Best Things to Do in Ibiza (2026 Guide)

Ibiza has two reputations and both are accurate. The best things to do in Ibiza include experiences at completely opposite ends of the spectrum: dancing until 8am at DC10, Pacha, or Amnesia (the world’s most famous nightclubs, with international DJs from June to October), and hiking through pine forests to a secluded cove with no roads and no phone signal. Dalt Vila (the UNESCO-listed walled hilltop old town above Ibiza Town) contains Phoenician, Roman, Moorish, and Spanish fortification layers and its cathedral bell tower has the best view on the island. Ses Salines beach has the clearest water and is technically within the natural park. The north of the island (around Sant Joan and Portinatx) is where the island’s original bohemian spirit survives: the Wednesday hippy market at Las Dalias, the Friday market at Sant Jordi, and fishing villages where the night is genuinely quiet.

Best time to visit

June-September is Ibiza’s season: clubs open, beaches packed, and the island transformed by an international crowd of several million visitors. July and August are the peak; club entry can be €60-100+ and accommodation prices are very high. May and October are the shoulder months — the clubs operate (from late May) or are winding down (October), prices are lower, and the island is pleasantly uncrowded. November-April, most clubs close entirely and many restaurants and hotels shut. The island has a year-round local population of 140,000 and winter Ibiza — quiet, misty, and genuinely atmospheric — is increasingly visited by those seeking it.

Getting around

Ibiza Airport is 7km from Ibiza Town; taxis are the standard option (around €15 to Ibiza Town). Buses serve the main towns and beaches from Ibiza Town and Sant Antoni. Renting a car or scooter is highly recommended for exploring the island’s north, coves like Cala d’Hort (with the dramatic Es Vedra rock formation), and the hippy markets. Taxis on summer nights from clubs are in high demand — book through apps or queue early. The ferry between Sant Antoni and Ibiza Town (10 minutes) and water taxis to Formentera (45 minutes) provide good alternatives to road transport.

What to eat and drink

Ibiza’s food scene has evolved well beyond tourist menus. The island’s traditional cuisine is Ibizan-Catalan: bullit de peix (fish stew with potatoes and alioli), sofrit pagès (meat and potato stew with spices), flao (a mint and cheese pastry dessert), and greixonera (a bread pudding). The best restaurant strip is in the old town of Santa Gertrudis (a village in the island’s centre, with excellent tapas bars) and around Ibiza Town’s Dalt Vila. Sunset watching is elevated to ritual: Café del Mar in Sant Antoni and Hostal La Torre in the northwest claim the best positions. The island produces a small quantity of Ibizan wine; gin made with juniper from the island’s pine trees is the traditional local spirit.

Areas to explore

Dalt Vila (Ibiza Town) — The UNESCO-listed old town: Renaissance ramparts, a 14th-century cathedral, whitewashed alleys, and the Portal de ses Taules gate. The view from the top at sunset rivals anything on the island.

Ses Salines — The salt flats and the beach (Playa de Ses Salines) in the same natural park: flamingos in the pans, shallow turquoise water, and the island’s best swimming beach. Also the location of Ibiza’s most famous beach bar strip (El Chiringuito, Jockey Club).

North Ibiza (Sant Joan area) — The island’s genuine bohemian north: Las Dalias hippy market (Saturdays year-round, Mondays in summer), Cala de Sant Vicent (a broad bay), and Cap de Barbaria-style remote lighthouse walks.

Formentera — A separate island 45 minutes by ferry from Ibiza Town: the clearest water in the Mediterranean (Ses Illetes beach is consistently ranked among Europe’s best), flat terrain ideal for cycling, and almost no cars. Best done as a day trip from Ibiza.