, making it the warmest place in Europe.

Summers are very hot and dry, with temperatures nudging 30 degrees (remember your sunscreen), so a pool to cool off in and a sea breeze are essential. July and August are also high season when the island gets very busy; booking your family holiday to Tenerife in advance for these months is highly recommended. And although Tenerife was among regions affected by heatwaves and wildfires in 2023, the fires did not affect main tourist areas and were confined to local communities in the north east of the island.

What is the flight time from the UK?

It takes about 4 and a half hours to fly from the UK to Tenerife. Tenerife South-Reina Sofia Airport (TFS), is the international airport on the island. Tenerife North Airport handles mostly domestic flights.

Which are the biggest attractions in Tenerife?

Top spots to visit in the south of the island include Siam Park – a Thai-themed water park that has everything from meandering lazy river rides to scream-inducing free-fall slides, Loro Parque Animal Embassy, voted Europe’s best zoo by Trip Advisor reviewers, and of course the beaches.

For nature lovers, David Pérez recommends the “out-of-this-world" Teide National Park. He adds, “This UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to Mount Teide (Spain’s highest peak) offers a different experience of the island and there’s a wide variety of tours to suit all tastes and ages. There’s even a cable car ride that takes you to the top of the volcano – children will love it!” Off the coast, you can go whale and dolphin watching all year round.

If shopping is your thing, head to Los Cristianos Market to snap up souvenirs – or hit the high-end shops in Costa Adeje.

Here's our pick of the 10 best family hotels in Tenerife

1. Gran Melia Palacio De Isora Resort & Spa, Alcalá, Guia de Isora

— Best for active families

Star rating: 5-star | Price from £3,211 for a family of 4 in a deluxe room with 1 extra-large double bed and 1 sofa bed for 7 nights in August 2024 (All-inclusive) | Number of bedrooms 608 | Board All-inclusive, half board and B&B | Number of swimming pools 7 | Kids club Mini Club for 4-12 year olds and Baby Club for 8 month to 3 year olds | Tenerife South Airport 22.6 miles | Optional additional upgrade to access extra services and childcare discounts

This sprawling beachfront resort and spa on Tenerife’s southwest coast is fronted by the Atlantic Ocean and has the magnificent Mount Teide behind. It boasts 5 outdoor pools, including a 260m lake-like saltwater infinity pool – the largest in Europe.

Young children will be thrilled by the pirate ship in the heated kids’ pool with its tipping buckets and gentle water slides, while babies might prefer the smaller, even shallower pool nearby. As well as the impressive pool scene, there’s a great outdoor playground in the subtropical gardens, a free Mini Club for children aged 4 to 12 and a Baby Club service for babies and toddlers that has 2 sessions a day for an extra fee. In the evening, there’s bouncy castle fun to be had in the Palacio and interactive children’s shows in the hotel theatre.

But don’t rush your dinner – the food in each of the 9 restaurants is stupendous, from the expansive buffet in the main restaurant that features a different theme every night and includes a large children’s section, to the beautifully presented plates in the à la carte restaurants (bookable in advance).

“Having stayed at Gran Melia Palacio de Isora several times with my children when they were under 2 years old, I can say with certainty that this hotel is superbly well suited to families – from the enormous bedrooms with plentiful storage and travel cots on request to the thoughtful children’s activities on offer all day and into the evening,” said MFM writer Gabrielle Nathan. “My top tip would be to bring a buggy for toddlers as the resort is huge and there’s quite a distance between rooms and restaurants and pools.”

The resort is 5-star deluxe, but families who want extra pampering can splash the cash and upgrade to Red Level for Families which gets them plusher bedrooms and amenities, à la carte breakfast and reserved seating by the pool, as well as a 50% discount on the Baby-club rate.

Pros: Great food, multiple pools, many activities included, luxurious

Cons: Long walks and multiple lifts between rooms and amenities, have to pay extra for the Baby Club

Book at: Gran Melia Palacio De Isora, Booking.com

2. Hotel Bahia Del Duque, Costa Adeje

— Best location

Star rating: 5-star | Price from £3,248 for a family of 4 in a junior suite for 7 nights in August 2024 (B&B)| Number of bedrooms 346 | Board Half board and B&B | Number of swimming pools 5 | Kids club for 3-12 year olds | Tenerife South Airport 11 miles | Access to Bahía Wellness Retreat

Styled like a picture-perfect Canarian village, with low-rise turreted buildings, pretty squares and lagoon pools, this luxury hotel is a world away from conventional tourist skyscrapers.

The hotel and its sister property Las Villas are surrounded by hectares of lush vegetation, giving the impression that you’re miles from anywhere. In reality you’re right on Duque Sur beach and a short stroll from the exclusive Duque Norte beach, 5 minutes from Siam Water Park and metres from the centre of Costa Adeje where you’ll find designer shops and waterfront restaurants. No wonder booking.com families rated the location of Bahia del Duque 9.5 for a stay with kids.

Although you may struggle to convince your children to leave as there’s plenty on offer for younger guests, including 5 pools (2 salt water and 2 freshwater pools and 1 kids pool) and a fantastic free kids club that has stacks of fun activities to keep children from 3 years up busy from 10am until almost 6pm every day. Parents can take advantage of the well-equipped gym or relax in the indulgent spa – or at one of the 13 lounge bars inside the complex.

The food here is exceptional: of the 9 restaurants, 1 is a holder of a coveted Michelin Star: Nub is a Latin-Italian fusion and a destination in its own right. The other 8 restaurants span Japanese, French and of course Spanish cuisine and all offer children’s menus and portions.

Priyanka, a member of our Top Testers Club and mum of 6-month-old Aarav, said: “We stayed at Bahai Del Duque half board for our first ever holiday with our son, who was 6 months old at the time and it was amazing. The hotel was super accommodating, even providing us with an entire changing table and mat, a baby bath and a little baby toiletries gift box in our room, and staff always went out of their way to make us feel welcome. I can’t recommend the place enough.”

Pros: Close to 2 beaches, gorgeous gardens, can provide baby equipment, great food, multiple pools

Cons: Expensive, no all-inclusive option

Book at: Expedia, TUI

3. GF Victoria, Costa Adeje

— Best for accessibility

Star rating: 5-star | Price from £3,973 for a family of 4 in a senior suite for 7 nights in August 2024 (Half-board)| Number of bedrooms 242 | Board Half board and B&B | Number of swimming pools 7 | Kids club for 10 months-3 year olds; 4-7 year olds; 8-12 year olds; 13-17 year olds | Tenerife South Airport 12 miles | Onsite spa welcomes families with children

This contemporary hotel really does have it all and caters for children and adults equally brilliantly. For starters, it has 7 pools, including 2 for families, an adults-only glass pool suspended over the facade (not for the fainthearted), a bodyboard wave pool and a gentle pool for babies. At the on-site water park, you’ll find another pool with 3 slides, waterfalls and bridges, while the nearby adventure park features a climbing wall, suspension bridges, zipline and tree houses.

Parents wanting to take it easy while their children play can book sessions at the kids’ clubs: Baby Club takes children from 10 months to 3 years old and Mini Club caters for children aged between 4 and 12. There’s even a drop-in Teen Club for older siblings. There are adult-only areas, including 2 pools and a bar. Unusually the hotel spa welcomes children and even has a private family area.

The hotel has a respectable 3 restaurants – a buffet and 2 à la carte, plus a snack-bar – and 4 bars, but there are plenty more options just steps from the front door. The sands of Playa del Duque are a 5-minute walk away, and Siam Park is 10 minutes away by car.

The all-suite accommodation means every room has a separate bedroom, so parents have somewhere to stay up once their children have gone to sleep. Eight of the suites are accessible and feature a bathroom with roll-in shower and grab rails, making them ideal for family members with reduced mobility.

Aarti, member of our Top Testers Club, visited the GF Victoria in April 2022 when her son was 16 months old and described the hotel as “phenomenal”. She said: “The kids’ facilities – kids’ pool, indoor play areas and creche (where parents can stay if they want) – were excellent. The main buffet restaurant is huge and has a dining section just for families, with kids’ food, crockery and cutlery. Adjacent to this is an indoor play area with artificial grass soundproofed by glass, so parents can enjoy their amazing food while watching their children play.” The accommodation was equally impressive, according to Aarti, who explained, “because all rooms are suites, parents can relax in the lounge or on the balcony while the baby is asleep in the bedroom, which is perfect.”

Pros: Good range of kids clubs, play area in family dining, family-friendly spa welcomes children, all areas of the hotel are wheelchair accessible, multiple pools

Cons: Smaller choice of restaurants, senior suites have 2 single beds not doubles, no sun loungers on balconies

Book at: TUI, Booking.com

4. GF Isabel, Costa Adeje

— Best for large family groups

Star rating: 4-star | Price from £1,893 for a family of 4 in a bungalow with 2 single beds and 2 sofa beds for 7 nights in August 2024 (All-inclusive) | Number of bedrooms 384 | Board All-inclusive, full board, half board, B&B and self-catering | Number of swimming pools 3 | Kids club for 3-12 year olds | Tenerife South Airport 13 miles

It’s easy to see why this mini-village, made up of low-rise apartment blocks, bungalows and villas separated by fountain-filled plazas and lantern-lit paths, is popular with large family groups as there’s accommodation to suit everyone. Apartments sleep up to 4, bungalows up to 5 and villas up to 6, plus a good number of the apartments and bungalows have interconnecting doors, allowing you to effectively room share with your nearest and dearest.

But even if you choose to sleep apart, families can get together at the buffet restaurant, which serves international and local cuisine 3 times a day, at any of the 5 bars, or around one of the 3 pools. There are 2 family swimming spots, plus a kids’ pool in the small but perfectly formed splash park.

Parents looking for downtime should know that while the Baby Club is open to children from birth to 3 years old, parents need to stay (as they do in the play area) but children can be left at the Mini Club, which caters for 3 to 12 year olds.

When you’ve had your fill of the complex or need some family free time, take a short walk to Fañabé Beach which has soft sand and clear, calm water, or explore the shops and restaurants on the promenade.

Parent tester Gabs visited GF Isabel Costa Adeja with her 2 children, who were 21 months and 8 weeks old, and described it as perfect for those with younger children. She said: “The pools, splash park, playground, mini golf, soft play, bouncy castle and nightly mini disco were so brilliant, our now 2-year-old keeps asking when we are going back. I loved that it’s less than a 10-minute walk to the beach, there’s a supermarket next door, loads of good restaurants on your doorstep and the option to go any board basis, from self-catering to all-inclusive as all the rooms have kitchens.”

Pros: Variety of accommodation with option of interconnecting spaces, on-site mini-market for self-catering, good value, close to beach and town

Cons: Only 1 restaurant, parents must stay with children under 3 at kids’ club

Book at: TUI, Expedia

5. Bahia Principe Fantasia, Golf del Sur

— Best for babies

Star rating: 5-star | Price from £3,435 for a family of 4 in a family master suite for 7 nights in August 2024 (All-inclusive) | Number of bedrooms 372 | Board All-inclusive only | Number of swimming pools 7 | Kids club for 3-12 year olds | Tenerife South Airport 4 miles

The focus at this fairytale-inspired Tenerife resort is firmly on children, although it’s no less magical for adults, who will revel in the choice of restaurants (there are 5 – 2 buffet and 3 à la carte, though the main restaurant can get busy and noisy), bars (5 again) and pools (an impressive 7), as well as activities and evening entertainment (the shows are West End quality).

There is so much to explore at this resort but the biggest draw for children will be the water park and splash pool, an impressive area with fun and super safe slides and sprinklers. A close second is likely to be the kids club, which offers genuinely interesting activities such as fancy-dress workshops, cookery and expeditions.

Even the very youngest guests are catered for, as parent tester Elizabeth discovered. “There are baby rooms on each floor with a microwave and seating for feeding, buggy parks at all restaurants, salt-free purees for babies in the buffet. There’s even a shop selling nappies and baby snacks, clothes and wipes. The staff are all fantastic with children and always address them directly with smiles. I’ve never been to a more family-focused resort and thought it was brilliant.”

She’s not the only one who has been impressed by the hotel’s appeal to very young children and their parents. Hannah, a member of our Top Testers Club and mum of Rosie, visited Bahia Principe Fantasia in March 2022 when her little one was under 2 and found the hotel to be perfect. She said, “It has everything you could need, including multiple pools, restaurants, kids’ club, shows, amazing buffet and a daily mini disco – my little one’s favourite. It was a bit pricey but worth it for a stress-free holiday.”

Pros: Good choice of restaurants and bars, top-quality entertainment for children and adults, baby rooms on each floor, multiple pools

Cons: Expensive, no alternative to all-inclusive, main restaurant tends to be noisy

Book at: TUI, Expedia

6. HD Parque Cristóbal Tenerife, Playa de las Américas

— Best budget hotel

Star rating: 3-star | Price from £3,680 for a family of 4 in a 2-bedroom bungalow for 7 nights in August 2024 (All-inclusive) | Number of bedrooms 151 | Board All-inclusive, half board and B&B | Number of swimming pools 4 | Kids club for 4-12 year olds (If booked through TUI there are kids clubs running May-Oct, 5 days a week for 3-6 year olds and 7-12 year olds) | Tenerife South Airport 12 miles

Considering it’s located in the middle of the entertainment capital of Tenerife and moments from Siam Park, this mid-size resort is remarkably peaceful. The tranquil gardens are studded with whitewashed bungalows of different sizes and comfort levels. Each one comes with a living room, kitchen and 1 or 2 bedrooms and some have a private garden and hot tub. Whichever you choose, you’ll have access to 4 outdoor swimming pools, including 2 children’s pools, as well as the main buffet restaurant and a poolside à la carte restaurant. You can even grab a takeaway from the kitchen to eat in your bungalow or on the beach, which is a mere 200m away.

The excellent staff and top-notch facilities, including a decent children’s play area and kids club, consistently attracts favourable reviews from previous guests and give this 3-star property a 4-star feel. Prices are competitive, making this a brilliant budget holiday option.

Jessica, a member of our Top Testers Club and mum of 3, visited HD Parque Cristobal Tenerife in August 2022 when her children were 22 months and 4 and 5 years old and loved it so much, she’s booked to go back the following August. She said, “It wasn’t huge like some hotels, which was a plus point with young kids. It had 4 lovely warm pools, including one with slides and inflatables, a small pool and a larger pool with music. The kids club team were brilliant, and the food was really good too. The restaurant had a different theme every night to change it up but always had lots the kids liked, and our 2-bedroom bungalow had lots of space.”

Pros: Very close to popular tourist centre, self-catering option, good value

Cons: Limited choices of restaurants, only 1 bar, hotel-run kids club only takes children 4 and over

Book at: Booking.com, TUI

7. Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife, Playa Paraiso

— Best for older kids

Star rating: 5 | Price from £3,902 for a family of 4 in a studio suite silver for 7 nights in August 2024 (All-inclusive)| Number of bedrooms 624 | Board All-inclusive, half board and B&B | Number of swimming pools 3 | Kids club for 4-9 and 10-16 year olds | Tenerife South Airport 18 miles | Buy tickets to gigs and concerts before you arrive through the hotel’s website

If you’ve got a baby or toddler and an older, even much older, child, finding a hotel that suits everyone could be tricky – but we’ve found a solution: book a stay at the music-inspired Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife, which is so cool even the sulkiest teenager will be excited about visiting. We’re talking about a children’s pool with its own swim-up bar for snacks and drinks, excellent live music and action-packed kids’ clubs.

The Hard Rock Roxity Kids Club will keep children aged between 4 and 9 entertained all day, with creative games and workshops, while Teen Spirit is an all-day hangout spot designed to capture the imaginations of tweens and teens between 10 and 16 years old. The littlest ones won’t be left out – Club Lullaby is open for children aged between 6 months and 3 years old, though there is an extra charge for this service.

With its lit-up beachfront towers and bold interiors, Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife is certainly stylish, but it also has substance – the food in all 7 restaurants is knockout, the bedrooms are supremely comfortable and there’s an excellent subterranean spa. As you’d expect, the entertainment – including live music and poolside gigs – is impressive, and also loud.

Pros: Good range of kids clubs, exciting, good choice of restaurants and bars, something for all ages

Cons: Noisy, under 3s kids club costs extra

Book at: Expedia, Booking.com

8. Casablaca Apartments, Puerto de la Cruz

— Best self-catering apartments

Star rating: 3-star | Price from £638 for a family of 4 in a 2-bedroom apartment for 7 nights in the Easter holidays 2024 (B&B) | Number of bedrooms 287 | Board Self-catering and B&B | Number of swimming pools 2 | Kids club none | Tenerife South Airport 62 miles | Paid access to the on-site gym

If you’ve got fussy eaters in your family or find it stressful sticking to restaurant timetables, self-catering holidays might be the way forward and this gem of a complex, 20 minutes’ walk from Puerto de la Cruz beach on Tenerife’s north coast and masses of decent bars and restaurants, could be your next holiday destination.

It’s made up of 11 low-rise buildings containing studios and 1- and 2-bedroom apartments, each with a fully equipped kitchenette so is ideal for families that prefer to dine in. Handily, there’s a supermarket next door, as well as a reasonably priced snack bar serving continental breakfast (you can opt for bed & breakfast board) plus light meals, so you don’t have to go entirely self-catered.

The large, free-form swimming pool is right in the middle of the sun terrace and is surrounded by sunbeds so you can stake out a good spot here or find the children’s pool, which is close to the play area. There’s no kids club but most families with young children gravitate here and the intimate nature of the complex means children tend to soon make friends.

You can pay to use the gym, bowling green, pool table and tennis court, but the evening entertainment, which includes authentic Spanish flamenco, folklore shows and live music, is included. Overall, the complex consistently impresses visitors who have awarded it 4.5 out of 5 stars on Trip Advisor.

Pros: Affordable, small and friendly, evening entertainment included

Cons: Only 1 restaurant/bar, no kids club, activities not included, no all-inclusive option

Book at: Booking.com, Casablanca Club Apartments

9. Adrián Hoteles Roca Nivaria, Playa Paraiso

— Best hotel with water park

Star rating: 5-star | Price from £3,173 for a family of 4 in a family suite for 7 nights in August 2024 (All-inclusive) | Number of bedrooms 120 | Board All-inclusive, half board, B&B | Number of swimming pools 3 | Kids club for 10 months-3 year olds and 4-12 year olds | Tenerife South Airport 20 miles

Almost everything in this glorious, brightly coloured luxury resort is geared towards children, making it an absolute hit with younger guests and consequently their parents, who will be delighted to know that almost all the children’s activities are included in the price of their holiday.

There are 3 magnificent pools, a sandy beach just in front of the hotel and a children’s section of the hotel’s main buffet restaurant where the food is presented in a pirate ship. But what really sets this place apart from the others on our list is the new multi-adventure area for families, which has a water park with 2 swimming pools, 4 water slides and a sunken ship that spurts out water jets, plus a jungle-themed climbing and clambering experience.

Kids can easily spend all day playing here but if you’d like some time off, there are two kids clubs, one for primary school-aged children that’s open from 10am until 6pm daily and another for preschoolers that takes children from 10 months to 3 years old during 2 sessions a day. With the kids safely supervised, parents are free to explore the hotel, lounge by the ocean-facing infinity pool or chill out in the thalassotherapy spa.

You can choose between 3 restaurants at dinner – international buffet and 2 à la carte – but there’s no choice at lunch, which is surprising for a resort of this calibre.

Pros: Kids club included in price for all ages, fantastic facilities, close to beach

Cons: Limited choice of restaurants, only 1 bar

Book at: Booking.com, Expedia

10. Barceló Tenerife, Golf del Sur

— Best for nature-loving families

Star rating: 5-star | Price from £2,807 for a family of 4 in connecting rooms or 2-bedroom suite for 7 nights in August 2024 (All-inclusive) | Number of bedrooms 331 | Board All-inclusive, half board and B&B | Number of swimming pools 7 | Kids club for 4-12 year olds | Tenerife South Airport 2 miles | Access to San Blas nature reserve

This seafront property was refurbished in 2022 and has been thoughtfully designed and decorated to blend into its immediate environment – the San Blas Nature Reserve. Inside, similarly earthy tones and wood panelling continue the theme of mimicking nature, but the interiors are pared back and distinctly modern.

The views from the hotel of the park are impressive but nothing beats going inside the Reserve, so make sure you book a guided tour of the spectacular volcanic landscape and the interactive museum. Sporty types can even hike, bike, jog or Nordic Walk inside the park.

If you’re feeling more lazy than adventurous, check out the 7 outdoor pools at this hotel, which includes a good-size children’s pool. There’s even a manmade lake where you can go kayaking. The kids’ club has great activities, including tennis sessions and stints on a climbing wall, so you might find yourself with some time to sip a drink at one of the hotel’s 4 bars – or just sit on a sunlounger by the adults’ only pool and stare into space.

Once you’ve worked up an appetite, pick one of 4 restaurants to slay your hunger, including Drago buffet restaurant, a specialist rice restaurant, a pool bar serving snacks and light lunches and an Italian Trattoria-style place, all of which welcome children with warm smiles and junior portions.

The rooms and suites are spacious but many of them don’t accommodate more than 3 guests, making it tricky for larger families to stay here. There are 59 Royal Level rooms – an upgrade that you can add to your holiday allowing you private access to pools and restaurants – and all rooms have a balcony and hydromassage bath, which is just what you need after a day exploring the outdoors.

Pros: Inside a unique nature reserve, good range of restaurants and bars, good choice of activities

Cons: Limited room choice for larger families, only 1 kids’ pool, no under 4s kids club

Book at: TUI, Booking.com

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