Double-Decker Buses Arrive in Puerto de la Cruz & Icod de los Vinos

If you have ever squeezed onto a packed bus on the TF-5 during rush hour, the sight of a double-decker pulling up will feel like a small victory. From Tuesday, 28 July 2026, TITSA is putting these taller, roomier vehicles into service on two of the north’s most important lifelines: line 100, which connects Puerto de la Cruz with Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and line 108, running from Icod de los Vinos to the capital.

The official reasoning is refreshingly straightforward. These are high-demand corridors, and the TF-5 needs relief. Each new double-decker offers 85 seats instead of the standard 59, a 44 percent jump in capacity per vehicle. With an initial fleet of 13 buses—10 already on the island and three more arriving this week—the change should be noticeable almost immediately, especially for commuters who rely on these direct connections through the northern municipalities.

Why These Two Lines Matter

Line 100 is the fast, direct artery between the Intercambiador in Santa Cruz and the heart of Puerto de la Cruz. The timetable shows a journey time of roughly 40 minutes, making it the go-to choice for anyone needing a quick, no-fuss link between the capital and the north coast. It is also the route that glides past the Botánico, La Paz, and El Risco, offering a moving postcard of Tenerife’s lush northern slopes.

Line 108, meanwhile, is the workhorse for the wider region. It strings together seven municipalities on its way from Icod de los Vinos to Santa Cruz, all via the TF-5. For visitors, this is the natural choice if your plan involves a trip to see the ancient Drago Milenario in Icod. While the bus itself is not a designated sightseeing service, it puts you right where you need to be, with the added bonus of an elevated view along the way.

A Commuter's Gain, a Visitor's Delight

The primary win here is practical. More seats mean fewer people left standing at the stop during peak hours, a genuine quality-of-life improvement for residents who navigate the TF-5 daily. The capacity increase is a direct answer to the persistent overcrowding that has long been a frustration on these northern corridors.

Yet the double-decker design brings an undeniable secondary pleasure: the view. Sitting up high changes the experience of a familiar journey. The coastline, the terraced hillsides, and the deep green of the valleys unfold in a way they simply cannot from a standard bus window. It is a small, daily upgrade that makes the commute feel less like a chore and more like a moment of calm. For digital nomads and expats settling into life here, it is another reminder of why they chose this island.

What You Need to Know Before You Board

If you are planning to hop on, a little preparation goes a long way. The upper deck will naturally be the most popular spot, especially on scenic stretches. Seat availability depends entirely on how many people board before you and how busy the service is at that time of day. There is no reserved seating, so an early stop or a slightly off-peak journey improves your chances of snagging a front-row view.

Always check TITSA’s live schedules before you travel. Timings and boarding patterns can shift depending on the day and the service pattern, and a quick look at the app or website will save you a wait. Line 100 is your best bet for a quick, scenic hop between the capital and Puerto de la Cruz. Line 108 is the one to catch if Icod de los Vinos and the Drago Milenario are on your itinerary.

A Small Shift with a Big Impact

The arrival of these 13 buses is not a flashy, one-off gimmick. It is a quiet, sensible step toward making public transport on Tenerife more resilient. By absorbing more passengers per trip on the busiest motorway corridor, the double-deckers help ease the overall pressure on the TF-5. Fewer packed buses can mean a smoother flow for everyone, whether you are on four wheels or two.

For the island’s growing community of remote workers and newcomers, reliable, comfortable public transport is a cornerstone of daily life. A bus that offers a seat, a view, and a timely arrival is more than just a vehicle; it is a small thread in the fabric of feeling at home here. From Tuesday, that thread gets a little stronger, and the journey through the north gets a little taller.