Visiting Ibiza off season. 5 things to do when the beach is not an option

Last Updated on February 11, 2022 by

You may not hear the sound of music coming from the clubs at late night or find yourself covered by a grey sky instead of a sunny one, but visiting Ibiza off season has nothing but advantages.

A couple of months a go, during late spring, me and Alessio found ourselves in the position of booking a very expensive direct flight to our destination or save some money by choosing a layover somewhere in between. Here came Ibiza. Flights during winter-spring to Ibiza from the UK are ridiculously cheap and accommodations prices look like a steal compared to summer! So we said, why not?

In this blog, you will discover our experience about visiting Ibiza off season and tips if you want to plan a low season escape to this beautiful Spanish island too.

How to reach Ibiza during low season from the UK

Reaching Ibiza in winter time (November – March) might be a little hard because the only company offering a non-stop flight from London is British Airways. However, you can also opt for a brief stopover in Madrid, Barcelona or Malaga with other companies like Iberia, Vueling or KLM. Flights with one-stop operate across all the UK with prices ranging from £30 to 130 for a return flight.

From April, non-stop flights operates all over the UK thanks to the opening of the spring-summer route by Ryanair. If you are lucky, you can flight as little as 9,99 return from London, Birmingham or Nottingham. We fled from Birmingham and paid around £130 in total for both tickets (this included also priority boarding, seats and hold luggage). Our flight was a little more expensive than normal spring flights because we went during the Easter period.

How to get around Ibiza during off season

Boat

Moving by boat around the island during low season is difficult as most tour operators operate only in summertime. However, ferries connecting Ibiza to Formentera are available all year around. Tickets for the Aquabus cost €19,90 (for a return trip on the same day).

Bus

Urban buses connecting all the Ibiza main towns operate efficiently all year around and, unless you want to explore some remote areas, they are the most recommended means of transport to go around the island.

How to reach Dalt Vila from the Ibiza Airport

Reaching the centre of Ibiza Old Town by bus from the airport is very easy. From the airport, walk to the bus station outside. There, take the line ALSA L-10 towards Evissa C./Isidoro Macabich. The drive will take around 30-35 mins and the bus will leave you nearby the Old City. Here, you have to continue on foot.

Below you can find a hypothetical itinerary from the airport to a casual point on Dalt Vila. Including the walking time is about 46 mins.

The cost of the ticket is about € 3,50 for a single trip.

Car

If you wan to reach some remote places or have your own independence, car hire is a good option. Unlike summer time, during low season there are plenty of cars available and you can choose among many different international operators. Many of them have an office at the level 0 of the airport terminal.

Taxi

Companies like Uber or Bolt don’t exist in Ibiza. However, the island has plenty of local taxis even if, as you can imagine, travel by taxi is quite pricey. Indeed, there is a minimum fare on the street of € 3,65 (that rise to €4,95 if called on the phone) and a rate of €1.09/km from 07:00 – 21:00 (that rise to €1,33 from 21:00 – 07:00 and during the weekends).

Train

Unfortunately, there are no train lines in Ibiza.

5 things to do in Ibiza during off season

1. Explore Dalt Vila

Dalt Vila is the historic centre of Ibiza Town. I like to think that it is Ibiza’s old beating heart and soul. Dalt Vila means “high city”. This because this incredible place is located in one of the highest points of Ibiza Town, towering the island from its 16th-century bastions. Dalt Vila is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999.

However, longer before this acknowledgement, Dalt Vila played an important, almost vital, role for Ibiza. Indeed, the imposing 25mt-high walls protected Ibiza inhabitants from the Turkish navy and African invaders. Moreover, its Cathedral, Our Lady of the Snows, is a living memento of a Catalan promise made almost 800 years ago. Dalt Vila still plays an important role for Ibiza, being the headquarters of the Council of Ibiza.

What to see at Dalt Vila

• The 16th-century ramparts. A visit to Dalt Vila is not complete without a tour of its impressive (and very well preserved) walls. These encircle the entire old town and it will takes 1-2 hours to be completed. You will be rewarded with magnificent views and some more historical knowledge.
• The Cathedral. Ibiza cathedral, called “Our lady of the Snows” dates back to 1235. It was built of the site of a former mosque as an accomplishment of a pact made by the Catalan conquerors. Indeed, in 1234 Guillermo de Montgrí, Peter of Portugal and Nuno Sanç promised that if they would be able to conquer Ibiza, they would built a church dedicated to Saint Mary. The current building was interpolated several times (especially in the 18th century) but still keep alive the promise of its founders.
• Eivissa Castle. Neglected for a long time, the castle you will visit today no longer resemble the original Moorish fortification. However, you can still visit the Baluarte de Sant Jaume, hosting a weapon exhibition and the Baluarte de Sant Pere that includes a reproduction of the Reinassance scaffolds used to build the city walls.

2. Take a stroll to the Ibiza Town’s port area

Ibiza Town’s port area was surprisingly one of my favourite places. Unexpectedly lively even during low season, the Passeig Maritim (Ibiza’s lovely harbourside) is the perfect place where to have an afternoon/evening stroll. You can admire the beautiful Dalt Vila from a lower perspective while sipping a cocktail in one of the many bars open. Little cobbled streets parallel to the main harbour hide some very nice local restaurants. Beware that despite many restaurant and bars are open some others remain closed during the low season. Always check online before popping directly to a place!

3. Go shopping at the Hippy Market at Punta Arabi

The Hippy market at Punta Arabi is the oldest and largest market in the whole Ibiza. It runs every Wednesday from 10:00 to 18:00 (from April to October). In this market there are more than 500 stalls selling from handcraft items to fashion. Moreover, the market hosts also artists, musicians and tasty street food.

If you are not in time for the Wednesday market, don’t worry! Ibiza has lot of other interesting markets! Indeed, a second important one is Las Dalias. This markets is every Saturday from 10.00 to 18.30 all year around.

Still any luck? No problem. Ibiza has plenty of local shops where to find unique products that go from handcraft items to traditional food. Most of them are located in Ibiza Town. The most famous shopping areas are Paseo de Vara de Rey, la Marina neighbourhood and Bartomeu Roselló.

4. Follow one of the local Fiestas

Like other Mediterranean countries, also in Spain the religious “fiestas” have a vital importance for the local community. Particularly, the Patron Saint’s day is an occasion to celebrate on the streets with processions, fireworks and lot of street food. Fiestas (religious and non, are celebrated all year around) and if you happen during the right date, I warmly suggest you to take part in one of those. Indeed, it’s a unique cultural experience.

The Holy Week Celebration

If you are lucky enough to be in Ibiza during the Holy Week, you might witness an extraordinary and old procession. I’ve always heard and read about the peculiar celebrations for the Semana Santa in Spain but never been lucky to witness one in presence until this year!

In fact, the celebrations for the Holy Week are rather peculiar. Months before the Semana Santa, the parish groups called cofradías collects money for their processions. The parade will go around different streets and emphasise the death and resurrection of Christ in the most theatrical way. Giant wooden crosses are carried around the city accompanied by sumptuous floats, music and people wearing a peculiar hooded mask.

Why the participants are wearing a hooded mask?

The brotherhood’s (and sisterhood’s) tradition of wearing a mask during the celebrations for the Semana Santa, originally dates back to the Middle Ages. Indeed, masks allowed the penitents to hide their identity and gave them the opportunity to seek public repentance without being recognised. The conical shape of the hood indicated the intention of reaching God/the divine grace.

If you have the occasion to see in person one of these celebrations, go! They are very unique!

5. Taste traditional Ibizan food

One of the things you will discover is that Ibiza in low season is actually amazing! Especially because most local restaurants and bars are open. Ergo, you can taste all the incredible Ibizan food without the summer crowd!

Ibizan cuisine reflects all the best Catalan traditions. In fact, is tasty and full of colours! Among the dishes you should definitely try during your stay I warmly recommend the Sofrit pagès (that includes a mix of meat, sausages and potatoes) and the Arroz de matanzas. This is the perfect dish to try during the low season as it combines a mix of rice, mushrooms broth with sea or mountain ingredients. There are different variations of this dish, according to where you go.

Ibizan desserts

I wished to have more time in Ibiza to try all the amazing desserts I’ve seen around while passing in front of pâtisseries or cafes in Ibiza town! Everything looked delicious and, if you have time, one thing to try is certainly the delicious Flaó. This is a sort of Ibizan cheesecake made with goat cheese. It used to be prepared for the Easter celebrations but now you can find it almost in every bakery/cafe.

Another dessert I warmly recommend you to try is the chocolate ensaimada. This was recommended me by a local lady and we tasted it at breakfast with a cappuccino (see photo). It’s soft and delicious! The taste of chocolate mix perfectly with the pastry and I think it was a great breakfast start! We tried these at Es Repòs in Carrer de Vicent Serra i Orvay. This is a local bakery in Ibiza Town. I am not sure if it’s the best place where to find these but, when we went, if was full of locals doing breakfast. So, I understood this as a good sign. Moreover, it was very cheap!

Final thoughts on visiting Ibiza off season

Ibiza surprised me a lot. One of the reasons why I never wanted to visit was because I am not much into clubbing and parties. Unfortunately, I mistakenly thought that Ibiza was just this. In reality, this island is a Spanish hidden gem that deserves to be known for more than just its nightlife. Visiting off season was the best decision ever taken. It gave me the opportunity to see the real Ibiza. The one made of history, traditions and local kindness. I honestly can’t wait to visit again and maybe next time I will pop into the beach!

This post is part of a paid campaign to promote the Balearic and Canary Islands, as part of their #SpanishIslands Campaign. Although all views are my own and I have not been instructed what to include.

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