Tenerife South Airport (TFS) — A Traveler's Guide
Everything you need to know about Tenerife South Airport (Reina Sofía / TFS): where to meet your driver, terminal facilities, and how long it takes to reach Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas and the rest of the south coast.
IATA / ICAO
TFS / GCTS
Location
Granadilla de Abona, south Tenerife
Open
24 hours a day, year-round
Distance to resorts
10–25 km to most south coast hotels
About Tenerife South Airport
Tenerife South Airport (TFS), officially Aeropuerto de Tenerife Sur — Reina Sofía, is the main gateway to the holiday resorts of southern Tenerife. It handles the vast majority of international tourist flights to the island and is located in the municipality of Granadilla de Abona, around 60 km south of the capital Santa Cruz and just minutes from the TF-1 motorway that runs along the south coast.
The airport has a single passenger terminal split into two floors — arrivals on the ground floor and departures on the first floor — plus a single runway. Despite serving over 12 million passengers a year, it's compact and easy to navigate. Non-EU travelers should allow extra time for EES (Entry/Exit System) passport checks, which can add 20–40 minutes to the arrival process.
Terminal facilities
- Food & drink: cafés, bars and a couple of sit-down restaurants on both floors. Departures airside has the widest selection.
- Free Wi-Fi throughout the terminal — useful for messaging your driver on arrival.
- ATMs, pharmacies and currency exchange on both floors.
- Family-friendly: baby-changing rooms and a small play area near the departure gates.
- Tourist information desk in the arrivals hall, plus pickup points for car rental shuttles just outside.
- Passenger assistance: free assistance for passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility is available but must be pre-booked at least 48 hours in advance through the AENA website.
Where to meet your CarHola driver
- 1. Land and collect your luggage. We track your flight, so even if you arrive late your driver will be waiting — no extra fees.
- 2. Exit through the arrivals hall. Follow signs to "Salida / Exit". You'll come out into the public arrivals area on the ground floor.
- 3. Look for the meeting point. Your driver waits at the agreed meeting point in arrivals. You'll receive the exact spot plus their phone and WhatsApp number after booking.
- 4. WhatsApp us any time. Need help before you land? and we'll open WhatsApp with your details prefilled — we answer 24/7.
Getting from TFS to your hotel
A quick comparison of the main ground transport options at Tenerife South Airport.
Private transfer
Door-to-door, fixed price, driver meets you at arrivals. Best for families, groups, late arrivals and villa stays.
Taxi rank
Official taxis queue outside arrivals. Metered fares with no fixed price and no flight tracking.
TITSA public bus
Lines 111, 343, 450 and 711 link the airport to Los Cristianos, Costa Adeje, Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz. Cheap, but luggage space is limited and stops are at bus stations, not hotels.
Travel times from TFS to popular destinations
| Destination | Distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Costa Adeje | 18 km | 20 min |
| Playa de Las Américas | 20 km | 22 min |
| Los Cristianos | 17 km | 20 min |
| Golf del Sur / San Miguel | 10 km | 15 min |
| El Médano | 6 km | 10 min |
| Los Gigantes | 55 km | 50 min |
| Puerto de la Cruz | 100 km | 90 min |
| Santa Cruz de Tenerife | 60 km | 55 min |
Drive times are typical off-peak; allow extra time on Saturdays during peak holiday changeovers.
Tips for arriving at TFS
- Book your transfer before you fly. Booking on arrival means queuing for a taxi after a long flight, often with kids in tow. Pre-booked transfers cost the same or less and the driver waits for you.
- Saturday is changeover day. Most package holidays arrive and depart on Saturdays, so the airport — and the TF-1 motorway — is at its busiest. Allow extra time for your return transfer.
- Bring a light jacket. Even in summer, the airport is air-conditioned and evening pickups can feel cool after a tropical day.
- TFS or TFN? Tenerife has two airports — TFS in the south (most tourist flights) and TFN in the north (mostly inter-island and mainland Spain). If you booked a hotel in Puerto de la Cruz or Santa Cruz, double-check which airport you're landing at.
- Free child seats. When booking with us, request baby, child or booster seats free of charge — Spanish law requires them up to 135 cm.
- New EES immigration checks. Non-EU travelers should expect possible delays at passport control due to the new Entry/Exit System (EES) biometric checks. Have your passport ready and allow extra time, especially during peak arrival periods.