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A turquoise cove between wooded hills on Ibiza A sailing boat off Ciutadella, Menorca Rocky shore and clear water at Ses Illetes, Formentera, from the air
Balearic Islands travel guide

Ibiza, Menorca & Formentera, island by island.

Where to stay, what to do and when to go on each of the three islands, with hotels you can book through IMPT. Every booking through IMPT funds one tonne of verified CO₂ offset.

One sea · three trips

Ibiza faces the sunset and stays up late. Menorca keeps its stone walls, its coves and its early nights. Formentera is the small flat one you reach by boat. Same sea, three different trips.

Ibiza, Menorca or Formentera?

The three islands are an hour apart at most, but they suit different trips. Ibiza is the liveliest and the best connected. Menorca is greener, quieter and good for families and walkers. Formentera is small, flat and has no airport; you arrive by ferry from Ibiza.

Es Vedrà and Es Vedranell from the air, Ibiza
01The sunset coast

Ibiza

Calas on every coast, a west side that faces the sunset, the clubs in the south and quiet pine in the north.

IBZ airportNightlifeSunsets
Explore Ibiza →
Cala Macarella from above, Menorca
02The biosphere island

Menorca

Stone walls, farmland, a coast path all the way round and white-sand coves you walk to.

MAH airportFamiliesWalking
Explore Menorca →
The sand spit of Ses Illetes from the air, Formentera
03Ferry only

Formentera

Flat, small and bright. You arrive by ferry from Ibiza, hire a bike and ride to water that looks unreal.

Ferry from IbizaCyclingBeaches
Explore Formentera →

The three islands at a glance

Ibiza Menorca Formentera
Best forSunsets, nightlife, beach clubs and the old townFamilies, walking, quiet coves and prehistoryBeaches, cycling, clear water and slow days
SizeAbout 572 km², roughly 40 km end to endAbout 700 km², the largest of the threeAbout 83 km², roughly 19 km long
AirportIbiza (IBZ), about 7 km from Ibiza TownMenorca (MAH), just outside MaóNone. Fly to Ibiza, then about 30 minutes by fast ferry
BeachesSmall calas all round, long strands in the southWhite-sand coves in the south, red rock in the northLong white sand and turquoise shallows
Getting aroundBuses and taxis; a car for the north and fincasCar or bus; the Camí de Cavalls on footBike, scooter or bus; vehicles are limited in summer
ProtectedDalt Vila and posidonia, UNESCO since 1999Biosphere Reserve since 1993; Talayotic Menorca, UNESCO 2023Posidonia and Ses Salines, UNESCO since 1999
Areas

Where to stay in the Balearics

Pick the area before the hotel. On every island, the coast you choose decides your beaches, your evenings and how far you travel each day.

All areas in Ibiza →
Beaches

The best beaches on the three islands

From Formentera's sand spit to Menorca's pine-ringed coves. Arrive early in July and August, and leave the posidonia on the shore; it protects the sand.

The sand tongue of Els Trucadors beyond Ses Illetes, Formentera
Formentera

Ses Illetes

A white sand spit inside the natural park

 Cala Macarella seen from the south-west cliffs, Menorca
Menorca

Cala Macarella

Turquoise water under pine; walk in early

 Cala Comte's sand and the islets offshore, Ibiza
Ibiza

Cala Comte

Shallow water, islets and the sunset

 The sandy beach of Cala Saona below low red cliffs, Formentera
Formentera

Cala Saona

Red cliffs and a sandy west-facing cove

 The horseshoe bay of Cala Galdana seen from the cliffs, Menorca
Menorca

Cala Galdana

A wide, sheltered bay for families

 Boats and the beach at Cala Salada, north of Sant Antoni, Ibiza
Ibiza

Cala Salada

Pine, rock and very clear water

 White sand and clear water at Cala Turqueta, Menorca
Menorca

Cala Turqueta

A pine-ringed cove of white sand

 Hotels along the sand at Playa d'en Bossa, Ibiza
Formentera

Es Pujols

Calm shallows by the village
Things to do

Things to do in Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera

When to go

The best time to visit the Balearic Islands

June and September are the sweet spot: a warm sea and fewer people than July and August. Sea temperatures are typical mid-month figures, not forecasts. The dot marks this month.

Sunset over Talamanca bay, Ibiza The farmed plain of Pla de Corona near Santa Agnès, Ibiza Platja de ses Salines and the salt pans from the air, Ibiza Turquoise water at Cala Salada, Ibiza Turquoise water at Cala Tarida, Ibiza S'Arenal Gros bay at Portinatx in the evening light, northern Ibiza A rocky cove with boats on Ibiza, from above The Ses Salines natural park and its salt pans from the air, southern Ibiza Salt pans at Ses Salines, Ibiza, with a plane leaving the airport Yachts on a calm sea in Sant Antoni harbour, Ibiza The beach and calm water of Talamanca bay, Ibiza Ibiza Cathedral's tower above the old houses of Dalt Vila Low season · this month

November

19°Csea, mid-month
17:45sunset in Ibiza
Quiethow busy

Low season. A locals' season. Check which hotels are open before you book.

A locals' season. Check which hotels are open before you book.

Getting there

How to get to Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera

Ibiza and Menorca have their own airports. Formentera is reached by boat from Ibiza. Timetables change by season, so check the operator before you book.

Turquoise water and cliffs near Sant Antoni de Portmany, IbizaIBZ

To Ibiza

  1. 01Fly into Ibiza Airport (IBZ), about 7 km from Ibiza Town.
  2. 02Or take a ferry from Barcelona, Valencia, Dénia or Mallorca.
  3. 03Buses and taxis wait outside arrivals.
Ibiza guides →
Maó harbour on a sunny day, MenorcaMAH

To Menorca

  1. 01Fly into Menorca Airport (MAH), just outside Maó.
  2. 02Or take a ferry from Barcelona or from Mallorca to Ciutadella or Maó.
  3. 03Buses link the airport, Maó and Ciutadella.
Menorca guides →
Clear shallow water at Cala Comte, IbizaFERRY

To Formentera

  1. 01Fly into Ibiza (IBZ). There is no airport on Formentera.
  2. 02Taxi or bus to Ibiza Town port, about 15 minutes.
  3. 03Fast ferry to La Savina, about 30-35 minutes.
Formentera guides →
Island hopping

Can you do all three in one trip?

Ibiza ⇄ FormenteraEasy. Fast ferries run from Ibiza Town port to La Savina many times a day in season; a day trip works.
Ibiza ⇄ MenorcaPlan a travel day. There is usually no regular direct ferry between the two, so most people connect through Mallorca by plane or boat; check current routes.
Dark seagrass meadows showing through clear water in an Ibiza bay, from the air
Protected land and sea

Most of what you came for is protected.

1993Menorca

The whole island becomes a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve: farmland, wetland and coast managed together.

1999Ibiza & Formentera

Posidonia meadows, Dalt Vila and the Phoenician sites of Sa Caleta and Puig des Molins are listed together as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

2023Menorca

Talayotic Menorca, the island's prehistoric stone villages, joins the World Heritage list.

From the island blogs

Read before you go

Sailing boats off the rocks at Cala Comte, IbizaIbiza
Blog · Sea

The meadow under the water

Posidonia is why Ibiza's sea is so clear. It is also very old, very slow, and easy to destroy.
The taula and great talayot of Trepucó near Maó, MenorcaMenorca
Blog · Culture

The island of stone towers

Talayotic Menorca, a prehistoric landscape listed by UNESCO.
A Pitiusan wall lizard on FormenteraFormentera
Blog · Land

The Pitiusan lizard

A species found only on Ibiza, Formentera and their islets.
Torre de ses Portes above the juniper scrub of Ses Salines natural park, IbizaIbiza
Guide · Green travel

Travelling lightly on Ibiza

Water, posidonia, protected parks and the tourist tax: how to visit without wearing the island down.
The salt pans and beach of Ses Salines seen from Cap des Falcó, IbizaMenorca
Guide · Green travel

Travelling in a Biosphere Reserve

What the UNESCO status means on the ground, and how to visit without wearing the island down.
Bicycles parked at the edge of a beach on FormenteraFormentera
Guide · Green travel

Travelling lightly on Formentera

Vehicle limits, green routes, posidonia and water on a small, dry island.
Blue salt pans at Ses Salines below the hills of southern IbizaIbiza
Blog · Land

Salt, the island's oldest export

The pans at Ses Salines have been worked since antiquity, and still are.
The bare, wind-scoured headland at Fornells tower, northern MenorcaMenorca
Blog · Land

Tramuntana: the north wind

How one wind shaped the north coast, its trees and its houses.
Formentera seen from the air, a flat island with no airport of its ownFormentera
Blog · Culture

An island without an airport

How arriving only by sea shapes Formentera's pace, prices and quiet.
Where to wake up

Top-rated stays on Ibiza

Top-rated stays on Ibiza: the first 3 of 866 stays in the IMPT hotel database on Ibiza, five-star first, then four-star, then by guest score. Each button opens live prices for your dates in the IMPT app.

All stays on Ibiza →
Where to wake up

Top-rated stays on Menorca

Top-rated stays on Menorca: the first 3 of 915 stays in the IMPT hotel database on Menorca, five-star first, then four-star, then by guest score. Each button opens live prices for your dates in the IMPT app.

All stays on Menorca →
Where to wake up

Top-rated stays on Formentera

Top-rated stays on Formentera: the first 3 of 199 stays in the IMPT hotel database on Formentera, five-star first, then four-star, then by guest score. Each button opens live prices for your dates in the IMPT app.

All stays on Formentera →
FAQ

Balearic Islands: questions before you book

Which Balearic island is best for a first visit?

Ibiza is the easiest start: the most flights, the widest choice of areas and a day trip to Formentera by ferry. Choose Menorca if you want a quieter, greener island with walking and family beaches.

Is Ibiza or Menorca better for families?

Both work. Menorca is calmer overall, with sheltered southern coves and short distances. On Ibiza, families usually stay on the east coast around Santa Eulària and Es Canar, or at Talamanca.

Can I visit Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera in one trip?

Ibiza and Formentera combine easily by ferry. Menorca takes a travel day: there is usually no regular direct ferry from Ibiza, so most people connect through Mallorca by plane or boat.

When is the best time to visit the Balearic Islands?

June and September give you a warm sea with fewer people than July and August. April, May and October are good for walking and cycling; winter is quiet and many hotels close.

Is there a tourist tax in the Balearics?

Yes. The sustainable tourism tax is charged per person per night and varies by type of stay and season. Your hotel collects it; check the Balearic government site for current rates.

Do I need a car on this trip?

Not always. Buses cover Ibiza Town, Sant Antoni and the main Menorca towns. On Formentera a bike or scooter is enough. For fincas, the north of Ibiza and Menorca's remote coves, a car helps.

How do Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera differ in size and landscape?

Ibiza covers about 572 km² and runs roughly 40 km end to end, with a walled old town, salt flats and the islet of Es Vedrà. Formentera is about 83 km² and roughly 19 km long, with low coastline and lagoons. Menorca is about 700 km² and about 50 km long, with a Biosphere Reserve, a long bridleway and distinct north and south coasts.

Which island suits coastal walking and cycling?

Menorca has the Camí de Cavalls, a waymarked bridleway of about 185 km in 20 stages around the whole coast. Formentera has signposted green routes and short distances between villages and beaches. Ibiza has quiet inland lanes and hill routes, but summer heat makes early starts sensible. Check local route maps and seasonal conditions before setting out.

Sunset over the rocky shore near Ciutadella, Menorca

Pick an island. We'll find the bed.

Hotels in Ibiza Hotels in Menorca Hotels in Formentera
Watch

the three islands

Ibiza, Formentera and Menorca in thirty seconds: an old walled town, white-sand beaches and a sunset over Fornells bay.

Read the transcript

The video opens with the Renaissance walls of Dalt Vila, Ibiza Town's old town, under a clear sky. Next: botafoc lighthouse at the entrance to Ibiza harbour. Next: a pine-covered rocky headland on the Ibiza coastline. Next: aerial view of a long white-sand beach and turquoise shallows with anchored boats. Next: a red-sand beach and surf below green hills on the Menorca coast. Next: a beach hotel above a sandy cove with green water in Menorca. It ends with sunset over the bay at Fornells beach.

Video: Steven HAuse, JUAN CARLOS NAVALON SANCHEZ, Josh Tavernier, Lars H Knudsen, Raymond Petrik, Angelo Esposito, Agusti Perez on Pexels