Ibiza excursions: Best beaches, markets, day trips & more

Jaillan Yehia

The Balearic island of Ibiza offers a range of excursions to help you get beyond your local beach and do more than just dance at the clubs. From boat trips and coastal coves to shopping and visiting remote villages, take your pick from these enticing Ibiza excursions.

Excursions for all

Ibiza has a host of excursions for all interests, abilities and budgets, and thankfully getting there has never been easier with the likes of Love Holidays^*. Be inspired to experience another side of Ibiza with these top tips on day trips and excursions.

For beach bums

The party crowd may flock to the well-known beaches at Playa d'en Bossa and San Antonio but if you'd like to get away from it all at one of Ibiza's more far-flung stretches of sand it is possible, even in high season.

The island's rugged and remote northern coastline has plenty of secluded sandy beaches a world away from the hustle and bustle of the resort areas, and across the island, there are quiet coves that make ideal all-day excursions, which are well worth hiring a car to experience.

From San Antonio: Cala Salada

This beach may be less than 5 km from San Antonio but the fact that you need to have your own set of wheels to seek it out keeps it relatively quiet, although it still offers all the facilities you need on a day out, from parasols to pedalos.

The cove is suitable for snorkelling and cliff jumping plus you can hike to Ses Fontanelles to see Bronze Age cave paintings if you're feeling energetic. There's an even more secret and hard-to reach sister beach separated by rocks called Cala Saladeta that's popular with skinny dippers.

Cala Salada, Ibiza © Travelbusy.com - Flickr CC BY 2.0

From Playa d'en Bossa: Cala Carbo

With its deep crystal-clear waters and schools of mirror fish, this beach tends to be more popular with Spanish locals and expats than tourists. Its sheltered setting with the mountains behind makes it a good option on a windy day or at the end of the season.

Scramble up the sandstone cliffs onto a rocky headland for splendid views to Es Vedra. However, you may want to avoid it on Sundays when locals pile into the beach's seafood restaurants for paella.

From Santa Eulalia: Cala Llenya

This small, pretty, sandy beach cove is in the northwest of the island, backed by pine trees with a laid back feel and perfect shallow water.

There are some facilities such as bathrooms and sun lounger rental, and one kiosk selling basic snacks but aside from that and a few other in-the-know beachgoers, this is a peaceful place to spend the day.

For water babes

Ibiza may not have as many water parks as the nearby Balearic island of Majorca but it does have a place you can head to when you want to go kamikaze or throw yourself down a black hole as well as an alternative aquarium housed in an old lobster cave.

Aguamar Water Park

Aguamar in Playa d'en Bossa makes for a great family day out for water babes bored of the beach.

The park has a few white knuckle water rides along with some more sedate slides and paddling pools for younger kids, plus all the usual facilities you'd expect, such as restaurants, picnic areas and lockers.

Ibiza Cave Aquarium

Aquarium Cap Blanc is a subterranean attraction where visitors can see many species of Mediterranean fish in a natural cave environment, and provides a great value family day trip that's both atmospheric and educational.

For boat lovers

Ibiza is the perfect base to take a beautiful boat trip from, and this Balearic isle won't disappoint with everything from sunset cruises to glass bottom boat tours, plus ferries, private boat trips and fishing excursions.

Formentera

Take a day trip to Formentera to experience the pristine beaches and serene atmosphere of this unspoiled island. You can use the Santa Eulalia Ferry, for example, which has four departure points around the east coast of the island, or you can join an organised excursion and even charter your own boat.

Es Vedra

When the mood strikes you can usually turn up at Ibiza Town bay, San Antonio or Playa d'en Bossa and score yourself a boat trip around Es Vedra.

This mysterious rock is rumoured to be the third most magnetic spot on earth, and legend has it that the sirens from Homer's Iliad lured sailors onto this very limestone.

For souvenir hunters

Ibiza's picture-postcard beaches and laid-back vibe began to attract visitors in the 1960s when Europe's answer to California's hippies flocked here, so get back to Ibiza's hippy roots with a day trip to the market.

The Hippy Market Punta Arabí

The original and biggest Hippy Market, which dates back to the 1970s, is held at Club Punta Arabí, Es Canar on Wednesdays. Here, the stalls sell a colourful and cool collection of Ibiza's artisan products, from handmade jewellery and drums to bohemian scarves and sandals, all designed to be browsed under the shade of pine trees.

Plan on staying a while? There's also a bar serving fresh drinks as well as frequent live music and other entertainment.

The Hippy Market at Es Canar, Ibiza © Ronald Saunders - Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0

The Hippy Market Las Dalias

Though this atmospheric shopping excursion is essentially the same as the one held at Punta Arabí on Wednesdays, Las Dalias is a year-round affair that runs every Saturday as well as on Monday nights from June to September, plus Tuesdays in July and they add Sundays in August.

For a glimpse of village life

Hang out in the northern part of the island and you'll discover an alternative Ibizan landscape a world away from the main resorts.

The villages of San Joan, San Juan, Santa Agnes, and San Jose are all whitewashed, stone-built, sleepy examples of Ibiza's unspoiled rural villages and each represents one of the more tranquil Ibiza excursions that are worth your precious holiday time. Other options include:

Santa Gertrudis

This quaint inland village set in the heart of Ibiza has a slower pace of life than the resorts but is home to a smattering of rural restaurants and cafés making it one of the best inland excursions for those who'd like to experience a taste of real life on the White Isle.

Santa Eulària

Santa Eulària, or to give the resort town its full name, Santa Eulària des Riu, has plenty of character and charm, and a relaxed yet inviting atmosphere.

While it may still be home to plenty of holidaymakers it is well worth making the trip north to spend the day walking along the promenade or eating at one of pedestrianised Carrer de Sant Vincent's restaurants.

Santa Eulària (pronounced Eulalia) is also the place to pick up the Ibiza Tourist Train, a 15 km road train ride that takes you on a stunning and fragrant journey through the rural Ibizan countryside.

As well as the built-up resorts and bar action, which Ibiza is best known for, there are endless options to keep every kind of holidaymaker happy. Whether you choose one of these Ibiza excursions or discover another of the many activities on offer you'll struggle to be bored in Ibiza.

Tempted to try these excursions for yourself? Check out the latest deals on breaks from Love Holidays.

You can also keep an eye on the weather in Ibiza, and see when's best to go for long, hot sunny days.

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