San Felipe Castle

Old cannons still point out over the Atlantic from outside the walls, and the black volcanic sand of Playa Jardín starts right beside them. The fort went up in the 17th century to keep pirates out of the town's port, and its dark stone walls sit squarely on the shoreline with the waves breaking below.

The outside is the real sight. Walk the promenade around it for the walls, the guns and the view along the coast, then stop at one of the cafés nearby. Inside, the fort has become a cultural space: temporary art shows hang on the stone walls, and the rooms host poetry readings and classical concerts. An evening concert in a coastal fort is the best reason to step through the door.

• The interior holds temporary art exhibitions; there are no historic rooms, armour or displays about the fort itself.
• It shuts over the middle of the day and on Sundays and Mondays, so check the hours before planning a visit around the inside.
• Seen from the outside, the fort makes a quick stop on a walk along the seafront; pair it with Playa Jardín next door.
• Public toilets stand about 80 m away.

The fort sits on the seafront at the edge of Playa Jardín, on the western side of Puerto de la Cruz. Drivers have a free car park about 36 m away, with a second one about 64 m away, so the last stretch is a few steps along the promenade.

By bus, the nearest stop is Cementerio, about 135 m away in a straight line; Playa Jardín stop is about 220 m away. From either, walk down to the promenade and the stone walls come into view on the shore. The town's tourist office is about 636 m away.

Best: an evening opening or a concert, when the promenade is in late light and the sea is loud against the shore.

Avoid: Sundays, Mondays and the midday break if you want to see inside.

The doors open only in a morning and an evening session on weekdays from Tuesday, while the cannons and walls outside can be seen at any hour.