Things to Do in Ibiza

Wander Dalt Vila at Dusk

Cobblestones glow amber. The late light catches the old town. The climb from the Portal de ses Taules gate to the cathedral takes you past 16th-century bastions where you can lean over and watch the harbor traffic. Sound carries oddly up here. A distant moped, conversation from a courtyard two streets down, the occasional church bell. You'll find tiny shops selling handmade leather and Adlib-style white dresses, plus a handful of restaurants with terraces that look out over the whole bay.

Boat Trip to Es Vedrà

Es Vedrà is the limestone monolith off the southwest coast. Locals will tell you it's one of the most magnetic places on earth. Some go further. They claim it's the third most magnetic point on the planet, which is the kind of statistic you should take with a grain of sea salt. What's undeniable is the sight of it rising 400 meters straight out of the water. At sunset it turns rust-orange. Boats leave from Cala d'Hort and San Antonio.

Hippy Market at Las Dalias

Saturdays in San Carlos. The open-air market sprawls under fig trees and tamarisk canopies, with vendors who've been here for decades selling leather sandals, vintage Moroccan rugs, beaded jewelry, and incense that hits you from twenty paces away. You'll hear flamenco guitar from one corner and reggae from another. Food stalls do a decent paella. The fresh-squeezed pomegranate juice is worth queuing for.

Sunset at Café del Mar Strip in San Antonio

The western coast has its stretch of sunset bars: Café del Mar, Mambo, Savannah. Pilgrimage spots since the early '90s. Chill-out culture was being invented in real time on these terraces. The crowd is mixed. Serious music heads who care about the DJ lineup, couples on first holidays, groups of friends working through frozen mojitos. Between 8:30pm and 9:15pm in summer, the sky does something cinematic.

Explore the North Coast Coves

Drive (or scooter) up to the northern tip around Portinatx. A string of coves awaits. Cala Xarraca has rust-colored cliffs and mud said to be good for skin. Cala d'en Serra is reached by a steep dirt track. Then Aguas Blancas. The water there glows almost neon. The pine forests come right down to the beach in places, and the smell of resin and sea is something you don't get on the busier south coast.

Ibiza Town (Eivissa): best for first-timers wanting old town atmosphere and easy access to restaurants, harbor nightlife, and a quick drive to most beaches

Santa Eulalia: quieter, family-friendly coastal town with a long promenade, good restaurants, and an artistic streak. Well-suited to travelers who want calm evenings

San Antonio: the party-tourism heartland with the sunset strip and cheap accommodation. Loud and young, with a rougher reputation but unbeatable if clubbing is the priority

Playa d'en Bossa: long beach packed with sun-bed clubs and beach restaurants, home to Ushuaïan and Hï. Convenient for the airport and serious club nights

San Carlos and the rural north: boutique fincas and agroturismos surrounded by olive groves and pine forest. Ideal if you want a car-based holiday with quiet nights

Cala Llonga and Es Canar area: mid-range resort feel, decent beaches, family-oriented hotels, and a manageable distance from both the partying south and the wild north