What to see in Ibiza: 15 must-sees, from Dalt Vila to Formentera

1. Dalt Vila. Eivissa's old town is ringed by 16th-century Renaissance walls, counted among the best preserved in the Mediterranean, and holds the cathedral of Santa María. It forms part of the 'Ibiza, Biodiversity and Culture' site inscribed by UNESCO on 4 December 1999. To understand it, there is a private cultural walk of about 3 km and 2 hours with 80 metres of climbing (from 320 euros per group according to Ibiza Spotlight, with guides who can work in German) and the dramatised visits in the council's programme, which in the March 2026 edition left from Portal de ses Taules, free and with no sign-up; we have not seen an autumn calendar, so ask at the tourist office.

2. Puig des Molins. This was the city's cemetery from the Phoenician founding in the late 7th century BC, and is one of the best-preserved Punic necropolises known. Some of the rock-cut tombs (hypogea) can be visited with stairs and lighting, and the museum holds Phoenician and Punic pieces, including the figure of Tanit. Our listing advises going early or late and wearing closed shoes and carrying water; it opens Tuesday to Sunday.

3. Sa Caleta. This is the Phoenician settlement on the south coast, dating from around the 7th century BC, origin of the later city and tied to maritime trade and salt. Its interpretation centre opened in April 2025, inside the Ses Salines Natural Park. We could not confirm current hours or price: check with the Consell or the town hall before going.

4. Ses Salines. The Ses Salines d'Eivissa i Formentera Natural Park covers southern Ibiza, northern Formentera and the channel between them, and around 210 bird species have been recorded. Flamingos can be seen almost all year, with the best times at the end of summer and in autumn. Salt extraction is still active. Inside the park, dunes, salt flats and anything off the paths are restricted areas, and the park is open 24 hours a day. Our listing for the interpretation centre notes that the opening information we saw is old: confirm that it is open.

5. Es Vedrà and Cala d'Hort. The islet is 382 metres high and is a nature reserve: you cannot land without authorisation. It can be seen from Cala d'Hort beach and from Torre des Savinar, a tower from 1763, a 10 to 15 minute walk from the dirt track (no railing at the edge). Nearby is Ses Païsses de Cala d'Hort, a Punic-Roman settlement; it opens Tuesday to Saturday in the warm months according to the listing. We have a full Es Vedrà guide with the viewpoints, boat trips and rules.

6. Sant Antoni at sunset. Sant Antoni bay faces west and is one of the classic places to end the day. Group catamarans leave the harbour for Es Vedrà and return at sunset (departure between 17:00 and 17:30, May to September) and, according to the listing, the route includes a swim and snacks on board. If you prefer to watch from land, one guide mentions Caló des Moro, a small cove in the middle of Sant Antoni, as a sunset spot.

7. Cap Blanc. Near Sant Antoni there is a former lobster cave and smugglers' hideout turned into a natural aquarium: a walkway over the water, natural tanks, a marine turtle recovery centre and a bar with a sea-view terrace. The visit takes 45 to 60 minutes; according to La Voz de Ibiza it costs 7 euros for adults and 5 for children aged 4 to 12 (to be verified), and it opens daily in summer; in winter, per Ibiza Spotlight, only on Saturdays.

8. Sant Miquel de Balansat. According to the Illes Balears tourism portal, it is one of the first four fortress-churches on the island, along with Santa Eulària, Sant Antoni and Sant Jordi. It stands on a hill with whitewashed walls and a lookout with a statue of the poet Marià Villangómez. A 2025 news item announced Ibizan folklore at the church every Thursday; check whether it repeats this year.

9. Puig de Missa and Santa Eulària. The fortified church of Santa Eulària was rebuilt in the mid-16th century after pirate attacks, with a tower that served as a refuge and a 17th-century porch. On the same hill is Can Ros, home of the Museu Etnogràfic d'Eivissa (the Consell bought the building in 2021). According to the tourist office, from April to September it opens Tuesday to Saturday, mornings and afternoons, and Sundays 11:00 to 13:30; from October to March, Wednesday to Saturday mornings and the same Sunday hours. It is closed on Mondays and holidays.

10. Sant Carles de Peralta. It is not a medieval fortress: it dates from the last third of the 18th century, was badly damaged in the Civil War and was rebuilt. Its defensive look comes from the white walls and the long porch with three round arches. It stands in the centre of the village, in the municipality of Santa Eulària des Riu.

11. Sant Jordi de ses Salines. The first documentary record is from 1469, and it is the best preserved of the first four fortress-churches on the island. It has sloping walls and battlements, a single nave with two transverse arches and a baptismal font from 1732 carved from a single stone by the Ibizan sculptor Joan Coll.

12. Las Dalias market. It began on 14 February 1985. According to La Voz de Ibiza listings in May 2026, it opened Saturdays from 10:00 to 20:00 and Sundays from 11:00 to 20:00; in June it added Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays from 19:00 to 23:30, and in summer it adds night markets and music. We have not seen the winter hours or the entry price. Another well-known market is Punta Arabí, in Es Canar; the island coach tour that an operator offers on Wednesdays from April to October ends there.

13. Can Marçà Cave. It is a multi-level cave with walkways and an illuminated waterfall, in the north. According to a local guide, it opens all year (10:30 to 19:30 from May to October and 10:30 to 17:30 from November to April), with entries every 30 or 45 minutes and no need to book. The visit takes about 40 minutes, costs 15 euros for adults and 9 for children according to that source (undated), is not adapted for reduced mobility and closes on 25 December and 1 January.

14. Portinatx and the northern coves. The north coast is made up of small coves with pines. At Portinatx there are two beaches, one of them large with natural shade and shallow, clear water, reached by line L20 from Ibiza or by car to the end of the road. Our listings include a sunset kayak of about 3 hours from 45 euros and an easy 5 km route through the coves (Crystal Coast). A short distance away, Benirràs is known for the sunset drumming, especially on Sundays. For more coves, see our guide to the coves of Ibiza and Formentera.

15. Formentera. The neighbouring island is about 30 minutes away on the fast ferries from Eivissa port to La Savina, according to the aggregators we checked, and most people do it in a day. One of our listings is a catamaran that leaves Figueretas at 9:15, stops at s'Espalmador, leaves time at Ses Illetes and arrives at La Savina (70 euros adults and 35 for children aged 3 to 12 according to its website, lunch and drinks included, roughly May to October). Before going, read the natural park rules and how to get around in our Formentera day trip guide.

Geographically, four blocks work well: a day in Eivissa (Dalt Vila, Puig des Molins and, if you like, Sa Caleta and Ses Salines in the afternoon, since they lie in the south); a day in the west (Cala d'Hort, Es Vedrà, Sant Antoni and Cap Blanc); a day in the north-east for the churches of Sant Miquel, Santa Eulària and Sant Carles, Las Dalias or Can Marçà and the northern coves; and a whole day for Formentera. Sant Jordi is close to Ses Salines.

Outside summer some places cut their hours or close. Check opening days for museums, interpretation centres and caves before going. Many museums in Dalt Vila (MACE, Museu Puget) are free according to the listings we consulted, although the hours differ between sources.