Tenerife and Cyprus are very different destinations, but quite often tourists cannot decide which one of these places to choose for their next summer vacation.
Climate
Cyprus
Aphrodite’s Rock, Cyprus by Stav
Cyprus has a subtropical climate with long, hot summers and short, mild winters.
The extremely dry and hot weather during the long summer season is caused by the proximity to Egypt and the Middle East.
In the height of summer are possible temperatures of over 40 degrees! Winters are short, but the weather is not warm enough for swimming or sunbathing on the beach.
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The most popular periods to visit this beautiful island are spring and autumn, and October is considered to be the month with the best weather conditions.
Tenerife
Tenerife beach by Marc Veraart
Tenerife has a tropical climate, which is strongly influenced by the cold currents of the Atlantic.
Summers are much cooler than those in Cyprus and offer pleasant temperatures of about 29°C in August.
As it is located on the same latitude as Florida, Tenerife has no winter season or at least winters are quite different from what we can expect along the Mediterranean coast.
The island is most popular in December during the Christmas holidays.
Is it warm enough to swim into the ocean and to sunbathe on the beach?
January
Tenerife – yes; Cyprus – not;
February
Tenerife – yes; Cyprus – not;
March
Tenerife – yes; Cyprus – not;
April
Tenerife – yes; Cyprus – there are some days that are warm enough for the beach;
May
Tenerife – yes; Cyprus – yes;
June
Tenerife – yes; Cyprus – yes;
July
Tenerife – yes, Cyprus – yes;
August
Tenerife – yes; Cyprus – yes;
September
Tenerife – yes; Cyprus – yes;
October
Tenerife – yes; Cyprus – yes;
November
Tenerife – yes; Cyprus – yes;
December
Tenerife – yes; Cyprus – there are some good days but is too cool.
Average daytime temperatures in Playa de las Americas (Tenerife) and Paphos (Cyprus)
January
Playa de las Americas – 22°C; Paphos – 17°C;
February
Playa de las Americas – 22°C; Paphos – 17°C;
March
Playa de las Americas – 23°C; Paphos – 19°C;
April
Playa de las Americas – 23°C; Paphos – 22°C;
May
Playa de las Americas – 24°C; Paphos – 25°C;
June
Playa de las Americas – 26°C; Paphos – 28°C;
July
Playa de las Americas – 28°C; Paphos – 30°C;
August
Playa de las Americas – 29°C; Paphos – 31°C;
September
Playa de las Americas – 28°C; Paphos – 29°C;
October
Playa de las Americas – 27°C; Paphos – 27°C;
November
Playa de las Americas – 25°C; Paphos – 23°C;
December
Playa de las Americas – 23°C; Paphos – 19°C;
Ocean water temperatures along the coast
January
Tenerife – 20°C; Cyprus – 18°C;
February
Tenerife – 20°C; Cyprus – 17°C;
March
Tenerife – 19°C; Cyprus – 17°C;
April
Tenerife – 20°C; Cyprus – 18°C;
May
Tenerife – 20°C; Cyprus – 21°C;
June
Tenerife – 21°C; Cyprus – 25°C;
July
Tenerife – 22°C; Cyprus – 28°C;
August
Tenerife – 23°C; Cyprus – 29°C;
September
Tenerife – 24°C; Cyprus – 28°C;
October
Tenerife – 24°C; Cyprus – 25°C;
November
Tenerife – 22°C; Cyprus – 22°C;
December
Tenerife – 21°C; Cyprus – 19°C;
The seawater along the coast of Tenerife is cool throughout the year, but it is still suitable for bathing in all four seasons.
On the other hand, Cyprus enjoys a very warm sea in summer but in winter the average sea water temperature is colder than that of Tenerife, which makes bathing into the sea more uncomfortable.
Beaches
Ayia Napa beach, Cyprus by Sergey Galyonkin
Tenerife has always been known for the wild beauty of its numerous beaches.
Some of the most attractive are Playa de Las Teresitas, which is nestled north of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and the beach of Playa de las Americas, which is located on the southwest coast of the island.
Some of the most famous beaches of Tenerife are artificial.
However, there are also incredible and completely natural black volcanic sand beaches that really worth a visit.
On the other hand, Cyprus is very different. The island attracts visitors with its white and golden beaches. Some of them stretch for miles along the typical Mediterranean coast.
Most of the beaches of Cyprus seem very safe, comfortable and relaxed. Waves are generally smaller compared to Tenerife.
The most beautiful of them are located in Karpas Peninsula, which is located in North Cyprus, and in the entire district of Famagusta as a whole.
Because of its fine golden sands and warm sea, Cyprus is a favorite place to spend the summer holidays for millions of people.
Beach season duration:
Cyprus – about 8 months;
Tenerife – about 12 months with some exceptions;
Population
Mount Teide, Tenerife by Ronny Siegel
The population of the island of Tenerife is around 908,555 people and is rapidly increasing.
The average population density is several times higher than that of the island of Cyprus.
Large number of Europeans from different countries lives here permanently because of the unique climate.
The island enjoys 12 months of mild weather and plenty of sunshine even in winter.
Tenerife is particularly attractive for immigrants from Germany, Britain, the Netherlands and the Scandinavian countries.
The official language is Spanish.
However, because of the large number of foreign tourists and expats living on the island, English and German are widely spoken.
The population of the island of Cyprus is 1,117,000 people.
The island is home to a large number of foreigners who want to live on the island of Aphrodite because of the friendly people, great food and sunny weather.
Cyprus enjoys a great interest from English and Russian tourists.
Most of the expats who live here are mainly residents of these two northern countries. Official language of the island is Greek, but English is widely spoken.
Because of the increasing number of Russians living in Cyprus, over the last few years, the Russian language is getting more and more important in the country.
Cities
Beach panorama in Ayia Napa by Sergey Galyonkin
The largest city in Cyprus is capital Nicosia. The urban area has a population of about 310,355 people.
Other major cities are Limassol (about 160,000), Famagusta (69,741), Larnaca (77,900), Paphos (88,000) and Kyrenia (72,284).
Some of the larger cities on the island of Tenerife are Santa Cruz de Tenerife ( 206,593), La Laguna (150,661), which is completely merged with the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Puerto de la Cruz (28,929), Adeje (43,204) La Orotava (41,255) and many others.
Territory and biodiversity
The island of Cyprus covers an area of 9,251 square kilometers and is more than 4 times larger than the island of Tenerife, whose area is about 2,034 square kilometers.
Despite of the huge difference, however, the biodiversity of both Tenerife and Cyprus is nearly the same.
Tenerife covers a several times smaller area but compensates with its enormous height above sea level.
The highest point of Tenerife is Mount Teide, which reaches the impressive 3,718 meters and is the highest peak in Spain.
The island of Cyprus is very different. It is less dramatic but is famous for its romantic Mediterranean landscape.
Cyprus is dominated by mostly shrub species along the coast and coniferous forests in the mountains.
On the other hand, Tenerife is known for its contrasting landscapes.
Despite the small area, the island offers great beaches, deserts, savanna-type landscapes, pine forests and exiting rainforests, which are known for their rare species of ferns and laurels.
The island of Cyprus has a greater variety of species of mammals, while Tenerife is famous for its incredible diversity of marine life.
Island Cyprus is home to 1,800 species of plants compared to 1,700 in Tenerife.
Safety
Tenerife and Cyprus are very safe tourist destinations and are famous as places with very low levels of crime. The islands are suitable for all types of tourists from all countries and ages.
The greatest dangers in Tenerife and Cyprus are the increased risks of accidents into the wild nature as well as the excessive sun exposure.
Driving
The main inconvenience for most people visiting Cyprus is the fact that locals drive on the left side of the road.
Most tourists, except these arriving from the UK, may find it confusing and will probably need some time to adapt.
On the other hand, the roads are generally very good, and the distance from one point to another seems in most cases really short and easy to overcome.
In Tenerife, like in most countries in the world, they drive on the right side of the road. The greatest disadvantage here comes from the relief of the island.
Most roads, especially if you travel from one city to another, are winding and passing through spectacular but sometimes dangerous areas with numerous curves and steep ravines descending to the ocean.
Though the small in territory, it takes some time to cross the entire island from north to south and from east to west.
History, historical monuments and landmarks
Los Gigantes, Tenerife by POTIER Jean-Louis
Tenerife is more modern-looking tourist destination with numerous modern buildings and tourist attractions. The island attracts mostly nature lovers and sun seekers from northern countries.
Cyprus is also proud with its wonderful climate, but it differs significantly from Tenerife because of the incredible historical past.
Of course, Tenerife also has a lot to offer. For example it is famous for its colonial architecture and numerous historical monuments.
However, the island of Aphrodite is incomparable because of its millennial ruins that embody the spirit of some of the greatest ancient civilizations.
Nightlife
Tenerife is an exciting place to visit for young tourists from around the world. The island offers endless opportunities for entertainment, exciting nightclubs and bars.
If you are looking for the best nightlife, the southwest coast is the perfect place for you, especially the cities of Costa Adeje, Playa de Las Americas and Los Cristianos.
On the other hand, Cyprus is a quiet island. At the same time, this is the place to find one of the world’s most famous nightlife summer destinations – Ayia Napa.
Full of young people and clubs, the city contrasts sharply with the rest of the otherwise quiet Mediterranean island.
Prices
Overall, it all depends on where you want to live or spend your vacation.
However, you can generally expect slightly lower prices in Tenerife.
Even if a bit more expensive, Cyprus also has its advantages. For example, the island of Aphrodite is a cheaper place to rent a house or an apartment.
On the other hand, the average price of most goods and services is lower in Tenerife.
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