Formentera is still the undiscovered gem of the Mediterranean. Home to some of the best beaches in Spain, hippie vibes, and beautiful cobbled villages – the smallest of the Balearic Islands is the perfect holiday escape.
Whether you intend to spend your days eating local dishes, lounging on perfectly white sand, or visiting the island’s numerous markets, you’ll have countless options when it comes to the best things to do in Formentera. Ibiza’s smaller and lesser-known sister island is sure to become one of your favorite vacation destinations in Spain.
How to Get to Formentera
The only way to get to Formentera is by ferry. There are two ports to choose from on the mainland, Dénia or Barcelona. Alternatively, you can add it onto an Ibiza itinerary and take the ferry over from Ibiza for a few days.
Ferryhopper is one of the most reliable ferry booking options out there. You can book the tickets in advance and have them ready on your phone to show when you arrive to port. You can also purchase the tickets at the ticket counters at each of the ports.
There are so many beautiful hotels and apartment rentals around Formentera to stay in.
Where to Stay in Formentera
The beauty of Formentera is that it is small and easy to navigate. The best place to stay if you want to be close to amenities is in Es Pujols. It is one of the largest towns on the island and is where many of the restaurants and bars are located.
This will mean you can walk everywhere and when you want to get to some of the other things to do in Formentera, you can hop on any of the local buses to get there. It also has a stunning beach here where you can spend sunny days without traveling elsewhere.
Since its the largest town on the island, its a hub for hotels and apartment rentals. You can find plenty available at most price points, but prices are always higher during the summer months, so those on a truly tight budget should consider visiting the island during the shoulder season. These are our top picks.
- Luxury Option: Boho Suites Formentera is a stunning boutique style aparthotel with cozy rooms, a beautifully relaxing pool area, and great location in the center of town. If traveling during the off season you can snag a great deal at this stunning spot! Book here.
- Midrange Option: Hotel Club Sunway Punta Prima is a nice resort on the edges of town close to the beach. They have a fantastic breakfast, two swimming pools, and large rooms. Check prices and book here.
- Budget-Friendly Option: Hostal Alemania is a good basic hotel with clean rooms and is close to both the town and beach. Check prices and book for your trip here.
Top Things to Do in Formentera
Formentera is a really small island and you can easily explore most of it in a couple of days. If you’re traveling to the island with kids, you will probably want to hire a car to get around. If you are solo or with friends, the easiest way to explore is to rent a scooter.
There are several scooter rental shops all over Formentera and using one means you can easily park at some of the more popular beaches.
Bikes are another possibility and every year there are more cycle lanes and bike-friendly options. Transport is important if you’re going to enjoy everything this beautiful island has to offer.
Ses Illetes is also one of the most photographed beaches on the island.
1. Enjoy One of Spain’s Most Beautiful Beaches: Ses Illetes
Ses Illetes is Formentera’s most famous beach. The beach here is 450 meters long or nearly 1500 feet of white sand to the north of Formentera. It will feel more like you’re on an island in the Caribbean with its turquoise water and soft sand.
As you can imagine, it gets pretty busy in summer so it’s best to arrive as early as possible. You need to pay an entrance fee of €6 for cars and €4 for scooters.
Although popular, there’s almost always space on Ses Illetes because it’s a very long sandbank and you can enjoy the water on either side of it. The further you walk along, the quieter the beach gets so it’s worth putting in that little bit of extra effort for a slice of paradise.
2. Visit Far de la Mola
To the east of the island is Far de la Mola, a beautiful lighthouse that has stunning views over the Mediterranean Sea. There’s a bar at the end of the long road but you could also bring your own drinks or snacks and sit on one of the rocks to enjoy the view.
One of the nicest things about visiting Far de la Mola is the ride there. The road is perfectly straight and you pass amazing little villas, enormous fig trees, and fields of vegetable patches. It’s one of the best things to do in Formentera all year long.
There are so many beautiful places to explore in Formentera. After a few days you’ll already be plotting a return to this rustic island.
3. Explore the Town of Es Pujols
Es Pujols is a wonderful town in the north of Formentera. It’s a great place to base yourself for your holiday thanks to it’s central location and abundance of things to do.
The beach in Es Pujols is one of the best in Formentera. The water is some of the clearest water around which makes it ideal for snorkeling. There’s a little island off the beach which is the perfect place to head with your mask and snorkel gear.
Es Pujols is a lively town with a night market in summer where you can buy local crafts, clothes, and jewelry.
There are lots of restaurants in Es Pujols worth trying. One of the most popular is Chezz Gerdi which is on the beach at the far end of the village. There are not that many things to do in Formentera in the rain but enjoying fresh fish and tapas on a covered terrace will certainly make you forget about the weather.
4. Cala Saona at Sunset
Cala Saona is one of the only beaches on the west of the island, so is perfect for watching the sunset. On the drive there, you’ll pass lots of eco-farms selling vegetables at the side of the road and be able to peek in through the gates to see some of the most amazing villas on the island.
Unlike some other beaches in Formentera, Cala Saona has a deep stretch of sand so there’s a lot of space for sunbathing.
Heading to Cala Saona is one of the best things to do in Formentera with kids as the beach is just a short walk from the parking lot and there’s plenty of space for them to play. You can even take the path up the rocks, past the little huts, for a truly amazing sunset over the sea.
There are so many amazing beaches to discover around Formentera and cool coastal walks to enjoy.
5. Visit Sant Francesc Xavier
If you’re considering what to do in Formentera on a rainy day, exploring the shops and cobbled streets of Sant Francesc is a great idea. This beautiful, white-washed village is in the heart of the island and is home to an array of boutique and artisanal shops selling everything from handmade garments to souvenirs.
There’s also a charming church in the middle of the main square that’s built in the traditional Balearic style and is beautiful to walk around. The village has a great hippie market every day during summer and there are plenty of restaurants and cafes to enjoy. The food at Can Foc is particularly memorable.
6. Enjoy Lunch with a View
On the way to Far de la Mola, you’ll take a road up a hill at the end of the thin, central part of the island. Halfway up this winding road is El Mirador, a wonderful restaurant with one of the best views of the island.
You can see all the way along the thin stretch of the island towards the west. Despite being quite touristy, the food here is very good.
If you don’t fancy lunch or dinner, there’s a little stop point close by where you can pull over to take in the scenery.
7. Enjoy Platja de Migjorn
One of the best things about Formentera is that whatever the sea conditions or wind direction, you can nearly always find a calm beach with perfect water. Migjorn is on the south coast of Formentera so when it’s a bit choppy in Es Pujols or any of the other best beaches in Formentera, it will probably be calm in Migjorn.
Migjorn is a long stretch of golden sand and perfect turquoise waters. There are a couple of great restaurants dotted along the bay and, even in the height of summer, you can usually find a sandy or rocky cove all to yourself.
Visit the different coves and swimming spots around Formentera.
8. Breakfast in Sant Ferran de Ses Roques
Sant Ferran is another beautiful village in Formentera and one you’ll likely drive through quite a lot to get from place to place. There are a couple of supermarkets on the main road, so it’s great for getting some cold drinks or snacks for the beach.
Blat Picat is a popular cafe in Sant Ferran for breakfast, serving fresh juices, smoothies, and delicious open sandwiches. It gets quite crowded in summer, so try to get there early – it’s one of the best things to do in Formentera before a long day on the beach.
9. Shop for Bargains at Mercat de la Mola
Mercat de la Mola is in El Pilar de la Mola, a town in the east of the island. This wonderful, hippy market is one of the best in Formentera.
There are several stalls selling handmade accessories, clothes, souvenirs, and local food. There’s also a band playing live music and it’s the perfect place to wander around on your way to watch the sunset at Far de la Mola.
The market takes place every Wednesday and Sunday from May to October.
The hippy markets around Formentera are fun to explore and a good place to find some locally made souvenirs.
10. Visit Molino de la Mola
Molino de la Mola is one of the most beautiful tourist sights in Formentera. It’s located on the Camí de can Ferrer, a little further along the road from El Pilar de la Mola.
This traditional windmill dates back to 1770 and you can go inside it to see all the original machinery that was used and learn about its importance in Formentera’s flour trade. It tends to only be open in the mornings, although hours do change from season to season.
11. Discover Caló d’Es Mort
Caló d’Es Mort is another of the most beautiful places to see in Formentera. It’s a bit more of a trek to get there. In fact, it feels more like one of the beaches in Menorca, but you’re certainly rewarded for your efforts.
They often say Formentera is the shape of a high heel and Caló d’Es Mort is the ball of the foot. This stunning, secluded cove is picture-perfect with white sand and rocks, aquamarine water, and the wild charm you’ll come to associate with Formentera.
You do have to climb down a ladder to get to the beach, so it’s not one of the best things to do in Formentera with kids. It’s also a small beach, so it gets very crowded in July and August. I’d recommend going early in the morning and then heading along the bay to Migjorn when the crowds arrive.
12. Admire the Boats in La Savina
La Savina is the port village where everyone visiting Formentera arrives. While there are more idyllic places to stay on the island, La Savina is definitely worth a visit.
Formentera is very close to Ibiza, so, as you might imagine, there are some seriously impressive super yachts moored in the port. There are a couple of nice bars to have a drink as you watch the boats coming and going and you can even rent your own boat or go on a snorkeling trip around the island.
Panperfocaccia has a waterfront view and plenty of seating outside. They have some seriously delicious Italian food on the menu as well as a nice selection of wines and cocktails to enjoy along with the views here.
Alternatively, Can Carlitos is perfect for evening tapas and drinks with views of the beach instead of the super yachts. Book a table outside so you can enjoy it best.
Be sure to check out some of the cool beach clubs while you are visiting Formentera. You can rent a chair and umbrella and have food and drinks while you chill out on the beach.
Best Things to Do in Formentera – Final Words
Formentera is one of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean. You’ll probably spend most of your time relaxing on one of the stunning beaches, swimming in the perfect water, and enjoying a relaxing, sundown drink in one of the many beach bars.
Formentera isn’t the island for you if you don’t love beaches, although there are a couple of villages to walk around and markets to buy souvenirs. Most of this amazing island revolves around its pristine bays, great restaurants, and relaxed atmosphere.