Costa del Silencio vs Los Cristianos: Which Is Better for Your Holiday?

Both Costa del Silencio and Los Cristianos are in the sunny south of Tenerife, within 20 minutes of each other. Both have good weather, access to beaches, and a strong rental market. But they offer fundamentally different holiday experiences — and choosing the wrong one for your group can make a real difference.

Here's an honest side-by-side comparison.

The Basics

Atmosphere and Crowds

This is the biggest difference. Los Cristianos is a proper resort town — it has been since the 1970s — with a busy promenade, a packed beach in high season, and a lively nightlife strip. It's not Magaluf, but it's unambiguously a tourist destination. That's fine if that's what you want.

Costa del Silencio is almost entirely residential. There are no hotels, no strips, no all-inclusives. People who live there year-round (many of them retired British and German expats) outnumber tourists in low season. It's quiet to the point where you notice the silence when you arrive.

Verdict: If you want to go out in the evenings and be surrounded by activity, Los Cristianos. If you want to switch off and feel like you've escaped somewhere, Costa del Silencio.

Beaches

Los Cristianos has a proper sandy town beach — Playa de Los Cristianos — which is pleasant but gets extremely busy in July and August. The water is clean, facilities are good, and the promenade runs alongside it.

Costa del Silencio doesn't have a sandy beach of its own. The coastline is volcanic rock with natural coves, including Playa de Montaña Amarilla — a small rocky beach with excellent snorkelling. It's far less crowded than anything in Los Cristianos.

Both areas are within 15–20 minutes of the better beaches: El Médano (sandy, windy, excellent) and Playa de la Tejita (natural, wide, stunning).

Verdict: For a classic sandy beach, Los Cristianos. For quiet, uncrowded access to the water and snorkelling, Costa del Silencio.

Restaurants and Food

Los Cristianos wins on sheer variety. You'll find everything from cheap English breakfasts to good Spanish tapas to Indian, Chinese, and Italian restaurants. Quality ranges from tourist-trap average to genuinely good.

Costa del Silencio is limited — a handful of local bars and restaurants within walking distance. But Las Galletas (10 minutes on foot) has excellent fresh fish, and Los Abrigos (15 minutes by car) is the best seafood destination in southern Tenerife.

For groups staying at a villa with a full kitchen, this matters less — you'll likely eat in 50% of the time regardless.

Verdict: Los Cristianos for variety and convenience. Costa del Silencio requires more effort but rewards it with better local food.

Families with Children

Costa del Silencio is very well suited for families. It's safe, quiet, flat (easy for pushchairs), and the natural rock pools are fascinating for children who like exploring. The area has no traffic to speak of. There's a small playground in the centre.

Los Cristianos works for families too, but it's busier, louder, and requires more management — crossing roads, navigating crowds on the promenade, more temptations to spend money at every turn.

Verdict: Costa del Silencio is clearly better for families with young children.

Nightlife and Social Life

Los Cristianos has bars, clubs, and a functioning night economy. It's not Ibiza, but there are options if you want to go out after dinner.

Costa del Silencio has essentially no nightlife. A few bars close at midnight. If you want to go out, you drive to Los Cristianos (20 minutes) or Las Américas (25 minutes).

Verdict: Los Cristianos, and it's not close.

Price

Accommodation in Costa del Silencio is generally cheaper than equivalent properties in Los Cristianos, partly because it's less branded as a tourist destination. For villa rentals in particular, you get more space and quality for the same money in Costa del Silencio.

Verdict: Costa del Silencio offers better value, especially for villas.

Who Should Stay Where?

Choose Costa del Silencio if:

• You're travelling as a family with young children
• You want genuine peace and quiet
• You're renting a villa and spending most of your time there
• You prioritise nature, walks, and uncrowded beaches
• You want to feel like a local rather than a tourist

Choose Los Cristianos if:

• You want to go out in the evenings
• You want a sandy beach on your doorstep
• You prefer having restaurants and shops within walking distance
• You're a couple wanting entertainment options
• You don't have a car and need to walk everywhere