For a decade or so it has not been regarded as trendy, like boisterous Lanzarote or dune-laden Gran Canaria.
It has slipped to third on the Canaries' charts out of Ireland with Fuerteventura in danger of catching up. Now scheduled flights from Ireland, due to start in December might be about to change that.
Competition on routes to Tenerife was already intense among charter holiday companies with low-cost airline Ryanair's arrival on the scene adding fuel to the competitive fire. That means fares for the four-hour (approximately) flight generally offer very good value. Flights are offered from Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Knock and Belfast, predominantly to Tenerife South airport which lies about 18km - around 25 minutes drive - from the main southern resorts of Playa de Las Americas and Los Cristianos.
Ryanair's new service will go to Tenerife North airport which lies north of the capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, around 35km from Puerto de la Cruz and approximately 60km from the southern airport and resorts beyond.
Tenerife has a reassuringly dependable climate which all but guarantees year-round sunshine. The climate enjoys the lowest difference between winter and summer temperatures in the world, with average sunshine per day not falling below six hours even in January and hitting 11 hours in the summer months.
The island has a national park, a gigantic natural crater some 19km in diameter and, to the north, the Pico del Teide, an extinct volcano giving the whole place a spectacular lunar landscape.
Teide defines everything. Mighty Mount Teide was once universally thought to be the highest in the world. You can see why. Its sudden rise from sea level to 12,000ft is still breath-taking. It provides a dramatic natural landmark for the whole island and, courtesy of its peak-climbing cable car, is one of Europe's best known tourist attractions.
Hiring a car is cheap and hassle-free and worthwhile if you want to experience the contrasting landscapes and traditional Canarian villages of the interior. There is great value on offer to those who pre-book car hire on the internet. For couples or families car hire will work out cheaper than relying on buses and taxis. Buses operate between resorts and the north and south.
The capital, Santa Cruz, is a cosmopolitan city, rich in architecture, notably the Church of San Francisco, and has good art and history museums.
In the village of Güímar, 25km southeast of Santa Cruz, is Pyramid Park, where the archaeological digs are worth a visit.
Puerto de la Cruz is the most important resort and has several buildings dating back to the 17th century. Other places to visit include the second city of La Laguna, La Orotava (centre of a lush valley), Garachico and Los Cristianos.
Tourism has meant the island offers a wide variety of man-made attractions including waterparks, museums, golf courses and the parrots (and penguins) of lovely Loro Parque.
Tenerife is less than 100 miles long and with a good road infrastructure is relatively easily to navigate, with some of the coastal and mountain routes affording particularly rewarding drives.
Tenerife's resorts offer similar contrasts, from the traditional and tranquil to more lively and brash. Mountain-backed Los Gigantes is sheltered by towering cliffs which offer great views whilst its coast is a centre for dolphin and whale watchers. Here the accommodation is sensitively developed, low-rise and has that distinctive Spanish flavour.
The arid landscape of the south is where you'll find the more developed resorts such as Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos - complemented by the lush, fertile countryside of the north, host to sophisticated Puerto de la Cruz.
For noisier nightlife head just a little further down the coast to Playa de las Americas where you'll find all manner of leisure and watersports plus a vast array of bars, clubs and international restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets. For the best of both worlds opt for Los Cristianos which is linked to las Americas via a sweeping, palm-fringed promenade that hugs the golden beaches. Here you can remain close to the action but enjoy a more relaxed pace of life.
The island has recently added a choice of championship golf courses to its attractions, establishing Tenerife as a firm favourite with golfers whilst gastronomes and hungry holidaymakers can feast on a wide range of international cuisine without burning a hole in their pockets.
Local culinary traditions make good use of the island's abundance of fresh fish, vegetables and fruit. Watch out for Canarian delicacies such as Sama frita con mojo verde (fried fish with a garlic, coriander and vinegar sauce) and Papas Arrugadas, potatoes boiled in their skin and served with delicious sauces.
There is a diverse range of accommodation, with a growing number of four and five-star hotels emerging as the island heads upmarket. Tenerife has more upscale accommodation than the other Canary Islands put together.
Despite that trend there remains a good choice of budget self-catering and hotel accommodation, most notably around the established southern resorts. Book well in advance for Christmas, New Year and Easter as the best accommodation gets snapped up very early. Virtually all hotels and apartment complexes feature their own private pools, but there are also vast expanses of golden sands - imported from the Sahara - in and around the southern resorts.
To the north natural black beaches created by Tenerife's volcanic geography remain as nature intended, with a notable exception being Puerto de la Cruz with its stunning Lago Martianez lido.
