Ibiza is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean, one of the Balearic Islands. At 1 January 2025 it had 163,755 residents in five municipalities, and the island’s main town is also called Ibiza — Eivissa in Catalan. The island is known for its old town of Dalt Vila, which together with the underwater Posidonia meadows is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for its beaches and its warm climate. Below we cover where Ibiza is, what the climate is like and when to go, what to see, which beaches to visit and what to try, and how to get there. If you are thinking not of a trip but of living on the island, everything about residence permits, housing, prices and taxes is in the article moving to Ibiza.
Where is Ibiza and what country is it in
Ibiza is a Spanish island in the western Mediterranean, south-west of Mallorca. It belongs to the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands together with Mallorca, Menorca and Formentera, and each of the four islands has its own island council (Consell Insular). Ibiza is not a separate province: the province of the Balearic Islands covers the same territory as the autonomous community.
- Country — Spain.
- Autonomous community — the Balearic Islands; the capital of the community is Palma on Mallorca.
- Main town of the island — Eivissa (Ibiza Town), 55,337 residents.
- Municipalities — five: Eivissa, Santa Eulària des Riu (42,479 residents), Sant Josep de sa Talaia (29,761), Sant Antoni de Portmany (29,132) and Sant Joan de Labritja (7,046).
- Languages — Spanish and Catalan, both official; the Statute of Autonomy gives the Ibizan variety of Catalan specific protection.
- Neighbouring island — Formentera, 11,661 residents, south of Ibiza.
Ibiza is both an island and a town. When people say they are “going to Ibiza” they usually mean the island, and to avoid confusion the town is called by its Catalan name, Eivissa.
Ibiza climate and weather
The climate is Mediterranean: mild winters and hot, dry summers. Ibiza is warmer than Mallorca: according to AEMET normals, the annual average temperature here is 1.8 °C higher than at Palma Airport, and in January 2.4 °C higher.
There is almost no rain in summer: July averages 5 mm of rainfall and 334 hours of sunshine. Winter is cooler but mild — January averages 11.9 °C, with about 15.7 °C during the day.
When is the best time to visit Ibiza
For swimming, people choose June to September: July and August are the hottest months, averaging 25.6 °C and 26.3 °C. May, June and September suit those who want to combine the sea with walks without the peak heat. The Balearic tourist tax is 75% lower from 1 November to 30 April than in summer. If you are travelling by car, note that from 1 June to 30 September 2026 non-resident cars may enter the island only within a quota, with a permit obtained in advance. The main town festival is the Festes de la Terra in Eivissa: in 2026 it ran from 30 July to 11 August, and 5 August is the day of Our Lady of the Snows (Nuestra Señora de las Nieves), patron saint of Ibiza and Formentera.
Ibiza on the UNESCO list
In 1999 the site “Ibiza, Biodiversity and Culture” was inscribed on the World Heritage List as a mixed site, both cultural and natural. It includes:
- Dalt Vila — the old town of Eivissa behind Renaissance walls built under Philip II; their design influenced fortifications in the New World.
- Puig des Molins necropolis — more than 5,000 tombs from the Phoenician-Punic, Roman and Islamic periods.
- Sa Caleta settlement — the remains of a Phoenician settlement.
- Posidonia meadows — underwater beds of an endemic Mediterranean seagrass, the natural part of the site.
What to see in Ibiza
- Dalt Vila — the old town of Eivissa behind Renaissance walls with seven bastions, built in 1554–1585 by Italian engineers. Open around the clock; inside are the cathedral and the Madina Yabisa interpretation centre.
- Cathedral of Our Lady of the Snows — at the highest point of Dalt Vila. It was built after the Catalan conquest of 1235 on the site of the main mosque and combines Gothic and Baroque. Entry is free, and the terrace looks out over the port and Formentera.
- Puig des Molins necropolis and its museum — next to Dalt Vila; according to UNESCO, it holds more than 5,000 burials. Closed on Mondays.
- Museum of Contemporary Art of Eivissa (MACE) — in the Sant Joan bastion, opened in 1969, one of the oldest contemporary art museums in Spain.
- Sa Caleta — the remains of the first Phoenician settlement, from the 8th century BC, part of the UNESCO site.
- Ses Salines Natural Park — from the south of Ibiza to the north of Formentera: salt pans in use since Phoenician times, flamingos and herons, Ses Salines beach and the Ses Portes tower.
- Es Vedrà and the Western Islets — nature reserves off the west coast. They can be reached only by sea, and landing without a permit is not allowed; Es Vedrà has a breeding colony of Eleonora’s falcons.
- Sunsets on the west coast — the island’s official tourism website recommends the bay of Sant Antoni, Punta Galera, Cap Negret, Benirràs and Cala Comte.
- Punta Arabí hippy market in Es Canar — the oldest and largest market on the island: running since 1973, with more than 400 stalls; in 2026 it opens on Wednesdays from 1 April to 31 October.
- Formentera — the neighbouring island has no airport; ferries run from Ibiza all year round. From 1 June to 30 September you may drive your own car there only with a permit.
Ibiza beaches
In 2026 the Blue Flag went to seven Ibiza beaches in two municipalities, and to 33 across all the Balearic Islands:
- Santa Eulària des Riu — Santa Eularia, Cala Llenya, Es Canar and Es Figueral;
- Sant Joan de Labritja — Cala Benirràs, Cala Sant Vicent and Port de Sant Miquel.
The beaches of Eivissa, Sant Antoni, Sant Josep and Formentera have no Blue Flag in 2026.
What to try
- Bullit de peix — a fishermen’s dish of fish with potatoes and saffron, followed by rice cooked “a banda”.
- Hierbas ibicencas — a herbal liqueur with an EU geographical indication.
- Flaó, sobrassada, local cheese, almonds, honey and salt from the salt pans — named by the island’s official tourism website among the main local products.
How to get to Ibiza
The main way is by air. Ibiza Airport handled 9.14 million passengers in 2025, 5.35 million of them on international flights; most passengers fly to and from the United Kingdom, Italy and Germany. The port of Eivissa is part of the state port system of the Balearic Islands, and ferries run from Ibiza to Formentera. There are no direct flights from Russia — entry rules are in the articles do you need a visa for the Canary Islands, Mallorca and Ibiza and visa to Spain.
Tourists pay a tourist tax of €1 to €4 per person per night depending on the type of accommodation; children under 16 are exempt. In summer a car can be brought onto the island only with a permit within the quota, and fines for breaking the rule start at €300.
Living in Ibiza
Ibiza has a sharply seasonal economy: 52,737 people were working on the island in January 2025 and 96,607 in July. In the town of Eivissa foreigners make up 28% of residents, with Italians, Paraguayans and Colombians the largest groups, while Russian citizens number only 81. A flat in Eivissa costs on average €7,537 per square metre — 2.6 times the Spanish average — and flats in apartment buildings may not be let to tourists. Which residence permit to choose, where to live on the island, how much housing costs and which taxes apply in the Balearics is covered in the article moving to Ibiza. The larger neighbouring island is described in the guide Mallorca.
Frequently asked questions about Ibiza
Where is Ibiza?
In the western Mediterranean, south-west of Mallorca. It is one of the Balearic Islands, with Formentera just to the south.
What country is Ibiza in?
Spain. The island belongs to the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands together with Mallorca, Menorca and Formentera.
Is Ibiza an island or a town?
Both. Ibiza is an island, and its main town is also called Ibiza, or Eivissa in Catalan. The town has 55,337 residents and the whole island 163,755.
What is the weather like in Ibiza?
Mediterranean: an annual average of 18.3 °C, 11.9 °C in January and 26.3 °C in August. Rainfall is about 413 mm a year, and there is almost no rain in summer.
Do you need a visa for Ibiza?
Ibiza is part of Spain, so the usual Schengen entry rules apply: travellers who need a Schengen visa for Spain, including Russian citizens, need one for Ibiza too. Details are in the article on visas for the Canary Islands, Mallorca and Ibiza.
What is there to see in Ibiza?
The old town of Dalt Vila with its walls and cathedral, the Puig des Molins necropolis, the MACE contemporary art museum, Ses Salines Natural Park, the Es Vedrà reserve, sunsets on the west coast and the Punta Arabí hippy market. From Ibiza people take the ferry to neighbouring Formentera.
When is the best time to go to Ibiza?
For the sea, June to September; the hottest months are July and August. To combine the beach and sightseeing without the heat, choose May, June or September.
