Santa Cruz is the capital of Tenerife — a genuine Spanish city of 200,000 inhabitants, with no tourist complex. Major shopping centers, world-class museums, the February Carnival, and intense nightlife. For the traveler who wants to escape all-inclusive hotels, Santa Cruz is a welcome dose of reality — and a window into the lives of Tinerfeños.
To know: Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the capital of the island and one of two seats of the Canary Islands government (with Las Palmas de Gran Canaria). The international airport (TFN/Norte) is 15 min away. It's the most affordable city in Tenerife.