Suncoast Ibiza Hotel
Most young tourists landing on the island care little about what to see in Ibiza: they already have a clear holiday plan in mind, with days divided between beaches, sunset bars and discos.
Admittedly, Ibiza has based its fame on nightlife rather than scenic beauty, but in recent years there has been a renewed interest in the island’s landscape and culture that now attracts a diverse mix of tourists. So here’s a list of the best things to see in Ibiza before clubbing, with attractions to suit all tastes.
With around eighty beaches to choose from you can find the one that suits you best, crowded and trendy or remote and wild. In the towns and villages of the island, such as Ibiza Town,Sant Josep and Santa Eularia, you will find interesting museums, monuments and historical sites, while for the best sunsets on the island, don’t miss the Sunset Strip in San Antoni.
An original experience during a holiday in Ibiza is the hippy market, where you can buy handicrafts in a relaxed atmosphere in the shade of trees, much more authentic than our air-conditioned shopping centres.
For something different, explore the Ses Salines Natural Park on foot or by bicycle, or take the ferry to the neighbouring island of Formentera.
Ibiza’s discos and beach bars are undeniably its most popular attractions, so much so that we have dedicated an exclusive page to them where we recommend the best beach clubs, sunset bars, boat parties and discos on the island.
Call it Ibiza, Vila or Eivissa, the capital of the most transgressive of the Balearic Islands is a unique city capable of satisfying the wildest nocturnal animal as much as lovers of history and culture.
If the trendy Marina Botafoch is the nightlife area, the heart of the historic city is Dalt Vila, an open-air museum testifying to the diversity of peoples and cultures that have invaded the island over the centuries: Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Muslims and finally Catalans.
Cross the rastrillo, or drawbridge, and the Portal de ses Taules to reach the main square, from which you can then explore the maze of alleyways designed by the Italian Giovan Battista Calvi. During the day you come here to capture the beauty of the panoramic views with your camera; in the evening, head up to the Upper Town to dine in one of its chic restaurants.
Other interesting attractions in Ibiza Town include the Hospitalet Church, the Cathedral, the Almudaina Castle and the Museum of Contemporary Art – MACE.
One of the most popular resorts on the island, Sant Antoni de Portmany is also one of Ibiza’s nightlife hotspots. Its beaches are mostly frequented by young people who spend their holidays between the sea, beach bars, boat parties and clubs.
The coolest area in San Antoni is the legendary Sunset Strip, which can be reached on foot along a promenade from the harbour. Definitely the best spot on the island to watch the sunset while sipping a drink to the beat of the latest music trends, its sunset cafés are now a legend and you must visit at least one during your holiday in Ibiza.
Santa Eularia des Riu or, more simply, Santa Eularia is the third tourist resort on the island and is suitable for those who want to stay away from the excesses of San Antoni. A resort for families and couples, it has a long palm-shaded promenade, a marina where elegant yachts moor, beautiful beaches nearby, art galleries and plenty of shops and boutiques.
Santa Eularia is considered the food and wine capital of the island, with some of the best restaurants in Ibiza.
The municipality of Sant Josep, only 15 km from the capital, is a mix of mountain and sea. It owes its name to the Sant Josep mountain that lies within its territory, but is known for having the largest number of beaches and coves on the island.
Don’t limit yourself to the beaches, Sant Josep has a lot to offer in terms of art and culture: in and around the village you can visit the ruins of a Phoenician and a Punic-Roman settlement, defensive towers from the 17th and 18th centuries and the Ethnological Museum of Ibiza and Formentera.
The crystal-clear sea of Playa d’en Bossa is the top beach for young people looking for fun. It is the most famous beach on the island as well as the longest, a fine sandy shore that seems endless.
During the day you can relax sunbathing on sumptuous Bali beach beds or lounges or indulge in water sports; in the evening, squeeze into one of the many beach bars for a chillout aperitif in preparation for a crazy night at one of the area’s mega-clubs.
Hard to reach, the atmospheric Aguas Blancas is one of Ibiza’s favourite beaches. Behind and to its sides rise high cliffs covered with vegetation that shelter it from the winds and create a dramatic contrast with the blue sea.
Its transparent waters and the presence of some rocks on the seabed make it suitable for snorkellers, while its wild appearance attracts a naturist crowd. Taking off your swimming costume is not compulsory, so the choice is yours!
Nestled between red rock cliffs and bathed by crystal-clear sea, Sa Caleta (also called Es Bou Nol) is a little gem not to be missed. The fishermen’s huts on either side of the beach add a romantic, almost nostalgic touch.
Don’t expect to find it deserted as its breathtaking beauty attracts many visitors; the eponymous fish restaurant on the beach is also famous.
Es Canar is a small, cosy tourist resort along the north-east coast of Ibiza, 5 kilometres from Santa Eularia.
Excellent restaurants, lively cibill-out lounge bars, a beautiful crescent-shaped white sand beach and the weekly hippy market in Punta Arabì, the largest on the island, have made the village of Es Canar famous.
Numerous hotels and flats for rent make the tourist offer of lively Es Canar very affordable. From the coast, one can admire the islets of sa Galera and the Illa des Canar.
From the small harbour of Es Canar, boats often depart for Eivissa, Cala Llonga and Santa Eularia.
Buy souvenirs of your holiday in Ibiza at one of the many handicraft and local product markets held on the island.
The most famous is undoubtedly the hippy market in Es Canar, a Wednesday fixture from April to October. The origins of Ibiza’s longest-running market date back to 1973: well before the invasion of mass tourism, the Hotel Club Punta Arabí offered hippies to sell products they had made themselves or bought on their travels around the world to the few tourists who were staying there at the time.
The first market had five stalls; today the Es Canar market, with over 500 stalls, has become one of Ibiza’s main tourist attractions.
You can buy a little bit of everything, including jewellery and handmade bags, clothes, local delicacies and even craft beers; if you want to continue shopping but have run out of money, don’t worry, there is an ATM. Once you’re done shopping, you can stop by the area to catch a live music show while your kids have fun in the kids’ area.
Extraordinary landscapes await you at the Ses Salines Natural Park, a protected area encompassing part of southern Ibiza and northern Formentera, created to protect a wide variety of environments with different ecological characteristics.
The area, which covers 14,000 hectares, is the guardian of the Mediterranean’s rich biodiversity, encompassing a wide variety of terrestrial and marine habitats. A resting and nesting area for more than 210 species of birds, Ses Salines has a rich seabed, covered by a veritable prairie of Posidonia, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1999.
Within the park, you can go on unforgettable hikes or bike rides, admiring the romantic landscape of the salt ponds, the wild dune belts with centuries-old junipers, the dramatic cliffs and rocky shores where, if you are lucky, you may spot peregrine falcons and fish eagles.
The park also includes a marine area, with enchanting beaches such as Ses Salinas, Sa Caleta and Es Cavallet, and the islets des Freus (s’Espalmador, s’Espardell, the islet des Penjats). Some of these beaches are home to some of the most famous beach bars and chirinquitos on the island.
The charming and quiet village of Santa Gertrudis de Fruitera is located in the interior of the island of Ibiza, not far from the town of Santa Eularia, 12 kilometres from Eivissa.
The village, set in a unique rural landscape, has its centre in a beautiful pedestrian square, lined with bars, restaurants and small shops where you can sample Pa amb tomaquet, overlooked by the late 18th-century church.
Artists, sculptors and musicians from all over Europe have settled in Santa Gertrudis over the years and their works are exhibited in the village’s art galleries, including Bar Costa.
The village lies at the crossroads of the roads that join Eivissa, Sant Miquel, Sant Llorenç and Sant Mateu.
The small resort of Port de Sant Miquel is located along the north coast of the island, the most rural and unspoilt area of Ibiza famous for its beautiful cliffs, and boasts a sandy beach with shallow crystal clear waters.
Away from the parties and social life, Puerto San Miquel is a quiet hamlet, ideal for families and couples, located in a small sheltered cove surrounded by steep cliffs topped by forests.
In addition to several flats for rent, farmhouses and large hotels, the village boasts a splendid 5-star hotel and luxury private villas. Port Balansant is also considered by many to be the best fish restaurant on the island.
Close to Puerto San Miquel is the beautiful, unspoilt beach of Cala des Multons and Pas de s’Illa.
The village is a 30-minute drive from Santa Eularia and a 40-minute drive from Eivissa and is connected by small boats to Portinatx, San Antonio and Es Canar.
The picturesque village of Sant Miquel de Balansat lies a short distance from the northern coast of Ibiza, between Puerto de San Miquel, Sant Mateu and Sant Joan.
The village is dominated by the fortress church, built on a hill between the 14th and 18th centuries, from where you can admire the beautiful surrounding countryside all the way to the coast.
Several restaurants and small bars serve the village, providing excellent tapas, meat and fish choices.
On Thursdays, the village comes alive with a beautiful craft market where one can find various handicrafts made in Ibiza such as ceramics, food, sculptures and paintings.
Sant Miquel is located 18 kilometres from Eivissa and 25 from Eivissa Airport.
The village of Sant Mateu d’Albarca, famous for its wines, is located not far from the northern coast of Ibiza between the town of San Antonio and the village of Puerto de San Miquel.
Ideal for those in search of peace and tranquillity without sacrificing comfort, the typical Ibizan-style village of Sant Mateu sits on the edge of a beautiful fertile valley planted with vines, almond and orange trees.
Sant Mateu, despite being in the more rural hinterland of Ibiza, allows easy access to the beaches.
If you are in Ibiza in the winter, don’t miss the beautiful Wine Festival that animates the village in December.
Sant Mateu is 25 kilometres from Ibiza Airport and 18 kilometres from the town of Eivissa.
The rural village of San Rafael is located inland from Ibiza along the C731 road that connects Eivissa and San Antonio.
The small centre of San Rafael is dominated by a late 18th-century church built on a vantage point from which to enjoy splendid views of the island’s capital and the sea, and boasts numerous restaurants where you can sample Ibizan cuisine and several ceramic and leather workshops where you can buy espardenyes, typical island footwear.
Sant Rafael is home to the famous Privilege and Amnesia discos, two of Ibiza’s most popular clubs.
The beautiful traditional village of San Agustin is located in the western part of the island of Ibiza between Sant Josep de sa Talaia and San Antonio, 19 kilometres from Eivissa.
The village’s white-walled houses, the casas payesas, cluster around the small early 19th-century parish church and are a splendid example of the island’s typical rural architecture. An excellent red wine is produced from the vines that adorn the hills around the village.
In the village are the Berri and Can Curt art galleries, where works by Ibizan and European artists are exhibited, and excellent restaurants.
Not far away are the magnificent beaches of Cala Conta and Cala Bassa.
Opposite the beautiful beach of Cala d’Hort, along the south-western coast of Ibiza, the magical rocky island of Es Vedra stands 380 metres above the sea.
This limestone island, shrouded in numerous popular legends that have it as the home of mermaids, sea nymphs or as a remnant of the sunken civilisation of Atlantis, for some inexplicable reason sends compasses and navigation instruments into disarray.
The best time to admire the island is at sunset when everything around is tinged with fiery colours.
From the Torre de Savinar, an old watchtower in Sant Josep de sa Talaia, there are splendid views of Es Vedra.
The island of Tagomago, one of the few private islands in the Mediterranean, lies off the north-east coast of Ibiza, from which it is only 900 metres away. One and a half kilometres long and 113 metres wide, the island is rocky and boasts beautiful coves.
Easily accessible by helicopter from Ibiza Airport or by boat from Pou des Leo or the port of Santa Eularia, Tagomago is an exclusive place for luxury and tranquillity holidays.
For your holidays, you can rent the sophisticated 5-bedroom villa, designed by an internationally renowned interior designer, and magnificent terraces with breathtaking views, located in the centre of Tagomago.
The island of Tagomago, ideal for privacy and luxury holidays with friends or family, is a 98-hectare paradise surrounded by crystal-clear turquoise waters.
The ferry from Ibiza to Formentera takes between 30 and 50 minutes to make the crossing from one island to the other and the ticket price is not too high, which makes many holidaymakers choose to visit its smaller ‘little sister’ on a day trip.
Always trendy, Formentera is however more peaceful than Ibiza and its clubs do not reach the excesses of those on the Isola Bianca. For a day with more nature and less hustle and bustle, Formentera is therefore an excellent destination.
During your day in Formentera, you can spend hours relaxing on well-known beaches such as Illetes and Llevant or more remote and quiet ones such as Cala Sahona and Migjorn beach, visit traditional villages, take one of the twenty hiking routes created to show off the island’s beautiful landscapes, photograph the island’s three lighthouses or go shopping in the craft markets.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
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