Lively Island or Sleepy Island
Ibiza gives couples a balance that is hard to find elsewhere in the Balearics. Spend the day on a quiet north coast cove and the evening at a sunset bar or a restaurant in Dalt Vila. The island's hippie past still shows in weekend craft markets selling leather, linen and jewelry. On Sunday evenings drummers gather at Benirràs beach to play the sun down. It is cosmopolitan without being stiff, the kind of place where you dress up for dinner and then walk barefoot on the sand.
Formentera does very little, which is the point. Its best-known beach, Ses Illetes, is a narrow strip of sand inside the Ses Salines Natural Park with water on both sides. You can spend a week swimming from a different beach each day, eating grilled fish at beach restaurants and watching sunsets from the cliffs without ever needing a plan. Nights are calm, with dinner in Sant Francesc or Es Pujols.
Ibiza suits couples who like options. Formentera suits couples who want none.
The Water and the Sand
Formentera wins on beaches. Ses Illetes and Migjorn, the long south coast beach, have white sand and water in shades of turquoise usually seen in the Caribbean. On calm days you can wade or swim from the tip of the Ses Illetes spit to Espalmador, a small islet with a quiet beach. Cala Saona, a west-facing cove with red cliffs, is good for snorkeling and sunsets. The sea warms into the 70s Fahrenheit, often warmest in September. Bring shade and reef-safe sunscreen, since there are few trees on the beaches.
Ibiza's beaches are mostly coves, rocky or pebbly at the edges, with remarkably clear water. Cala Xarraca on the north coast is a favorite for swimming. A private boat from Santa Eulària or Ibiza Town reaches coves that cannot be reached by car. Cala d'Hort in the southwest has the island's great sunset view, with the jagged islet of Es Vedrà rising from the sea.
For pure beach time, Formentera. For coves plus scenery, Ibiza.
Where Couples Stay
Ibiza has a bigger and more varied hotel scene. Base yourselves according to how much nightlife you want. The north, around Sant Joan de Labritja, Sant Miquel and Portinatx, is quietest and greenest. Six Senses Ibiza steps down a hillside to Cala Xarraca at the island's far northern tip, a wellness resort with 137 places to stay, from roughly $950 a night. Cliffside hotels near Sant Miquel have famous sunset views. Inland agroturismos among orange groves have spas and pools. Ibiza Town suits couples who want Dalt Vila within walking distance. Avoid Sant Antoni unless the party scene is the plan.
Formentera's rooms are limited, so book early. Gecko Hotel & Beach Club sits right on Migjorn with 30 rooms and a pool at the sea's edge, from roughly $450. Hotel Cala Saona & Spa overlooks its west-facing cove with an infinity pool for sunset. Es Marès Hotel & Spa is a village choice in Sant Francesc. Both start at roughly $350. Private villas with pools are popular. All rates are approximate summer figures.
Getting Around Each Island
Both islands are reached through Ibiza Airport (IBZ), usually via Barcelona or Madrid with an hour-long flight, or another European hub. United has announced a seasonal summer nonstop from Newark, so check whether it is flying on your dates.
On Ibiza, rent a car or hire a driver, since many coves and country hotels are far from bus routes. The airport is about 15 minutes from Ibiza Town and 30 to 40 minutes from the north coast. Book rental cars early for summer, when supply runs short and prices climb. Taxi lines can be long in August, so prebook transfers.
Formentera has no airport. A taxi takes about 20 minutes from Ibiza Airport to Ibiza port, then fast ferries reach La Savina in about 30 minutes, every 30 to 60 minutes in summer. On the island, rent a scooter, e-bike or small car in La Savina. Formentera limits visiting vehicles in high summer, so rent locally. Signposted green routes make cycling easy, though midday heat can be intense. Wear helmets.
Lunches, Dinners and Sunsets
On both islands, beach restaurants are a highlight, with whole grilled fish and salads at tables on the sand. Ibiza's traditional dish is bullit de peix, a fish stew followed by rice cooked in the broth, sometimes ordered a day ahead. Look for local lamb, salt from Ses Salines, flaó cheesecake with mint and hierbas, the herbal liqueur served cold after dinner. Farm restaurants grow their own vegetables. Dalt Vila's small squares make the most romantic dinner setting. Reservations are essential in July and August.
Formentera's menus lean on seafood: lobster stew, seafood rice and ensalada payesa with potatoes, peppers and dried fish. Juan y Andrea, on the beach at Ses Illetes, is one of the best-known lunch spots, so book ahead in summer. Many beach restaurants stay open through sunset for a romantic early dinner.
For sunset, Ibiza has Cala d'Hort facing Es Vedrà, where you should arrive an hour early. Formentera has the Cap de Barbaria lighthouse, where couples gather on the rocks.
Seasons and Budget
The two share a season. June and September are ideal, with warm sea and open beach restaurants but fewer crowds than midsummer. Late May and early October are pleasant, with shorter hours at some venues. July and August are peak season. On Ibiza, hotel and car prices jump, beaches fill and traffic builds, though the north still feels calm. On Formentera, day-trippers arrive from Ibiza, yachts crowd the anchorages off Ses Illetes and rates climb sharply, so visit popular beaches early or late.
From November to April much of both islands closes. Many hotels, restaurants and boat operators shut, so check that your hotel and ferry are running if you travel then.
Ibiza's luxury end is pricier, with top resorts near $1,000 a night in summer. Formentera's good hotels run roughly $300 to $700 a night in summer, with villas higher. Both charge the Balearic sustainable tourism tax per person per night. All figures are approximate and drop noticeably in May and early October.
Splitting a Week Between Them
With a 30-minute ferry between them, combining the two is effortless. A popular plan is four nights on Ibiza in the north, with a sunset at Cala d'Hort, a boat day and dinner in Dalt Vila, followed by three or four nights on Formentera for pure beach time. Finishing on Formentera means you end at the slowest pace, then take the ferry back to Ibiza for your flight.
If you only want one base, consider which you would miss more. Couples on Formentera can still visit Ibiza for a night out, though most honeymooners rarely make the trip. Couples on Ibiza can take a day trip to Formentera, renting a scooter or e-bike to reach Ses Illetes and eating grilled fish on the beach.
On both, respect the Posidonia meadows. Anchoring on them is restricted. A good skipper will know the rules. Carry cash for small beach bars and markets and water when cycling.
