A family day trip to Ibiza from Mallorca

Here is an idea for a different kind of family outing: a day trip to Ibiza from Mallorca to explore our neighbouring island. This route starts at the port of Palma and combines a walk around Dalt Vila, lunch in Santa Gertrudis de Fruitera, a swim at Cala Llenya and a visit to Santa Eulària des Riu.

The crossing from Mallorca by fast ferry takes around two hours, depending on the service. To travel there and back in a day, you need an early departure and an afternoon or evening return. You can check the connections available for your dates on the Baleària route between Mallorca and Ibiza.

We decided against taking our own car, but hired one for the day from a local company once we arrived on the island. It was a good decision: we found it reasonably priced and it allowed us to explore more places during our day trip.

Exploring Ibiza with kids: Dalt Vila

A good place to start is the old town: Dalt Vila. The official Ibiza tourism website has plenty of information about the city. You can also stop at the La Cúria tourist information office, right opposite the cathedral, to pick up maps, suggested routes and guides.

The old town is surrounded by centuries-old walls with seven bastions, giving it a very special charm. Inside, you will find traditional buildings and several museums that explore the city’s history in detail. Its streets bear the traces of different civilisations, from the Phoenicians, who founded the city in 654 BC, to the Carthaginians, Romans and Arabs. You can discover these layers of history as you explore the old town.

Along the way, you can visit the Puget Museum, where admission is free. Its paintings capture the island’s traditions and characteristic landscapes, through the work of Narcís Puget Riquer and his father, Narcís Puget Viñas. The building alone makes it worth visiting: a traditional Dalt Vila mansion with a beautiful inner courtyard.

Perhaps the best way to explore is simply to wander through the maze of streets up to the medieval Cathedral of Santa Maria. From this high point in the city, there are wonderful views over the town and harbour. For us, it is an essential stop.

Another visit we recommend is the Punic necropolis and the Puig des Molins Monographic Museum, which help explain the city’s origins. Admission is currently free, and the museum is closed on Mondays and public holidays. You can find the museum’s opening hours and admission information here. This is one of the Mediterranean’s most important Phoenician-Punic necropolises.

Where to eat on a day trip to Ibiza

When lunchtime comes around, there are plenty of options, but one particular place had been recommended to us several times. This was where having a car really came in handy. Ibiza Town also has a wide choice of bars and restaurants to suit different budgets.

We took the opportunity to explore an inland village and headed to Santa Gertrudis de Fruitera. We had been told about a bar popular with locals, said to serve the best filled rolls on the island. It is called Bar Costa, although many people know it as Bar Roig.

The village is small and the bar is easy to find, beside the church square. Arriving early is a good idea, as it tends to get busy. It is a spacious place, with an outdoor terrace and air conditioning inside :).

The interior is lovely, with paintings everywhere, many donated by artists who have visited the bar over the years. We loved its unusual décor, the prices and the delicious rolls. A simple menu, but with enough choice for a good, inexpensive meal. We tried the vegetable llonguet — a traditional bread roll — as well as the Ibérico ham and cheese roll, and the cheese roll. All were made with good-quality ingredients.

If you do not fancy a filled roll, there is another well-known place just to the left of the bar, serving impressive paellas cooked over a wood fire: Restaurante Santa Gertrudis. Its Sunday paellas have made it famous among islanders. In a 2010 interview, the owners said they were cooking as much as 50 kilos of rice in a day, using three huge paella pans: one large enough for 260 people and two others for up to 160 each. Preparation started at eight in the morning, ready to serve at lunchtime, around two. The tradition of cooking over a wood fire continues, and takeaway paella is also available.

Family-friendly beaches in Ibiza

After lunch and a short walk around the village, another option is, of course, to visit one of the island’s beautiful beaches.

If you have eaten in Santa Gertrudis de Fruitera, you can continue towards the east coast. Cala Llenya beach is a good option.

This part of the island has plenty of coves, so it was a matter of choosing one with easy access. Another option is to hire a boat in San Antonio to reach a more secluded cove. That might be difficult to fit into our one-day itinerary, but it could be an option for a family weekend in Ibiza.

The water is usually very clear. The beaches are much like those in Mallorca, but with their own charm. The one we visited had a lovely little wooden footbridge on the way down to it.

After a swim, if you still want to make the most of the day, there is another place we recommend visiting.

A stroll around Santa Eulària des Riu

Santa Eulària des Riu is one of the main towns on Ibiza’s east coast.

It has a lovely seafront promenade and a beach beside the mouth of the Santa Eulària river, the only river in the Balearic Islands. This is where the town gets its name. Do not miss the Pont Vell, the old bridge.

Here is a challenge for the children: find a very elusive mythical character, the “fameliar”, who will only pose for a photograph with the bravest visitors.

The “fameliar” is a small, rather ugly creature that can carry out any task well and very quickly. According to legend, you can find one beneath the Pont Vell on the night of Sant Joan. Keep your eyes open around town and you might spot one.

Our family day trip to Ibiza is coming to an end. It is time to head back to the port and return to our much-loved island.

If you enjoyed this itinerary, here is another idea: a family day trip to Menorca.