Last visited: August 2026
Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López is one of Tenerife’s most historic football grounds, sitting right in the heart of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Home of CD Tenerife, the stadium combines a traditional football feel with a striking mountain backdrop, making it a fascinating stop for football fans visiting the island.
At a Glance
| Captains Rating | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| City | Santa Cruz de Tenerife. |
| Club | CD Tenerife |
| Capacity | 22,699 |
| Nearest Bus stop/Station | La Salle (approx. 4-minute walk)/ Meridiano station (14 min walk) |
| Stadium Tour | Not currently available |
| Opened | 1925 |
Flights from the UK.
Tenerife is very well served from the UK, with direct flights to Tenerife South Airport (TFS) from a wide range of British airports. Tenerife South is generally the easiest airport for UK holidaymakers, particularly if you’re staying in the south of the island. Tenerife North (TFN) is more convenient for Santa Cruz and the north, but has fewer direct UK services. Flight times from the UK are usually around 4½ hours, depending on the departure airport.
⭐ Captain’s Tip
If your main destination is Santa Cruz and you’re travelling from the UK, don’t automatically assume Tenerife South is best. Compare both airports and factor in the additional bus journey across the island when comparing flight prices.
Getting to The Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López
If you’re travelling from the south or from Puerto de la Cruz, you’ll generally arrive into Santa Cruz by TITSA bus. Depending on your route, you may change buses around the Meridiano area before continuing towards the city centre and the stadium. From the main Intercambiador, the Heliodoro Rodríguez López is easily reached on foot or by local bus.
⭐ Captain’s Tip
Get off at Meridiano and take the short walk up to the stadium, you will pass some local cafes where you can enjoy a cold drink.
🍺🍔 Food & Drink
- 🍺 Bar Club — right outside the stadium: A great pre-match option if you’re looking for a quick, inexpensive drink close to the ground. During my visit, a beer and Coca-Cola cost just €2.40, making it excellent value for a stadium-area stop. Bar Club is located at Calle Heliodoro Rodríguez López 2, immediately beside the stadium.
- ☕ Café Versalles — close to the stadium: A popular local option just a short walk from the ground, particularly around matchday. Local reporting has highlighted how busy the café becomes before Tenerife games.
- 🍴 Local cafés and bars around the stadium: The streets immediately surrounding the Heliodoro have plenty of smaller cafés and bars, so you don’t need to travel into central Santa Cruz for a pre-match drink or something to eat.
⭐Captain’s Recommendation: Bar Club gets my vote. It’s incredibly convenient, has that proper local football-bar feel, and at €2.40 for the beer and Coke I had, it was ridiculously good value. For a football fan arriving early at the Heliodoro, I’d definitely put this one on the list.
📸 Best Photo Opportunities
The Heliodoro Rodríguez López offers some excellent photo opportunities, particularly because of its location in Santa Cruz and the distinctive Tenerife scenery around it. During your visit, I’d concentrate on the stadium exterior, historic details and views that show the ground in its city setting. The stadium dates back to 1925, so there’s also some great history to capture.
⭐ Captain’s Tip: If you can, take a wider shot that captures both the stadium and the surrounding Tenerife scenery. It gives readers a much better sense of where the ground actually sits than a close-up stadium photograph.
📍 Main Stadium Exterior
📍 Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López signage
📍 Club Shop
📍 CD Tenerife crest and club branding
📍 Historic 1925 entrance
📍 Stadium with the Tenerife landscape in the background
Captains Gallery
A selection of Captain’s photos from the Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López, including the stadium exterior, historic entrance, pitch, stands and CD Tenerife details. The stadium was undergoing maintenance during my visit, but ground staff kindly allowed me access to capture some photos from inside.
🏨 Where to Stay
- 🏙️ Santa Cruz de Tenerife — Captain’s choice: The best option for a football-focused trip. You’re close to the stadium, city-centre bars and restaurants, and the main transport hub. It also makes getting around without a car much easier.
- 🌊 Puerto de la Cruz: A great choice if you want to combine the football trip with a more traditional Tenerife holiday. The historic centre has plenty of bars, restaurants and accommodation, while the town is well placed for exploring the north of the island.
- 🏛️ San Cristóbal de La Laguna: A brilliant alternative for a city-break feel. Its historic centre is UNESCO-listed, and it’s well connected with Santa Cruz, making it practical if you want sightseeing alongside the football.
⭐Captain’s Recommendation: I’d stay in Santa Cruz. For a football weekend, it keeps everything simple: you’re close to the Heliodoro, surrounded by local bars and restaurants, and well positioned for the island’s bus network. It means less time travelling and more time enjoying the trip.
💷 Estimated Costs
| ITEM | COST |
| Return Flight from UK | From £100-200 |
| Airport transfer to Santa Cruz | Around 15-20 Euro |
| Night in Budget Hotel | Roughly 90 Euro |
| Bus to Stadium | From5-10 Euro |
| Match Ticket | From 30-50 Euro |
| Food and Drink | Around 25 Euro |
| Beer + Soft Drink outside Stadium | 2.40 Euro |
Although we update these prices regularly, prices can change by season, so its worth checking before you travel.
⭐ Captain’s Top Tip
If you’re visiting the Heliodoro Rodríguez López, arrive early and explore the streets immediately around the stadium. The ground is right in the city, so you can easily combine your visit with a local café or bar. And based on my own visit, Bar Club is well worth a stop — €2.40 for a beer and Coca-Cola was fantastic value. Also, don’t rely on a stadium tour being available; check before travelling, particularly if maintenance work is taking place.
🫡 Captain’s Verdict
The Heliodoro Rodríguez López is a fascinating stadium visit, especially for football fans who enjoy historic grounds. The combination of its traditional character, central Santa Cruz location and spectacular Tenerife surroundings makes it well worth adding to a football trip. Even with the stadium closed for maintenance during my visit, being able to see inside and capture some photos made it a memorable stop — and I’d happily return for a match.
Captain’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)