Free walking tours in Ibiza and what to see

Must-sees

Dalt Vila, Ibiza’s upper town, is surrounded by Renaissance walls and is part of a World Heritage Site. You enter through the Portal de ses Taules and climb cobbled streets to the cathedral and the castle, with views over the port and Formentera. Below, the Marina and Sa Penya quarters have shops, bars and the bustle of the port.

Beyond the town, the island has much more than parties. The northern coves, such as Benirràs or Cala Xarraca, and the western ones, such as Cala d’Hort, facing the islet of Es Vedrà, are among the best known. The salt flats in the south form a nature park with long beaches. Santa Eulària and Sant Antoni are the other main towns, and inland there are quiet villages such as Santa Gertrudis or Sant Miquel, with its fortified church.

Free tours and guided visits

The Ibiza Town free tour covers Dalt Vila: the walls, the bastions, the cathedral and the views from the top. The guide explains the island’s Phoenician, Roman and Moorish past and how the town was fortified in the 16th century. Some routes also go down to the Marina quarter. They last about two hours and you tip what you like.

Among the paid visits, a guided tour of the Puig des Molins necropolis, with Phoenician-Punic tombs, is worth it. The most popular trips are by boat: to Formentera for the day or along the coast to swim in the coves. There are also routes through the inland villages and visits to the island’s craft markets.

How long to spend

Dalt Vila and the centre can be seen in half a day. To get to know the island, allow at least four or five days. Spend the first on the town. On the following days, alternate the northern and western coves, a sunset in Sant Antoni or facing Es Vedrà, and a day on Formentera. Renting a car or scooter makes getting around much easier, especially to reach the coves.

Where to stay

Ibiza Town is a good base if you want to see Dalt Vila, have restaurants nearby and catch the boat to Formentera. Talamanca and Figueretes, next to the town, add a beach. Santa Eulària is quieter and more family-oriented. Sant Antoni has a young crowd and famous sunsets. If you’re after calm and nature, the north, around Sant Joan and Portinatx, is the quietest part of the island.