Travel guide · Spain
Ibiza travel guide
A walled UNESCO old town, sunset coves and some of the world's best-known clubs
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Ibiza is a Balearic island about 40 km long, famous for its summer club scene but also home to a UNESCO World Heritage site that covers the fortified hilltop old town of Dalt Vila, a Phoenician necropolis and the seagrass meadows that keep its water so clear. Ibiza Town, the capital, faces Formentera across the strait, while Sant Antoni on the west coast is known for its sunset bars. Beyond the resorts, the island has pine-fringed coves such as Cala Comte and Cala d'Hort, whitewashed village churches, hippy markets and quiet farmhouse countryside. Plan 6 days for a first visit; the best months are May–June and September.
Key facts
- Country
- Spain
- Best time to visit
- May–June and September
- Ideal stay
- 6 days
- Main airports
- IBZ
- Mid-range daily budget
- $220–$380 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Clubbing, Dalt Vila, Sunsets and Es Vedrà
Why visit Ibiza
- Dalt Vila, the walled Renaissance old town above the harbour, and the Phoenician necropolis of Puig des Molins are part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Clear turquoise water and pine-backed coves such as Cala Comte, Cala Bassa and Cala Salada, protected by Posidonia seagrass meadows.
- World-famous clubs including Pacha, Amnesia, Hï Ibiza, Ushuaïa and DC-10 draw international DJs from late spring to early autumn.
- Sunsets are an island ritual, from the bars of Sant Antoni to the cliffs facing the rock islet of Es Vedrà.
- Formentera's white-sand beaches are about 30 minutes away by fast ferry.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 19 things to do.
Historic site · Ibiza Town
Dalt Vila
Ibiza's walled old town crowns the hill above the harbour, enclosed by 16th-century Renaissance fortifications with seven bastions.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Views
- Photo spot
- Kids
Nature · South-west coast
Es Vedrà and Cala d'Hort
Es Vedrà is a dramatic limestone islet about 400 metres high rising from the sea off the south-west coast, surrounded by legends and protected as a nature reserve.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- Free
- Nature
- Couples
- Photo spot
Beach · Sant Antoni
Cala Comte
A series of small sandy and rocky coves on the west coast with shallow, strikingly turquoise water and low islets offshore.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- Outdoors
Experience · Sant Antoni
Sant Antoni Sunset Strip
Along the rocky shore north of Sant Antoni's centre, a string of bars, including the long-established Café del Mar, play chilled music as the sun goes down over the bay.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- After dark
- Couples
- Views
Experience · Platja d'en Bossa
Ibiza's superclubs
From late spring to early autumn, the island's big clubs host weekly residencies by leading DJs: Pacha in Ibiza Town, Amnesia in Sant Rafel, Ushuaïa and Hï Ibiza at Platja d'en Bossa, and DC-10 near the airport.
- Time needed
- A night
- Cost
- Expensive
- After dark
- Iconic
Religious site · Ibiza Town
Ibiza Cathedral
Santa Maria de les Neus stands at the highest point of Dalt Vila, a Gothic church with a sturdy bell tower and a whitewashed Baroque interior.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Architecture
Where to stay
Ibiza Town is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, culture and nightlife
Ibiza Town
Walled old town of Dalt Vila above a harbour of boutiques, bars and ferries
$$$$ · Best for families, luxury, quiet stays and beach
Talamanca and Marina Botafoch
Calm sandy bay and yacht marina across the harbour from Dalt Vila
$$$ · Best for nightlife, beach and first-timers
Platja d'en Bossa
The island's longest beach, lined with hotels and big-name club venues
$$ · Best for budget, nightlife and beach
Sant Antoni
West-coast resort town known for sunset bars and the West End
What to eat
- Bullit de peix — Ibiza's signature fish dish: rockfish such as grouper and scorpionfish boiled with potatoes and served with allioli, followed by arròs a banda, rice cooked in the rich fish broth.
- Sofrit pagès — A hearty country stew of lamb and chicken with potatoes, sobrassada and botifarró sausages, garlic and saffron, traditionally made for festivals and Christmas.
- Ensalada payesa — A peasant salad of potatoes, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, olives and peix sec, wind-dried fish that is a speciality of Ibiza and Formentera.
- Flaó — A cheesecake-like tart of fresh cheese, eggs and mint, sometimes flavoured with anise, traditionally baked for Easter but now sold all year.
- Greixonera — A bread-pudding dessert made from leftover ensaïmada pastries, eggs, milk, cinnamon and lemon, baked until set.
- Orelletes — Thin, ear-shaped fried pastries flavoured with anise and dusted with sugar, a festival treat made in island households.
When to go
The best times to visit Ibiza are late May to June and September, when the sea is warm, the clubs are open and beaches are less crowded and expensive than in July and August. For clubbing, the season runs from roughly May to mid-October. Winter is mild and peaceful for walking and almond blossom, but many hotels, restaurants and all the big clubs close.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Green countryside, quiet beaches and businesses reopening; the clubs open from late April or May. |
| Summer | June–August | Hot, sunny and busy, with warm sea, full club line-ups and peak prices in July and August. |
| Autumn | September–November | Warm sea and closing parties in September and October, then a quiet November as resorts shut. |
| Winter | December–February | Mild and peaceful, with almond blossom in February; most clubs and many hotels are closed. |
Getting there and around
Ibiza Airport is about 7 km south-west of Ibiza Town. Buses run to Ibiza Town in about 20 minutes and to Sant Antoni, Santa Eulària and Platja d'en Bossa; a taxi to Ibiza Town takes about 15 minutes.
Ibiza is small: about 40 km from end to end, with Ibiza Town, Sant Antoni and Santa Eulària linked by frequent buses. Remote coves, inland villages and the north coast are much easier by car or scooter, and boats link the main resorts with nearby beaches and Formentera.
Plan your days
Three days covers Dalt Vila, a sunset at Sant Antoni or Es Vedrà, a couple of beaches and a night out. Six days lets you add Formentera, a hippy market, the north coast and slower beach days.
Practical information
- Currency
- EUR
- Language
- Spanish and Catalan
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is not recommended for drinking because of its high salt and mineral content; buy bottled water.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Tipping
- Tipping is not expected but appreciated; rounding up in bars and around 5–10% in restaurants for good service is normal.
Theft from bags and cars, pickpocketing in clubs and drink spiking are the most common issues, so watch your belongings and your drink. Use only licensed taxis. In summer, beware of strong sun and dehydration, rough paths to coves such as Atlantis, and currents at exposed beaches; check flag warnings.
Flights to Ibiza
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Ibiza?
Three days covers Dalt Vila, a sunset at Sant Antoni or Es Vedrà, a couple of beaches and a night out. Six days lets you add Formentera, a hippy market, the north coast and slower beach days. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Ibiza?
The best times to visit Ibiza are late May to June and September, when the sea is warm, the clubs are open and beaches are less crowded and expensive than in July and August. For clubbing, the season runs from roughly May to mid-October. Winter is mild and peaceful for walking and almond blossom, but many hotels, restaurants and all the big clubs close.
+What is Ibiza known for?
Clubbing, Dalt Vila, Sunsets, Es Vedrà, Hippy markets, Cala Comte and Formentera. Dalt Vila, the walled Renaissance old town above the harbour, and the Phoenician necropolis of Puig des Molins are part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.
+Is Ibiza expensive?
Ibiza is expensive for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $220–$380 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Ibiza?
Not for Ibiza Town, Sant Antoni or Platja d'en Bossa, which are well served by buses and boats. A car or scooter is strongly recommended to explore the north coast, remote coves and inland villages.