TLDR: As someone who has been on and off the White Isle for over 2 decades, through my late teens to my early 40s, I like to think I know where to go for partying and where to go to get away from it all. Having just got back again from Ibiza this Spring, I thought I’d note down my top non touristy things to do in Ibiza, if nothing more than a reminder for me when I’m next planning a weekend getaway here. If you happen to find this guide, then I hope you can make use of it too. ☺️
Note: No one has paid me to recommend anything in this top ten; these are all things that I’d do again and again, although a trip to Pikes may take a little longer to recover from!
Key Highlights
- Spring’s Pinxto’s Run – Sample budget sized food and a beer from dozens of venues.
- Hike to Capella Talaia Sant Antoni for views of San Antonio.
- Party with the locals at Pikes.
- Discover Ibiza’s Cannabis Cafe culture.
Jump to: About Ibiza | My favourite | For hikers | Non-touristy club | When to go
What’s my favourite thing to do? It has to be something including food… Jump to an Asador called Can P’ilot in San Rafael below.
TRY THIS: Wonder if it’s right for a family, couple even solo? Is Ibiza Worth Visiting?
Quick ‘about Ibiza’ for 2026 onwards
Ibiza, located in the Balearics just off the East coast of Spain, and a not too long ferry ride from Denia and Barcelona, continues to draw in tourists from around the world. In fact in the last decade, visitors from outside of Europe have grown massively. And while the summer season can get crowded, it’s not like this all year round and not in every location. There are 12 months in a year and there is a lot more to the White Isle than Ushuaia, Hi, or UNVRs.
With Ibiza being geared up for music events, much of the Island’s tourist industry is built around funnelling people into the big clubs or to attractions such as the Hippy Markets, sunset cruises and daytime pool parties. Ibiza is a funny one, as it has a really defined set of tourist ‘things to do’. But it is home for hundreds of thousands of people year round, and they don’t spend their weekends covering themselves in glitter to dance to Sonny Fodera. So, what do they do?
Spain is still largely quite traditional, family orientated, politically liberal but socially conservative and like all Latin countries, congregating to eat slowly and enjoy one another’s company is a key pastime. In fact we have Ecuadorian friends on the island who routinely try to throw barbecues for us when we visit. Turning down such an invitation is quite the offence. Suffice to say, that while young Spaniards like to party, as a rule, they are quite controlled in how they do this, and see themselves as more reserved than their Northern European contemporaries.
You may have seen protests (fuelled by rising living costs), about tourists in other parts of Spain in recent years, and while housing issues remain for locals (and it is a massive problem), the island is still very pro-tourist, but would just prefer less of the vomit on the pavement type.
So, if you’re looking for non touristy things to do in Ibiza, or ideas of things if you’re not really into clubbing, you’re likely the kind of visitor the locals welcome.
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Why you can trust my take on Ibiza
- Time: I first came to Ibiza in 2000 and have spent a combined total of over 1000 days on the White Isle over 26 years.
- Broad-minded: I do like to party still, life’s too short right? But I also like to take care of my health, which means I like to devote time to pursuits that don’t involve alcohol.
- Language: I can read Spanish, I can get by verbally but I’m not great. So, don’t think these tips are for people who are fluent. I am definitely not!
- Type of traveller: I’ve got a kid, so have done Ibiza as a family, but I also travel solo and with friends; so I think I have a pretty solid handle on things for everyone.
So, here it is, my top 10 ‘Anti-tourist’ things to do in Ibiza
Yes you can go to Pacha or Ushuaia and see DJs like Guetta or Calvin Harris (and you probably should), but what if you want to go to Ibiza and do something that the thousands who landed on the same day as you don’t think of doing? Well for you, here’s my locals guide of things to do that are non touristy in Ibiza. Given what most of the tourism industry in Ibiza is set up around – clubbing, I’ve tried to find things to do in Ibiza if you’re not into clubbing as the core focus. Well except for one recommendation in this list!
Let’s start with one of the simplest pleasures, eating, but – eating an Ibizan delicacy.
#1 Flaò y una cafe con leche (Ibizan cheesecake and a coffee right?)
Flaoing under the radar this one.
Flaò is a local specialty. It is a ‘type’ of cheesecake. I would say it tends to feel more pastry than creamy, and I struggle to put my finger on a close comparison. Suffice to say, it’s tasty, it’s a unique flavour with a hint of mint, and savoured with a coffee at one of Ibiza’s busy morning cafes people watching, is a super easy ‘non touristy’ thing to do, that also seems to catch the waiting staff by surprise.
In case I’ve put you off with ‘cheesy creamy’ which is a wildly poor explanation, the more common form – and my favourite iteration, is a spongy tart, with a mint leaf colouring to it, and usually a nut on top.
I get the impression it’s only your nan who would order this. I love it, and it’s a small gesture of respect to the island to try something they produce locally.
I first discovered it about 17 years ago, while working as a PR on the island. Fresh from destroying my liver every day, I decided to seek out a little coffee shop and do something ‘cultural’. The recommendation was that I try Flaò, and it was a solid shout.
Coffee on the island is decent and it’s cheap. So, do as the Spanish do, grab some Flaò and punch a ‘con leche’ or however you take it and slow the pace of your trip down. All while sitting around people who don’t still have last night’s glitter on them or club stamps on their hands.
Where to try it?
Depending where you are and what you want to look at, I have a couple of go-to options.
The lord move – as in, the ultimate spot, is in Santa Eulalia. Now, you aren’t just going here for a cake, you’re going to sit by the water at a Chiringuito and take in a lovely view, as well as having a cake. It’s called Chiringuito El Bigotes, and you can find it here at Cala Mestalla >>
If you’re close to Ibiza Town or Playa D’En Bossa, then I would take a stroll down to Figuretas to ‘Horizon Ibiza’. Which is a bit swanky but it has a lovely view out to the sea and they do my preferred take on the dessert, the sponge style.
My OG stop in Sant Antoni has sadly closed down, not cake related I assure you. So two options for you. 1, the Gelato form or a little hunt around for the cake format. I would opt for the gelato, and head down to the little ice cream shack close to Golden Buddha on Cala Alto – this place is super cute and it’s called Gelateria Milú. Or the other options are to take away from “Forn can Bufi“, and enjoy along the waterfront; or a stroll up to Rebost Can Prats and you’re tucked away in the back of ‘The West End’ and it just isn’t exactly aspirational. Gelato on the seafront is the one for me.
#2 Check out the Pintxo’s Festival
Who would like this? Families, couples or friends
This one is seasonally dependent, but if you happen to arrive in Ibiza around March and April (May is hotly disputed between myself and my good mate Lee), you can take part in a local custom that heralds the start of a new Ibiza tourism season.
The Pintxo’s Run. This is a collection of hospitality venues scattered around Sant Antoni (“San An”) which open their doors on a Thursday evening for their own tapas offering. They do this alongside serving normal menu fare, but the concept is, that each premises offers their own special personalised tapas. So if you’re a steakhouse, you’re probably going to have a steak themed tapas.
The rule is, the offering needs to be around 3 Euros and it includes a small drink, like a wine or a beer. You will see around 15 locations take part each year and it essentially heralds the opening of the summer season. It’s a way for businesses to market themselves to the locals, and also a good way to test concepts, train staff etc.
The idea is you go from one location to the next, and try everything. The fact you have a drink included at each stop takes me to my next section…
Why I love it?
It’s amazing how a family friendly event to showcase food can really turn into absolute carnage! 😂
I’ve had some of the best parties after a night on the Pinxto’s festival. Usually a few local bars end up running a lock-in, shutters down, DJs out and you party with the locals till the sun rises. It’s one of those magical discovery moments, as wild a night as any and you just didn’t expect it.
So that’s one of the reasons I love it.
Another, is that the whole event brings together the wider community, it’s very family friendly, it’s incredibly safe. The kids congregate and run around, adults relax and it’s gastronomically interesting too. It just has a lot of everything and almost absolutely zero tourists. Well, all except me!
Spanish culture really celebrates kids. And you have this moment of feral charm, where your own English child is playing happily with kids of their own age even if they don’t speak the same language. It’s beautiful, and it means you can try the local beer too – Isleña if you’re wondering.
Where to find it: The route is announced on their Facebook and Insta pages each year. Usually starting in the Bay or by Golden Buddha just before Cala Gracio and Cala Alto. You can find out more on their IG page here >>
What to budget: 20 Euros per person and you can sample plenty. It’s not often anyone actually eats and drinks at every location. You can take your pick.
Where to learn more? As well as the IG page for the festival listed above, you can check out the Sant Antoni tourist office website for more details. Try here >>
#3 Hike to the chapel on the hill – Capella de sa Talaia
On top of a hill, overlooking Sant Antoni, is a small white building. We call it the teletubbie house, but it’s actually a chapel, and that is probably pretty disrespectful of us. It’s known as the Capella De Sa Talaia. Which roughly speaking, means the Chapel of the Watchtower. This chapel, is a great hike target, which if approached from the wrong angle can lead you up a steep, crumbly, quite treacherous slope, which could lead you to panic, and then quit half way up and slide down on your backside, worried as to how you would ever get back down.
I speak quite vividly. Because yes, you guessed it, that was my first experience.
Unaware there was actually a path, myself and my trusted travel companion, picked a spot to park the car and just started scrabbling up. Don’t do this. Just use the damn path.
Anyway, this is a hike and a viewpoint, that’s likely seen wedding proposals, tears, lovemaking, happy dogs and everything else.
Why do I love it? Peak season, when you want to avoid the crowds, there isn’t a tourist in sight. Which is partly due to sanity, it gets hot in the summer and this is a very exposed area, but for me, I love to take stock of a location when I arrive there. Taking a full view of a town, gives you the ability to frame it all, and process what you’re going to do while you’re there. It is also a lovely box tick of ‘get a nice viewpoint photo’. It’s free, it’s a solid heartrate pumper and the destination rewards you with a fantastic view across a Balearic Bay, water twinkling in the sunlight.
After that, it’s all down hill. Just bring water.
Where to take the route from? There are two routes, one longer than the other. The short route, is about 3km and you can grab it here. The longer route is listed on AllTrails. It does say you can access it for free, here but don’t hold me to it always being free and you may have to register too. You can look at the graphic, though and create your own too.
Essentially, head to Cala Des Moro car park and walk up from there.
#4 Visit an Asador
An Asador is a place to eat barbecued meats. It’s a popular Spanish cuisine choice and Ibiza has some great ones. My personal favourite being a rather unassuming place in San Rafael. San Rafael is about 15 minute drive between Sant Antoni and Ibiza Town, but closer to Sant Antoni. It’s a sleepy town in the hills with an Asador so good, it attracts everyone from Marat Safin, to Paddy the Baddy and motorsport glitterati.
It’s Valentino Rossi Moto GP legend’s favourite place to eat, particularly as he has a home a stones throw away.
Why you should do this?
Can Pilot is my personal favourite. As I have said, it’s unassuming, it’s affordable – expect to pay around 30-40 GBP (40-50 Euros) per head for incredible quality meat and a warm welcoming experience in a traditional family run business that draws locals and the occasional celebrity through their doors. But you also have Grill Sant Antoni in Sant Antoni (nice but not at the same level) and Can Mario in Ibiza Town.
You’re getting great food with a traditional take in a restaurant that doesn’t seem to register on the radar of the tourist trail. As Can Pilot is a little outside the majour tourist hubs, it often goes unnoticed by many and that’s their loss. Every time I am on the island, visiting Can PIlot is one of my must do events.
Tip: Book in advance and wear clothes you don’t mind smelling of a barbecue. Because of the latter, we tend to visit on a night we don’t plan on going out after. Casual clothing is the best bet.
How to get there: You can take an Uber/Taxi direct, or hop on a bus. Location >>
#5 The non touristy party destination – Pikes
Just because you want to do non-touristy things, doesn’t mean you don’t like to party, right? If you want to let your hair down, somewhere that won’t look like an extension of O Beach, and who can blame you, then Pikes is your destination.
Formerly the home of Ibiza’s version of Hugh Heffner, Tony Pike, this hotel-come-villaclub is a guestlist only location, that generally is only known about by locals and local seasonal workers. Party photos are limited online as on arrival your phone camera is stickered over and you will be ejected if caught breaking the no camera rule.
Fun fact: Back in the nineties and noughties, it was absolutely verboten to take photos in some of the clubs. This was easier to enforce as cameras were obvious. With the emergence of smartphones and the desire for the ‘Superclubs’ to leverage the marketing effect of customer photography, that rule got lost, but Pikes still soldiers it on, and that means there is a lot less awareness to the mainstream crowd of the venue.
Why I love Pikes
Ask me about two weeks ago, after a Saturday at their opening party and I would have told you I’m not sure, but that’s a by-product of a wild night! Pikes primary marketing is word of mouth, not pictures. It is not glamorous, but it’s not seedy. It feels like a massive villa party and it has a really friendly vibe.
The nature of the property means it has lots of little rooms, and cavern style spaces and you feel like you discover new parts to the venue and new friends every time you go.
Pike is just a wonderful place, artistically decorated and easy to get to from Sant Antoni.
Entrance often costs nothing but a small voluntary donation of 5-10 Euros to a local charity, even if drinks are a little closer to DC10 prices, but with that you have DJ talent, which is frequently amongst some of the best in the world. Previous surprise acts have included Ed Sheeran picking up a guitar and playing while there partying, Idris Elba on the decks and regular names like David Morales, Hot Chip, John Digweed, Sasha, Groove Armada and 2ManyDJs.
They also do an amazing Roast on a Sunday.
Where to learn more: Visit the Pikes Hotel website >>
#6 Pick up a Padel
Padel is one of the world’s fastest growing racquet sports, but in Ibiza and Spain broadly, it’s their go-to choice. The best way to describe it, is a cross between tennis without the complicated serve, and squash but with a more forgiving ball and space to work in. It’s like the tennis version of bowling alleys with the rails up.
What makes this a non touristy thing to do?
Well for a start your average holiday maker isn’t heading to the courts to do this on their long weekend, but more importantly it gives you a chance to meet locals; get a tan, while working off the morning’s Tortilla d’Espana or last night’s Cruzcampo. (A Spanish beer).
Why do I love it?
I don’t want to come back from a holiday feeling like I need to get back into the gym, and while I admit I may not have the healthiest relationship with food and body image, I do enjoy exercise. For me it’s my prayer. If I can go somewhere, work up a sweat and feel like I’ve earned the right to let my hair down later, then I come home from a trip feeling great about myself.
You can say that for anything though. But in Ibiza there are lots of Padel clubs and open sessions where you can learn, or take on all comers. Once you find your feet, you are likely to find you end up playing a game with a few local residents, even if you can barely exchange a sentence with one another. If you can both grasp the language of the sport, which isn’t exactly complex, then you’re communicating all that you need to. Besides, smiles and anguish are internationally understood.
For them it’s smiles, for me it’s a face of pained anguish!
Where to go: Can Padel is my local pick for Sant Antoni. It’s cheap, but can be difficult to reach on insta or Whatsapp. So it is best to go down there during opening hours and try your luck with them.
A more flashy option which turns Padel into an Aperol Spritz post match is the newly opened Bubble Club. Courts here aren’t cheap, so expect to pay around 40-50 Euros per court for Bubble. Still, it’s quite a nice zen style space and a lot less money than a round of spirits in a super club. So…pick your poison. Bubble can be found here >>
#7 Check out the 420 Culture 😉
Interesting quirk of Spanish law is that partakers in the devil’s lettuce, are able to keep a limited number of plants and produce for personal use. This has led to the emergence of a decriminalised cannabis cultivation club system.
This means you can join an association as a member, you pay your dues, and as a paid member can acquire an equivalent quantity of cannabis. You can use this on premise, or you can store it for another day, or as others may or may not do… take home.
Ibiza has several of these associations and they provide a really unique way to unwind and have a drink while on the White Isle. Ibiza town is seeing more and more pop up, but the best name in town is one of the oldest spots and that is the Ibiza Coffee Shop. Locations can change often so I will list their Insta and you can reach out direct >>
Why do I rate this as a thing to do?
I love a board game café, and when you’re in Ibiza, if you’re not in a club, a restaurant or by a pool, you are confined to a hotel room very often. One thing is for sure, no one knows how to lounge, quite like a cannabis smoker. These associations are littered with things to do, in the same way a fun student pub is in the UK and they don’t charge the earth for a drink. These days I’m in the Military Reserve, so it’s not something I can do anymore, but it is something a little different to try out when in Ibiza.
If you aren’t out clubbing every night, and have a night off or 3 in between, it’s still nice to do something. This absolutely nails that category. Doing something actually quite memorable, but not doing a lot at the same time. Chess and a hash cake anyone?
Quick Note: Watch out for CBD cafes/shops, that are just trying to market themselves off the back of the term ‘Weed’ and related items. There are quite a few around, they are not associations and they are just there to catch drunk or naïve tourists.
BONUS My 3 Simple Non-Tourist Pleasures In Ibiza
Sometimes a thing to do, doesn’t have to be a big event, it can just be a simple activity that you don’t experience in the same way elsewhere. I like to ask locals this wherever I go, but for me, in Ibiza my 3 simple pleasures that I could recommend to others are as follows.
#8 Grab a caña looking out to sea
A caña is Spanish for ‘small draught beer’ and is generally served in a Schooner size glass. It’s a bit bigger than a half pint, and it’s not a pint. I’m unsure if there is an official measurement. Nonetheless, with the island being an island, and surrounded by water, it’s easy to find somewhere with a view of the shimmering sea and stop a while.
Whether it’s with a Nasi Goreng at Rita’s Cantina looking out at the Marina in Sant Antoni, or on the roof of the Azuline Bergantin in a frosted glass, there really is something special about a caña under the sun, that is not so large you feel like your day has to cease. Basically you can still function and crack on with your day.
#9 Pennsylvania Burger
I don’t know if this is a simple pleasure or just a ‘you have to go here’ kind of tip, but Penny B’s (not what anyone calls them bar me, and only in the last 5 seconds) is a hugely popular drop in spot for locals in Ibiza. Tucked away in Sant Antoni, you won’t see a tourist in sight, but you will see an enormous grilled chicken sandwich land on your plate for about 8 Euros. Made with their own secret seasoning and the customary marcella hazan sauce. A tomato butter and olive oil style spread that goes on the bread first.
Originally serving was done from a hole in the wall style premises, which would see locals hovering around the street with a beer for while they wait in hand, but after years of success, they have moved across the street to a sit down premise as well. You can try it for yourself here >>
#10 The Supermarket Bocadillo
In the UK and the US you have Subway, while in Ibiza you have deli counters in supermarkets, such as Proxim, Sa Compra and Spar. Take a crusty roll to the deli counter and pick your meats and cheeses, and watch them spread on that beautiful marcella hazan sauce and serve you up a fresh bocadillo for half the price of a Subway and twice the taste.
This was a staple that got many a low-paid seasonal worker through the days and it’s still one of my go to treats when I’m on the island.
So, when’s best to go to Ibiza?
I’m sure I’ll write something more detailed on this in the future, but as a quick guide, if you’re booking around late March to October 31st (Halloween at Pikes is epic) then you’ve picked a pretty strong period.
Of course it will get busier in the peak Summer months. The 6 weeks from July 25th (ish) out to the first week of September are the busiest, and August is the hottest – so I steer clear of those weeks unless I have a specific engagement on etc.
If you are coming with little kids, then the shoulder months will be more affordable, less busy and not as blistering heat for the little ones – I take my son during Easter a lot or around the May bank holiday, and as I have said in other Ibiza guides, if you’re a solo traveller, then really any time of the year works.
Now, time to book that flight!
So, there you have it, a week’s worth of non-touristy things to do in Ibiza, put together by an island regular.
If you have any questions on any of the things I’ve mentioned, drop me a message on Insta or Linkedin, I welcome them. If you have an idea of a non touristy thing to do in Ibiza that I didn’t mention, that please tell me and I’ll check it out when I go back in a month or so. I find that even when I am just typing down my thoughts in these guides, I re-remember something and kick myself for not doing when out last.
If you need some idea on where to stay in Ibiza, try this guide for solo travellers and digital nomads after.
Read Next: Where to stay in Ibiza for Solo Travellers
