Things to Do in Ibiza: Beaches, Sunsets, and Old Town
I arrived in Ibiza expecting one thing and found another. Yes, the island has a legendary party scene, and the big names in electronic music played while I was there. But Ibiza is also a much older island, with a walled old town, quiet coves, pine forests, and some of the best sunsets I have ever watched. The trick is in balancing the two sides of the place. Here is how I would spend a trip.
Walk the Walls of Dalt Vila
The old town of Ibiza sits behind thick stone ramparts on a hill above the harbor. Dalt Vila, as it is called, is a UNESCO site, and walking its narrow lanes feels like stepping into a different century. I climbed the ramparts at dusk when the sea was turning gold, and the view of the boats below was worth the effort alone. The cathedral and the small galleries are worth a stop, but the pleasure is mostly in getting lost in the lanes and finding little squares to sit in.
Pick Your Beach Carefully
The island packs a lot of coast into a small space, and no single beach works for everyone. The south has broad sandy bays with calm water, great for families and easy swimming. The north and the west hide rocky coves that you reach down steep paths, and those empty spots rewarded me with the clearest water. Playa d’en Bossa and Figueretas get busy in summer, so arrive early or set out to find your own patch further away from town.
Watch Sunset at the Famous Spots
The west coast is famous for its sunsets, and the cafés and bars stacked along the water fill up every evening to watch the show. I joined the crowd at Cafe del Mar in San Antonio one night and found it worth the hype, mostly because everyone around me was in a good mood and the music set the right tone. For a quieter alternative, take a boat around the coast or find a cliff top in the south west and watch alone as the sky dissolves into color.
Take a Boat Trip Around the Coast
Some of the best swimming spots are only reachable from the water. I spent a full day on a small boat hopping between coves, dropping anchor to snorkel in spots that had no road access at all. The tour stopped for a grilled lunch on board and let us swim in a cave lit from above by a hole in the rock. If you have never snorkeled before, the clear water here is an easy place to start, with fish swimming around your ankles within a minute of getting in.
Try the Old Town Markets and Food
Ibiza’s food scene goes well beyond the beach clubs. I ate at a small family taverna in Santa Eulalia where the seasonal menu changed daily, and in Es Xarcu I found a fish restaurant that had been serving the same dishes to locals for decades. The Saturday market at Las Dalias in San Carlos is a good place to browse crafts between the music stalls. Try the island’s goat cheese, the sobrasada sausage, and whatever fresh fish the kitchen suggests, washed down with a local drink.
Find the Livelier Side If You Want It
If the clubs are on your list, Ibiza delivers. The big venues run parties through the night and through the day, with some of the most famous DJs in the world on rotation. I recommend deciding ahead of time which night you actually want to commit to, then booking entry and transport in advance. The island runs on late hours, so plan a quiet recovery day after a big night and pace yourself across the week, because the sun and the schedule wear on anyone.
Slow Down With a Yoga or Wellness Morning
Counter to its reputation, Ibiza has a strong wellness culture, and I found the best way to reset after a lively night was an early yoga class with a view of the sea. Studios and retreats are scattered across the island, many of them set in gardens or on terraces overlooking the water. A morning here followed by a long breakfast felt like the most balanced way to spend a vacation anywhere I have traveled, and the calm carried through the rest of the day.
Explore the Interior Pastures and Villages
The interior of the island surprised me most. Cyprus trees and olive groves line the roads between small white villages, and the pace turns slow once you leave the coast. I rented a car for a day and wandered between the markets at Es Canar and the hippie heritage of San Carlos. The landscape is gentle and green in spring, and the quiet villages make a good contrast to the busy harbors. Give yourself a mix of crowds and calm, and Ibiza will show you both sides of its personality across a single week.
