Is Tenerife Safe?

Tenerife is, on the whole, a safe destination and violent crime against tourists is rare. The main practical risks are the same as most popular resort destinations: opportunistic theft in busy tourist areas, and the physical risks that come with the island's terrain and ocean.

• ✓Keep valuables out of sight on beaches and in rental cars — opportunistic theft, not violent crime, is the realistic risk.
• ✓Ocean currents can be strong, particularly on north-coast and west-coast beaches — always check flag warnings and avoid swimming where flags indicate red.
• ✓Mountain and gorge hikes (including parts of the Masca and Teide areas) should be taken seriously; weather and terrain can change quickly at altitude.
• ✓Sun strength is easy to underestimate given the year-round mild temperatures — sunburn is the most common visitor injury.
• ✓Standard travel common sense applies in busy areas like markets and transport hubs, exactly as it would in any popular European tourist destination.

As with most well-established tourist destinations, the areas visitors spend most of their time in — the southern resorts, the main towns — are also the areas with the most visible policing and infrastructure, which in practice makes them some of the more low-risk parts of the island. Sensible precautions rather than particular worry are the right level of caution here.