CANARIAS

Tenerife has its own primary guagua (bus) service, known as TITSA. The bus routes have many lines in Santa Cruz and La Laguna and also connect the majority of the island, even smaller pueblos. There are also express buses to both airports. Bus schedules are somewhat accurate on Google Maps, but you should always have the web or the TITSA app ready to confirm times and routes. It’s commonly said that guaguas in Canarias do “lo que les da la gana” (“whatever they want”), so do not be surprised if schedules and real life differ. Be aware that buses (and ferries) run more infrequently/at different times on weekends, and especially on Sundays or holidays. 

The bus schedule at night is also different. Although there are still options, the bus can sometimes be difficult to take at night. For example, the 110 and 111 are the major buses between the north and south of the island and they don’t run all night. For that reason, it’s important to be aware of the schedule so you know when the last bus is. ¡Ojo! If you are taking a guagua from the intercambiador in Santa Cruz late at night, the platform may have changed; usually, busses that depart from the top floor during the day are now on the bottom floor outside the building at night, usually after 10pm.

Another option for getting around Santa Cruz and La Laguna is El Tranvía de Tenerife, which is a tram running through the two cities. There are two lines, with Line 1 running through mostly commercial sites and workplaces, and Line 2 running through the most densely-populated residential areas. On Monday through Thursday, the tram starts running at 6 am and stops running at midnight. On weekends, it runs 24 hours/day. Past grantees note that it can be a little slower (30 minutes to get between La Laguna and Santa Cruz), but is a nice ride and a great option if there is heavy traffic. You can find schedules and routes at here.

If you plan on using public transportation frequently, make sure to get the abono jovén, which affords unlimited rides on buses and trams for just 30€/month. You can apply for it online as soon as you have your empadronamiento — so make sure to get your empadronamiento early on! However, if you think you’ll only use the bus sparingly (i.e. to get to the airport), it’s best to just put money on your card as needed.

It’s also possible to use your phone rather than a physical card. You can use the ten+móvil app to buy guagua passes. Scan the QR code as you get on and show the driver. But note that you have to choose between the two, and can’t connect the digital and physical accounts.

The hubs of all public transportation in Tenerife are intercambiadores, and most lines begin, end, or route through one of the two located in Santa Cruz and La Laguna. At these stations, you can easily find taxis, book ferry tickets, and catch buses to the ports or airports. For specific information on arriving to either airport, visit TFN and TFS.

While public transportation in Tenerife is good, past grantees note it is advantageous to make friends with cars or even to rent a car occasionally to be able to explore the island more thoroughly. Taxis are omnipresent throughout the island, and are typically reasonably-priced for short trips. There are also many car rental agencies in any major city/port.

For more information on arriving to Tenerife, remember to check out the Canarias Travel Guide.