For Authentic Ibiza, Visit in the Winter
For Authentic Ibiza, Visit in the Winter Gallery
A patio at Cas Gasi during the winter
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth WellingtonThe grounds of Cas Gasi in Ibiza
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth WellingtonThe entrance to Cas Gasi boutique hotel
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth WellingtonEmbroidered pillows and fabrics at La Galeria Elefante in Ibiza
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth WellingtonHome goods at La Galeria Elefante
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth WellingtonJewelry and a vintage top hat at La Galeria Elefante
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth WellingtonA street in the village of Santa Gertrudis de Fruitera, Ibiza
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth WellingtonThe fireplace in one Atzaró Hotel and Spa's beautiful rooms
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth WellingtonA winding street in Dalt Vila, Ibiza's old town
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth WellingtonA beautiful home in Dalt Vila, Ibiza's old town
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth WellingtonA hidden walkway in Dalt Vila, Ibiza's old town
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth WellingtonA neighborhood cat in Dalt Vila, Ibiza's old town
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth WellingtonOne of the entrances to Dalt Vila, Ibiza's old town
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth WellingtonThe church of Santa Inés
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth WellingtonAlmond blossoms in Santa Inés valley
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth WellingtonOrange trees against a white finca in Ibiza
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth WellingtonA quiet coastline in Ibiza
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth WellingtonA sunny day at Es Cavallet beach in Ibiza
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth WellingtonPaella at La Escollera restaurant
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth WellingtonA bench at Casa Maca with Dalt Vila rising in the distance
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth WellingtonThe view from a horseback ride through Es Murta nature park with Ibiza Horse Valley
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth WellingtonHorses at Ibiza Horse Valley
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth WellingtonBella, the alpha mare at Ibiza Horse Valley
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth WellingtonSunset in Santa Inés valley
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth WellingtonIbiza has many faces. Although the Balearic island evokes visions of a hedonistic nightlife, it’s easier than you would think to discover its deeper legacies. First settled by Phoenicians in 654 BC, the island’s storied past and protected ecosystems make it a singular destination, possibly more pleasurable without its riotous music scene.
White-washed farms tucked into the island’s lilting hills and sage-colored olive groves remind visitors that Ibiza has long been an agrarian island—one that was home to even more chickens and citrus trees before welcoming the bohemian wave of the 1960s, and later the music scene that brought the island to glitzier fame.
In the winter, the island sheds the sparkles for a more subdued richness: terra cotta soil, perennial wildflowers, almond blossoms, citrus trees, quiet mornings in Mediterranean coves. For visitors who want to experience to the island wrapped in authenticity, the months of January and February beckon. Here are the most enchanting places to visit, stay and eat during Ibiza’s off-season.
What to Do
Explore North Ibiza on Horseback
Ringed in Mediterranean blue and whipped with winter wind, the Es Murta nature park leads to a narrow valley that’s home to 16 horses, two roosters, and an irreverent cat named Captain. At Ibiza Horse Valley, a sanctuary for maltreated and abandoned island horses, you can take an awe-inspiring tour of Ibiza’s wild north on horseback.
Before hopping on a horse, the non-profit founders David Capdevielle and Monique Tjon shared each animal’s compelling story and explained how they rehabilitate horses in a peaceful herd. I chose Peachy, a gentle but independent mare who takes care of her riders (much to my gratitude). After I bonded with my companion, we took a long walk accompanied by Capdevielle up and down the valleys, saving time to linger on mesmerizing views of the Mediterranean and soak up the subtle scent of wild herbs that press out of the hillsides.
Hike Through the Blossoms of Saint Agnes
Ibiza’s crowning glory during the winter months sits in the valley of Santa Inés (Santa Agnès in Catalan). Beyond the village, with its two local restaurants and white-washed church, is a patchwork quilt of almond trees, which bloom into a blanket of blush and white blossoms during the month of February. A 30-minute walk to Mirador Las Puertas del Cielo—or a short drive, if you’re not up for the climb—gives you breathtaking views of the valley’s early spring. At the top, you’ll see a local restaurant, Restaurante Las Puertas Del Cielo, poised in a pine grove. Continue on the path past medieval ruins to the lookout of the same name (Mirador Las Puertas del Cielo) for a stunning seaside vista over Ses Margalides island.
Walk Dalt Vila
Dalt Vila, Ibiza’s fortified old town, rests on a promontory overlooking the city’s harbor and the glistening sea. This UNESCO Heritage Site falls into a peaceful quiet during the winter, broken only by the rustle of wind and the purrs of friendly neighborhood cats. Its ambling streets lined in white-washed houses are worth a long, restful wander. Start at the top and make your way down, stopping at the Museu Puget. Housed in a 15th-century home, the free museum highlights the works of two local artists, Narcis Puget Vinas (1874 - 1960) and his son Narcis Puget Riquer (1916 - 1983). Both the older and the younger Puget bring the traditions of Ibiza’s small villages into clear focus and beautifully render the essence of the island in an earlier time.
Shop at La Galeria Elefante
Designer Victoria Durrer Gasse’s devotion to Ibiza and reverence for travel have manifested in a ten-room concept shop, La Galeria Elefante, housed in a traditional farmhouse near Santa Gertrudis. Durrer Gasse’s curation of handmade home goods, eclectic finds, and local art serves as a collective ode to the island’s vibe: both distinctly Ibizan and undoubtedly global. Wander through the galleries to the room that showcases Durrer Gasse’s own fashion designs, all ethically made and sold alongside an alluring mix of vintage clothing.
Where to Eat
Wild Beets
In Santa Gertrudis, Wild Beets draws inspiration from Ibiza’s hippie history with a contemporary vegan menu that could charm even a carnivore. Although the restaurant also includes a thriving juice bar, the kitchen shines in transforming clean ingredients into delectable brunch plates like raw walnut banana pancakes or zucchini lasagna layered with cashew ricotta, pistachio pesto, and red pepper marinara.
La Escollera
Seasonal beachfront restaurants are ubiquitous on Ibiza during the summer, but one of the island’s most notable is also open year round. Make a reservation for a table by the window at La Escollera, a family-run restaurant and the go-to spot for fashionable locals. Here, you can dine on views of Es Cavallet beach, which stretches to the island’s Southernmost tower, Torre De Ses Portes, and out to Formentera. As for the handwritten menu: start with the codfish croquettes before indulging in one of their crispy paellas. Top off your meal with a shot of Hierbas Ibicencas, a local anise-flavored liqueur and a walk along the nearby salt flats.
Casa Maca
Casa Maca overlooks beautiful Dalt Vila from a sloping hill above Ibiza town. Sundays here are always bustling given that the kitchen lights up an outside grill for a Spanish barbecue. I began lunch with a thick slice of Sobrassada sausage and Manchego cheese before diving into a medley of grilled meat and seasonal vegetables. A haunt for the island’s British ex-pats, Casa Maca also serves up a traditional Sunday roast, complete with a Yorkshire pudding. Whatever your fancy, plan on posting up here for an entire afternoon.
Where to Stay
Cas Gasi
At the boutique hotel Cas Gasi, Margaret Von Korff and her husband greeted me with warm smiles and a bottle of red wine to sip next to a crackling fireplace. The couple restored this stunning 19th-century farmhouse surrounded by 450 olive trees, orange groves, and a sprinkling of fig trees with a deep dedication to its Ibicenco legacy. Paintings from island artists, elegant antiques, and white-washed walls set the scene for a luxurious getaway that feels like visiting a dear friend’s joyous Mediterranean retreat.
Atzaró Hotel and Spa
On a sprawling orange farm in the northeast of the island, Atzaró boasts luxe amenities and decadent spa just 10 minutes from local beaches. The owner, Victor Guasch, was born in the farmhouse at the heart of the property and transformed his family home into a high-end hotel 15 years ago. Our cozy room mirrored the simplicity of island style: white-washed walls, crisp neutral linens, a personal fireplace pre-stacked with wood. During the winter, the hotel’s yoga classes draw locals from around the island; join a class for free before ducking into one of their spa rooms for a soothing massage.
