Ibiza in 4 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

Ibiza is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea, known for its beaches, viewpoints and historic monuments. You can visit each of its tourist destinations in a four-day visit, although, of course, you should organise an itinerary to avoid distractions and make the most of every minute.

Some of the best things to do in Ibiza include a tour of the old town, a visit to Formentera (a nearby island), Las Dalias, Playa Aigües Blanques, Sa Marina and San Antonio Abad.

For your first day in Ibiza, the plan is simple: explore the entire historic quarter, also known as Dalt Vila.

You will discover the architectural treasures that this walled enclosure has preserved for centuries.

Portal de Ses Taules gateway

The tour begins at the Portal de Ses Taules, which welcomes you to Dalt Vila. You will be amazed by this imposing arched gateway and the immense Renaissance walls, declared a World Heritage Site in 1999 and built in the 16th century by order of King Philip II to protect the city.

Next to the triumphal arch, you will also see a couple of replicas of Roman statues and the royal coat of arms.

As soon as you cross the Portal de Ses Taules, you will find the Patio de Armas (Weapons Courtyard), with a total of 10 arches. This area was once occupied by the **island'**s famous hippie market.

Baroque Church of Santo Domingo

About five minutes away from the last destination is the baroque church of Santo Domingo, whose history dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries. You will be able to contemplate the architectural beauty of this monument, which formerly housed the convent of the Dominican Fathers.

During the visit, you will have the opportunity to appreciate the interior nave of the church, which reaches a dimension of 31 metres. You will also see the main altar, which features a Genoese Baroque altarpiece, the dome topped with ochre-coloured tiles and five side chapels, arranged on each side.

Ibiza Cathedral

At the end of your visit to the Baroque church of Santo Domingo, you can head for Ibiza Cathedral (approximately 7 minutes on foot). If you prefer, this religious building can be visited as part of many bicycle tours of Ibiza.

This is one of the most emblematic monuments of the island, as it was built during the 13th century and was the site of the Yebisah mosque.

As you enter the cathedral, you will notice how the Baroque style predominates throughout the nave, while the Gothic-Catalan style is very marked in the rest of the structure.

In addition, if you have travelled to Ibiza in August, specifically on the 5th, you will be able to enjoy a celebratory atmosphere due to the procession of the Virgin of the Snows through the streets. This is the patron saint of the island, whose image is housed in the cathedral.

• Price: free admission.
• Timetable: Tuesday to Saturday (10:00 am to 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm).
• Where: Ibiza Cathedral. Historic quarter.

Ibiza Town Hall

The Town Hall is another must-see in the historic quarter. It consists of a pair of buildings: the Can Botino mansion and the Cloister of the Dominicans. Both buildings have a simple architectural style with low, white walls.

You can visit them from Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to tour what was once the Convent of the Dominican Friars.

Moreover, the town hall is surrounded by some palm trees and right next to it you'll find a small viewpoint. There you can rest while you contemplate a panoramic view of the Mediterranean Sea and the cruise ships that travel in these waters.

• Price: free admission.
• Opening hours: Monday to Friday (8:30 am to 1:30 pm).
• Where: Ibiza Town Hall. Old quarter.

Puget Museum

On leaving the cathedral you will see the Can Comasema palace (two minutes on foot). The Puget Museum has been there since 2007, where you will find an important collection of 130 works: photographs, watercolours, drawings and oil paintings.

You can visit it from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 17:00 to 20:00. It is also free.

According to some coats of arms of the Francolí family that have been found, the structure of this museum dates back to the 15th century. Later, during the 19th century, it belonged to the Palou de Comasema family, which owns the artistic legacy on display today.

Chapel of San Ciriaco

Finally, you can go to the Chapel of San Ciriaco. This is a small devotional space, built in honour of this saint in 1754. The altar is located on the street, so you can visit it at any time of the day.

You will see just below the altar a curious tunnel entrance, which was simulated to commemorate the event of 8 August 1232, when the first Christian conquerors entered the city through it. This was thanks to the help of the son of an Arab sheikh who betrayed his brother and allied himself with the enemy.

For the second day, you can visit Formentera from Ibiza. It is a small neighbouring island with great tourist attractions to enjoy.

La Savina

When you get off the ferry from Ibiza the first thing you will see is the colourful village of La Savina. There you can enjoy a beautiful natural view of the sea, the ships and the famous islet nearby. All this while walking along the promenade.

Afterwards, you will find a flea market (from 10:00 to 00:00), where you can buy handicrafts, clothes, jewellery and souvenirs. There are plenty of restaurants, cafés and bars for breakfast or lunch.

In addition, if you wish, you can book a tour that will take you to see all that nearby Es Vedrá has to offer or take another tour within Formentera, which will help you prioritise the destinations, making it quite convenient if you have travelled to Ibiza with children, as they could easily get tired.

Levante beach and Ses Canyes beach

Approximately 10 minutes away from the previous destination, you will find Levante Beach, with beautiful white sand, occupying a coastline of 1450 metres and turquoise waters in which you can dive.

There is also a system of dunes and a small forest that leads to the salt ponds.

Also, 50 metres from Playa de Levante, you can enjoy the quiet nudist beach of ses Canyes, which is characterised by the absence of vegetation and a series of rocky cliffs. Ideal if you want to get away from the crowds that you will find if you have travelled to Ibiza in summer.

Es Pujols

Es Pujols is a small village with a lot to offer. You can sit in one of the lively cafes and eat and drink in the restaurants or bars. Also, on the pedestrian promenade, you will find a large shopping area with fashionable shops and every evening you will enjoy the craft markets.

You will also enjoy the beautiful scenery of the coves where the local fishermen leave their boats. However, the best thing to do on the beach of Es Pujols is to lie on the sand and swim in the calm waters.

Sa Tanca Vella Chapel

After visiting Es Pujols, I recommend a visit to the Capella de Sa Tanca Vella (10 minutes away by car). This building dates back to 1336 and is considered to be the oldest chapel on Formentera.

During your visit you can take a close look at this single-storey European Romanesque construction and learn about its history. The structure is similar to a small castle, the walls are sturdy and pure white, and the interior features a barrel vault and a series of simple ornaments that will immediately catch your attention.

La Mola Lighthouse

The Faro de la Mola lighthouse, approximately 16 minutes from the Capella de Sa Tanca Vella, will be the last destination on this second day.

You can climb this historic 22-metre-high construction, inaugurated at the end of 1861. From its viewpoint you will enjoy a privileged panoramic view of the Mediterranean Sea and the sunset.

After this experience at the lighthouse, you can go to the nearby restaurants to try the Mediterranean and Mallorcan gastronomy or, if you wish, go to one of the bars to drink and dance before leaving for Ibiza.

• Price: from 4.5€.
• Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday (10am-2pm and 5-9pm).
• Where: Faro de la Mola lighthouse. El Pilar de la Mola, Formentera.

Continuing with the itinerary, the aim is for you to make the most of your third day in Ibiza by doing some shopping in a historic market and fashion shops, snorkelling on a beach with crystal-clear waters and sampling the island's gastronomy and drinks.

Las Dalias flea market

Start the day at the Las Dalias street market, whose history dates back to the mid-1950s when it first opened as an informal street-side bar. It's an iconic spot for locals and a must for tourists.

When you arrive at Las Dalias in Ibiza you'll be enveloped in a colourful atmosphere of constant celebration.

You can enjoy a great gastronomic offer in its food stalls, restaurants, cafés and bars. You will also come across several shops and in the craft market you can buy souvenirs, costume jewellery, leather goods, paintings and other objects.

In addition, if you have decided to visit Ibiza in December or at Easter, you will find special markets, which are only open during those dates.

• Price: free admission.
• Opening hours: Saturday (10am), Sunday (11am). In summer it opens on Mondays, Tuesdays and Sundays (from 7pm). Holy Week (open on the four days of religious celebrations).
• Where: Las Dalias street market. Las Dalias de Ibiza.

Aigües Blanques beach

At the end of your visit to the Las Dalias street market, I recommend you head for Aigües Blanques Beach. There you can lie on its white sand and relax while you enjoy the horizon of this picturesque coastline, surrounded by cliffs. You can also swim safely in its crystal-clear waters, as they are shallow.

Furthermore, if you want to enjoy one of the best snorkelling experiences in Ibiza, you can hire a guided tour, which will provide you with the necessary equipment and advice for the dive.

This way, you will be able to explore the reef of this beach and get to know its marine life. This is certainly a good plan to include among the things to do in Ibiza in June, July or August, which tend to be the warmest months.

Sa Marina

A final destination for this day is Sa Marina, known as the fishermen's quarter, located next to Dalt Vila or the island's historic quarter.

There, you'll be able to go shopping in fashionable shops such as the historic Sombrerería Bonet (1916), Bamba Adlib, or Noss Ibiza, among others.

You'll also find a series of cafés, bars and restaurants with Mediterranean or Italian menus, among others. Such is the case of La Tana, Bar Maravillas, Mamá Pomela, etc. You can also take a stroll along the port to enjoy the view and, if you are lucky, you may find a hippie market.

On the fourth and last day in Ibiza you can explore the parish of San Antonio de Portmany, to discover its landscapes, monuments, urban art and nightlife.

Sa Punta des Molí Cultural Space

The first destination to visit in the town of San Antonio is the Sa Punta des Molí Cultural Space, located at one end of S'Arenal beach. There you will see an emblematic windmill and you can explore its interior.

You will also find a waterwheel used to extract water from wells and a trull or mill, used in the past for crushing olives to distil oil. Finally, there is an exhibition room set up in a house next to the windmill.

• Price: free admission.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday (10:00 to 13:00 and 17:00 to 20:00).
• Where: Sa Punta des Molí Cultural Space. San Antonio de Ibiza.

Take a free tour of San Antonio

After visiting the Sa Punta des Molí Cultural Space, you can join a free walking tour to discover the town or you can hire one of the bicycle tours in Ibiza.

Whichever option you choose, you will have the chance to see the main monuments and learn about their history.

You will visit Columbus' Egg, a 6-metre work of art showing the caravel Santa Maria. As you cycle through the streets you will see urban art displays on some facades, belonging to local and international artists(Pablo Herrero and Phlegm).

You will also pass by the church of San Antonio (14th century), the yacht club, the Town Hall and the old Colonial House, nowadays known as the painters' square.

Take a boat trip

To continue your itinerary, there is nothing better than sailing in Ibiza and enjoying a different perspective.

You should go to the promenade and book a boat tour. In fact, some of these tours incorporate water activities such as snorkelling, jumping platforms, jet skiing and surfing, among others.

Also, boat tours there often offer small parties on board, with DJs, food and drinks. So it all depends on your preference when choosing the type of experience you want.

Take a trip to the Ses Variades promenade

Before you leave, you can't miss the Ses Variades promenade to watch the incredible sunset from this rocky coastline and take some pictures. You can also eat, drink and relax in the cafés, restaurants and bars of this busy spot.

Highlights include the emblematic Café del Mar, founded in 1980, and Café Mambo, where you'll find live DJs with great chill out sessions every day.

Also, if you want to get a taste of San Antonio's famous nightlife, head to the Es Paradis club or Eden.

Public transport in Ibiza usually offers several routes, which will allow you to travel around the island with ease. You will be able to get from the airport to the main towns and other tourist areas.

Of course, you should bear in mind that public transport journeys tend to be longer than those by private car. Therefore, you should take into account the time it takes to get on and off public transport.

In fact, during the high season in Ibiza, the routes usually go through some stops every 30 minutes, to improve the service.