Measured from the seabed, it rises around 7,500 metres. Only two volcanoes on Earth are bigger, and both are in Hawaii.
Mount Teide is the volcano that shapes every view of Tenerife. At 3,715 metres above sea level, it is the highest mountain in Spain, the highest point in the Canary Islands and the tallest peak of any island in the Atlantic Ocean. Locals simply call it El Teide or Pico del Teide. On a clear day you can spot it from Gran Canaria and La Gomera, often with a cap of cloud or, in winter, a dusting of snow. This article is all about the mountain itself: its height and geology, the cable car, the summit permit and the different ways to climb it. If you want viewpoints, rock formations and stargazing in the wider park, head to our guide to Teide National Park.
You don’t need to be a mountaineer to enjoy Teide. The cable car lifts you to 3,555 metres in about eight minutes, and from the upper station two short trails lead to viewpoints over the crater of Pico Viejo and the north coast. The last 160 metres to the peak of Mount Teide are a different story. They need a permit, decent fitness and a bit of planning, and that’s exactly what the sections below cover.
💰 Suites de Franchy - Self-catering suites with a pool in La Orotava, at the foot of the road to Teide.
🏨 Parador de Las Cañadas del Teide - The only hotel inside the national park, next to the Roques de García.
💎 Hotel Botánico y Oriental Spa Garden - A five-star spa hotel in tropical gardens in Puerto de la Cruz.
Mount Teide at a glance - height, records and a few surprising facts
Teide’s height is the first thing most visitors look up. The current official measurement is 3,715 metres, although you will still see 3,718 metres in many guides, on older maps and on some signs at the cable car. Either way, it’s the tallest mountain in Spain, beating the Mulhacén in the Sierra Nevada by more than 200 metres. It’s also almost three times the height of Ben Nevis, so expect thin air and a real chill at the top.
What you see from the road is only part of the story. Teide rises from the floor of the Atlantic, so its total height from the ocean floor is around 7,500 metres. That makes it the third-tallest volcano in the world measured from its base, after Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. At sunrise and sunset the summit casts a huge triangular shadow across the sea, one of the largest mountain shadows on the planet.
The volcano and the high plateau around it form Teide National Park, created in 1954 and added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2007. It is the most visited national park in Spain, so plan your visit early in the day if you want quieter trails and clearer views.
Is Teide an active volcano?
Yes. The Teide volcano is classed as an active volcano, even though it has been quiet for a long time. At the summit you can smell sulphur and feel warm fumaroles venting steam through the rocks. Scientists from the Canary Islands Volcanological Institute monitor the area around the clock, and the mountain is listed among the Decade Volcanoes, a group the UN considers worth studying closely because of their history and the people living nearby.
Teide sits inside the Las Cañadas caldera, a vast volcanic depression roughly 16 by 9 kilometres, whose floor is known as Las Cañadas del Teide. Its neighbour, Pico Viejo (3,135 metres), has a crater about 800 metres wide that you can look down into from a viewpoint near the upper station. The last eruption close to Teide happened in 1798 at the Narices del Teide, a row of vents on the flank of Pico Viejo, and the dark lava flows from it are still easy to spot. The most recent eruption on the island was Chinyero in 1909, on the north-west rift, well away from the summit.
Can you see lava on Teide? Not flowing lava, no. What you will see is a volcanic landscape of frozen lava flows, pumice slopes and ochre-coloured rocks, which feels close enough to another planet that it has stood in for one in several films.
The Teide cable car - the easy way up
The Teide cable car is how most people reach the upper slopes. The cable car base station sits at 2,356 metres on the TF-21 road, around 45 minutes’ drive from Puerto de la Cruz and about an hour from the southern resorts. Cabins climb to the upper station at La Rambleta, 3,555 metres, in roughly eight minutes. The cable car ride is smooth, but the change in altitude is sharp, so take it slowly once you step out.
The first car usually runs at 9am all year. The last ascent changes with the season: around 4pm in winter and until about 5.40pm in summer, with the last descent roughly 50 minutes later. The cable car closes whenever the wind is too strong or there is ice on the cables, sometimes for several days in winter, so check the status on the morning of your visit. Your cable car ticket also gives access to the Science and Legend exhibition, a good way to fill time if you arrive early for your slot.
Booking a cable car ticket with a set time slot is the safest option, especially in school holidays and on winter weekends when queues at the base station can be long. Many visitors book a tour that bundles the ride with a transfer from the coast, which saves you the drive up the mountain roads. There’s a free car park at the base station, but it fills up by mid-morning.
What can you do at the upper station?
From La Rambleta, two short trails start right outside the station and don’t climb to the summit. Trail no. 11 leads to the La Fortaleza viewpoint, with views over the north of the island and the Orotava Valley. Trail no. 12 takes you to the Pico Viejo viewpoint, where you look straight down into the old crater and across to La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro. Each walk takes around 30-40 minutes there and back on rocky, uneven ground. Since 2026 access rules for the high trails have been tightened, so check the current booking rules on TenerifeON before you go.
Wear proper sports shoes or walking boots, not sandals. Even a short walk at this altitude feels harder than at sea level, and the path is loose volcanic gravel in places.
Climbing to the peak of Mount Teide - how the summit permit works
To climb Mount Teide to the very top you need a summit permit for trail no. 10, the Telesforo Bravo trail. The path is short, about 600 metres from La Rambleta, but steep, and it gains around 160 metres. Most people take 30-45 minutes to reach the crater rim, where you can see the fumaroles and, on clear days, five other islands of the Canary archipelago.
The permit is a mandatory permit issued by the national park through the TenerifeON platform, with a limited number of places each day. In busy months the slots can be gone weeks or even months ahead, so book your permit as soon as you know your dates. You choose a two-hour time window and must show the permit and your ID at the start of the trail. Since 19 January 2026 a small eco fee applies to visitors who don’t live on Tenerife, so it’s no longer a free permit for most holidaymakers. Your cable car ticket does not include the summit permit, and you should book a cable car time slot that gets you to the top before your window opens.
If you can’t get a permit, there are two other ways to reach the peak. Guided summit tours include the permit in the price. A night at the Altavista refuge also includes access to the summit trail before the cable car opens, which is how many hikers reach the top for sunrise.
Hiking up from Montaña Blanca
The classic route on foot starts at the Montaña Blanca car park on the TF-21, at around 2,350 metres. Trail no. 7 climbs about 8 kilometres to La Rambleta, with an elevation gain of more than 1,300 metres. Fit hikers usually need 5-6 hours to the upper station, plus another 30-45 minutes on the summit trail if you hold a permit. The first part is a gentle track past the huge round boulders known as the Huevos del Teide (Teide’s eggs). After that the path turns into steep mountain paths of loose rock.
The Altavista refuge, at 3,270 metres, is the natural place to break the climb. It was renovated in 2026, and nights must be booked well in advance, so check that it’s open for your dates. From there it’s about two hours to the summit at dawn. Coming down, you can walk the same way or take the cable car, but descent tickets can only be bought at the upper station, and only when the cable car is running. This is a demanding alternative to the cable car, so start early, carry plenty of water and check the weather forecast the day before.
Sunrise and sunset on Mount Teide
Sunrise from the summit is the moment most hikers dream about. The sky turns orange over Gran Canaria, the sea of clouds glows below you and Teide’s shadow stretches west towards La Gomera. To see it, you either sleep at Altavista or join a guided night hike. Sunset is easier to reach: some cable car tours run late on summer evenings, and you can watch the shadow from the viewpoints near the upper station.
Altitude sickness and safety on Teide
Altitude sickness is the biggest risk on Teide, and many visitors underestimate it. Symptoms can start above 2,500 metres and include headache, dizziness, nausea and shortness of breath. Going from the beach to 3,555 metres in about an hour is a big jump, so walk slowly, drink water and come down if you feel unwell. The symptoms usually ease quickly once you lose height.
The cable car operator advises against going up if you are pregnant, have heart or breathing problems, or are travelling with babies. Weather conditions change fast at this height. Temperatures at the top can drop below freezing even in spring, and strong wind makes it feel colder still, so bring a warm jacket, a hat and gloves whatever the forecast says on the coast.
A few simple habits make the day safer: carry a fully charged mobile phone, pack sun cream and sunglasses, and don’t leave the marked hiking trails. In winter, snow and ice can close the summit trail and the road, and during a calima, when dust blows in from the Sahara, the views can disappear completely.
How to get to Mount Teide
Driving gives you the most freedom. A rental car or your own vehicle lets you arrive before the tour buses and stop at viewpoints on the way. Four roads climb to the caldera: the TF-21 from La Orotava and Puerto de la Cruz in the north, the TF-24 from La Laguna along the island’s spine, the TF-38 from Chío in the west and the TF-21 from Vilaflor in the south. From Playa de las Américas and Los Cristianos the drive takes around an hour, and the bends are tight, so allow extra time.
By public transport, TITSA bus 342 runs from Playa de las Américas and Los Cristianos, and bus 348 from Puerto de la Cruz. Each runs once a day, leaving in the morning and returning in the afternoon, which gives you a few hours on the mountain. From Santa Cruz de Tenerife you’ll need to change buses or go by car. The easiest option without private transport is an organised tour with pick-up from the coast.
When is the best time to visit Mount Teide?
You can visit Mount Teide all year round. April to October usually brings the most stable weather and the longest cable car hours, while winter can bring snow, which looks magical but often closes the cable car and the summit trail. Whatever the season, mornings are best. The air is clearer, the light is softer and you avoid the midday crowds at the base station.
From May to June the red tajinaste, also known as Teide bugloss, blooms on the slopes, one of the most photographed sights on the island. In late autumn and winter, sunsets come early, which makes it easier to combine a visit with dinner on the way back down.
Mount Teide in Guanche legend
For the Guanches, the island’s original inhabitants, Teide was sacred. They called it Echeyde and believed that Guayota, a demon, lived inside the mountain. In one legend he kidnapped the sun god Magec and plunged the island into darkness, until the supreme god Achamán defeated him and sealed him inside the volcano. Teide’s plume of smoke was a sign that Guayota was still there. It’s a good story to tell children on the drive up, and it explains why so many local festivals still celebrate light and fire.
Practical information
- Mount Teide cable car tickets are best booked in advance. You’ll skip the longest queues at the base station and won’t risk finding every time slot sold out.
- Address: Teide Cable Car base station, TF-21 km 43, 38300 La Orotava, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
- Book tickets on GetYourGuide
Hotels near Mount Teide
Staying close to the mountain lets you reach the cable car before the crowds, or set off on the Montaña Blanca trail at first light. The north side of the island, around La Orotava and Puerto de la Cruz, is the closest base with plenty of choice. If you’d like to sleep inside the park itself, the Parador de Las Cañadas del Teide is the only hotel up there, a few minutes from the cable car base station.
💰 Suites de Franchy
A relaxed self-catering option in La Orotava, at the foot of the TF-21 road that climbs straight to the cable car. Suites have their own kitchen, there’s an outdoor pool, a garden and a shared lounge, and the terrace looks up towards the volcano. It’s a good fit for families or hikers who want to cook their own meals and keep costs down. The historic centre of La Orotava, with its wooden balconies and cafés, is a short drive away.
🏨 Parador de Las Cañadas del Teide
The only hotel inside Teide National Park, at around 2,150 m beside the Roques de García and a few minutes’ drive from the cable car base station. It has an indoor pool, a Canarian restaurant and calm rooms facing the lava fields. Staying here means you can hit the trails at first light, long before the cable car opens (the summit path itself needs a permit booked in advance). After dark, the clear skies are superb for stargazing.
💎 Hotel Botánico y Oriental Spa Garden
A five-star classic in the quiet La Paz district of Puerto de la Cruz, next to the city’s botanical garden. Three outdoor pools sit among tropical gardens, and the Oriental Spa is one of the best on the island. It’s perfect for unwinding after altitude and cold air. The drive to the cable car takes around 50 minutes, so you can enjoy a luxury base by the sea and still be on the mountain by mid-morning.
Mount Teide FAQ
How long does it take to hike Mount Teide?
From the Montaña Blanca car park, most fit hikers need 5-6 hours to reach La Rambleta and another 30-45 minutes to the summit with a permit. If you take the cable car up, the summit trail alone takes under an hour. Allow a full day if you plan to walk both ways.
Is Teide higher than Ben Nevis?
Yes, by a long way. Teide stands at 3,715 metres, while Ben Nevis reaches 1,345 metres, so Teide is almost three times taller. Even the cable car upper station is more than twice the height of Britain’s highest mountain.
Do you need a permit to go up the Teide cable car?
No. You only need a cable car ticket to ride to the upper station and walk the viewpoint trails nearby. A summit permit from TenerifeON is needed only for the last stretch to the peak, trail no. 10. Book it well in advance, as daily places are limited.
How cold is it at the top of Mount Teide?
It’s usually 10-15°C colder than on the coast, and in winter temperatures at the summit often fall below 0°C. Wind makes it feel even colder. Bring a warm layer, a hat and gloves, even if it’s 25°C on the beach.
Which island is Mount Teide on?
Mount Teide is on Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, and the Teide volcano dominates the whole island. It rises in the centre of the island, so you can reach it in about an hour from both the north coast and the southern resorts such as Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos.
