Military History Museum of the Canary Islands

Tanks, army vehicles and a helicopter stand outside before you reach the exhibition rooms, and the visit carries on down into underground tunnels.

Inside, the story given the most space is July 1797, when a British squadron under Horatio Nelson attacked Santa Cruz and was beaten off by the Spanish garrison and the islanders. Nelson lost his right arm in the fighting. The cannon El Tigre, traditionally credited with the shot that wounded him, belongs to the collection. Around that episode sit weapons, uniforms, modern equipment and miniatures made with close attention to detail. The panels cover the wider history of the islands and come in several languages.

• Allow one to two hours, and more if you want time in the tunnels and among the vehicles outside.
• Doors close early in the afternoon, and earlier at weekends, so arrive in the morning.
• The audio guide runs online: bring a charged phone and headphones.
• Staff can show a 360-degree virtual tour on a VR headset.
• Toilets are on site, and the entrance, parking and toilets are all wheelchair-accessible.

The museum stands in the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, inside a military compound, and drivers park within the compound itself. Two bus stops sit close by: Almeyda, about 70 m away, and Comandancia de Marina, about 120 m away. The city's visitor centre is about 680 m away in a straight line, so the museum pairs easily with a walk through the centre. From the car park or either stop there is no approach to speak of.

Best: a weekday morning, when the doors open earliest and stay open longest.

Avoid: Mondays, when the museum is closed, and late arrivals at weekends, when it shuts earlier than on weekdays.

A visit takes one to two hours with the tunnels and the outdoor vehicles, and the collection is indoors, so it works on a grey or wet day.