5-Star Hotels in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife: Three Compared

Quick Verdict: Which 5-Star Puerto de la Cruz Hotel Fits You

Our editorial take: choose Hotel Botánico for spa time and a quiet garden resort, especially as a couple in the adults-only wing. Choose Gran Hotel Taoro if history and a hillside position with views of Mount Teide and the Atlantic matter more, and you want an easy base for exploring northern Tenerife. Choose Best Semiramis if you want sea views from a high floor and the simplicity of an all-inclusive rate.

Families can make all three work, differently: Botánico has connecting family rooms and a children's pool, Taoro has a children's pool alongside two heated adult pools, and Semiramis runs a mini club for children from six.

Hotel Botánico & The Oriental Spa Garden: The Garden Resort

Hotel Botánico sits in what it calls a quiet, exclusive part of Puerto de la Cruz, inside 25,000 m² of subtropical gardens, and it was the first hotel in the Canary Islands to join The Leading Hotels of the World. It was recently renovated and puts weight on art and sustainability.

On-site extras include an 18-hole pitch-and-putt course with a driving range, two tennis courts, a reading room, a 24-hour business centre and a concierge, all listed on the hotel overview page. There are three à la carte restaurants, and half board can be added to a room booking.

Botánico Rooms and Suites: From Deluxe to the Adults-Only Wing

Every room comes with either a balcony or a private terrace, looking out to the Atlantic or to Mount Teide. The entry Deluxe rooms occupy floors one to four and are set up for two, with garden-facing and Teide-facing versions. Families get the Family Deluxe Double: two connecting rooms of roughly 60 m² in total, sleeping two adults, two children and a cot.

The renovated Superior Deluxe rooms, including an ocean-view version, sit in a separate adults-only wing. According to Botánico's rooms and suites page, each measures 38 m² and adds a private terrace, a dressing room, an Italian marble bathroom, a Nespresso machine and a 48-inch Smart TV. The Ambassador Superior steps up to 57 m² with an 11 m² terrace and Teide views.

On the fifth floor, the penthouse rooms have private access, whirlpool baths and large terraces facing El Teide and the Orotava Valley. The headline suites include the corner room the hotel bills as the one where "the King of Pop" stayed, with an outdoor hot tub on its huge terrace, and the Bill Clinton Suite, which takes its own wing with views over the valley, the volcano and the ocean.

Gran Hotel Taoro: Spain's First Luxury Grand Hotel, Restored

Gran Hotel Taoro opened in 1890 as Spain's first luxury grand hotel and counts Alfonso XIII, the Duke of Kent and Agatha Christie among past guests. After a careful restoration it has reopened, pairing its neoclassical architecture with fine dining and modern comfort, and it markets itself as a 5-star property. Its hillside setting in Puerto de la Cruz gives panoramic views of the Teide and the Atlantic.

Turismo de Tenerife's listing for Gran Hotel Taoro calls it an urban luxury resort entered through botanical gardens, with restaurants led by Michelin-starred chefs. The hotel has 199 rooms and suites, some looking over the Atlantic, the Teide or its French gardens, and all with air conditioning, a minibar, a safe and a hairdryer. Room service runs 24 hours and Wi-Fi is free throughout.

Best Semiramis: Clifftop Sea Views and an All-Inclusive Option

Best Semiramis stands on a cliff above the Atlantic in a quiet residential area, 1.5 km from the centre of Puerto de la Cruz and the Lago Martiánez complex, and 4 km from Loro Parque. The draw is the view of the sea and the north coast, and the hotel promotes all-inclusive stays.

The Superior Double Sea View sleeps up to four, and may be set up with two queen beds, with no extra beds allowed. Senator rooms guarantee floors 11 to 14 and add a welcome of fruit and water, bathrobes, slippers and a coffee and tea set. Dining is a buffet with show cooking, and the Best Semiramis hotel page notes that formal dress is required at dinner.

Spa, Pools and Wellness Compared

In our view, Botánico is the strongest pick for a spa-led stay. Its rooms page says guests get unlimited access to The Oriental Spa Garden, and the FAQ confirms that the water circuit comes with every booking for guests over 16. The spa has a thermal circuit, heated pools and treatments, and the hotel has three heated freshwater pools, one for children. Compare more in our guide to spa hotels in Tenerife.

At Semiramis the spa is a list of optional paid services: sauna, Turkish bath, steam baths, an ice fountain, heated loungers, Scottish showers, indoor and outdoor jacuzzis, massages and health or beauty treatments. The heated pool has water jets, there is a pool for adults and children, and a gym is open from 8am to 8pm. Taoro has a fully equipped gym and the Sandára Wellness Center for relaxation treatments, plus two heated adult pools and a children's pool.

Families, Couples and Pets: House Rules That Matter

Botánico's FAQ answers the family question directly: children are welcome at the Palmera Real main pool and there is a Botánico Kinder Aventura programme, but the spa is kept for guests over 16 and inflatables are not allowed in the adult pools. A babysitter is available on request, and couples wanting more calm can choose the adults-only wing.

Semiramis runs a mini club for children from six, and the hotel pitches its large garden-ringed pool and solarium with hammocks to couples. For pets, both Botánico and Taoro accept dogs up to 8 kg; at Botánico that applies to selected Deluxe garden-view rooms. If a child-focused beach base matters more than a luxury rating, compare our guide to the best area to stay in Tenerife for families.

Getting Around: Shuttles, Parking and Location

Botánico runs a free minibus to the centre of Puerto de la Cruz, has outdoor parking with electric car charging, and arranges transfers with at least 48 hours' notice. Playa Martiánez is about 700 metres away, and you can walk to the Paseo de San Telmo and the Martiánez seafront.

Taoro offers private, guarded parking and, per the tourist board listing, free transport into town; the hotel itself says bus lines and taxis serve it, and that it can help organise private airport transport rather than running a VIP airport service. Semiramis has limited parking, subject to availability; Tenerife North Airport is around 25 km away, and Teide National Park is about an hour by car.

Choosing Your 5-Star Base in Puerto de la Cruz

Book Botánico for spa time, gardens and the adults-only rooms; Taoro for heritage, hillside views and exploring the north; Semiramis for high-floor sea views and all-inclusive ease. Confirm the exact room category when booking, since balconies, views and pet rules vary by room type. If you would rather trade a big 5-star hotel for a smaller, characterful stay, see our boutique hotels in Tenerife guide.