OAK TIME OUT CHAIR PLUS

Lake Sanabria is the largest glacial lake in Europe, and a few miles away Puebla de Sanabria is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Spain. Zamora also has an enormous legacy of modernista structures from the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries, the Duero River winds its way through the heart of the city and shapes the surrounding landscape, and the Lagunas de Villafáfila are a bird-watcher’s delight, home to a dazzling variety of migratory species. The city’s proximity to Madrid-less than an hour on the new high-speed AVE train-makes it an even more appealing and convenient destination. Its sights in that style include 24 churches, a cathedral, a castle, a bridge, two palaces, nine manor houses, and the defensive walls that encircle the city-it's not surprising that the city is seen as a likely contender to be recognized by UNESCO in 2023.

Clara LagunaĮven many Spaniards are unaware of one of Zamora’s claims to fame: It's the European city with the greatest number of Romanesque buildings. You’ll also want to visit some of the island’s traditional beach bars including Punta de Hidalgo’s La Cofradía, known for its limpets and shrimp Chiringuito Pirata, on La Tejita beach, where octopus is the signature dish and Bollullo, on the beach of the same name, where you’ll want order the cuttlefish.

Other highlights of the island’s dining scene include Kensei (at the Bahía del Duque hotel), Kiki, San Hô, and Melvin by Martín Berasategui, at the Terrazas de Abama Suites, where chef Sergio Fuentes helms the kitchen. Among the restaurants enjoying that distinction are M.B and Kabuki (at The Ritz-Carlton, Abama), Nub, and El Rincón de Juan Carlos. Tenerife also sparkles with Michelin stars. Looking towards the future, the island’s Artificial Intelligence Tourism Master Plan is the first of its kind to be approved in Spain, and Tenerife aspires to become an Intelligent Tourism Destination-a distinction promoted by Spain’s tourism ministry to recognize destinations with innovative technological infrastructure that have demonstrated their commitments to sustainability, accessibility, and improving the quality of life of residents. It's one of the best destinations in Europe for cycling enthusiasts, has long been a pioneer in sustainability (it has been recognized as a Biosphere Sustainable Destination), and is decidedly LGBTQ+ friendly, with an annual Culture & Business Pride festival in June.

On the island’s north coast, BeTenerife offers an excellent selection of private villas for two or four guests. Among the award-winning properties are the Hotel Botánico & The Oriental Spa Garden, Baobab Suites, The Ritz-Carlton Abama, H10 Atlantic Sunset, Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora, and Bahía del Duque.

OAK TIME OUT CHAIR PLUS

An added plus is that the island has a remarkably rich and diverse array of hotels. There are also two UNESCO World Heritage sites: Teide National Park and the city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna. Tenerife’s varied landscape includes forests, deserts, valleys, and ravines, and the Anaga Rural Park is a highlight. The largest of the Canary Islands is a good place to visit, in any and every season take a dip in the Atlantic, gaze at the stars from the summit of Mount Teide (with an elevation of 12,198 feet, it’s the highest point in Spain), explore little towns, and wander along the island’s many beaches, some rocky and some sandy. “In whatever month you visit Tenerife, it is always warm during the day and chilly at night,” our contributor Raque Sanchez wrote in a love letter to the island.

Oak time out chair