Tenerife has two airports serving very different parts of the island – get the wrong one and you could add an hour to your journey. Here’s how South and North compare.
Most package holidaymakers land at Tenerife South (TFS, Reina Sofía), close to the main resorts of Costa Adeje and Playa de las Américas – about 18–22 km, 15–25 minutes in light traffic (up to ~40 minutes when busy). Tenerife North (TFN, Los Rodeos) mainly handles inter-island and mainland Spain flights plus a few international routes, and sits close to Santa Cruz (~11 km) and La Laguna (~3 km), roughly 15–20 minutes by road. The two airports are about 66–70 km apart – around 50 minutes on the direct TITSA line 343 bus, which runs four times a day in each direction – so check which one your flight actually uses before booking a transfer.
By bus: from Tenerife South, TITSA line 40 runs roughly hourly (06:30–21:40) to Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje bus station in about 40 minutes, line 10 goes to Santa Cruz every 30–40 minutes (about 55 minutes) and night line 711 covers late arrivals. From Tenerife North, line 20 runs to La Laguna and Santa Cruz every 15–35 minutes (about 20 minutes). Fares depend on distance and can be paid by card or cash on board; the ten+ Travel pass gives unlimited bus and tram travel for €10 a day or €50 for 7 days.
Transfer options at a glance
By airport and destination
| Route | Distance | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| South (TFS) → Costa Adeje/Playa de las Américas | ~18–22 km | 15–25 min (up to 40 in traffic) | Main resort route; TITSA line 40 takes ~40 min |
| North (TFN) → Santa Cruz | ~11 km | ~15–20 min | Via TF-5; TITSA line 20 |
| North (TFN) → La Laguna | ~3 km | under 10 min | Airport sits within La Laguna municipality |
| TFN ↔ TFS (between airports) | ~66–70 km | ~50 min | TITSA line 343, 4 times a day each way |
Distances from Wikipedia and route planners; bus lines, timetables and the ten+ pass from titsa.com; Viator prices from live listings, checked 2026-09-25.
GetYourGuide doesn’t currently list Tenerife airport transfers (searches return whale-watching and Teide excursions instead), but Viator (Tripadvisor’s booking platform) sells private, per-vehicle transfers with free cancellation up to 24 hours before pick-up. They cost more than the TITSA buses in the table above, but you get a driver waiting in arrivals and a direct door-to-door ride – and since the price covers the whole car, they split well between three or four passengers.
A driver meets you in the Tenerife South arrivals hall and takes you directly to your hotel or villa – Costa Adeje and Playa de las Américas in 15–25 minutes, or anywhere else on the island.
Check availability →The same service in reverse for your flight home – pick-up from your hotel or villa timed to your departure, no shuttle-stop detours on the way to the airport.
Check availability →A premium option for the short run from TFS to Costa Adeje, Playa de las Américas or Los Cristianos hotels. Priced per vehicle – compare it with the sedan option above before booking.
Check availability →Which airport – and how long to your resort?
Pick your route
If you’re on a package holiday to Costa Adeje, Playa de las Américas or Los Cristianos, you almost certainly land at Tenerife South (TFS). Tenerife North (TFN), near Santa Cruz and La Laguna, mainly serves inter-island and mainland Spain flights.
About 18–22 km, typically 15–25 minutes by road, though this can stretch to around 40 minutes in heavy traffic.
Yes – TITSA’s line 343 runs direct between TFN and TFS four times a day in each direction, taking about 50 minutes.
Yes – while GetYourGuide only lists excursions for Tenerife at the time of writing, Viator sells private per-vehicle transfers from Tenerife South from about €101, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before pick-up. For budget travellers, TITSA public buses remain far cheaper.
Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. If you book a transfer through Viator or a car through our search partners, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only list options we'd genuinely consider booking ourselves.
Page last fact-checked 25 September 2026.
