Beyond the hippy days and techno raves, the best things to do in Ibiza can be attributed to the island's staggering natural beauty of windswept beaches, coves, rocky red cliffs and pine forests. Spend your days swimming and snorkeling, hiking, or renting a boat to explore hard-to-reach bays. Away from the beaches, visit the cute villages and town squares that make this Balearic Island beat, each with its unique vibe but full of local cafes, restaurants, and shops. With a Phoenician settlement founded in 654 BC, much of the island is steeped in history, with UNESCO heritage sites of ancient settlements dotted around. Spend some time traipsing around Ibiza Town, a labyrinth of bustling shops and restaurants with an ancient past seen in its cobbled stone streets and castle that looms large over the island. Here, we share a snapshot of things to do in Ibiza, including what to see and explore to get to know this mythical island.
Best things to do in Ibiza
Visit Dalt Vila and the castle of Ibiza
A World Heritage Site, Dalt Vila (Upper Town) is Ibiza Town’s old quarter. It’s located above Ibiza Town inside a magnificent ancient fortress with Renaissance town walls, cobbled stone streets and tight alleyways. Originally built to defend the island, it’s now a charming labyrinth of bustling restaurants, bars and shops such as Annie’s Ibiza (a favorite amongst the fashion set, including Kate Moss when she’s in town) and La Oliva. This cheerful restaurant spills out on to the cobbled stones. Visit during the evening to see this old part of town at its liveliest.
Go shopping
Pound the pavement around Ibiza Town for a wonderful hodgepodge of shops. Start at the newly pedestrianized boulevard of Vara De Rey, shopping at haunts like Ruta Market, a colorful store selling affordable fun fashion. Here, you’re also surrounded by high-street stores like Massimo Dutti, Mango and Zara. Head inwards along the winding streets of Ibiza Town for a pick‘n’mix of high and low international and local fashion, including local Balearic label Charo Ruiz. Pick up a traditional straw basket from Can Vinyes, one of the oldest basket weavers on the island, now in its third generation. For vintage finds, stop at Holala Ibiza for all manner of thrift ware, or head to Vincenta Ganesha, a treasure trove of collectable vintage, including the original Paula’s Ibiza. Further towards the port and around the marina is where the glitzier shops live—Dior, Loewe, Dolce & Gabbana, etc.
Visit the villages
Make time to visit the little villages that make up the heart and soul of the White Isle, each with its own distinct vibe. Santa Gertrudis, in the island's heart, attracts well-to-do boho-chic families and is filled with lovely restaurants, bars and stores selling perfectly fringed knick-knacks and organic cotton floaty dresses. Further east are San Carlos and Santa Eulalia. The former resembles a beautiful time-warped village with bright white buildings and an 18th-century church. Visit Bar Anita, a traditional Ibizan café that has remained unchanged since the 40s. To the west are the villages of San Jose and San Antonio. The latter may be famous for its all-out party scene, but it also has some of the island’s most stunning beaches and sunsets. South of the island, you’ll find the charming villages of Es Cubells, Sant Francesc and Sant Jordi, which have free open-air film screenings in the town square throughout July and August. Head north to Es Portinax, a tourist-heavy town now with hotels like the ultra-luxury Six Senses Ibiza and eclectic Los Enamorados. Don’t skip San Miguel, a quaint village with a cute selection of bars, restaurants and cafes, including Can Xicu de sa Torre, an old-school wooden Ibicencan bar.
Go clubbing
In Ibiza, there is a club for everyone. For a glitzy time, head to Club Chinois. For dinner and a cabaret, book a table at Lío. Get your rave on inside an old airline hanger at DC-10, which attracts the all-black techno-set. Daytime party-goers should head to Ushuaïa, Destino and Cova Santa, or for a thumping super-club experience, visit Hï and Amnesia. Then, of course, there's the one that started them all: Pacha. It was the first club on the island, and it still pulls in a crowd from first-timers to loyal gig-goers, depending on the night. The hippy market Las Dalia now boasts one of the most exciting clubs on the island, Akasha, featuring a roster of local and international DJs, an impeccable sound system and an intimate crowd (max 300-capacity space).
Visit the hippie markets
The hippie markets are a lovely little portal into Ibiza’s unique happy-go-lucky culture. Punta Arabi at Es Canar is the oldest and biggest market on the island. It’s held every Wednesday and Friday with over 500 stalls. The legendary colorful hippy market in San Carlos, Las Dalias, is open from Saturday to Tuesday. Every Sunday, the little village of Sant Joan plays host to its cute market with organic food, crafts and clothes stalls and live music. For something more traditional, head to San Miguel Artisan Market. There are only a handful of stalls held every Thursday, but there is traditional Ibizan folk dancing and live music.
Visit Formentera
Only 45 minutes by ferry and often referred to as Ibiza’s little sister, Formentera has a lower-octane vibe. Here, life is about taking it slow. Swim off the red rocks at Caló des Mort or enjoy spiked lemonade pomadas with your toes in the sand at ramshackle kiosks that dot the beach like Kiosko 62. Rent a boat and head to Espalmador Island. Part of the Natural Park of Ses Salines of Ibiza and Formentera, it’s an uninhibited white-sand sliver of paradise surrounded by bluer-than-blue water. Or head for a long lunch at one of the many beachside restaurants such as Beso Beach, Juan y Andrea, or Casa Pacha Formentera.
Rent a boat and visit Es Vedrá and its surrounding coves
Es Vedra, the uninhabited islet that rises from the ocean, is part of the legend of Ibiza—some say its magnetic powers draw people back time and time again. Rent a boat at Cala d’Hort or Cala Tarida and make a day of it, visiting the mythical rock and surrounding coves, such as the magical Atlantis, a quarry-like rock structure opposite Es Vedrà. Or, if the conditions are ripe, kayak from Cala d’Hort to Es Vedra.
Visit the beaches
There are hundreds of beaches in Ibiza. Here are a few island favorites. About 6 miles southwest of Ibiza Town, you’ll find the specular red rock cliffs of Sa Caleta (Es Bol Nou) beach. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring the ruins of an ancient Phoenician settlement. Just 2 kilometres from Ibiza Town is Talamanca Beach. Its soft sand strip is dotted with low-key restaurants, cafes and the high-key Nobu Hotel. For old-school magic, head to Salinas Beach and walk to Sa Trinxa restaurant, where the Balearic beats spill onto the sand. The wild and windswept shore of Cala Conta in San Antonio boasts some of the best sunsets on the island and is also home to the iconic Sunset Ashram. Equally spectacular is Cala Salada with its Listerine-blue water and slabs of red rocks, which are sprinkled with suntanned bodies in high summer. Northwest, Cala Benirrás Beach attracts hippies and families for its famous sunset drum sessions. Up north, snorkel around the rocks of the stamp-sized beach of Cala Xarraca, before finishing up at the chiringuito.
Go for a hike
One of the best ways to experience the beauty of Ibiza is by foot. Like beaches, there are hundreds of hiking routes to choose from. Here are some of the scene stealers. Sa Talaia is the highest mountain in Ibiza. At 1,300 feet high, you can start the trail from the church of Sant Josep, through the beautiful countryside before taking in a 360-degree view of Ibiza. Up north, The Moscarter Lighthouse is a rocky hike that starts from a small cove in Portinax and leads you cliffside until you reach the 140-foot high summit. Or, take an intermediate hike from Cala Salada to San Antonio, which takes you past spectacular beaches such as Cala Yoga and Gracioneta. To curate your hikes and outdoor adventures, contact specialist agents and/or guides such as Rockid.
Visit some art galleries
The last few years have seen a boom in Ibiza’s art scene. Near the salt village of Las Salinas beach, you’ll find Le Nave Salinave. It’s an old salt warehouse turned gallery by NYC-based art collector Lio Malca – past blockbusters include an immersive Keith Haring exhibition. Wrapped in the town walls of Dalt Vila, inside an old bunker that served as an armoury, is Museu D’art Contemporani D’Eivissa (MACE). It’s a contemporary art gallery dedicated to modern work, some international and others with an Ibizan connection. Down a rocky path near Jesús is Espacio Micus, a space that started as a workshop in the 70s by abstract artist Espacio Micus. After his death, his daughter Katja turned the space into a gallery that exhibits contemporary artists alongside her father’s original work. In San Antonio, inside the eye-catching hyper-eclectic hotel Paradiso is ADDA Gallery. Founded by Anna Dimitrova, this gallery has all kinds of quirky fun installations that play with light and colour. On the San Juan road, stop at Lost Artist Ibiza farmhouse-turned-Ibiza-studio of British artist Christopher Stone, featuring his signature bronze sculptures.
Horse around
Explore Ibiza’s spectacular countryside on horseback. The White Isle has unique riding companies dotted around the island—from the mountains to the beaches—such as North Ride Ibiza and Ibiza Stud in Santa Gertrudis. For those wanting to give back, try Ibiza Horse Valley – a not-for-profit sanctuary that saves from abandonment or mistreatment. The refuge, located in a 40-hectare canyon, is to gently rehabilitate the horses, allowing them to live in a herd in a close-to-wild setting. Once physically ready, the horses re-enter the riding world. With a herd of about 17 horses, half-day group excursions are offered all year round through the mountains and valleys in the north of Ibiza. All riders from all levels are welcome.
Get moving
In Ibiza, dancing and movement don’t just happen in a club or after-hours. Sober dance parties and movement circles on the White Isle are practically part of the mainstream. For those wanting to lose themselves in dance and connect with others in a safe space, check out the Ecstatic Dance Ibiza Tribe and their timetable of events in various locations with killer sound systems and DJs. For those wanting to have more of a workout, check out Primal Moves. Now a global phenomenon, Primal Moves was started in Ibiza by Nick Brewer, a former prisoner who uses the movements of yoga, pilates and full-body locomotive patterns to form this bendy cult workout.
Look inward
Ibiza is well-known as the capital of alternative new-age therapies, with many believing the island has a unique healing energy. There is something for everyone, from shamans to chakra healers and everything in between. Six Senses Ibiza is fast becoming known as a luxury wellness HQ, with retreats throughout the year that bring together the best of the best from around the world for talks, classes and reflections. Jeremie Quidu is on every yogi's speed dial for those wanting private group classes and specializes in everything from sound meditation and crystal therapy to healing circles.
Go green
Discover the unique flora of the White Isle at Ibiza Biotechnological Botanical (also known as Bibo Park). One of Europe's most technologically advanced botanical gardens, there are over 30,000 plants on-site that range from rare to medicinal and even musical (the world’s first ‘vegetable piano’ lives here). The park is dedicated to biotech and interesting on-the-go experiments, such as plant-powered biological batteries for smartphones and a drinkable H2O machine that allows you to drink water straight from the sky. Away from the science, it’s a space to promote the general ecology of the area—there are pine forests to zen out in and loads of activities on offer, such as guided tours, seed planting, and bird watching.
Find your inner hippy
What started as a peaceful anti-war protest in the ’90s still gathers peace lovers and hippies to Benirras beach every Sunday to dance and beat drums to the rhythm of the spectacular sunset. Everyone is welcome, and during high season, you can expect hundreds on the beach, all dancing hypnotically as the sun slips below the horizon.
A version of this article originally appeared in Condé Nast Traveller UK.
