Ibiza 5-Day — Both Faces of the Island + Formentera

Activities

1. 10:00 Dalt Vila — the UNESCO walled old town 2h30

   Climb into Dalt Vila ('Upper Town'), Ibiza Town's 16th-century fortified citadel — cobbled lanes, Renaissance ramparts, the cathedral, and sweeping harbour views — through the grand Portal de ses Taules gate. The whole old town is UNESCO-listed and a complete contrast to the party island below.

   Cost: Free to walk; small museum fees TIP: Go in the morning before the midday heat, or save the climb for late afternoon light. Wear comfortable shoes — it's steep and cobbled. The cathedral terrace and the ramparts have the best views. The small Madina Yabisa centre and archaeology museum are worth a few euros.
2. 13:00 Lunch in the old town — Bar San Juan 1h30

   Drop down into the old town for a budget Spanish lunch at Bar San Juan, a decades-old family spot with shared tables and home cooking at prices that feel impossible for the island — or graze at a port café.

   Cost: €12-25 per person TIP: Bar San Juan doesn't take reservations and often has a queue — go early and bring cash. It's a genuine local favourite and a budget lifeline on a pricey island. Croissant Show by the old market is the alternative for a lighter, casual bite.
3. 16:00 Old port, marina & Talamanca beach 2h30

   Wander the old port and the boutiques below Dalt Vila, then cross to Marina Botafoch or walk round to Talamanca beach for an easy afternoon swim and a view back to the floodlit walls of the old town.

   Cost: Free (beach); drinks extra TIP: Talamanca is a calm, sheltered town beach within reach of Ibiza Town — good for a relaxed swim. The marina is where the glamorous side gathers. Time your evening so you can watch the sun set on Dalt Vila from the water's edge before dinner.
4. 20:30 Dinner near the marina or old town 1h30

   Dinner with a Dalt Vila view — Sa Punta on the Talamanca side for smart Mediterranean and seafood, or a casual old-town spot. In season, this is the warm-up before a club night.

   Cost: €25-110 per person TIP: Book a sunset terrace table ahead in summer. Keep it earlier if you're clubbing afterward — Spanish dinner runs late but clubs run later. Dress up a little if you're heading to Pacha after, as there's a smart-casual dress code.
5. 23:30 Pacha — the island's iconic club (in season) Late night

   If you're here in season (roughly late April to mid-October), cap the night at Pacha, Ibiza Town's legendary club since 1973, known for its cherry logo and big-name residencies. Doors open late and it runs until dawn.

   Cost: €30-50 entry (residency night) + €15-20 drinks TIP: Buy tickets online in advance — cheaper than the door, and big nights sell out. Dress smart (no sportswear or flip-flops). Arrive after 1am for the peak. Plan your ride home — use the Discobús or pre-book a transfer, as taxis are scarce at closing. Skip entirely if clubbing isn't your thing; the old town and beaches are the trip.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 10:00 Cala Comte (Conta) — turquoise cove 2h30

   Drive west to Cala Comte (Conta), one of the island's most beautiful coves — shallow, turquoise water, low rocky outcrops, and small islets offshore. A morning swim and sunbathe before the midday crowds and heat build.

   Cost: Free (paid parking; sunbed rental extra) TIP: Go early — parking fills by mid-morning in summer and there's little natural shade, so bring an umbrella. The water is exceptionally clear and good for swimming and snorkelling. A car or scooter is essentially required; buses to the calas are sparse.
2. 13:30 Lunch above the cove — Sunset Ashram 1h30

   Lunch at Sunset Ashram, the relaxed, bohemian beach restaurant perched above Cala Comte, with Mediterranean and Indian-influenced sharing plates and a turquoise view — without the full beach-club price tag.

   Cost: €20-45 per person TIP: Book a terrace table ahead in summer; it's popular. You can return here for sunset too — it's one of the island's best spots — but today the strip is the sunset plan. More laid-back than the San Antonio bars.
3. 15:30 Cala Salada & Cala Saladeta 2h

   Head to Cala Salada and its smaller twin Cala Saladeta near San Antonio — pine-backed, scenic coves with clear water and old fishermen's boat huts, quieter and more natural than the busy resort beaches.

   Cost: Free TIP: Cala Saladeta, reached by a short walk over the rocks, is the prettier, quieter of the two. Bring water and shade. Access and parking can be restricted in peak summer — check locally. A relaxed late-afternoon swim before the sunset strip.
4. 19:00 San Antonio Sunset Strip — Café del Mar 2h

   Head to San Antonio's west-facing Sunset Strip for the Ibiza sunset ritual: a cocktail and chill-out DJ sets at Café del Mar (open since 1980) or pre-party energy at Café Mambo next door, as the sun drops over the bay.

   Cost: Cocktails €12-18 TIP: Arrive an hour or two before sunset for a terrace or wall spot — it gets packed and drinks carry a view premium. Café del Mar for chill-out, Café Mambo for music and pre-club buzz. Touristy but a genuine piece of Ibiza history.
5. 21:30 Dinner in San Antonio or back in town 1h30

   Dinner in San Antonio after the sunset, or drive back toward Ibiza Town for more choice. In season, the night can continue at a San Antonio club (Eden, Es Paradis) or onward to a superclub.

   Cost: €20-40 per person TIP: San Antonio's West End is the budget-clubbing zone — lively and youth-heavy. If you'd rather a quieter evening, eat and head back. If driving, don't drink — checks are common; otherwise plan a taxi or the Discobús.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 10:30 Cala d'Hort & the Es Vedrà view 2h

   Drive southwest to Cala d'Hort, the beach facing Es Vedrà — the sheer 380m limestone rock rising from the sea, uninhabited and wrapped in local legend. A morning swim with the rock as a backdrop before the day heats up.

   Cost: Free (paid parking) TIP: Cala d'Hort is the classic spot to see Es Vedrà from the water's edge. Go early for parking and a quieter beach. The water is clear for swimming. Save the Torre des Savinar viewpoint above for the sunset later — it's the panoramic angle.
2. 13:00 Traditional Ibizan lunch — Es Boldadó 1h30

   Lunch at Es Boldadó, the clifftop restaurant above Cala d'Hort with a balcony view straight out to Es Vedrà. Order the traditional bullit de peix or a rice dish — local Ibizan seafood with the island's most scenic backdrop.

   Cost: €30-60 per person (bullit for two) TIP: Book a terrace table ahead for the Es Vedrà view. Bullit de peix is the dish to try and is usually made for two. It's touristy and not cheap, but the setting and the local cooking are the real thing. A car is needed to get here.
3. 15:30 Bohemian interior — Santa Gertrudis or Las Dalias 2h

   Swing inland to the bohemian heart of the island — the pretty village of Santa Gertrudis (galleries, cafés, Bar Costa's ham bocadillos) or, on a Saturday, the Las Dalias hippy market in Sant Carles for crafts, music, and food stalls.

   Cost: Free (shopping/food extra) TIP: Las Dalias runs Saturdays year-round (plus summer night markets); Santa Gertrudis is a lovely walkable village any day. This is the quiet, non-party Ibiza — galleries, whitewashed lanes, and farm-to-table food. A car is needed for the interior.
4. 19:00 Es Vedrà sunset — Torre des Savinar 1h30

   Return to the southwest for sunset at the Torre des Savinar viewpoint above Cala d'Hort — the panoramic angle over Es Vedrà as the sun drops behind the rock. The island's most mystical and photographed sunset.

   Cost: Free TIP: Walk up to the old watchtower for the best panorama; arrive 45 minutes before sunset for a spot and parking. Bring water and a layer. It's free and unforgettable — a quiet, natural counterpoint to the San Antonio sunset crowds.
5. 21:00 Final dinner — your choice of Ibiza 2h

   End the trip your way: a glamorous marina dinner (or Lío's dinner-cabaret) and a last club night, or a relaxed village table inland. Both are the real Ibiza.

   Cost: €25-200 per person TIP: Lío on Marina Botafoch is the signature splurge (book well ahead, dress up). For a calmer finish, a village restaurant inland or a harbourside table in town. Whichever you choose, plan your transport — taxis are scarce late at night in season.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 09:00 Fast ferry to Formentera 1h

   Catch an early fast ferry from Ibiza Town's harbour to Formentera (about 25-35 minutes), the small, low-key island to the south with the most turquoise water in the Balearics. Rent a scooter, bike, or small car at the port on arrival.

   Cost: €40-60 ferry return TIP: Go early to make a full day of it. Book the ferry online in summer — operators include Baleària, Trasmapi, and Aquabus. A scooter or bike at the port is the easiest way to reach the beaches. Bring cash, sunscreen, and water.
2. 10:30 Ses Illetes — one of Europe's best beaches 3h

   Head to Platja de Ses Illetes, a long sandbar of white sand and impossibly clear, shallow turquoise water in Formentera's northern natural park — regularly rated among Europe's most beautiful beaches.

   Cost: Free (paid parking/access in season) TIP: Ses Illetes is the headline beach — go early before it fills. There's little shade, so bring an umbrella. The water is calm and shallow, ideal for swimming. A beach restaurant or two serve lunch, but they're pricey; pack water either way.
3. 14:00 Lunch + the southern coves 3h

   Lunch at a Formentera beach restaurant, then explore the quieter southern coves — Cala Saona, Es Caló, or the lighthouse at Cap de Barbaria — by scooter, soaking up the island's slow, escapist pace.

   Cost: €20-45 per person TIP: Formentera is small and easy to scoot around. Cala Saona has clear water and a sunset angle; Cap de Barbaria's lighthouse is a dramatic, lonely drive. The vibe is calmer and more bohemian than Ibiza — enjoy the contrast.
4. 18:30 Ferry back to Ibiza + relaxed evening 2h30

   Take the fast ferry back to Ibiza Town in the early evening. After a full beach day, a relaxed harbourside dinner or a quiet village table suits better than a big night.

   Cost: Ferry included + €20-40 dinner TIP: Confirm your return ferry time — services thin out in the evening. Back in Ibiza Town, the old port and Dalt Vila are lovely after dark. Keep it relaxed tonight; you've had a long day in the sun.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 10:00 Santa Gertrudis — bohemian village 1h30

   Start in Santa Gertrudis, the pretty inland village at the heart of bohemian Ibiza — whitewashed lanes, art galleries and craft studios, and laid-back cafés. A relaxed morning browsing and a coffee or a ham bocadillo at Bar Costa.

   Cost: Free (food/shopping extra) TIP: Santa Gertrudis is walkable and full of galleries, boutiques, and good cafés — the antithesis of the resort strip. Bar Costa, hung with cured hams, is the classic stop. A car is needed to explore the north from here.
2. 12:00 Northern coves — Cala Xarraca & Portinatx 3h

   Drive north to the quieter coves — Cala Xarraca and the resort coves around Portinatx — for clear water and a calmer, more natural beach day away from the party crowds of the south.

   Cost: Free (some paid parking) TIP: The north's coves are smaller and quieter than the famous west-coast calas. Cala Xarraca is scenic and good for snorkelling. Bring water and shade. This is the family-and-nature side of Ibiza.
3. 15:30 Sant Joan village + the green interior 1h30

   Pass through Sant Joan (Sant Joan de Labritja), a tiny whitewashed northern village with a classic Ibizan church, and the green, hilly interior — the slow, traditional Ibiza of farms, churches, and quiet lanes.

   Cost: Free TIP: The north is the island's greenest, least developed part — worth a slow drive. The whitewashed village churches are simple and striking. A relaxed stop before heading to Benirràs for sunset.
4. 18:30 Benirràs beach — sunset drumming 2h

   End at Benirràs, the northern cove famous for its Sunday-evening sunset drumming circles — a lingering piece of Ibiza's hippy heritage — with a view of the 'Cap Bernat' rock formation as the sun sets.

   Cost: Free (drinks/food extra) TIP: The drumming is a Sunday-evening tradition (busiest in summer); any evening here is a beautiful, mellow sunset. There are a couple of beach bars for a drink. Arrive before sunset for parking and a spot. A fitting, bohemian end to the trip.

Meal Recommendations