Ibiza in 5 Days: everything you need to know

Ibiza is one of Spain's great treasures. The island welcomes thousands of tourists, both national and international, every year. Although many may think that its main attraction is its nightlife, this Balearic island has a lot to offer.

Both its cultural and scenic heritage will make you fall in love with Ibiza in 5 days. And if you want to complete the information and want to know what to see and do in Ibiza, read this article.

The first day of your trip to Ibiza in 5 days begins with a visit to the city's monuments, specifically Ibiza Cathedral and Dalt Vila Castle.

Both monuments are located at the highest point of Dalt Vila, a walled area belonging to the historic centre of Ibiza. An original way to see the area is with one of the bike tours around Ibiza.

Discover Ibiza Cathedral

The cathedral dates back to 1235, the year in which the Catalan troops conquered the island. The monument was erected on the same site where the old Arab mosque stood. The mosque was built on the site of a Roman temple, which in turn was built on Phoenician and Punic remains. It is not a large cathedral, although it is no less beautiful for that.

It has a single nave, which is made up of fourteen chapels. It is a mixture of Gothic and Baroque styles, with the former predominating on the outside and the latter on the inside. It is a sordid construction with a simple appearance that presides over the city.

If you visit Ibiza Cathedral, you cannot miss the chance to go up to the roof of the bell tower, which dates from the 14th century. From there you will have the chance to catch a glimpse of unique views of the island and even Formentera. This is undoubtedly the perfect plan for you if you are looking for a quiet, cultural and family trip on your visit to Ibiza.

Surprise yourself with the views of Dalt Vila Castle

Another of Ibiza's best monuments is Dalt Vila Castle, which dates back to the 16th and 18th centuries. The monument is made up of three buildings: the Castle, the Governor's House and the Keep.

Its historical importance stands out, as it has been the seat of government throughout practically the entire history of Ibiza. In Roman times, it served as an acropolis; in Moorish times, as the Almudaina. All this will come to mind when you walk through its grounds and passages, and you will feel in touch with past times.

The entrance to the Castle is right next to the Cathedral and is preceded by a staircase designed by Elías Torres. As with the Cathedral, one of the best things you will take away from your visit to the castle are the views it offers of the island.

To get there, you can walk, although you will have to climb some very steep streets and it may be a bit tiring. Another option is to take the tourist bus, which will make several stops along the way at places of tourist interest. This way, you won't have to make the journey on foot and you'll discover other treasures of Ibiza's old town.

Visit Dalt Vila

The walled area of Ibiza, Dalt Vila, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Beyond the cathedral and the castle, this part of the old town hides many other treasures worth seeing.

One of them is the Casa de la Cúria, a 15th-century building that uses the old city walls as a support.

This monument once housed the Ibiza Courts of Justice, although today it is used as a tourist office. Of course, I also recommend that you walk around the wall surrounding Dalt Vila, as the upper part of Ibiza is one of the best-preserved fortified enclosures in the Mediterranean.

The wall dates back to the 16th century, under the reign of Philip II, and covers a total of 1,800 metres. It has seven bastions, including the San Pedro and San Jaime bastions.

A stroll through the seaside neighbourhoods

Taking advantage of your visit to Dalt Vila, I also recommend that you visit the seaside neighbourhoods: Sa Penya and La Marina. They are really worth a visit and hide all kinds of businesses, some of them very curious.

You can visit an art gallery, discover unique jewellery in a craft port or stop for a drink in a bar.

Watch the sunset over the harbour and enjoy a dinner in one of its restaurants

Finally, take a sunset stroll around the port of Dalt Vila, which was first used in 650 BC.

Afterwards, end your day on a high note with a romantic dinner on the terrace of Corsario Restaurant & Terrace, where you can sample many dishes of Ibizan cuisine.

There is no doubt that Ibiza's greatest tourist attraction is its beaches, this is undeniable. Despite the cultural heritage I mentioned earlier, Ibiza's beaches and coves are its main attraction.

One of my favourite beaches is Las Salinas beach, which is located in the Ses Salines Natural Park. From the beach to the park is a 20-minute walk. If you prefer to go by car, it only takes 3 minutes.

Discover Ibiza's best beaches and coves

I would like to start by recommending Las Salinas beach. This beach, unlike the others I am going to tell you about, is not known for being quiet. In fact, many celebrities who spend their holidays on the island hide under its umbrellas.

Unlike other beaches and natural coves in Ibiza, in Las Salinas you will find a wide range of services, such as beach bars and street vendors selling sarongs, drinks and fruit. It is a large beach, reaching 1,000 metres long and 20 metres wide. Upon arrival, you will discover a paradise of white sand and turquoise waters that will blow your mind.

Leaving Las Salinas beach to one side, I would like to recommend Cala Bassa. This cove is the opposite of the previous beach, as it stands out for its tranquillity and natural spirit. It is located in the municipality of Sant Josep de sa Talaia, in the middle of a lush pine forest. If you prefer, you can get there by hiring a boat trip in Ibiza.

If you are looking for peace and quiet, I recommend you go to Cala Molí, one of the quietest beaches on the island. Finally, I recommend that you savour the beaches in a different way and go snorkelling in Ibiza.

Walk around the Ses Salines Natural Park

The Ses Salines Natural Park is made up of 3,000 hectares of land and 13,000 marine hectares, stretching from San José to Formentera.

The Ses Salines Nature Reserve is home to more than 200 types of birds and more than 170 types of plants. All this makes this nature reserve incredibly rich in biodiversity.

One of the most interesting places in Ses Salines is the church of Sant Francesc. Inside, you will find the Centro de Interpretación de las Salinas (Salt Flats Interpretation Centre). Here you can learn more about the natural and animal wealth of the park. If you are travelling to Ibiza with children, they will learn thanks to the centre's activities and audiovisual content.

On the other hand, after enjoying some of the park's beaches, I recommend that you make time in your itinerary for bird watching. There are several viewpoints that make this task easier, one of which is very close to the church of Sant Francesc. If you are lucky, you will be able to see everything from flamingos to Balearic shearwaters, herons and storks.

End the day with a picnic

To end this splendid day in the middle of nature, I recommend that you have a picnic in the park.

There are picnic areas in the Ses Salines Natural Park, although you can also picnic on the beach. Just make sure you pick up all the rubbish and leave everything as it was before you arrived.

Formentera is very close to Ibiza, at most 1 hour away by ferry. Therefore, I recommend that you take advantage of your trip to Ibiza to visit this small but beautiful island.

Ideally, you should arrive in Formentera first thing in the morning and return in the evening, so that you can make the most of the day.

Another option is to take an all-inclusive excursion from Ibiza to Formentera. This is a way to simplify your visit, as you won't have to worry about ferry schedules and you'll get to see the island's most beautiful coves.

Ses Illetes beach

Among the many things to see and do in Formentera, I would like to highlight the beach of Ses Illetes, which, in 2016, won the award for the best beach in Europe. Half a kilometre long, it is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, with its turquoise waters.

Once you've enjoyed the beach and taken a dip, it's time to get to know the villages of Formentera.

One of my favourites is Sant Francesc, a paradise for craft lovers. Lose yourself in its streets and browse its little shops. When you've finished, head for Sant Ferrán, where you'll find a wide range of bars, beach bars and restaurants where you can have lunch.

Caló des Mort

Set aside the afternoon for one of the most beautiful coves on the island: Caló des Mort. You will have to wear good shoes to access the cove, but it will be well worth it.

Rest your lunch on the fine golden sand and pack up your things to get to the lighthouse of Cabo de Barbaria, where you will enjoy one of the best sunsets you have ever seen.

Ibiza was the centre of the hippie movement in the 1960s. Many of the followers of this movement decided to settle on the island, adapting to the way of life of its inhabitants. Specifically, it was the beautiful village of San Carlos that was a favourite of the hippie movement, which is where the island's hippie markets are located.

My suggestion is that you spend the morning browsing the markets and then head to Es Vedrà to watch the sunset. It's a 50-minute drive between the two places, so I recommend stopping halfway for lunch.

Browse Ibiza's hippy markets

My favourite and best known is Las Dalias, which is located, not coincidentally, in San Carlos. Its bold colours and wide range of products and services stand out. This flea market is open every Saturday of the year, from 10 in the morning until 8 in the evening.

Here you can stroll around more than 200 stalls of all kinds, find little-known musical instruments, have your hand read or get a massage. Also, on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays, Las Dalias offers musical performances in the evening.

If you like unusual objects and want to find something strange, I recommend you visit San Jordi. This flea market is located at the racecourse of the same name. Unlike most flea markets, you don't need any kind of licence to sell at San Jordi. This means that the place is full of all kinds of products that have never been seen before.

Finally, I would also like to mention Punta Arabí. It is located in Es Caná and stands out for being the first hippie market on the island, as well as being the largest. It has a total of 500 stalls of all kinds. And if that wasn't enough fun, it also hosts live performances.

Enjoy a unique lunch

If your morning ends at the Punta Arabí flea market, I recommend you have lunch at the Marvent restaurant, one of the best places to eat in Es Caná.

If, on the other hand, you are in San Carlos, my suggestion is the bar Anita or the restaurant Can Curreu.

Watch the sunset in Es Vedrà

No one leaves Ibiza without enjoying a good sunset, perhaps with some music in the background and a good glass of wine in hand. There are many places on the island that offer breathtaking sunsets. However, my favourite is Es Vedrà.

There are many things to see and do on Es Vedrà, an islet located just in front of Cala d'Hort. It is a nature reserve and forms part of the Parc de Cala d'Hort i Es Vedrà.

A curious fact is that this islet is owned by 30 families, which means that it is not possible to build or set up any kind of business on its surface. This has resulted in an incredible diversity of fauna, among which the Pitiusa lizard stands out.

The downside of all this, however, is that it is not possible to visit the islet; although this does not detract from the diversity of plans Es Vedrà has to offer. The only way to see it up close is by renting a boat that sails around it. The perfect plan is to book this excursion so that you can enjoy the sunset along the way.

It's not all about sightseeing. Ibiza is known for its parties and in this list I want to suggest all kinds of plans, so that your visit to Ibiza in 5 days is as complete as possible.

One of the most common plans are the boat parties in Ibiza. Of course, it goes without saying that the city's nightclubs are world famous.

Spend the morning in San Antonio

Normally, these parties usually leave from San Antonio in the mid-afternoon. This way, you can spend the morning on one of its beaches and have lunch in any of its best restaurants, having made the most of the day.

Attend a boat party

The reason for the time and place of departure of the boat parties is due to the great attraction of San Antonio: its sunsets. These are famous all over the world as a magical and dreamlike spectacle of colours.

As for which company to choose, there are many that offer this service. All of them include snacks, drinks, entertainment, various water sports and even DJs.

Discover the best nightclubs in Ibiza

You will already know that Ibiza is a favourite destination for those who want to party. The island is culture, nature and gastronomy, but it is also a party. The latter is undeniable and has been one of the most exploited aspects of Ibiza since the late 1970s. If you spend five days on the island, you can dedicate one night to getting to know its nightlife.

There are five main nightclubs, which are Ibiza's big queens and are frequented by celebrities from all over the world: Ushuaïa, Pachá, Privilege, Amnesia and Hï.

If you like electronic music, you must make a stop in at least one of them, as the best DJs in the world play in these clubs in summer. However, as you may have already guessed, they are not cheap, quite the opposite. But don't worry, Ibiza's nightlife doesn't end here.

In addition to the five main ones, there are other clubs with very good music, such as Eden, EsParadís and Bora Bora. Most of these clubs are only a 20-minute drive from San Antonio Abad, where the boat parties start.