Teide cable car: prices, opening times and what happens if it closes

A return ticket on the Teide cable car costs €43 for a non-resident adult and €10.75 for a Canary Islands resident. It is sold online only and lifts you in about eight minutes from the base station at 2,356 m to La Rambleta at 3,555 m. Until 31 December 2026 it runs from 9am to 5pm, with the last ride up at 4pm. What it does not include is the summit: to stand on the crater you need a separate permit.

What it costs

Official fares split residents from non-residents, and adults from children (aged 3 to 13):

• Return, adult: €43 (resident, €10.75).
• Return, child aged 3 to 13: €21.50 (resident, €5.38).
• Single journey: €24 adult and €12 child; for residents, €6 and €3.
• Down only: bought at the top station with a QR code, and only if the cable car is running.
• With a guided walk to the Pico Viejo viewpoint: from €55.50; no under-fives.

For the resident or child fare you will be asked for a document that proves it. The ticket includes the “Science and Legend” exhibition in the visitor centre at the base.

Opening times and last ride up

The timetable changes several times a year, but it always opens at 9am and the last ride up is an hour before closing. From 25 October to 31 December 2026: 9am to 5pm, last up at 4pm and last down at 4:50pm. The longest hours, 9am to 6:40pm, applied from 28 March to 12 April and from 1 July to 30 September.

According to the operator it opens every day of the year except 25 December, and any other closure is down to causes outside its control, usually the weather.

Booking: yes, and online

Tickets are sold online only and places are limited, so do not count on buying at the desk. Each ticket has an assigned session. Boarding opens 20 minutes beforehand and, if you miss your cabin, you lose the right to board. You can change the date or time, or cancel free of charge, until 6pm the day before; after that there are no changes and no refunds.

Buy on the official cable car website ↗

If wind shuts it down

Operation depends on wind and temperature. The official conditions:

• If it does not run that day, the operator sends an email or text at around 8:30am, and you can change or cancel free of charge at any time through “Manage your booking”.
• If there is a delay of 90 minutes or more on your slot because of a weather or technical stop, you can claim a full refund, provided the ticket has not been used.
• If the cable car is running but the Cabildo has closed the summit trails, for ice or snow for instance, the ticket stays valid and there is no refund. You will only be allowed on the La Rambleta viewpoint, right beside the station.

With an early slot, that notice will reach you on the road: check the status and webcams on the official site before leaving.

How far it goes and what is at the top

The two cabins climb 1,199 m in about 8 minutes. The top station has toilets and vending machines, but no café. Your time at the top is limited to one hour: the National Park sets that limit for conservation, and staying longer at that altitude also raises the risk of altitude sickness.

The cable car does not reach the summit. The final stretch to the crater is the Telesforo Bravo trail (PNT 10), and walking it requires a permit issued through Tenerife ON. With that permit you can stay up top for up to two hours. Quotas, fees and when bookings open are covered in our permit guide.

Reaching the summit of Teide: the permit

The two viewpoints with no permit

Two short trails leave La Rambleta with free access and no booking:

• La Fortaleza viewpoint (PNT 11): 0.58 km, about 45 minutes, moderate. It looks over the north of the island.
• Pico Viejo viewpoint (PNT 12): 0.72 km, about 55 minutes, moderate. It looks south, with the Pico Viejo crater below you and, on a clear day, the neighbouring islands.

They are almost flat, but above 3,500 m they still tire you. Since October 2026 a Cabildo resolution makes long trousers, a fleece or equivalent and hiking boots compulsory on both; without that kit you can be turned back. With one hour at the top, pick one.

Altitude and health

The operator leaves no room for interpretation here. The following may not ride up:

• Pregnant women, because of the sudden change in pressure and oxygen.
• Children under 3.
• People with cardiovascular problems.
• People with reduced mobility: if the system stopped, everyone at the top would have to walk down on mountain trails, and their safe evacuation cannot be guaranteed in time.

Nor should you ride with symptoms of altitude sickness, dizziness or fever, and under-16s must be with an adult at all times. If you have a health condition, check with your doctor before booking. Wear closed shoes with grip: in heels, sandals or smooth soles you will not be let on.

Parking at the base

It has 220 spaces and, from 25 October to 31 December, opens 8am to 6pm. Outside those hours you cannot drive in or out. Because the park's car parks are small, the operator asks visitors to use shared transport and, if driving, to arrive after 1pm.

Return ticket

€43 adult · €21.50 child (3–13) · residents €10.75 and €5.38

Hours (25 Oct–31 Dec 2026)

9am–5pm · last up 4pm · last down 4:50pm

Ride

about 8 minutes, from 2,356 to 3,555 m

Time at the top

1 hour (up to 2 with a crater permit)

Booking

online only, with an assigned session · free changes until 6pm the day before

Car park

220 spaces · 8am–6pm in this period

From Finca Julia

The base station is on the TF-21, inside the National Park. From Icod you go up via La Orotava and El Portillo or via Chío and the TF-38; which suits you depends on the time of day and year, and our getting-there guide covers it. We do not quote minutes: plan the drive the day before and add the 20 minutes before boarding.

Getting to Teide from Icod

Frequently asked questions

How much is the Teide cable car?

€43 return per adult and €21.50 per child; Canary Islands residents pay €10.75 and €5.38.

Can you buy tickets on the day at the station?

No. Tickets are sold online only, with a set time.

What happens if the cable car is closed because of wind?

If it does not run, you can change or cancel at no cost. If it runs 90 minutes or more behind your slot, you can claim a full refund as long as the ticket is unused. If it runs but the trails are closed, there is no refund.

Does the cable car ticket get you to the summit?

No. It leaves you at La Rambleta, at 3,555 m. For the crater you also need the Telesforo Bravo trail permit.