In general, using public transport in Tenerife is affordable, frequent, accessible and reliable, making it a great way to get around the island. This guide will take you through all you need to know about bus travel in Tenerife, including ticket types, bus stations, timetables, routes, top tips and frequently asked questions.
If you’d like to know more about using buses to explore Tenerife, read on to find out all about how the island’s bus services are run – and how best to use them.
TITSA of Tenerife
Tenerife’s buses are run by a public transport company called TITSA. This acronym stands for ‘Transportes interurbanos de Tenerife, S.A.’ This means Tenerife Intercity Transport, and the S.A. indicates that it is a public company. TITSA belongs to the island’s governing body, the Cabildo Insular de Tenerife.
TITSA runs a fleet of air-conditioned buses that are comfortable and modern. Thanks to the distinctive green livery, they’re also easy to spot when you’re around town or waiting at the bus stop. Many of the buses are accessible by wheelchair, and the range of routes covers the entire island.
Trams in Tenerife
Although this article is all about buses, it may be helpful to know that trams also operate on the island. Metro Tenerife only runs two lines, however, connecting the capital Santa Cruz with San Cristóbal de La Laguna. Use of trams is included with some of the travelcards detailed below.
The Guaguas of the Canaries
In Tenerife, locals refer to buses as ‘guaguas’. In fact this is true throughout the Canary Islands, and on Gran Canaria there is even a company called Guaguas who run the bus services there. This is why you might see signs saying Estación de Guaguas when you’re in Tenerife. Or you might even spot the bus stations themselves when spending time in larger places.
Accessible Buses
As well as being cheap, colourful, clean and convenient, many of Tenerife’s ‘guaguas’ are also accessible. On every bus there are designated seating sections for those with restricted mobility, and some have dedicated wheelchair bays. To get you on board, buses may be fitted with hydraulic lifts, or electric ramps that lower to street level.
TITSA’s bus fleet does include some older buses, so it’s best to check with them directly if you want to guarantee travel on a particular route or day. Find out more – including the phone number and opening times – from TITSA customer service here.
There are restrictions on the size and weight of wheelchairs for bus travel. The limit for wheelchair and user combined is currently 300kg, and the wheelchair should not exceed 1300mm in length or 750mm in width. These limits comply with local legal requirements.
Bus Fares and Ticket Types
This section will walk you through the various types of ticket available when using TITSA buses in Tenerife. Travelcards are often the best option, and each of these is outlined below.
The Ten+ (Ten Mas) Card
The cheapest way to use the bus system in Tenerife is to get a ten+ card. The card itself costs 2 euros, and can be bought from TITSA offices, vending machines, tram stations and other authorised outlets, such as souvenir shops. You can easily get it at the airport too. A full map of outlets can be seen here, and there is more information about buying various types of ticket further down the page.
Topping Up Your Ten+ Card
Once you’ve bought it, your ten+ card can then be topped up. This must be with a minimum of 5 euros and to a maximum of 100 euros, rising in €5 increments. The amount is then valid for a full 12 months, beginning with the first usage. After a year, it expires.
Ten+ Card Routes
The ten+ travel card can be used for all bus and tram routes on the island. Routes 342 and 348, travelling to Teide, are the only exception. As it can also be used by more than one person, the card can be shared with a family member or friend.
Ten+ Card Discounts
TITSA’s ten+ card gives you a discount of around 20% on the ticket price for each short journey, and about 30% discount for longer journeys. This is in comparison with standard single fares. If you wish, check current ticket prices here.
When comparing, simply select your bus route, departure point and destination and you will be shown both the full price and the ten+ card discounted price (this is displayed as ‘season ticket’).
To give you some idea of the savings that can be made, here are a few examples of the most popular routes, showing the savings that can be made by holders of a ten+ card:
Line 110 Costa Adeje – Santa Cruz Standard fare €9.45 ten+ fare €6.25
Line 477 Los Gigantes – Costa Adeje Standard fare €4.20 ten+ fare €2.80
Line 102 Santa Cruz – Puerto de la Cruz Standard fare €5.25 ten+fare €3.45
The minimum fare for a short journey is 1.15 euros with the ten+ card. If you pay the driver directly, the cost is 1.45 euros. So you can save 30 cents each time you take a short trip, which soon adds up if you travel frequently.
Using Your Ten+ Card
So how does the card work? When you board the bus – as well as when you alight – you scan the card by touching it to the reader. When boarding, use the reader located near the driver. When leaving the bus, use the one near the door in the centre of the bus.
If you’re using the card for several people, you must specify the number to the driver before you scan. Or scan the card as many times as the number of passengers you would like to pay for.
You’ll see the fare for your journey when you tap the card on the reader before leaving the bus. Your remaining balance will also be shown. It’s important to scan the ten+ card before alighting, as if you don’t the fare will be calculated as if you travelled to the last stop on that route.
Where to Buy a Ten+ Card
The ten+ card can be bought from vending machines, TITSA offices, tram stations and other authorised outlets. These can be found all over Tenerife. You can see a current map of ten+ card outlets here.
If you arrive at an airport in Tenerife and are planning to use public transport to travel to your accommodation, you’ll find TITSA ticket machines there. So you should have no problems in purchasing and topping up a ten+ card at the airport.
At Tenerife South Airport, the ten+ card can also be purchased from the Lycamobile shop. You will see this once you’ve passed through baggage reclaim.
TITSA Child Fares
Children under 5 years old travel free on TITSA buses. For older kids, tourists must pay the full fare. Only local residents can obtain a special discount card for children aged between 5 and 9.
TITSA Standard Tickets
There is also the simple option of paying the driver for a single ticket, or a return ticket if you plan to travel back on the same day. The price will depend on the route. Buying a return ticket gives you a 10% discount, but only when you’re travelling 20 kilometres or more. Bear in mind that bus drivers cannot accept banknotes with a face value of more than 10 euros. A credit card can also be used to pay for the ticket.
TITSA Travelcards
Several travelcard options are also offered by TITSA. These are valid for a day or a week, as follows.
Day Travelcard
The ten+ one day travelcard costs 10 euros and gives the holder unlimited bus and tram travel across the island. This 1 day card is valid for 24 hours from the first use.
7 Day Travelcard
A ten+ 7 day travelcard costs 50 euros. This permits unlimited tram and bus travel for a week.
Both of these unlimited travelcards can only be used by an individual. You can get them at the same places as the standard ten+ top-up cards.
The Ten+Móvil (Vía-Móvil) App
TITSA also operates a mobile app called ‘ten+Móvil’ (or Vía-Móvil) available both for Android and iPhone users. This can be used in place of the physical ten+ card. The app also gives users access to more ticket options, such as fixed value 15 and 25 euro bus passes and passes valid for 5 journeys.
At the present time (2024), however, the app is not working as well as it could, and many users complain about it due to various reasons. Plus, personal details – such as your passport number and phone number – are required just for registration. It’s also difficult to understand how to use it properly. For the sake of simplicity, we don’t recommend this app until it gets better.
How to Find Bus Routes
The TITSA website has a great interactive map. Here, you can browse the most popular routes for Tenerife’s main tourist destinations.
Here is a screenshot of this map. (This is clickable, so you can go directly to the official TITSA website, where you’ll be able to click on any bus route number to be shown the full route.)
There is a downside to this map, however. As it displays only what TITSA regards as the main tourist attractions, users could miss out on lots of amazing places that are well worth visiting. Many of Tenerife’s highlights are not shown on this map. If you plan to visit somewhere that isn’t included, try using this map of the island instead.
This map allows you to select a departure point and destination. You will then be redirected to Google maps, where the bus or buses required for your trip will be shown.
TITSA also offers a map of the main tourist routes in Santa Cruz, which is worth checking out if you are staying there. As before, the image is clickable.
Main Bus Stations
If you’re planning to take a long journey in Tenerife, it’s worth being aware of where the main bus stations are. Many public transport routes connect at these stations, allowing you to take extended journeys involving more than one bus route. Here are the big ones to be aware of:
Intercambiador Santa Cruz
Intercambiador Laguna (T)
Puerto de la Cruz Main Stop
Los Cristianos (T)
Estación Costa Adeje (T)
Estación La Orotava (T)
Estación Icod (T)
Estación Icod (T)
Bus Schedules
When checking bus routes on the TITSA website, you may well find that only the starting station times are shown. Without seeing times for each single stop, how can you find out when the bus will arrive at the stop you want to use? This is all explained below.
The Titsa App
There is an official Titsa app which can be downloaded both for Android and iPhone.
Finding Bus Stops and Times
Once in the app, click ‘near bus’ and the app will find bus stops close to you (as long as you allow the device to share your location). Alternatively, you can enter the stop number there – as stated on all bus stops.
The Spanish word for this is ‘parada’. Every bus stop has a green sign displaying the parada number. When you enter this, the app gives you a list of all upcoming buses, including the direction of travel.
If you don’t know the exact number of the bus stop but do know its name, you can choose ‘show lines’ in the app. Select the bus you want and you can see all stops on the route. You can then touch on each to find out which buses will arrive there, and at what times.
By using this app, you can find out when the bus will arrive at the bus stop you want. You can also discover the arrival time at your destination.
At Tenerife’s largest bus stations, there are monitors showing all this information, so no app should be required.
Other App Features
The app also has some other helpful features. Tap on ‘Getting there?’ and you can check out the best route available for your trip via Google Maps. Or you can tap on ‘Rates’ and to find out the fare. Finally, the app also allows you to check out locations for purchasing and topping up a ten+ card.
The Moovit App
There is also another app, not related to Tenerife but still working just fine on the island. It’s called Moovit and you can download it both for iOS and Android. Or you can simply use the website.
It shows routes, stops, and buses on an interactive map. It’s also possible to check live arrival times for any bus stop you want.
Top Tips for Using Buses in Tenerife
Here are some of the key pointers to bear in mind when using Tenerife’s bus network.
Wave For the Bus to Stop
You should always wave when the bus approaches in Tenerife. If there will be no one willing to disembark at your bus stop, and you will be standing there alone, there is a big chance that a bus will just drive past you if you don’t wave.
How to Request a Stop
To make the driver stop at your desired location, you need to press a red button inside the bus. These buttons can be found all over the bus. When you press one of these red buttons, the words ‘Parada Solicitada’ should appear on the screen above the driver. You will need to use this system, as buses in Tenerife stop only upon request.
How to Track Your Stop
On TITSA buses, the stops are not announced, so you must track them by watching the screen above the driver. Otherwise, use Google Maps on your mobile phone to check the bus’s current location of the bus. This tip has helped us on many trips that we’ve taken, all over the world!
Finding Express Bus Routes
It’s always worth looking for a bus with fewer stops en route. Stopping less often on the way to your destination can dramatically cut the journey time. For example, if you want to travel from Costa Adeje station to Santa Cruz, look for bus number 110. This one is quickest, as it only makes a couple of stops along the way.
Direction of Travel
Always check the direction the bus is travelling in. The final destination is usually displayed on the front of the bus.
Starting Early
As buses in Tenerife can get really busy, it’s always best to start your journey as close to the route’s starting point as possible. Especially if you want to be sure of getting a seat.
Why Bus Travel is a Great Option in Tenerife
Even though car hire is affordable in Tenerife, bus travel is a great option when you want to avoid driving. Due to the abundance of narrow, winding roads on the island, driving can be stressful, particularly for inexperienced drivers. Parking can also be a problem in some places – this may even be the case at your accommodation.
In the main, buses on the island are modern, clean, accessible, comfortable and affordable. They also travel to every corner of the island, and for the most popular routes services are also frequent. Once you’ve read this guide, you should also find them easy to use!
The Most Popular Bus Routes
If you’ve just arrived in Tenerife and want to reach your accommodation by bus, you can use one of the following routes.
Buses from Tenerife South Airport
Titsa 40: Tenerife South Airport – Costa Adeje
This is the route you have to choose if you are staying in the most popular southern Tenerife resorts such as Los Cristianos, Playa de las Americas, or Costa Adeje. It runs every 30 minutes, up until 9 pm. See the timetables for number 40 here.
Titsa 711: Santa Cruz – Costa Adeje via Tenerife South Airport
This route runs at night. If you are late to number 40 but still want to reach your accommodation by bus, 711 is exactly what you need. It runs until wee hours.
This bus goes to the station in Costa Adeje, stopping along the way in Los Cristianos and Playa de las Americas. 711 also runs in a different direction, to the capital of the island – Santa Cruz. You can find timetables for the 711 here. You can also use number 10 if Santa Cruz is your destination.
Buses from Tenerife North Airport
Titsa 343: Puerto de la Cruz – Costa Adeje
This route begins in Puerto de la Cruz, before connecting with both Tenerife South and Tenerife North airports on the way to Costa Adeje station. It’s not as frequent as the previous two buses listed here, however. You can see the 343 timetable here.
Titsa 20: Santa Cruz – Tenerife North Airport
This route runs very frequently – every 30 minutes. It’s also a fast way of getting to your destination, as there is only one stop en route. Check out the 20 timetables here.
Titsa 30: Puerto de la Cruz – Tenerife North Airport
The 30 route is not as frequent as the 20, as a bus departs every 1 hour and 30 minutes. The 30 timetable can be found here.
Other Popular Bus Routes in Tenerife
Titsa 110: Santa Cruz – Costa Adeje Bus Station
This route is deservedly popular, because it’s an express bus and stops only in a few places along the way. It provides passengers with a quick and comfortable way to reach the north of the island from the south – or vice versa. The same bus can also be used to go from Playa de las Americas or Los Cristianos to Santa Cruz.
It’s very frequent, departing every 20 minutes, and covers the distance in only an hour. Timetables here.
Titsa 342: Costa Adeje Bus Station – Teide
This route runs only once per day. The travel time to Teide is normally 2 hours and 15 minutes. A separate ticket is required for this bus, as the ten+ card is not accepted on the 342 route. The timetable can be found here.
Titsa 348: Puerto de la Cruz – Teide
You can reach Teide, from the north of the island, in 1 hour and 40 minutes by using bus number 348. You also need a separate ticket for this bus, as again the ten+ card is not accepted.
Titsa 473: Los Cristianos – Los Gigantes
This is a very popular route, taking passengers from Los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas or Costa Adeje to Los Gigantes, Puerto de Santiago or Playa de la Arena. The route also operates in reverse. You can also visit Playa de San Juan and Alcala by using the 473 route, and both places are very much worth stopping at. See timetables here.
Titsa 477: Costa Adeje Bus Station – Los Gigantes
This route is very similar to the 473 – but is much quicker. On the downside, you can’t get to Los Cristianos or Playa de la Arena by using it, as the last stop is Costa Adeje bus station. Check out the timetable.
Titsa 369: Buenavista del Norte (T) – Punta de Teno
This bus is worth catching for the views alone – it follows a spectacular route via winding roads, giving passengers million dollar panoramas over the landscape. The destination is the northwestern tip of Tenerife – one of the oldest parts of the island in terms of settlement. There is also a beautiful lighthouse in the area. This bus route is very popular, partly due to the fact that the road is almost always closed to private cars. The fare is 1 euro each way. The timetable is here.
Titsa 102: Puerto de la Cruz to Santa Cruz
This bus covers the distance between two northern towns in just an hour. If you are travelling at night, choose bus route 104 instead.
