Tenerife Entertainment

Tenerife has a rich and varied nightlife scene, with everything from cabaret shows and casinos to booze cruises and raging nightclubs. As in the rest of Spain, the partying doesn’t kick off until around midnight and often lasts until the sun comes up. Being a tourist island, Tenerife offers ample choices for the thousands of holidaymakers looking for entertainment after dark.

Nightlife

At the rowdy end of the spectrum, Playa de las Americas is the nightlife capital of Tenerife. The entertainment in this town can be divided into three distinct areas: the Patch, Veronicas and Starco. The Patch is a small commercial district that caters to family entertainment. It is packed with continental restaurants, bars and shops, and has a distinctly touristy feel to it. The Patch is where you can find cabaret acts and family fun until around 03:00. Most of the bars here are children-friendly and many serve food during the afternoon. Veronicas and Starco serve up more adult-orientated entertainment. Both areas are packed with bars and nightclubs, and are located within easy walking distance of each other. There aren’t any entrance fees to the bars in this area and the only dress code restriction is that you must wear a shirt. These bars are generally open until 04:00 and the nightclubs until 06:00. The atmosphere in Veronica's and Starco is loud and chaotic. Most of the clubs have touts which aggressively try to get you into their venue, while prostitutes are also known to frequent these areas.

If you’re in the mood for a quieter night out, you should head to one of the other resort towns such as Puerto de la Cruz, where you can enjoy tapas and a glass of local wine. There are numerous English pubs on the island which offer a relaxing place to have a pint and meet some other tourists. For something a little more sophisticated, check out the Casino Taoro in Puerto de la Cruz. Built in 1892, this posh casino has a great atmosphere; men must wear a jacket.        

Theatre and music

like most tourist islands, Tenerife has its fair share of live musical performances, scattered around the various hotels, bars and nightclubs. There are also several unusual performances here, like the medieval dinner show at Castillo San Miguel in the southern part of the island. It provides an entertaining family evening of jousting, displays of horsemanship and other medieval merrymaking. For a dose of Spanish flamenco dancing, check out the show at the Pyramid de Arona Auditorium in Playa de las Americas. The Palace Show, also in Playa de las Americas, puts on a great cabaret act by international performers, accompanied by dinner. Opera lovers don’t have to miss out either. Tenerife’s opera season runs from October through December (tel: +34 922 272 535).

Festivals

There are a handful of festivals throughout the year on Tenerife as well as traditional Spanish religious celebrations. Carnival is considered to be especially impressive on the island.

• Carnival in Tenerife is considered to be second only to Rio in its scope and presentation. Tied to Easter celebrations, this month-long party features stunning costumes, marching bands, music and mayhem. The Grand Parade is the highlight, but many more events follow. Festivities begin in Santa Cruz then spread out to the other towns and villages (February).
• The Music Festival of the Canary Islands in June is one of the most prestigious classical music festivals in Europe. Many of the continent’s best performers and orchestras take part.
• The Sabandeno Festival in September is a folklore music festival in La Laguna featuring Canarian and foreign groups.
• San Andres is a relatively new wine tasting festival in the towns of Icod, La Orotava and Puerto de la Cruz and features local wines (November).
• Corpus Christi is a local celebration featuring carpets of flowers and volcanic earth in the towns of La Orotava and La Laguna (June).