Tenerife is the largest and most populated island of the seven Canary Islands; it is also the most populated island of Spain. Tenerife is also the largest and most populous island of Macaronesia. About five million tourists visit Tenerife each year, the most of any of the Canary Islands. It is also one of the most important tourist destinations in Spain and the world. Tenerife hosts one of the world's largest carnivals and the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is attempting to become a World Heritage Site.

The island is home to the University of La Laguna, which was founded in 1792 and is the oldest university in the Canaries. San Cristóbal de La Laguna (a World Heritage Site) is the second city of the island and the third one of the archipelago. The city of La Laguna was also capital of the Canary Islands until Santa Cruz replaced it in 1833.

In the Teide National Park (World Heritage Site), in the center of the island, is the highest elevation of Spain as well as the highest of the islands of the Atlantic Ocean, and the third largest volcano in the world from its base, Teide. Also located on the island Macizo de Anaga since 2015 is Biosphere Reserve and is the place that has the largest number of endemic species in Europe. The island's capital contains the architectural symbol of the Canary Islands, the modern Auditorio de Tenerife.