Formentera

The small Balearic island of Formentera is perfect for a few laid-back beach days or a great day trip from Ibiza.

Do: Formentera’s highlight are the picture perfect beaches and the turquoise sea. Thus, beaches are plenty and very beautiful with white sand, sharp rocks and small fish in the clear water. Most popular might be the beaches in the north, Platja de Llevant and Platja de ses Illetes where the big yachts anchor in summer and you can see the hills of Ibiza on the horizon. If you can’t bring your own, renting an umbrella or deck chair usually costs 10€ each per day. But there are many more small bays between them and Es Pujols, like Platja de sa Roqueta where the sunset is extremely beautiful. Then there is the area around Platja de Migjorn, where you find the exquisite Beach Club Gecko Hotel. On the other side, the beach and cliffs around Es Caló are also very nice.

There are only a few very small towns on the island, Sant Francesc Xavier is the biggest one. Here, you find nice shops like Blink and cafes, like Bar Centro right across the church, a busy place all day long. Close by you can also visit the old, traditional windmills.
In La Savina where the ferries arrive you can watch the boats go by, visit the salines or sit at the small marina and watch the sunset.

On the south-western tip of the island you find the lighthouse Far des Cap de Barbaria. From the parking area you have to walk for fifteen minutes to get to the lighthouse. Next to it you find a hole in the ground, the Cova Forradada. Climb down to find yourself in the cliff right above the sea.
In the east there is another lighthouse, Far de la Mola located just behind the village El Pilar de la Mola where the famous hippie market takes place. On the way to the lighthouse you pass Restaurant Es Mirador just up on the hill from where you can see the whole island.

Getting around: From Ibiza airport you can take the bus number 10 to the harbor. Here, several ferry companies go to Formentera, trasmapi is the fastest, the half an hour ride costs 46€ with return ticket. Once you arrive in La Savina in Formentera you can take the bus or a taxi to your hotel, even tough taxis are not really cheap, the less than 10 minute drive from La Savina to Es Pujols costs 15€, for example.
To get around on the island it’s most fun to rent a scooter or bicycle. Formentera is small, so you can get everywhere within less than an hour and rental offices are pretty much everywhere, for example Motorent Pujols. There are two gas stations in La Savina and Sant Ferran de ses Roques. It’s also easy to get around by bus, however they only go every half an hour.

Eat: Formentera is beautiful and the people are extremely friendly and helpful but staying here is not cheap, especially food is overpriced. Many restaurants are located beautifully but serve average dishes for very expensive prices, especially the beach bars around Platja de ses Illetes like Juan y Andrea, El Tiburon, Beso Beach or likewise Piratabus at Es Arenals beach. Their location right at the beach is just lovely, but the food just doesn’t keep up with the prices. So staying in an apartment with a kitchen and cooking yourself could be a better option. In Es Pujols you can try Restaurant S’Avaradero for good grilled meat and seafood, Neroopaco for nice Pizza and hotspot Chezz Gerdi for a great evening drink. Another good option for lunch and paella is Es Caló restaurant in Es Caló.

Stay: Es Pujols is a nice holiday seaside town with a promenade where you find most restaurants, a proper beach and little shops. Even though most tourists might be staying here it’s still charming and relaxed. Hotel Apartamentos Castavi is very reasonable priced for what it has to offer. The stylish, modern rooms have a small kitchen unit, there is a big pool and very good breakfast with lots of fresh fruit and lovely staff. Its patio bar Sa Terrassa is also a nice place in the evening and there is a supermarket just next door where the famous Sal de Ibiza is cheaper than in Ibiza.

Ibiza Town: Eivissa or Ibiza town itself isn’t very beautiful. Everything is focused on the nightlife and very touristy. Nevertheless, an afternoon stroll through the small streets around the old market Mercat Vell and the old town Dalt Vila in the warm light of the evening can be lovely. Sit and people-watch at cafe Croissant Show, have an afternoon drink on the stairs of bar S’Escalinata or around Placa del Parc and try the restaurants La Bodega, La Brasa de Ibiza or Comida San Juan afterwards.