Study in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

About Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the main city of the island of Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, and gives its name to its province. It had 211,957 registered residents on 1 January 2025, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE). It is a port city with a busy centre and a population that lives there all year, not only seasonal visitors.

For students, Santa Cruz combines the services of a regional capital with a warm climate in every season. Neighbouring La Laguna is a short bus or tram ride away, so students can easily use both cities. Spanish is the language of daily life.

Studying in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Our directory lists 4 active schools in Santa Cruz de Tenerife: 2 higher-education centres, 1 language school and 1 primary and secondary school. Both higher-education centres are public schools of the arts run by the Government of the Canary Islands. The Escuela de Arte y Superior de Diseño Fernando Estévez teaches bachelor's-level degrees in Graphic Design, Interior Design and Fashion Design. It also offers higher and intermediate vocational programmes in fields such as animation, photography, illustration and ceramics, and an arts Bachillerato. It takes part in Erasmus+ and welcomes incoming exchange students.

The Conservatorio Superior de Música de Canarias has sites in Gran Canaria and Tenerife, and its Tenerife site is in Santa Cruz. It offers degrees in Composition, Performance, Musicology and Music Teaching, with specific entrance tests. For a full range of university subjects, there is the Universidad de La Laguna next door, which offers bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctorates. For families, the Lycée Français International de Tenerife Jules Verne belongs to the Mission laïque française network. It teaches pupils aged 3 to 18 in French, Spanish and English and prepares them for the French-Spanish Bachibac double diploma.

Learning Spanish in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Santa Cruz is a good base for learners who want to practise Spanish in a city where most people live and work locally. Canarias Cultural, a Spanish school in the city centre, teaches all levels in small groups of 3 to 8 students. It charges no enrolment fee, includes course materials and issues a certificate at the end. Its courses include:

• intensive group courses
• one-to-one and semi-private lessons
• DELE and SIELE exam preparation
• a flexible course for au pairs
• accommodation with host families or in shared flats

Cost of living for students

We have not found an official figure for student rents in Santa Cruz, so check housing costs with your school before you arrive. Local transport is cheap. In 2026 a single tram trip costs €1.35 with the ten+ card or €1.10 with the ten+móvil app, according to Metrotenerife. Bus fares depend on distance, and frequent travellers can use the rechargeable "Monedero" fare card. Residents of the Canary Islands under 30 can get the Abono Joven, which TITSA lists at €15 per month for all buses and trams on the island (except the Teide and Teno lines). Metrotenerife states that these subsidised passes currently allow residents to travel free of charge, under certain conditions.

Getting around and daily life

The tram and TITSA buses link Santa Cruz with La Laguna and the rest of the island; bus line 15 runs directly between Santa Cruz and La Laguna. Tenerife has two airports. Tenerife North (Tenerife Norte-Ciudad de La Laguna) is the closer one; TITSA line 20 links it with Santa Cruz and La Laguna, and the fare to Santa Cruz is about €2.65, according to Aena. Line 10 connects Santa Cruz with Tenerife South airport.

The climate is warm and dry. At the AEMET station in Santa Cruz (normals for 1981-2010), the average temperature is 18.2 °C in January and 25.0 °C in July, and the city receives only about 226 mm of rain a year.

Frequently asked questions

Is Santa Cruz de Tenerife a good place to learn Spanish?

Yes, for learners who want a Spanish-speaking city with a mild climate. Canarias Cultural teaches all levels in small groups and prepares students for the DELE and SIELE exams.

Is there a university in Santa Cruz de Tenerife?

The city has public higher schools of art and design and of music. The Universidad de La Laguna is in neighbouring La Laguna, which is connected to Santa Cruz by tram and bus.

How much does public transport cost?

A tram trip costs €1.35 with the ten+ card in 2026. Residents of the Canary Islands under 30 can use the Abono Joven, listed at €15 per month, which Metrotenerife says currently allows free travel under certain conditions.

What is the weather like in Santa Cruz de Tenerife?

Warm all year. Average temperatures are about 18 °C in January and 25 °C in July (AEMET, 1981-2010), with little rain.