The off-season from November till April is the time of year when you will get a different perspective on the island's beauty. Lower temperatures mean you can explore Ibiza easily, and with fewer tourists around, you have carte blanche to go where you want, relatively unhindered. Winter sunsets are magical, with a rich tapestry of changing colours: swirls of oranges, reds, and purples create awe-inspiring images across the skies.
Active Fun
Ibiza has a great mix of activities that you can get involved in, also in the winter months,.
You can try everything from quad, buggy or electric bike tours through open countryside or see the stunning coastline whilst kayaking - the off-season is perfect for this.
Organised walks and cycling tours
There are organised walks and cycling tours run by several groups on the island which will take you to hidden coves and special beaches. Or you could venture into the less-well-known interior, where you can see points of interest as diverse as ancient Arab waterways, terraced fields, wetlands teaming with wildlife and, of course, lots of pine forests.
Island tours by car
A great way to discover the hidden winter season treasures of Ibiza is to hire a car and drive around the island, through scented pine forests and past red earth fields and orange and lemon groves. Go and walk around one of the pretty Ibizan villages like San Agustín, San Juan or San Carlos, to see traditional white houses, covered in pink bougainvillea, and impressive old fortified churches.
Wandering along a near-deserted beach is a cool off-season activity, allowing you to pause and reflect on the stunning coastal views away from the madding crowd. Take a look at our suggested island tours, with routes that take you around different parts of Ibiza, meaning you can choose to do one or all of them, depending on where you are on the island.
Birdwatching
Thanks to a network of observatories across Ibiza and Formentera, both islands have become prime destinations for birdwatching. From spotting wildlife in the wetlands of Las Salinas to exploring Formentera’s peaceful nature trails, visitors can enjoy a truly special connection with the natural world.
Art & Culture
Ibiza is a centre of art and culture, with many fine public museums and private art galleries.
Ibiza also has many great places for live music and performance. There are performances of live theatre and dance, symphony orchestras, and much more that you can go and see. Movie fans will be pleased to hear that all through winter, many new films are screened across the island in their original language version. You can learn more by going to our arts and culture page.
Markets and Car Boot Sales
Markets and car boot sales are a favourite pastime for Ibiza's residents. In the winter, you can visit the popular car boot sale in Sant Jordi every Saturday morning, or walk round the artisan market in San Juan on Sundays and listen to live music. You will find the same intriguing little gifts, souvenirs and leatherware with none of the summer crowds.
There are various Christmas markets across the island. The Las Dalias Christmas market is well worth a visit. There are also markets on the main pedestrian areas in the centre of Ibiza Town, Santa Eulalia and San Antonio.
Dining Out
What would a visit to this idyllic isle be without getting your fill of great food? There are many restaurants that open year-round, some of which offer a lunchtime menú del día, a fixed price menu for as little as €12 to €25 per head. To see which restaurants are open year-round, visit our informative restaurant guide, and if you fancy a meal overlooking the Med, Ibiza is the place.
Several gastronomic programmes with promotional deals run through the off-season months, giving you a quality three-course meal for very little: you'll find them all in our events' calendar.
The winter season really is a gourmet's delight.
Fiestas and the carnival
Festivals on Ibiza are an ongoing affair and they run all through the year, with each town and village getting their own fiesta celebrating their patron saint. Think live music drawn from the island's rich talent, traditional Ball Pagès folk dancing, sporting events and more.
The colour and imagination of the annual carnivals in Ibiza Town, Santa Eulalia and San Antonio are a joy to behold. The heady atmosphere of the Rúa de Carnival parades sees everyone cheering the vibrantly animated floats as they proceed through the streets. The biggest one is in Ibiza Town, where you will see classic films like the Lion King or icons of the 1920s brought to life by the many local dance schools.
See our calendar of fiesta days on Ibiza and check out our events calendar a few weeks before the dates for programmes of the fiestas and carnivals on the island.
Read more...
Look out for our monthly article Things to do this month on Ibiza which gives you our choice picks of what's going on. Our daily events' calendar has even more ideas to help you get the most from your holiday. Also, check out our magazine, which features what's taking place on the island in more depth.
