Playa del Duque – My favorite beach in Tenerife

I spent one week in Tenerife, driving around the island and exploring its attractions. Tenerife is a beautiful island, home to the highest point in Spain – Mount Teide, incredible natural parks and pristine beaches. Most beaches on the island are covered in black sand, but you can still find a few golden sand beaches.

Located in Costa Adeje, in southern Tenerife, Playa del Duque is my favorite beaches on the island. Even though most tourists consider Playa de Las Teresitas the most beautiful beach in Tenerife, I liked more Playa del Duque because it’s less touristy.

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In this post, I’ll share everything you need to know when planning a visit to Playa del Duque, from facilities to location and swimming conditions.

1. What to expect at Playa del Duque, Tenerife

The beach is about 200 meters long. It starts at El Castillo del Duque and ends at Restaurant Caleta Coast. The beach is covered in beautiful golden sand and it has clear, turquoise water.

There are toilets, changing rooms, showers, sunbeds and ramps for disabled people. The parking lot is right behind Restaurant Caleta Coast, just a short walk away from Playa del Duque.

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The most important thing you need to know about this beach is that it was awarded the Blue Flag. The Blue Flag award is given to beaches that are extremely clean, safe and well-maintained.

There is also a designated place where people can play voleyball.

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2. Swimming at Playa del Duque

Playa del Duque Tenerife is perfect for swimming. The water level is affected by the tide, but no matter when you visit this beach, you’ll be able to swim. The waves are relatively small, but the currents are pretty strong, so be careful!

Also, keep in mind that the water gets deep pretty fast, so don’t venture too far from the shore. One thing that I loved about Duque Beach was its super-clean water.

3. Cliff-jumping at Playa del Duque

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Near the Duque Castle there is a cliff, perfect for those searching for a bit of adventure. When I visited the beach, a few young boys were jumping from this cliff. I’m not sure how safe it is, so I recommend to be careful and check the water level before jumping.

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4. Restaurants, bars & stores near Playa del Duque

Playa del Duque is located in an excellent area, close to shopping malls, 5-stars hotels and some of the best restaurants in Tenerife.

A short walk away from the beach, there is a beautiful shopping mall called Centro Comercial Plaza del Duque. Here you’ll find world-famous brands like Ralph Lauren, Desigual, Mango and others.

If you’re looking for a wider variety of stores, you can head to The Corner Mall Adeje, which is located right where the beach ends near the Duque Castle.

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The promenade behind Duque Beach

In terms of restaurants, there are plenty of them on the promenade behind the beach. From beautiful beach bars to fancy restaurants, you’ll definitely find a place to enjoy a delicious meal. I recommend White Tapas and La Torre Del Mirador (from here, you can see the island of La Gomera).

5. The best time to visit Playa del Duque

If you want to find an empty sunbed or simply stay under an umbrella, I recommend arriving at Duque Beach before 10 am. The beach gets crowded starting mid-day and there is no natural shade.

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Also, sunsets are pretty spectacular at Playa del Duque. If you want to enjoy a romantic evening or admire a beautiful sunset, head to this beach and you won’t regret it!

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6. Entrance fee and opening hours

Playa del Duque is open 24/7 and there is no entrance fee.

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7. Places to visit near Playa del Duque

A short walk away from Playa del Duque you can find two other beaches. If you go west, you’ll reach Playa de la Enramada. If you go east, you’ll reach Playa de Fanabe. Out of these two beaches, Fanabe Beach is the most popular one.

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Fanabe Beach

It’s one of the best black sand beaches in Tenerife, located close to restaurants and shops. When I visited, there were no sunbeds or umbrellas on the beach and I loved it! However, from what I’ve seen in pictures, during the high season Fanabe Beach gets pretty crowded.

If you’re looking for a beautiful promenade, I recommend Plaza del Duque. The palm trees together with the turquoise ocean create a spectacular scenery and this place is just 3 minutes away from the beach. Definitely worth a visit!

-> Other must-see places in Tenerife:

8. How to get to Playa del Duque

You can reach Playa del Duque by bus from various areas on the island. The closest bus stations are Bahia del Duque, el Duque, Arecas and Isla Bonita.

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If you want to explore Tenerife, I recommend renting a car. We rented a car from Oasis and we were very satisfied with their services. We paid 32 euros per day and the best part was that we were allowed to pick up the car from one place and return it at another place, so when we changed hotels during our stay it wasn’t a problem.

Another option to visit Playa del Duque would be to find accommodation near this beach. For the best options, please read below.

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9. Where to stay near Playa del Duque

The are plenty of accommodation options near Playa del Duque, for every budget. We stayed at Hotel Labranda and GF Fanabe and I recommend them both. They’re close to the beach and good value for money.

Hotel Labranda has an incredible pool. Also, the hotel resembles a village. It has several villas where you can rent an apartment and the services are good.

GF Fanabe has spacious rooms and a beautiful pool. The hotel is clean and the services are good. It’s a good option if you want to be close to the beach.

If you’re looking for a luxurious hotel, overlooking Playa el Duque, I recommend Iberostar Grand El Mirador. This hotel is located right above the beach and has a breathtaking pool, as well as excellent services. The rooms are luxurious and the amenities are great.

10. Final thoughts

Tenerife is a beautiful island with many incredible beaches. However, my favorite one remains Playa del Duque, Costa Adeje. It’s clean, the water is clear and the views are beautiful.

If you have any questions about this place, don’t hesitate to ask me in the comments section below. May the travel bug bite you!

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Aurelia Teslaru

Aurelia Teslaru is a professional travel blogger and the writer behind Daily Travel Pill. With a 4-year experience as a travel writer and photographer, Aurelia only shares travel guides about destinations that she visited.

She has been to more than 40 countries during the past 10 years and aims to explore 50 countries before turning 30 years old. Aurelia is a digital nomad who transformed her passion for travel into a lifestyle. Read more about her here.

To follow her adventures, check out her Instagram and Facebook pages!

1 Comment

  1. Sandra Johnston
    January 29, 2023 / 12:26 pm

    How much are the sun beds on Playa del Duque beach?

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