Life’s a beach – especially when you land in Tenerife. This terrific Canary Island is jam-packed with terracotta-topped, whitewashed buildings, bougainvillea-dappled streets and an eye-popping mixture of gold and black-sand seafronts. And thanks to so many amazing things to see and do for all ages, it’s no wonder family holidays to Tenerife are a winner.

If you’re wild about waterparks, bonkers about boat trips and potty about playgrounds, there are plenty of places to enjoy awesome adventures on the island. How about getting a flavour of city life by tracing artsy, colour-splashed streets in the capital, Santa Cruz? We promise there are tip-top tapas restaurants that cater to all tums too.

So, what are you waiting for? Here it is – your family guide to Tenerife holidays:

Siam Park

Magic, mystery and mayhem combine to make the epic Siam Park. This sensational Thai-themed amusement complex promises whimsical waterslides and rides, the awesome Wave Palace and soft-sand Siam Beach. Get around the park by foot or grab a rubber ring and float around the hibiscus and orchid-dotted Mai Thai River. Daredevils can test their mettle on the Tower of Power and Singha, and little ones will love the Bodhi Trail.

Siam Mall

Do you get some grunts and sighs when you suggest shopping in front of little ears? We thought you might, so bear with us on this one. Siam Mall is not quite what you think. Forget your typical floor-to-ceiling affair – we’re talking open-air levels, high-street brands, children’s play zones, local stalls, excellent international restaurants and more. The site isn’t huge, but it offers everything you need.

Brilliant beaches

Start at the golden grains of Los Cristianos Beach and you’ll spy loungers for hire, volleyball nets and joggers making the most of the prom. The turquoise sea appears endless from here. The volcanic sands of Playa de la Arena rank highly for cleanliness, which make it fantastic for families seeking R&R. Down the other end of the Playa De Las Americas’ Golden Mile, spot surfers carving up the waves of Maui Beach.

Teide cable car rides

Want to wow the kids? Let their jaws drop as you ascend Mount Teide on a cinematic cable car journey, which is suitable for children aged three and over. You’ll be dazzled by views as far as the eye can see, as you pass volcanoes, teeny towns and swirling clouds. And is that Gran Canaria over there? You can bet on it. Zipping to the top of Spain’s highest peak is essential during your Tenerife holiday!

Boat trips

Nothing fascinates children quite like animals, so why not tee up a boat trip that happens to pass through dolphin-inhabited territory? Clever, eh? Tenerife’s south coast is a haven for these playful underwater creatures which, if you’re lucky, will bob ceremoniously in and out of the water. Mock pirate ships also provide swashbuckling fun on laugh-a-minute, family-oriented tours of the high seas.

Family-friendly cycling

Cycling while on your family holiday in Tenerife means that you can have the best of both worlds – staying active and flopping down on the beach to relax. Simply hiring bikes in the resort you’re staying in allows you to swoon over the scenic spoils with ease. The flat roads of Playa De Las Americas, which lead to the dark-sand shore, are fab for leisurely pedallers too!

Parks and recreation

Glowing gardens and green spaces unfurl into blossoming oases made for walkers, strollers and amblers. Take the kids to unlock the treasure chest of trees and plants at the idyllic Orchid Garden Sitio Litre. Gaze in awe at the pretty pinks and purples of the flourishing orchids amid tranquil koi ponds. Meanwhile, Las Águilas-Jungle Park’s dreamy botanical gardens also house gibbons, leopards, meerkats, falcons and more.

City sightseeing

Why just stick to Tenerife’s holiday resorts when you can get acquainted with the capital’s patchwork of colourful streets? That’s right – Santa Cruz lays on a smorgasbord of historical sites, cultural gems and foodie favourites, all wrapped up in a rainbow of time-honoured avenues. As you go in search of more parks, somewhere for lunch and the edgy Auditorio de Tenerife, be sure to clock the intricate street art.

Canarian cuisine

Feasts should always involve papas arrugadas on your Tenerife holiday. These salty, wrinkled potatoes will have you salivating in seconds. Traditionally, they’re drizzled in mojo rojo – a spicy tomato and pepper sauce – which makes the potato chunks sing. Between net-fresh squid, grilled octopus and garlicky prawns, you’ll be a sucker for the seafood too. Pizza, pasta and Spanish sausage dishes might please the palates of pickier eaters.

So, are you ready to fill your Tenerife holiday with all these exciting family-friendly musts? We thought so! Snap up your ideal flights or getaway today.