Ibiza in 3 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

Ibiza is a destination to enjoy until dawn. Once you arrive on the island you'll find medieval castles in a network of cobbled streets in Dalt Vila, the Cathedral of Nuestra Señora de Las Nieves and beautiful walls while listening to the birds in the background. This contrasts with its vibrant nightlife, beaches, coves and idyllic corners.

If you're only staying for three days, you may not have time to see everything the island has to offer. However, with good planning you'll be able to enjoy many of the best things to see and do in Ibiza.

Once you arrive in Ibiza, start your tour with a route around the walled city and the best museums.

This is a circular route that you can do on foot or perhaps you might like to take a bike tour. It's a 2 km route and on the way you can have lunch near the Portal de Ses Taule.

In the late afternoon, I suggest you explore the interior of Ibiza along the San Mateo and San Andrés paths, and to finish off, I invite you to join in and enjoy some Ibizan clubbing.

Before starting the route, you should know two interesting details about the bastions:

• 1. The bastions are open from Tuesday to Friday throughout the summer, from 10:00-14:00 hours / 18:00-20:00 hours, and on Saturdays and Sundays between 10:00-14:00 hours. The rest of the year they are open from Tuesday to Thursday between 10:00-16:30 hours and Saturdays and Sundays between 10:00-14:00 hours.
• 2. Admission is free except for the Bastion of San Pedro and San Jaime.

Bastion of Santa Lucia

The first traces of this World Heritage Site date back to Phoenician times. However, the first records date back to the arrival of the Muslims and the Catalan conquest. After the remodelling order of Kings Charles I and Philip II, the Italian engineer Giovanni Batista Calvi built a great protective fortress.

Your first stop will show you 360° panoramic views of Dalt Vila from the Baluarte de Santa Lucia. Stop for a moment in front of the Portal de Ses Taules and in its enclosure also stroll through the famous Polvorín.

This is a very popular area in terms of leisure activities in Ibiza and the most representative festivals take place here.

Sant Joan Bastion

The next stop is a double visit. On the one hand, you are going to see one of the architectural works of Jacopo Palazzo, better known as 'El Fratín', who devised the Baluarte de Sant Joan, or Bastion of San Juan at the end of the 16th century.

The second point of interest is located at the foot of this military construction: the Museum of Contemporary Art, admission to which is free.

Bastion of San Pere

Continuing along the route, walk northwest until you pass through the Portal Nou, the entrance to one of the most complex walls, the Bastion of Sant Pere or Bastion of San Pedro.

It is a space that, located on a steep slope, represented an architectural challenge. Admission to this bastion costs approximately €2.

Sant Jaume bastions

Continuing with the first fortresses built on this wall, you must go down Ronda Calvi to reach the magnificent Sant Jaume bastion, which provides protection for the less strong corner of the wall.

Here you will see on display much of the military weaponry available at the time. The entrance fee is €2.

Sant Jordi Bastion and Sant Bernat Bastion

Continuing with the Renaissance constructions, you will go through the Soto Fosc tunnel to reach the first walls built on Ibiza: Sant Jordi Bastion, next to the castle, and the Sant Bernat Bastion with beautiful views of the port.

Santa Tecla Bastion

On leaving the Soto Fosc tunnel you come to the Plaza de Almudaina, flanked by the Cathedral of the Virgen de las Nieves, the patron saint of the Pitiusas Islands.

Like a firm protector, you will find the highest wall of Dalt Vila, the Baluarte de Santa Tecla, 500 metres from your starting point.

Stop for lunch

At the end of the circular route around the bastions you will find yourself back in the area around the Santa Lucía Bastion, where there is a wide range of restaurants until you reach the seafront promenade.

You can have lunch at Pino Dalt Vila and try their grilled octopus, although you may also fancy the flambéed prawns at La Plaza, or you may prefer to try the sea bass en papillote at La Torreta Ibiza.

Another great option is to take a gastronomic tour, one of the best activities in Ibiza.

Explore the interior of Ibiza

Now it's time to move on through the Es Broll valley until you reach Punta Galera. The passages are beautiful as you pass through San Mateo and Santa Agnes.

And if the cliffs leave you open-mouthed, wait until you reach Playa d' en Bossa: you won't want to leave the coves all around.

You can do this tour by car, rent a motorbike or for more comfort and fun, join an off-road excursion to the trails in the interior of Ibiza.

Enjoy the clubs in Ibiza

At the end of the day watch the sun set under the Mediterranean waters and enjoy the atmosphere of the seafront terraces, ideally near the harbour, as on your second day you'll be heading to Formentera from Ibiza.

This island is truly a sea lover's paradise. The Balearic Islands are surrounded by turquoise waters, but this little sister is the family's best kept secret.

Back in 2001 the film Lucia and Sex showed some of the scenery, such as the lighthouse of La Savina and the beach of Ses Illetes. However, here you can escape the hustle and bustle of Ibiza and still enjoy the charming beaches.

How to get to Formentera

You have to take a boat to get to the smaller island of the Pitiusas. The journey between Ibiza and Formentera takes 35-40 minutes and there are prices to suit all tastes.

Option 1: By ferry

Balearia ferry. They operate between 07:00 and 20:30 on the Ibiza-Formentera route. On the return journey, the timetable is from 07:00 to 22:00. Tickets are available from €25 plus the supplement for your car.

This is a good alternative when equipped, as Formentera' s beaches are unspoilt, beach bars are scarce or simply not available.

Option 2: By sailboat or catamaran

Sail from Ibiza to Formentera on one of the boat tours, either on a classic catamaran or even on a pirate sailboat.

Since the experts will take care of everything, you'll just have to relax and choose between paddle boarding, swimming with your mask and snorkel, or lying in the sun while you enjoy the snacks and the bar of the catamaran or sailboat.

These types of tours usually stop at Espalmador beach, Ses Illetes beach and Es Cavallet beach, although it is possible to customize the experience when you hire a private tour.

Things to see and do in Formentera

This is the escape valve for bustling Ibiza, without sacrificing the serene and transparent sea. Calm reigns in Formentera, yet this large rock and its marine reserve offer a range of possibilities.

• Get to know its famous lighthouses: Visit one of Jules Verne's points of inspiration, the Faro de la Mola, the highest point on the island that appears in the novel Héctor Servadac: Voyages and Adventures Through the Solar World. Other viewpoints that have gained attention are the La Savina lighthouse and the Cap de Barbaria lighthouse.

• Visit its fashionable centre: In Es Pujols you will find hippy markets, discotheques, a car rental area, accommodation and beautiful walkways facing the sea. There are two kilometres that concentrate the tourist heart of Formentera. It is located just 10 minutes from the port of La Savina, where the boat parties take place.

• Water activities: In Formentera you can kayak, flyboard, paddle, scuba dive or swim with your snorkel, especially if you have included the excursion among your things to do from Ibiza in summer.

Go out for drinks at the best clubs!

Once you get back to Ibiza, you can go clubbing in the party capital. In the marina you'll find the legendary Pacha nightclub, in the Talamanca area, where it's open all year round.

If you prefer, you can also join the party at Amnesia, a club that's a permanent fixture in the ranking of the best clubs in the world.

Among Ibiza's islets, Es Vedra is the most popular of them all thanks to the range of activities you can do here, as well as the mysticism, legends and magic attributed to it.

Located in the southwest of Ibiza, visitors marvel at this large rock where you shouldn't miss out:

A visit to the caves

The cliffs of Cap de Sa Serra are home to beautiful sea caves. On the way to the Pirate's Tower you will find the Cave of Mirador Es Vedrá, a space to which some runes have been added to its already evocative enclosure.

Perhaps you would like to see remains from the Bronze Age. To do so, head for the Cueva de Ses Estelles cave or the palaeontologist's and speleologist's paradise, the Cueva d'Jaume Orat.

Each cave is enveloped in an aura of artistic inspiration with natural overtones, and if you feel like connecting with the island's magical atmosphere, these spaces are unmissable.

A route through its coves

The best way to visit the islets and coves is by sailing, so the recommendation is to head for the San Antonio yacht club and get on a catamaran, sailing boat or llaut, those boats that are as typical as their covered docks.

The important thing is that you cross the sea and choose the combination of coves you like. This is the only way you will be sure to have discovered Ibiza.

Among the main attractions are the following:

Option 1: Cala Bassa

Located 15 minutes from San Antonio, to the west of Ibiza. It is a popular meeting place for tourists thanks to the services on offer, such as sunbeds, beach umbrellas, beach bars and massages by the sea, as well as its easy access by land or sea.

This is a perfect cove to visit with the whole family. There are activities for everyone, including snorkelling, paddle boarding and jet skiing, one of the best things to do in Es Vedra.

Option 2: Cala Conta

The perfect place for paddle surfing and snorkelling. This cove boasts golden sand and serene waters. It is common for sun loungers to be swapped for inflatable mattresses to let the light movement of the sea make the visitor enjoy themselves to a greater extent.

Moreover, the boats that cruise around the island are often equipped with slides and trampolines to make the experience more fun, not to mention snacks and open bars. There are restaurants in the area, although an open bar may be available on the cruise.

Option 3: Cala d'Hort

This is a cove that enchants with its two clearly defined extremes: on one side, the fine sand brings together the largest number of bathers, while the rocky end attracts photographers and surfers.

In this cove, in addition to lying in the sun, you can also stop at La Pedrera de cala d'hort, an old quarry located at the foot of the Es Savinar tower.

This cove also has a rich biodiversity, with birds and goats standing out. The internal trails are one of **Ibiza'**s tourist attractions.

Option 4: Cala Vadella

This is one of the coves that is best classified as a natural swimming pool. Located in the middle of a narrow bay with shallow waters and white sand, it is another of the little paradisiacal corners where children can try their hand at scuba diving, often accompanied by paddle surfing and water skiing.

It is in Cala Vadella where the offer of hotels and restaurants expands. Visit its cliffs facing the sea and go from one beach to another by trekking to Cala Molí or Cala Carbó and to end your visit to Es Vedrá, enjoy one of Ibiza' s sunsets over one of the cliffs.