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 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. Also, 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 knowing the monuments of the city, specifically the Cathedral of Ibiza and the castle of Dalt Vila.

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

Discover the Cathedral of Ibiza

The origin of the cathedral dates back to 1235, the year in which the Catalan troops conquered the island. The monument was erected in the same place where the old Arab mosque was located. In the same way, it was built over a Roman temple which, in turn, was built over Phoenician and Punic remains. It is not a large cathedral, although it is no less beautiful.

It has a single nave, which is composed of fourteen chapels. In it, you can perceive 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 and of simple aspect that presides over the city.

If you visit the Cathedral of Ibiza, you can not fail to climb to the roof of the bell tower, which dates from the fourteenth century. From there, you will have the opportunity to glimpse unique views of the island and even Formentera. Undoubtedly, this is a perfect plan for you if you are looking for a quiet, cultural and family trip during your visit to Ibiza.

Surprise yourself with the views of the Castle of Dalt Vila

Another of the best monuments of Ibiza is the Castle of Dalt Vila, dating from the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries. The monument is made up of three buildings: the Castle, the Governor's House and the Keep.

Its historical importance stands out, since it has been the seat of government throughout practically the entire history of Ibiza. In Roman times, it served as an acropolis; in Arab times, as the Almudaina. All this will come to your mind when you walk through its grounds and passages, being able to feel in contact 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 will be the views it offers of the island.

To get there, you can walk, although you will have to climb very steep streets and it may be a bit tiring. Another option is to use the tourist bus, which will make several stops along the way in places of tourist interest. This will save you from walking and you will discover other treasures of the old town of Ibiza.

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, in its day, gave shelter to the Courts of Justice of Ibiza, although, today, it serves as the Tourist Office. Of course, I also recommend that you walk along the wall surrounding Dalt Vila, since the upper part of Ibiza is one of the best preserved fortified enclosures in the Mediterranean.

The wall has its origin in the sixteenth century, under the reign of Philip II, and occupies a total of 1,800 meters. It has seven bastions, among which the San Pedro and San Jaime bastions stand out.

Visit the seafaring neighborhoods

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

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

Contemplate the sunset at the port and enjoy a dinner in its restaurants

Finally, take a sunset stroll through the port of Dalt Vila, which began to be used in 650 B.C.

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

There is no doubt that the biggest tourist attraction of Ibiza are its beaches, this is undeniable. Despite the cultural heritage I was talking about before, the beaches and coves of Ibiza are its great attraction.

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

Know the best beaches and coves in Ibiza

I want to start by recommending the beach of Las Salinas. This beach, unlike others that I am going to tell you about, does not stand out for being quiet. In fact, under its umbrellas hide many celebrities who spend their vacations on the island.

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

Leaving aside the beach of Las Salinas, I want to recommend Cala Bassa. This cove is the opposite of the previous beach, as it stands out for its tranquility 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, I recommend you to go to Cala Molí, one of the quietest on the island. Finally, I recommend you to taste the beaches in a different way and go snorkeling in Ibiza.

Walk through the Natural Park of ses Salines

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

The Natural Park of ses Salines is home to more than 200 types of birds and more than 170 types of plants. All this makes this natural 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. Here you can learn more about the natural and animal wealth of the park. In case you travel with children to Ibiza, they will learn thanks to the activities and audiovisual content of the center.

On the other hand, after enjoying some of the beaches of the park, I recommend that you make a gap in your itinerary for bird watching. There are several viewpoints that will facilitate the task, one of them 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 Natural Park of Ses Salines, although you can also have a picnic on the beach. Just make sure you pick up all the waste and leave everything as it was before your arrival.

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 early in the morning and return in the evening, so you can enjoy the whole day.

Another option is to hire an all-inclusive excursion that will take you from Ibiza to Formentera. This is a way to simplify your visit, since you will not have to worry about ferry schedules and you will visit the most beautiful coves of the island.

Ses Illetes Beach

Among the many things to see and do in Formentera, I want to highlight Ses Illetes beach, which, in 2016, won the award for the best beach in Europe. With half a kilometer long, it is one of the most beautiful beaches of the island, highlighting the turquoise color of its waters.

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

One of my favorites is Sant Francesc, a paradise for handicraft lovers. Lose yourself in its streets and browse its little shops. When you have finished, head to Sant Ferran, where you will find a wide range of bars, beach bars and restaurants where you can have lunch.

Caló des Mort

Reserve 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 worth it.

Rest your lunch on its fine golden sand and gather your things to arrive in time to the lighthouse of Cabo de Barbaria, where you will enjoy one of the best sunsets you have ever seen.

Ibiza was the center of the hippie movement in the 60's. 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 the favorite of the hippie movement, which is where the hippie markets of the island are located.

My suggestion is that you spend the morning browsing in the markets and then go to Es Vedrà to watch the sunset. Between both places there is a distance of 50 minutes by car, so I recommend you to stop halfway for lunch.

Rummage through Ibiza's hippie markets

My favorite and the best known is Las Dalias, which is located, not coincidentally, in San Carlos. It stands out for its bold colors and its wide range of products and services. This flea market is open every Saturday of the year, from 10 am to 8 pm.

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

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, at San Jordi you don't need any kind of license to sell. This makes the place is full of all kinds of products never seen before.

Finally, I would also like to highlight 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. In addition, as if it were not enough fun, it celebrates live performances.

Enjoy a unique lunch

In case your morning ends at the Punta Arabí flea market, I recommend that 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.

Contemplate the sunset in Es Vedrà

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

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

A curious fact is that this islet is owned by 30 families, which makes it impossible to build or set up any kind of business on its surface. This results in an incredible diversity of fauna, among which the pitiusa lizard stands out.

However, the downside of all this is that it is not possible to visit the islet; although this does not detract from the diversity of plans that Es Vedrà offers. 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 during the trip.

Not everything is going to be tourism. Ibiza is known for its parties and in this list I want to propose plans of all kinds, so that your visit to Ibiza in 5 days is as complete as possible.

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

Spend the morning in San Antonio

Normally, these parties usually depart from San Antonio in the mid-afternoon. This way, you can spend the morning on one of its beaches and have lunch at 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 party is due to the great attraction that San Antonio hides: its sunsets. These are famous all over the world as a magical and dreamlike spectacle of colors.

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

Know the best nightclubs in Ibiza

You already know that Ibiza is the favorite destination for those who want to live a good party. The island is culture, nature and gastronomy, but it is also a party. This last one is undeniable and has been one of the most exploited aspects of Ibiza since the end of the 70's. If you go 5 days to the island, you can dedicate one night to know its nightlife.

There are five main nightclubs, which are the great queens of Ibiza and where celebrities from all over the world go: Ushuaïa, Pachá, Privilege, Amnesia and Hï.

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

In addition to the five protagonists, there are other discos with very good music; as Eden, EsParadís or Bora Bora. Most of these clubs are only 20 minutes away by car from San Antonio Abad, the place from where the boat parties start.