Ibiza truly is an island of stunning contrasts. The Spanish island is cosmopolitan yet bohemian, dynamic yet relaxed, multicultural yet highly respectful of its origin. If you’re looking for a place where you can do as much or as little as you please while being surrounded by natural beauty and fantastic weather, you’ll struggle to find anywhere better than Ibiza!

However you want to spend your vacation, you’ll find endless things to do in Ibiza. From Instagram-worthy beaches, electric nightclubs, and amazing seafood restaurants to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, engrossing museums, and countless festivals throughout the year, there are always plenty of Ibiza activities and attractions to indulge in.

With such a huge choice of things to see and do, you might not know where to begin. To give you a hand, we’ve put together a list of the coolest things to do in Ibiza. Add these activities and attractions to your Ibiza bucket list, and you’ll have an amazing time exploring one of the most beautiful islands in Europe.

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The Top 15 things to do in Ibiza

1. Wander Through Dalt Vila at Sunset

Ibiza’s Old Town, Dalt Vila, is a must-visit during your stay in Ibiza. And while it’s a beautiful place to explore at any time, it’s at its most spectacular while the sun is setting. The remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Site is more than 2,500 years old and is brimming with narrow passageways and hidden squares just waiting to be discovered.

You can explore the cobblestone streets, popping into artisan shops, art galleries, and local bars whenever you want. Plus, it’s the perfect place to escape the blistering midday sunshine that can sometimes be too much! With so many incredible restaurants to choose from, you won’t be able to resist stopping by one.

Not only is sunset a much more comfortable time to explore Dalt Vila, but it’s also the time to catch one of the best sights in Ibiza. As the natural light disappears, countless twinkling lights are turned on throughout the town, lighting it up in a magical way.

2. Discover Local Artists at the Museu d’Art Contemporani d’Eivissa

Also known as the Contemporary Art Museum or MACE, the Museu d’Art Contemporani d‘Eivissa will introduce you to some of the best contemporary artwork created by local artists.

Set inside an 18^th-century building, which was once an armory and powder store, the art gallery dedicates most of its space to Ibizan pieces from the 1960s and ‘70s, when the island was going through a particularly artistic patch. Works from Portmany, Gorfillo, Le Parc, and Vedova are on display and provide you with an easy way to get to know Ibizan culture, whether or not you consider yourself to be an art fan!

In addition to examples from local artists, the gallery is home to paintings, sculptures, photos, and audiovisual works from international, artists which also feature in the permanent gallery. To keep things interesting, MACE regularly rotates the offerings of its temporary collection, so no two visits are ever the same.

3. See Ibiza from a Hot Air Balloon

Pass on clubbing one night so you can wake up early and experience one of the most unique things to do in Ibiza – hot air ballooning! Starting first thing in the morning, you’ll watch the experts prep the hot air balloon before jumping in and soaring through the sky. Ibiza is well known for its stunning sunsets, but nothing compares to watching the sunrise from up in the air.

During your flight, your pilot will be busy taking photos so you can remember your trip while you take it easy, sipping cava and soaking up the unbeatable views. You’ll cross over many different parts of Ibiza, from the picture-perfect coastline to the traditional Spanish villages and lush forest. On clear days, you can often see across to the island of Formentera and sometimes even as far as mainland Spain!

After 45-60 minutes, you’ll land and be whisked away to indulge in a typical local breakfast while your pilot prepares your photos and certificate.

4. Have a Beach Day at Ses Salines

Ibiza is teeming with unbelievably beautiful beaches, but our favorite has got to be Ses Salines. Just a 10-minute drive from Ibiza Town, this beach stretches on for around one mile, so there’s always plenty of room, no matter how busy it is. And with soft white sand, glistening turquoise waters, and perfect conditions for swimming, it’s very often busy!

As well as all the usual things you’d expect to do at the beach, Ses Salines spoils you with some of the most fun things to do in Ibiza. Here you can shop at beachside boutiques, treat yourself to a massage, go on a catamaran boat trip, hire a pedalo, or have a go at stand-up paddleboarding. Whether you want a lazy or action-packed beach day, Ses Salines is guaranteed to deliver.

One of the best parts about this beach is the bars that line it. Effortlessly chic, the beach bars play all kinds of Balearic and dance music, creating an ultra-cool vibe along the shore. For the ultimate VIP experience, order a cocktail and request to have it brought to your spot on the beach.

5. Sip Sangria at the Beach

While you’re enjoying a day at the beach, make your time even better by sipping on an icy-cool glass of Spanish sangria. The traditional recipe is made with red wine, brandy, and chopped-up fruit. 

But don’t worry if you’re not a fan! Today you can find all kinds of sangria designed to suit different palates, from sangria made with white wine and flavored with citrus fruits to sangria made with cava and flavored with berries.

At Ses Salines, Jockey Club is a fantastic place to try sangria. The upmarket beach club has a wooden bar directly on the beach, as well as a handful of oversized loungers directly on the sand, so you don’t even have to get up. Sa Trinxa is another fantastic spot to try the classic Spanish drink. Also located right on the beach, Sa Trinxa has been a quintessential part of Ibiza since the 1980s and still attracts huge crowds today.

6. Find One-of-a-Kind Goodies at Hippy Markets

One of the top things to do in Ibiza is to go shopping at the local hippy markets. Wonderfully bohemian places where you can pick up all kinds of stuff you’ll never find anywhere else, these colorful, character-packed markets are scattered throughout the island. The biggest and most famous markets are the Las Dalias Hippy Market, which takes place on Saturday in San Carlos, and the Punta Arabí Hippy Market on Wednesday in Es Caná.

The original and the biggest market, Punta Arabí Hippy Market, is bursting with handmade items lovingly created by crafters from all over the world. This market is a must-visit Ibiza attraction if you’re traveling with kids because there’s a dedicated area where they can make their own souvenirs. You’ll also find plenty of food and drink options, as well as live music performances.

Las Dalias Hippy Market is the second-largest market and boasts an incredible selection of jewelry and clothes, almost all of which are made by local artists and designers. What makes this market stand out is its exotic atmosphere, brought to life by mime artists, Moroccan tea tents, and live music.

7. Experience the Real Ibiza at Sueños de Libertad

If you’re visiting Ibiza in summer, you’ve absolutely got to attend Sueños de Libertad. One of the best things to do in Ibiza, this awesome festival started out as a way to encourage visitors to get to know the real side of Ibiza. It has since exploded into an amazing annual event with renowned artists from all over the world.

In addition to music, the festival (known as Dreams of Freedom in English) also incorporates gastronomy, artwork, literature, and children’s activities. There are lines of food stalls where you can sample local goodies, a great variety of art exhibitions, lectures from famous authors, and a special kids’ zone with a playground and organized games.

The festival is held over two days, and if you really want to experience everything that’s on offer, you’ll definitely want to buy a two-day ticket. Events are sometimes held in a single space and sometimes scattered throughout different venues. But regardless of the setup, everything is always easily accessible on foot.

8. Treat Yourself to a Parrillada de Pescado

If you love seafood, don’t miss out on the chance to try a parrillada de pescado in Ibiza. One of the most delicious things on the island, this emblematic dish is a mixture of different types of fish either grilled on a BBQ or deep-fried in a light and crispy batter. Sometimes the huge platter contains just fish and some side dishes, while other times it will also include some seafood. 

The main reason a parrillada de pescado is rarely the same is because they’re based on the fish and seafood that was caught fresh that very morning. Common ingredients include cod, catfish, grouper, turbot, prawns, squid, octopus, and mussels, but you can never be sure exactly what you’re going to get. That’s part of the fun!

Chiringuito de María, colloquially known as the Fish Shack, in Talamanca is one of the best places on the island for a parrillada de pescado. It’s a charming little wooden restaurant on the cliffs at the far end of the bay.

9. Go Cliff Jumping at Cala Tarida

For a real adrenaline rush, one of the must-do things in Ibiza is to dive off a cliff into the crystal clear waters at Cala Tarida. Just a 20-minute drive from San Antonio, Cala Tarida is made of rugged cliffs that plunge into the water down below at the perfect height and angle for jumping.

The water is unbelievably clear, so you can always be sure you’ve got a safe spot to land. Plus, there’s a ladder to help you get back out and have another go. 

If you’ve got a GoPro, it’s definitely worth bringing with you. Cliff jumping will give you one of the coolest videos you’ll get on your vacation!

If you’ve got a vehicle, you can drive to the site yourself. Or, if you’d prefer, you can sign up for a tour and let your guide take care of all the driving. They’ll also be able to advise you about the safest way to jump and take pictures of you jumping in.

10. Step Back in Time at Ibiza Medieval

Held each year in May, Ibiza Medieval is a one-of-a-kind festival that allows you to transport yourself back to a completely different era. For one week each spring, the historic center of Ibiza Town is filled with artisan craft markets, old-world food stalls, falconry experts, craftspeople, artists, puppeteers, jugglers, and jesters. The streets are also teeming with actors pretending to be everything from wizards, witches, and dragons to princes, princesses, and knights.

With so many things to see in Ibiza Old Town during the festival, it’s a great activity that the whole family can enjoy. Music concerts, dances, and guided tours are held alongside storytelling workshops, children’s theater, and puppet shows, guaranteeing something for everyone. The UNESCO World Heritage Site setting is perfect for Ibiza Medieval and provides the ideal backdrop to take tons of cool photos and videos. 

11. Spend Sunday Afternoon at Cala Benirrás

From the beginning of June until the end of September, Cala Benirrás is the best place to spend your Sunday afternoon in Ibiza. Between 3:30 pm and 10:30 pm, the road to the beach is closed and the area is transformed into a pedestrian zone along which thousands of people travel to witness the drumming performances.

The drumming originally took place on Sunday, August 18 in 1991, as a protest against the Gulf War in Iraq. Years later, the gathering grew, with thousands of people traveling from all over the world to be a part of the annual event. 

Because the afternoon drumming sessions are so popular, it can be almost impossible to get a spot for your towel on the beach, never mind a spot for your car! To make sure you don’t miss out, we recommend arriving early and spending the whole day at Cala Benirrás. The seabed is rocky, and the waters are superbly clear, making it a great place for snorkeling. 

12. Admire the View from Ibiza Cathedral

For one of the best views in Ibiza, head to Dalt Vila and climb up to Ibiza Cathedral. You need a fair level of fitness to work your way to the top (there are several steep ramps and staircases), but when you do, you’ll be rewarded with one of the finest views Ibiza has to offer. 

As you’re so high up, you can see all the passageways, squares, and buildings of Dalt Vila from a completely different angle. If you’ve got your bearings, you might even be able to pick out the route you took to get you to the top. As well as an exceptional view of the city, from outside the cathedral, you can also see all the way down to the breathtaking coast. 

Ibiza Cathedral is a functioning place of worship, and you can go inside. It was completed in the 16th century and features a blend of Catalan Gothic style with Valencian influences, which were later introduced.

13. Kayak around Cala Xarraca

Cala Xarraca is one of the most beautiful parts of Ibiza. Hidden away in the far north of the island, this gem is wild, rugged, and almost completely untouched by human hands. Here rough rocks are covered in fragrant pine trees, and the water is so clear you can see all the way down to the ocean floor from the seat of your kayak.

Although you can drive to Cala Xarraca yourself, it can sometimes be tricky finding a place to rent a kayak. Because of this, we recommend signing up for a tour with Bes Ibiza Travel. This kayaking tour leaves Cala Xarraca and goes in between the small rocky islets around the area, where you’ll see tons of underground rock formations and natural marine life.

You’ll also kayak through sea caves, where you’ll have the chance to swim and snorkel in the wonderfully warm Mediterranean Sea. After, you’ll carry on kayaking until you reach Punta Negra, where you can climb to the top of a small cliff and jump off into the sea. 

14. See Ancient Artifacts at Puig des Molins

When you’ve done all the typical tourist stuff, and you’re wondering what to do in Ibiza, head for Puig des Molins. The largest and best-preserved necropolis in the world, this unique Ibiza attraction has existed since the 7th century BC and was where the original Phoenician people lived side-by-side with the dead. Following takeovers by the Punics and Romans, the site was greatly expanded, and today, the museum includes artifacts from all three peoples.

Here you can gaze upon a huge number of important pieces uncovered from burial chambers, including coins, amulets, projectile weapons, tools, and necklaces. Some of the most spectacular pieces we saw were an extravagant collection of decorated ostrich eggs and a remarkable bust of the goddess Tanit, who has become a symbol of Ibiza.

There’s a huge amount of information to take in across the five rooms that make up the museum, but it’s all so fascinating you’ll never want to stop. From learning about the varied beliefs different people had about death to the reasons selected items were buried with certain people, this museum might appear a little morbid. But it’s a must on your Ibiza bucket list!

15. Party at Pacha

Possibly the most legendary out of all Ibiza clubs, spending the night at Pacha is one of the most phenomenal things to do in Ibiza. A nightlife hotspot that’s been buzzing on the island since 1973, Pacha is open all year round and hosts world-famous resident and visiting DJs from every corner of the globe.

Just a 10-minute walk from Ibiza Town, Pacha is the place to go if you truly want the VIP treatment. Although entrance fees and drink prices are sky-high, it’s worth it for the dazzling atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else. On regular nights, you’ll have all kinds of music to dance to, from ‘80s and ‘90s classics to electric and hip hop.

But if you’re looking for a really memorable experience, book tickets for one of the themed nights. Celebrating the free spirit of Ibiza, the Flower Power parties are some of the best you’ll find on the island. With iconic tunes from the ‘60s and ‘70s, these weekly parties spread good vibrations throughout the crowd and will leave you feeling great! 

There you have it! The 15 best things to do in Ibiza. What’s your favorite thing to do in Ibiza?

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