Ibiza walking tour & city guide

Dalt Vila, the upper town

The main entrance to the old town is the Portal de ses Taules, a gate with a drawbridge ramp set in walls built in the 16th century to defend the island against pirates and the Ottoman fleet. Inside, steep lanes climb past small squares, old mansions and art galleries towards the cathedral at the top.

From the cathedral square and the bastions along the walls, the views stretch over the harbour, the rooftops of the lower town and, on clear days, the island of Formentera to the south. The walk up is short but steep, and is at its best in the early morning or at sunset.

La Marina and the harbour

Below the walls, the old fishermen's quarter of La Marina is a grid of narrow streets lined with boutiques, bars and market stalls, busy late into the night in summer. The harbour front is the place to watch ferries and yachts come and go, while the leafy Passeig de Vara de Rey is the town's main promenade.

Across the bay, the marina district of Botafoch faces the old town and offers the classic view of Dalt Vila rising above the water.

Visiting tips

Ibiza Town is about 15 minutes from the airport, and ferries connect it with Formentera, Palma, Valencia, Denia and Barcelona. Talamanca and Ses Figueretes beaches are within walking distance, and buses run to the rest of the island. Summer is crowded and expensive; May, June and September are warm but calmer.