Ibiza is small, but the escapes it offers are among the best in the Mediterranean. Chief among them is the short ferry to Formentera, whose powder-white beaches and clear shallows rival the Caribbean; but there is also a sunset boat around the mythic rock of Es Vedrà, the wild and green north coast with its hidden coves, the chic inland village of Santa Gertrudis and a taste of the island's revived wine country. Here are the day trips worth making, with distances, transport and insider tips.
Formentera
Area
Neighbouring island
Distance
~30 min by fast ferry
“Hire a scooter or bike on arrival and make for Ses Illetes — the beaches rival the Caribbean.”
Es Vedrà Sunset Boat Trip
Area
From Sant Antoni / Cala d'Hort
Distance
Southwest coast
“Sunset cruises circle the rock with drinks and a swim stop — the only way to see Es Vedrà from the water.”
The Wild North Coast & Coves
Area
North Ibiza
Distance
~30–45 min drive
“Rent a car and string together Cala Salada, Benirràs and Cala d'en Serra — the north is Ibiza's quiet, green half.”
Santa Gertrudis Village
Area
Central Ibiza
Distance
~20 min drive
“Park up and graze the tapas bars and galleries around the car-free square — the island's chicest inland village.”
Portinatx & the Lighthouse
Area
North coast
Distance
~40 min drive
“Combine a swim in the calm coves with the walk out to the Balearics' tallest lighthouse for cliff-top views.”
Tasting from ~€15Can Rich Winery Tasting
Area
Sant Antoni (Buscastell)
Distance
~25 min drive
“Book a tour and tasting to try Ibiza's revived local wines and organic olive oil at a working country estate.”
Day trips from Ibiza in detail
1.Formentera
The essential Ibiza day trip is a short hop across the water to Formentera, the smaller, quieter and more unspoilt island just to the south. A fast ferry from Ibiza Town takes around thirty minutes and delivers you to a place that feels a world apart — flat, low-key and famed for beaches that are genuinely among the most beautiful in the Mediterranean, all powder-white sand and impossibly clear, shallow turquoise water, most iconically at Ses Illetes. With no airport of its own, Formentera has escaped the intense development of its neighbour and retains a mellow, bohemian, back-to-nature charm. The best way to explore is to hire a bicycle, scooter or small car on arrival and follow the coast to a string of dreamlike beaches, secluded coves and simple beach restaurants, perhaps stopping at the little town of Sant Francesc or a lighthouse viewpoint. Take an early ferry to make a full day of it, book tickets ahead in peak season, and bring sun protection and water, as the island is expensive and shade is limited. Whether for its beaches, its cycling or simply its calm, Formentera is an unmissable and easy escape from Ibiza's busier scene.
Hours
Ferries roughly hourly from ~08:00 (more in summer)
Price
Ferry ~€25–45 return; bike/scooter hire from ~€10–30/day
Getting there
Fast ferry from Ibiza Town port (~30 min); some summer departures from Playa d'en Bossa
Insider tip: Hire a scooter or bike on arrival and make for Ses Illetes — the beaches rival the Caribbean.
2.Es Vedrà Sunset Boat Trip
Seeing Es Vedrà from the land is spectacular, but circling it by boat is something else entirely — and a sunset cruise around the mythic rock is one of Ibiza's most memorable excursions. Boats set out from Sant Antoni, Cala d'Hort and other harbours along the south and west coasts, cruising the dramatic cliff-lined shore before approaching the sheer, uninhabited islet that rises almost four hundred metres straight from the sea, wrapped in legends of sirens and Atlantis. Most trips include a stop to swim and snorkel in the clear, deep water near the rock, drinks and often food on board, and — on the sunset sailings — a front-row seat as the sun sinks beside the islet and the sky and sea turn to fire. It is a magical, only-in-Ibiza experience, and being on the water gives a sense of the rock's scale and mystery that you simply cannot get from the clifftop. Trips vary from short cruises to half-day charters, so choose to suit your budget, and book ahead in season. Bring swimwear, a towel, sun protection and a light layer for the cooler evening on the water. For the definitive Es Vedrà encounter, take to the sea at sunset.
Hours
Seasonal; afternoon and sunset departures
Price
~€40–70 per adult depending on trip length and extras
Getting there
Boats depart from Sant Antoni, Cala d'Hort and other south/west harbours
Insider tip: Sunset cruises circle the rock with drinks and a swim stop — the only way to see Es Vedrà from the water.
3.The Wild North Coast & Coves
To see the Ibiza that existed before the clubs, spend a day exploring the wild, green north — a landscape of pine-cloaked hills, terraced farmland, whitewashed hilltop villages and a string of beautiful, largely undeveloped coves, best strung together by car. From Sant Antoni you can head up the west coast to the gorgeous cove of Cala Salada; across the north, Benirràs (famous for its Sunday sunset drumming), the tiny Cala d'en Serra, Portinatx's sheltered bays and the caves at Port de Sant Miquel all reward the effort. Between beaches, the sleepy villages of Sant Joan, Sant Miquel and Santa Agnès offer country restaurants, quiet churches and a slow, timeless atmosphere, and in late winter the Santa Agnès almond blossom carpets the valley in white. Because public transport barely reaches these spots, a hire car (or scooter) is essential and is the whole joy of the trip — winding country roads, sudden sea views and the freedom to linger. Set out in the morning, pack swimming and picnic kit, keep some cash for small parking fees and beach bars, and let the day unfold at its own pace. For nature, tranquillity and the island's soulful side, the north is unbeatable.
Hours
Always open; go by day
Price
Free (car hire from ~€35/day; parking small fees)
Getting there
Car essential; the north is poorly served by public transport
Insider tip: Rent a car and string together Cala Salada, Benirràs and Cala d'en Serra — the north is Ibiza's quiet, green half.
4.Santa Gertrudis Village
Right in the middle of the island, Santa Gertrudis de Fruitera is Ibiza's most fashionable inland village and a delightful half-day escape from the coast. Its car-free central square, ringed by whitewashed buildings, has become a hub of bohemian-chic life: art galleries, design and antique shops, stylish boutiques and a cluster of excellent cafés, tapas bars and restaurants, most famously the long-running Bar Costa, hung with hams and local art and beloved for its bocadillos and tapas. The atmosphere is relaxed, arty and sociable, drawing a mix of well-heeled residents, artists and in-the-know visitors who come to browse, graze and linger over long lunches in the shade. It is a lovely place simply to wander, gallery-hop and eat, with none of the beach-resort bustle, and it works beautifully in combination with the nearby countryside, the Sluiz concept store and drives into the north. Reach it easily by bus from Ibiza Town or by car, with parking around the edge of the village. Come hungry, allow time to explore the shops and galleries, and settle in at a terrace for tapas and a glass of wine. For chic, laid-back inland Ibiza, Santa Gertrudis is the essential village stop.
Hours
Shops & bars roughly 10:00–late (some closed Sun/winter)
Price
Free to visit
Getting there
Bus 25 from Ibiza Town; or a ~20-minute drive to the island's centre
Insider tip: Park up and graze the tapas bars and galleries around the car-free square — the island's chicest inland village.
5.Portinatx & the Lighthouse
The northern resort of Portinatx makes a lovely, low-key day trip, particularly for families or anyone wanting Ibiza's gentler, more natural side. Set around the island's northern tip, it comprises three sheltered coves of clear, shallow, turquoise water — S'Arenal Gros, S'Arenal Petit and the tiny Playa Portitxol — that are calm, safe for swimming and snorkelling, and backed by easy-going beach bars and pine-clad hills. The signature outing here is the walk to the Punta des Moscarter lighthouse, the tallest in the Balearic Islands, reached by a footpath from the resort and rewarding you with sweeping views over the rugged north coast and out to sea. Between swims you can paddleboard, kayak or simply settle on the sand, and the relaxed pace is a world away from the southern club strip. Portinatx is about forty minutes' drive from Ibiza Town, with seasonal buses connecting it, though a car gives the freedom to combine it with other northern spots like the Cova de Can Marçà caves and Benirràs. Pack a beach day's kit and sensible shoes for the lighthouse walk, and make a relaxed day of sun, clear water and coastal views. A refreshing, family-friendly contrast to the island's busier corners.
Hours
Always open; summer lifeguards on main beaches
Price
Free; sunbeds ~€12/day
Getting there
Seasonal bus 20/33 from Ibiza Town/Sant Joan; or ~40-minute drive north
Insider tip: Combine a swim in the calm coves with the walk out to the Balearics' tallest lighthouse for cliff-top views.
6.Can Rich Winery Tasting
Few visitors realise Ibiza has a growing, quality wine scene, and Bodega Can Rich near Sant Antoni is the best place to discover it. A family-run organic estate in the Buscastell countryside, it produces a respected range of red, white and rosé wines from local and international grape varieties, along with organic olive oil, and even a herbal 'hierbas' liqueur — the traditional Ibicenco spirit. A visit typically includes a tour of the vineyards and cellar and a guided tasting of the wines and oils, giving an enjoyable, low-key insight into the island's agricultural heritage and its modern revival, all in a peaceful rural setting far from the beaches and clubs. It makes a relaxed, grown-up half-day out, especially appealing to food-and-wine lovers, and pairs naturally with lunch at a country restaurant or a wider drive through the west-central countryside. Tours and tastings are best arranged in advance, and there is a shop to buy bottles to take home. Being out in the countryside, it is really only reachable by car, so plan a designated driver. For a taste of the authentic, rural Ibiza — and some genuinely good local wine — Can Rich is a rewarding and unusual stop away from the coast.
Hours
Shop & tastings roughly Mon–Sat daytime; tours by arrangement
Price
Tastings/tours from ~€15; book ahead
Getting there
Buscastell, near Sant Antoni; car recommended, ~25 minutes from Ibiza Town
Insider tip: Book a tour and tasting to try Ibiza's revived local wines and organic olive oil at a working country estate.