Why Hire a Car at Tenerife South Airport?
Most holiday areas in the south are close, but having your own car gives you complete freedom from the moment you arrive.
From Tenerife South Airport you are perfectly positioned: Los Cristianos is around 15 minutes away, Playa de las Americas is around 15-20 minutes away, Costa Adeje is around 20 minutes away, Los Gigantes is around 40-45 minutes away, and Mount Teide is around 1 hour away.
Many visitors arrive thinking they only need transport to the hotel. After a few days they realise Tenerife is much bigger than just the resort.
A hire car from the airport means your holiday starts immediately. Drive to your accommodation, visit different beaches, discover mountain villages, explore Teide National Park and enjoy Tenerife at your own pace.
The airport is only your arrival point — your car unlocks the island.
Tenerife South Airport — Quick Facts
From Touchdown to the Open Road
No shuttle bus. No searching for rental offices. No long counter queues. Your first Tenerife memory shouldn’t be waiting in a line.
Your car comes to you — no queues
After a four-hour flight the last thing you want is to queue at a counter while the holiday clock ticks. So we flip it around: like a driver holding a name card, a local driver is waiting for you at TFS arrivals with your car ready to go. A friendly hello, a quick look over the car together, keys in hand — and you’re on the motorway to your resort within minutes.
Why book with us, not a faceless chain
Backed by a 35-year local partner
We work hand-in-hand with our trusted Tenerife partner, Oasis — a family-run firm that has been on the island for over 35 years. You get their local know-how with the ease of booking through us.
Delivered, not queued
Your car is brought to you at arrivals and handed over in person by a local driver. No counter, no shuttle, no waiting around after a long flight.
Not just cars — memories
We’re really in the “remember that drive to Los Gigantes at sunset?” business. The car is just how you get there. Tell us what you want to see and we’ll point the way.
Our trusted local partner
The cars are supplied and delivered by Oasis, our partner on the ground — a family-run firm that has looked after visitors to Tenerife for over three decades. That longevity is the quiet reassurance behind every booking: a local team that knows the island, knows the roads, and has built its name on getting it right. We handle your booking; they hand you the keys.
The sunny south is on your doorstep
TFS sits right at the heart of the island’s resort coast — the beaches, the water parks and the dramatic west are all a short, easy drive away. With your own car from the airport, you’re free to roam.
Los Cristianos
A relaxed harbour town with a golden Blue-Flag beach and the departure point for whale- and dolphin-watching trips — just 15 minutes from the airport.
Costa Adeje
The smarter end of the south — elegant beaches like Playa del Duque, seafront promenades, and Siam Park, regularly voted the world’s best water park, right on the doorstep.
Los Gigantes
Sheer cliffs plunging 600 metres straight into the Atlantic on the west coast — a spectacular drive, with boat trips to spot whales beneath them. About 40 minutes from TFS.
Also within easy reach: Playa de las Américas for buzzing beachfront nightlife, Los Cristianos for a quieter harbour vibe, and Costa Adeje for upscale resorts — plus the windsurf beaches of El Médano and, of course, Mount Teide.
Recommended Drives from Tenerife South Airport
TFS → El Médano → La Tejita → Los Abrigos
Before heading straight to the hotel, discover the coastline beside the airport. Recommended stops: El Medano town, the Montana Roja views, Playa La Tejita and Los Abrigos harbour. Perfect for early arrivals before hotel check-in, couples and a relaxed first day exploring. Local tip: many visitors land, join the motorway and never realise some of Tenerife's nicest natural beaches are only minutes from the airport — if your hotel room isn't ready yet, this is a perfect introduction to the island.
TFS → Costa Adeje → Playa San Juan → Los Gigantes
The classic west coast Tenerife drive. Recommended stops: Costa Adeje, La Caleta, Playa San Juan, Alcala and the Los Gigantes cliffs. Perfect for families, photography and sunset. Local tip: plan this route for the afternoon — the west coast gives some of the best sunset views towards La Gomera.
TFS → Vilaflor → Mount Teide National Park
The drive every Tenerife visitor should experience. Starting from the south airport, you leave sea level and climb towards Spain's highest mountain, passing traditional villages, pine forests, volcanic landscapes and viewpoints above the clouds. Recommended stops: Vilaflor, the Teide viewpoints and Roques de Garcia. Perfect for first-time visitors, families and unforgettable Tenerife memories. Local tip: don't leave this until your final day — weather can change in the mountains, so give yourself another chance if conditions are cloudy. Bring warmer clothes too; Teide is a different world compared with the airport sunshine.
Local's Pick: Los Abrigos
Most visitors collect their luggage, leave Tenerife South Airport and drive directly towards the big resorts. Only a few minutes away is Los Abrigos — a small coastal village that gives you a completely different first impression of Tenerife: a traditional harbour atmosphere, ocean views, seafood restaurants and a relaxed local feeling. It's perfect if your flight arrives early, your accommodation check-in is later, or you simply want your first meal away from the busy tourist areas. Sometimes the best start to a Tenerife holiday is not rushing to the hotel — it's stopping, slowing down and realising you've arrived.
Who Is a TFS Airport Car Best For?
Before You Drive Away
- Tenerife South Airport connects directly to the TF-1 motorway, the island's main route along the south and east coast.
- Heading south/west from the airport takes you towards Los Cristianos, Las Américas and Costa Adeje; heading north takes you towards Santa Cruz.
- The first few minutes of driving are easy, especially compared with many large European airports.
- Check your hotel parking before you arrive — some resorts have private parking, others rely on nearby public spaces.
- Don't plan only around kilometres — a 30km mountain route can take much longer than expected because Tenerife's roads climb quickly.
- Fill up before long mountain drives such as Teide or Masca — fuel stations are common near towns but limited in remote areas.
- Keep your sunglasses accessible when landing during the day — the south of Tenerife is bright almost all year.
Airport Desk vs. Our Service
Traditional Rental
- Queue at the rental desk
- Shuttle bus to an off-site depot
- Paperwork before you can leave
Our Service
- Met at arrivals with your name on a sign
- Car ready, keys in hand
- On the motorway within minutes
What’s included in every booking
- Full insurance cover as standard
- Unlimited mileage across the whole island
- Air conditioning in every car
- Free child seats on request — baby seats, child seats and boosters
- Personal airport meet & greet at arrivals
How it works
Tenerife South car hire — your questions answered
No. You reserve online for free and pay when you collect your car at the airport. There is no upfront charge to book.
Our team meets you right at arrivals at Reina Sofia (TFS) with your name on a sign and walks you to your car. No shuttle buses, no off-site depots, no queues.
Yes. Cancellation is free up to 48 hours before your pick-up time, so you can book early with complete peace of mind.
Every rental includes full insurance cover and unlimited mileage as standard. Fuller cover options are available if you would like extra reassurance.
Yes, the minimum rental is 3 days. This keeps our pricing simple and lets us reserve the right car for your whole trip.
Of course. Baby seats, child seats and boosters are free on request - just add them when you book and we will have them fitted and ready.
Straight from the airport is easiest. Most visitors only plan transport to the hotel and realise a few days in that Tenerife is much bigger than the resort - collecting at TFS means your holiday starts the moment you land, not after a taxi or transfer.
Yes - if your flight lands early or your room isn't ready yet, the coastline right beside the airport (El Medano, La Tejita, Los Abrigos) makes a perfect first stop, only 10-20 minutes from arrivals.
Yes - around 1 hour via Vilaflor. It's best saved for later in your trip rather than day one, since weather in the mountains can change and you'll want the option to reschedule if it's cloudy. Bring warmer clothes too.
A relaxed loop from the airport to El Medano, La Tejita and Los Abrigos - 10-20 minutes away and a great way to ease into the island before heading to your resort, especially if you land earlier than your check-in time.
Yes - it's a small coastal village only a few minutes from TFS with a real harbour atmosphere and good seafood restaurants, giving you a very different first impression of Tenerife than driving straight to the big resorts.