Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the capital of the island, is quite different from the typical tourist towns that can be found on the north and south coasts. Santa Cruz still retains its unmistakable charm with its ornate streets, exotic shops and picturesque parks.

You can also see one of the island's greatest architectural masterpieces, the Auditorio de Tenerife, a post-modern building with a concert hall that has become a symbol of the city.

Two weeks before Ash Wednesday, Tenerife's biggest and most beautiful carnival is held here, culminating in Carnival Weekend.

The city is so large and important that we have prepared a separate guide for it: