Sinds 1 januari 2023 kunnen inwoners van Tenerife gratis met het openbaar vervoer reizen. In 2024 en 2025 werd deze maatregel telkens verlengd, en midden november 2025 kwam het verlossende nieuws: ook in 2026 blijven de bussen en trams op Tenerife gratis voor residenten.
Het nieuwe besluit maakt deel uit van de nationale Ley de Movilidad Sostenible, waarin voor de Canarische Eilanden extra budget is vrijgemaakt om de gratis abonnementen en multiritkaarten te blijven financieren.
De maatregel is dus officieel bevestigd — en geloof me, de lokale bevolking is er maar wat blij mee.
Alleen voor residenten
Goed om meteen duidelijk te zijn: deze regeling geldt alleen voor inwoners van Tenerife.
Ben je hier voor een vakantie? Dan werkt het OV gewoon zoals je gewend bent: je scant je oplaadbare Ten+ kaart bij het instappen, of je koopt een kaartje bij de chauffeur (contant of met een contactloze bankpas). In het hoofdstuk Openbaar Vervoer op Tenerife vind je uitgebreide info over hoe dit precies werkt.
De voorwaarden op een rijtje
Je kunt gratis met de bus en tram reizen als je één van de volgende maandabonnementen hebt:
Bono Residente Canario
- Voor inwoners met officiële residentie op Tenerife.
- Persoonlijk en met foto (dus niet overdraagbaar).
- Online aan te vragen, maar je haalt hem altijd persoonlijk op bij het door jou gekozen busstation.
- Eenmalige kosten: €5.
Abono Joven
- Voor residenten onder de 30 jaar.
- Werkt hetzelfde als de Bono Residente.
Abono Mensual Senior 65+
- Voor residenten van 65 jaar en ouder.
Abono Mensual Personas con Discapacidad
- Voor residenten met een handicap van ≥ 33% (erkend door het Cabildo).
Belangrijk: flexibiliteit bij ritten
Wist je dat er bij de gratis maandkaart meer ruimte is dan je denkt? Je hebt namelijk twee manieren om in aanmerking te blijven voor verlenging:
- of je maakt minstens 10 ritten in de 30 dagen vóór verlenging,
- of je haalt 30 ritten in de 90 voorafgaande dagen.
Dat geeft je aanzienlijk meer flexibiliteit — vooral handig als je één maand wat minder reist.
Je kunt het aantal gemaakte ritten online nakijken in de TenMás-website op de pagina ‘Consulta de Viajes‘. Zo zie je precies of je binnen de rittenlimiet zit voordat je je abonnement verlengt.
Toch een paar restricties
Hoewel de subsidie voor gratis OV in 2026 geldt voor alle Canarische eilanden, heeft elk eiland zijn eigen vervoerssysteem en kaart. De Ten+ maandkaart van Tenerife werkt dus niet op een van de buureilanden. Bovendien vallen toeristische trajecten, zoals naar de Teide of Punto de Teno, buiten de gratis regeling: daar moet je altijd een apart kaartje voor kopen.
Tot zover weer de laatste nieuwtjes over gratis OV op Tenerife. Wil je geen updates missen over vervoer, excursies en handige tips op het eiland? Schrijf je dan in voor de nieuwsbrief en blijf als eerste op de hoogte van alle veranderingen en insider tips.
Have a Ten+ card. Then entered the sale website for users of the Tenerife transport card. It allows me to see my balance but does not allow me to top up. It says ‘The selected card is not yet registered. To top up this card from this website, you must complete the registration at a Point of Sale or Vending Machine’. Do I need to go to Los Cristianos bus station office to do this? What will I need to take with me (ie. passport or NIE)?
Hi Chris,
Good news: for a standard Ten+ card, you don’t need to go to a bus station office to do this.
You can register the card online yourself and then top it up by following these steps:
https://portal.tenmas.es
https://portal.tenmas.es/tpw/attach-card/new
(you’ll need the card number from the back of the card)
Just for clarity: visiting an office is only necessary for personal or subsidised passes
(for example the free monthly travel pass), not for a normal Ten+ card.
Hope that helps!
Thanks for the prompt reply.
Yes I have entered my card details. However, whilst I can see a box that displays my balance and a second box that displays my movements or journey’s it does not allow me to register the card. When I do try to register it a red box comes up at the top of the page saying: ‘It is not possible to register a card with pending transactions’
I also have below the box to register my card the following:
Important notice!!
The selected card is not yet registered. To top up this card from this website, you must complete the registration at a Point of Sale or Vending Machine.
Your further help would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Chris
Hi Chris,
It seems that because your card shows a pending transaction, the online registration cannot be completed. Unfortunately, there’s no way around visiting a vending machine or point of sale near you to finalise the registration.
You can find the points of sale here:
https://titsa.com/index.php/en/atencion-al-cliente/puntos-de-venta-y-recarga
Once that’s done, online top-ups should work normally.
l have been told that you no longer need to make 10 journeys with the retiree card. Is this correct ? Thanks
Hi Lorna,
According to the Titsa.com website, there is no exception for seniors. All card holders must still make at least 10 journeys within 30 days to maintain eligibility for free travel. If this requirement isn’t met, they can still qualify as long as they’ve completed at least 30 journeys in the previous 90 days.
You can review the full details for the most accurate information in the document here:
https://tenmas.es/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MUESTRA_GRATUIDAD_17-01-2024_CAMBIOS.pdf
Hola.
my residencia titsa card is out 10 of january. it says on the bus. Do I have to go exactly that day or can I renew it the day before?
Hola Rob,
You can renew your residencia Titsa card before the expiry date of January 10, as long as you have made at least 10 trips in the past 30 days. You can do so at your usual recharge point.
Good luck and safe travels!
Is it not possible for senior citizens to recharge their cards every 3 months instead of every 30 days, this would both help the senior person and also the workers at stations?
Dear Patricia,
Thank you for reaching out with your question about the Ten+ card. I completely understand your point—it would indeed be much more convenient for senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, and even the general public if the card could be recharged for longer periods or renewed online. Unfortunately, based on the current information available on Titsa’s website, this option doesn’t seem to be available yet.
However, I’d like to let you know that there are many convenient recharge points across the island, so you don’t necessarily need to travel to a bus station. You can find a full list of recharge locations on Titsa’s official website: https://www.titsa.com/index.php/en/atencion-al-cliente/puntos-de-venta-y-recarga. There’s likely a location near your area where you can easily renew your card.
I appreciate your suggestion and agree that a more flexible system would be beneficial for everyone. I’ll also consider sharing this feedback with Titsa.
If you have any other questions or concerns, feel free to reach out.
Does the “start date” begin when you collect your card or when you actually use it for the first time?
Dear Linda,
Thanks for your question, as I am sure other readers will find this information useful too! Indeed, the “start date” begins when you first use the card, not when you collect it. From that moment, you have 30 days to complete a minimum of 10 trips.
If you renew the card before it expires (e.g., on January 1) but don’t use it again until January 5, the new start date will be January 5, and it will be valid for the next 30 days—until February 5.
Feel free to reach out if you have any more questions!
Thank you so much for your reply.
Wishing you and your team all the best for the festive Season.
Thank you very much, the same to you!
As a Tenerife resident of 2 years (68 years old), I applied online for Free Public Transport and stated I would prefer to use the Titsa phone app. I received an email confirmation that the application was successful.
My question is:
How do I access or find out if the phone app has recognised the free pass?
The email states that it may take up to 48 hours to review and upload the data. However, it does not tell you the process from this period on.
Thank you for your question! This is a great topic that might help other Tenerife residents too. Here’s a summary of how to access and use your Free Public Transport pass via the Titsa app after receiving confirmation of your successful application:
* Open the Titsa app on your phone and look for the “Bono Residente Canario” option under your tickets.
* Tap on “Bono Residente Canario” and then select the “Travel” button, this will open a QR code scanner within the app.
* Use the QR code scanner to validate your trip by scanning the QR code on the bus or tram when you board.
* If the “Bono Residente Canario” option and the “Travel” button are visible, your free pass has been successfully uploaded to the app.
Troubleshooting:
If your free pass does not appear, you can contact Titsa’s customer service at 922 531 300 or visit a local Titsa office for assistance.
Additionally, I’ve responded to this question via email with more details and included an example screenshot to illustrate how the Titsa app looks when the free pass is active. If you’d like more in-depth instructions or visual guidance, feel free to reach out via email again!
I hope this helps, and thank you for bringing up a topic that may benefit other readers! 😊
lost my bus pass in a taxi. puerto de la cruz. how can i get a replacement
thanks
Hi Rose,
By coincidence, something similar happened to my partner a few weeks ago. We went to the main bus station and got a new monthly card after showing ID and NIE number. We only had to pay the 5-euro fee for the new card,but not the monthly fee. Surprisingly flexible and stress-free!
sorry! they require photo
Hi Carol, happy it was sorted. If you have any questions or if I can help you with anything, don´t hesitate to send me a message. You can reach me at: https://www.tenerifeinsidertips.com/en/contact-page/
If you get the monthly bus pass on your phone rather than the physical pass then you can actually renew it online. My daughter has the joven card and she just has to click on the app to purchase (for free) a new pass after the old one runs out.
Thank you for this valuable information!
I can’t access the senior card as I have a green residence card and they require a signature. people at the ticket office were not helpful. any suggestions
Dus als je 65 en ouder bent en je komt uit europa dan krijg je geen korting op het openbaar vervoer?
Hallo José. Het gratis reizen of korting met de OV kaart in Tenerife is enkel voor residenten van het eiland. Indien u dus geen vast adres in Tenerife heeft moet u de normale prijs betalen.
Requisitos: Mayor de 65 años, DNI y ser residentes en Canarias.
abono mensual senior
, can this be processed in a office. in Los christonas
Hi Geoffrey,
Thank you for your inquiry. You have two options for applying for the Ten+ senior bus pass:
Online Application: You can fill out the form online at https://solicitud.tenmas.es/. Once you’ve completed all the required information, you’ll be prompted to choose where to pick up your card. For instance, you can collect it at the Titsa kiosk next to the main bus stop in Los Cristianos. After applying online, it may take around a week to 10 days to receive your card.
In-Person Application: Alternatively, you can fill out a form at https://sede.tenerife.es/en/tramites-y-servicios/item/6611-ten-solicitud-de-ayuda-al-transporte-interurbano-de-tenerife-para-el-abono-senior and submit it at the Oficina del Servicio de Atención Ciudadana de Los Cristianos (located in the Cultural Center of Los Cristianos). This option also allows you to have the card delivered to your home address.
I hope this information is helpful. If you have any further questions or need assistance, feel free to email me directly at https://www.tenerifeinsidertips.com/en/contact-page/
Best regards,
Team Tenerife
My senior bus pass expired on 10th September, I made 10 journeys in the previous month. I went to renew this morning at the Los Cristianos bus station, and they charged me 15 euros, as it was 9 days since the pass expired. Is this correct, I had not had the opportunity to visit the bus station prior to this morning?
Thank you for your message. Unfortunately, in your case, your senior bus pass had indeed expired, and there is currently no grace period for renewals once the pass has expired. The bus pass must be recharged before the expiry date to avoid additional charges. However, it is not necessary to recharge your pass only at the bus station; you can do so at various recharge points across the island. For your convenience, here is a link to the available recharge locations: https://titsa.com/index.php/en/atencion-al-cliente/puntos-de-venta-y-recarga
I hope this helps, and please feel free to reach out if you have any further questions.
Hi
I am a resident in Tenerife. If I go to England for 4 months therefore cannot renew my bus pass every 30 days what is the fee if away for 4 months and obviously I will not be using my resident bus pass to do 10 trips a month
Thank you
Hello!
Thank you for reaching out. Here’s some helpful information based on the guidelines from Titsa regarding the resident bus pass:
To maintain the free bus pass, users are required to make at least 10 trips in the 30 days prior to each renewal or 30 trips within the previous 90 days. If these minimum usage requirements are not met, the pass will not qualify for free renewal the next time you attempt to extend it.
Since you’ll be away for 4 months, this means that, unfortunately, you won’t meet the minimum trip requirements, and the free pass will be paused during this period. However, once you’re back in Tenerife and start using the bus regularly again, you’ll be able to re-qualify for the free pass as soon as you meet the necessary travel frequency again.
Hope this clarifies things! Safe travels, and feel free to reach out if you have more questions.
I am 65 years old and currently in Tenerife and I want to use the free tourist buses. What should I do?
The free buses are only available to residents of the Canary Islands. If you’re here on vacation, you won’t be able to use this offer and will need to purchase a regular ticket.
If you do live here, you can find all the steps on how to apply for the required bus card in the blog post.