Transfers vs. Other Ways to Get from Tenerife South Airport
On Tenerife there are two airports: South and North. Main world charter flights arrive at Tenerife South International Airport (Tenerife Sur), which was previously known as Reina Sofia Airport. The whole passenger traffic, which is more than 8 million a year, is received by one terminal. As a rule, tourists are heading to the most popular resorts of the island: Costa Adeje, Playa de las Américas, Puerto de la Cruz, Puerto de Santiago, Callao Salvaje, Guía de Isora, and Los Cristianos.
How to get from Tenerife South Airport to the city center or the other way round
Tenerife South is approximately 60 km away from the island’s capital — Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and 20 km from Costa Adeje resort (close to Playa de las Américas and Los Cristianos). There are three ways to get around:
- by buses №111, 343, 450. By bus № 111 it is possible to get to Las Americas, Los Cristianos, and the island’s capital. Buses run every half an hour from 6:20 to 22:20, then only at 23:20, 00:20, 01:05, 03:20, and 04:55. One can get from the southern air hub to the northern one by bus № 343 from 08:41 to 23:19. On the same bus (from 08:25 to 23:00) it is possible to get from Los Cristianos to both airports and the touristic center of the island — Puerto de la Cruz. The interval between buses is 50 minutes. Bus № 450 runs from South Airport to Los Cristianos, Las Americas, and Costa Adeje every hour from 06:56 to 20:46 on weekdays (from 07:26 to 19:36 at weekends). It is possible to pay a trip by card Bono Bus (which is sold at bus stations, in newsstands, or in small shops) or buy a ticket from a driver;
- taxi in Tenerife South Airport, which can be taken on the spot or ordered via the app;
- transfer, booked online in advance.
If you arriving at night and do not want to wait for a bus, take a taxi or transfer. Pay attention, that taxi costs 25% more expensive on weekdays after 22:00 as well as on sundays and holidays.
Transfers from Tenerife South Airport vs. Taxi taken on the spot or ordered via the app
Advantages of a private transfer
Order in the language you speak. Usual taxi aggregators like Gett or Uber do not operate on Tenerife. There is a local app PideTaxi, but it is mostly in Spanish.
A more comfortable service at the same price. For example, a taxi from Tenerife South Airport to Playa de las Américas will cost approximately 30–35 euro in cash. A trip on the same route (or to your hotel) with Kiwitaxi costs 33 euro, but our driver will meet you with a name sign, drive you comfortably to your destination and help you with luggage.
Nine euro cheaper, when travelling to Puerto de la Cruz. A transfer from Tenerife Sur costs 101 euro, and a taxi — from 110 euro.
Eight euro cheaper, when travelling to Tenerife-North. A trip with Kiwitaxi from one air hub to the other may cost 82 euro. The same ride with a local driver will cost you minimum 90 euro.
Transfers from Tenerife South vs. Buses
Advantages of a private transfer
You will not miss your stop. Firstly, the stops are not announced in the island buses. Secondly, if you want to get off, you need to let the driver know about it beforehand by pressing a special button. To avoid confusion, study the route in advance. Or simply order a private transfer at Tenerife South Airport.
Minimum twice as fast. A way by transfer from Tenerife-South to the island’s capital will take 45 minutes, and to Playa de las Américas — 20 minutes. A bus trip on the first route will take no less than 2 hours including waiting time, and on the second one — from 1 to 1,5 hours.
Disadvantage of a private transfer
More expensive. A bus ticket price depends on your destination: to Playa de las Américas — 3,7 euro, and to Puerto de la Cruz — 14,6 euro. If you buy a transport card Bono Bus (they are available for 15 and 25 euro), tickets will be cheaper.
