Tenerife opening hours: siesta and Sunday closures

You turn up at midday ready to shop and find the shutter down. Not a coincidence: opening hours in Tenerife and the siesta follow their own rhythm. And if you're dining at ten, you're in exactly the right place. Knowing these hours will save you more than one wasted trip. Here's the guide so the closing time doesn't catch you out.

The midday break and Sundays

Many small shops close at midday, roughly from 13:30 to 16:30, and don't open at all on Sundays. Supermarkets and big chains keep longer hours, but small shops vary a lot. Plan bigger shopping trips for the morning hours instead. If you need something, do it in the morning or early evening.

Restaurant hours

Restaurants usually serve lunch around 13:00-15:30 and dinner from about 20:00. Many kitchens only really open up late in the evening. Hungry at six? Patience — in many places the kitchen hasn't opened yet. Tenerife opening hours and the siesta also shape when you eat: here lunch is late and dinner later still.

How to structure your day

With this rhythm, the smartest move is to leave shopping and errands for the morning or late afternoon. At midday, either eat at a guachinche or use the time for a swim before the shops close. That way you get the most out of every holiday day. Fitting your day around Tenerife's opening hours and the siesta takes a load of stress off your plate. Relax like a local instead of fighting the island's rhythm, and your whole holiday runs smoother. Plan around it and you'll feel like a local in no time.

Before you head out to shop, check out eating at a guachinche and Tenerife beach flags to plan your day. More tips on canaguia.com.

Sources

• Turismo de Canarias
• Hello Canary Islands