Having a hire car wherever you are in Tenerife is a must. The road system is better than ever, while public transport is a hassle and thin on the ground. Santa Cruz, the capital, is the best place to pick up cheap car hire in Santa Cruz, too, with a number of top car rental companies bookable online.

All around Tenerife are nice drives, from the loop that takes in the entire coast, to the many miles of winding routes into the centre where the impressive Mount Teide resides. While you can’t drive up the mountain, you can enter the national park with car rental at Santa Cruz, park up and take the cable car, or hike up.

Although the capital Santa Cruz is up in the northeast of Tenerife, it is well served by highways and there is also a direct inland route to Mount Teide National Park. The attraction of Santa Cruz itself is its laid-back Spanish character, as opposed to the pumping resorts of the south, and its old town and museums.

There are also a couple of decent beaches near the capital, including Las Gaviotas (the nudists’ beach) and Las Teresitas (the yellow beach). With car hire in Santa Cruz, you can also explore the island’s many diving spots where water temperatures are warm year-round.

All types of water sports activities can also be enjoyed, including jet-skiing, windsurfing and surfing, while fishing trips are also popular. Those with car rental at Santa Cruz should also consider heading down to Mount Teide.