The Santa Cruz de Tenerife cruise port is located in the northeast of Tenerife and offers excellent conditions for an active shore excursion. This 5 km route combines some of the most important sights of Santa Cruz de Tenerife – from Plaza de España to the Calle del Castillo shopping street and the spectacular Auditorio de Tenerife. The loop is ideal for combining the city, promenade, and sightseeing.
**Important note about the start:**
There are two exits at the Santa Cruz de Tenerife cruise port, and not both are always open. The starting point of this route is at Plaza de España, opposite the cruise port. Depending on the exit, the distance may be slightly longer.
The route starts at Plaza de España directly opposite the cruise port. Depending on which harbor exit is open, a short additional walk may be necessary. From here, the loop through the center of Santa Cruz begins.
First, the route leads to the Nuestra Señora de la Concepción church. After that, it returns to the famous shopping street Calle del Castillo, which you run along to Plaza Weyler. From there, the route continues towards Mercado Nuestra Señora de África, the city's most famous market hall.
From the market hall, you continue through the city to the height of Castillo de San Juan Bautista, where you reach the promenade. Shortly afterward, you'll see the Auditorio de Tenerife, the city's most famous landmark. From there, the route runs relaxed along the promenade back towards the cruise port.
This 5 km route combines the main sights of Santa Cruz de Tenerife with beautiful sections by the sea. The route is less designed for top athletic performance and more for a relaxing run or walk with added tourist value. The Auditorio and the promenade, in particular, make this loop very varied. If you have more time, you can ideally extend the route with the 10 km loop or later extend it towards Playa de las Teresitas.
Tenerife offers an interesting city as well as impressive nature experiences. If you're looking for the most active shore excursion, start with our 27 km trail through the mountains in the north of the island and then explore Santa Cruz leisurely on foot.
Alternatively, this 5 km route or the larger 10 km loop is perfect as an active start or end to the day, combined with an excursion. A highlight is the trip to Teide National Park with its spectacular volcanic landscapes. However, due to the distance, there is usually not enough time for a hike to the summit there.
A very nice alternative is a hike in the much closer Anaga Rural Park. There you will find impressive nature, green mountain landscapes, and one of the most beautiful hiking areas in Tenerife – ideal as an addition to a city run in Santa Cruz.
The route starts in the immediate vicinity of the cruise port at Plaza de España. A transfer is not necessary; depending on the open harbor exit, you only need to walk a few extra meters.
You can either follow the route directly on the map on this page or import the GPX file into a navigation app like Komoot. We recommend navigating via the GPX file, as it is much more precise and provides clear guidance via GPS while you are running. After saving the GPX file in your app, you can usually use the map offline. We recommend testing the navigation beforehand in airplane mode without active Wi-Fi to ensure it works without an internet connection.
Tip: For safety, it is still useful to have internet on the go. If your mobile provider in Tenerife offers no or only expensive data roaming, a global data plan that works in many countries is suitable for cruises – for example, from eSIM.sm (advertisement).
The route partially runs along busy roads, but mostly on well-maintained sidewalks. Overall, the route can therefore be classified as safe.
Especially for afternoon runs, plan enough buffer time. If time is running out, you should check if you can shorten the route or if the return journey on the same route is faster. For emergencies, it is also advisable to save the ship's phone number, usually provided in the daily program, in advance. Also, you should have apps like Uber or Bolt on your phone and be familiar with their use. In Tenerife, you can use Uber in addition to classic taxis.
There is a public restroom on the promenade halfway between the Auditorio and the cruise port near a calisthenics park, as well as at the northeastern corner of Plaza Weyler. Public water fountains are not known along the route. However, there are many opportunities to buy something to drink in the city.
The route mainly runs over asphalted roads and cobblestones, so normal running shoes are perfectly sufficient. We also recommend bringing sunscreen (ad), enough water, and a cell phone or running watch for navigation. Additionally, a payment method is useful, although in Tenerife you can usually pay by card or smartphone.