The best things to do in Formentera
From idyllic beaches to bike routes, discover the best things to do in Formentera and make the most of your trip.
Much more than beaches
Formentera is known for its crystal-clear water and laid-back atmosphere. But the island is much more than a place to lie in the sun. People come here to enjoy nature, take things slowly, discover hidden corners and have experiences you won’t find anywhere else.
If it’s your first time, these are the things you shouldn’t miss.
1. Visit ses Illetes
There’s no getting around it: it’s Formentera’s most famous beach, and rightly so. White sand, shallow water and a protected setting within ses Salines Natural Park. Do get there early to avoid the crowds, though. In season (in 2026, from 10 May to 15 October), non-residents have to pay to enter the Natural Park by car or motorbike; on foot, by bike or in an electric vehicle it’s free. By bike you can get there from la Savina in about 15 minutes along green route 1.
Ses Illetes. Photo: Isla Azul Formentera
2. Head up to the la Mola lighthouse
The lighthouse stands at the island’s eastern tip, on the edge of a cliff around 120 metres high that drops straight into the sea. It’s one of the places with the best views in Formentera (the island’s highest point, sa Talaiassa, at 192 metres, is on the same plateau). Next to the lighthouse there’s a monument to Jules Verne, who mentioned it in his novel Hector Servadac. Since 2019 the building has housed a cultural space. It’s closed on Mondays and from 1 December to 11 February; check the opening times on Formentera’s official tourism website before you go.
If you enjoy walking, you can climb up to la Mola from es Caló along the camí de sa Pujada (green route 25), known as the Roman road: a 4 km climb rated as hard, with panoramic views of the island.
La Mola lighthouse. Photo: shaorang from Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz, España, CC BY-SA 2.0
3. Go for a bike ride around Formentera
Formentera has 32 signposted green routes, many of them suitable for cycling. Along them you’ll come across fields of fig and almond trees, traditional farmhouses, quiet coves and sleepy villages. You don’t need to be a keen cyclist: there are routes for every level.
Formentera by bike. Photo: Ana Ulin, CC BY-SA 2.0
4. Explore the estany des Peix
This saltwater lagoon next to la Savina is connected to the sea and ideal for kayaking or paddleboarding. The setting is very peaceful and the scenery is completely different from the rest of the island.
Estany des Peix. Photo: Isla Azul Formentera
5. Eat well with a view
Here you don’t just eat well, you eat well with a view. There are seafront restaurants serving fresh fish, rice dishes and local wines. If you like to take your time over a meal while gazing at the water, you’ll feel right at home.
6. Hire a boat
One of the best ways to see the island is from the sea. Boat hire in Formentera lets you reach coves that are hard to get to by land, anchor off the coast, go snorkelling and enjoy the sea at your own pace. At Isla Azul we hire out boats with or without a skipper and set off from the port of la Savina. Bear in mind that, since 1 October 2026, to hire a boat without a skipper you need at least the Licencia de Navegación (Spain’s basic boating licence); if you don’t have it, you can hire the boat with a skipper. And a tip: always drop anchor on sand, never on posidonia seagrass, as that is prohibited in the Balearic Islands.
7. Watch the sunset at Cap de Barbaria
It’s one of the most special moments of the day. The Cap de Barbaria lighthouse, at the island’s south-western tip, offers an unforgettable sunset in an arid landscape open to the sea. Past the lighthouse, a path to the right leads to the cave that appears in the film Sex and Lucía, looking straight out to sea; take great care, as it’s right on the cliff edge.
From 15 May to 15 October, cars and motorbikes can’t drive all the way to the lighthouse: you park in the Allà Dins car park, before the barrier, and do the last stretch on foot or by bike.
Sunset at Cap de Barbaria. Photo: Beni Marull, CC BY-SA 4.0
8. Browse the craft markets
Especially the one in el Pilar de la Mola, which opens on Wednesdays and Sundays from 4 pm to 10 pm, from early May to mid-October. There you’ll find one-off pieces made by local artisans: clothes, ceramics, jewellery, musical instruments… A great way to take home an authentic souvenir.
El Pilar de la Mola craft market. Photo: Samu from Alpedrete, Spain, CC BY 2.0
Formentera has famous beaches, but also small, quiet coves such as Caló des Mort, es Ram and ses Platgetes. Sometimes you have to walk a little, but it’s well worth the effort. In season (from 15 May to 15 October) you can’t park at the access points to Caló des Mort and es Ram; you can only stop briefly to drop off passengers.
Ses Platgetes. Photo: Vriullop, CC BY-SA 3.0
10. Stay somewhere with character
There’s nothing like staying in a rural house, a small family-run hotel or an apartment near the sea. Formentera is full of small places to stay with real personality, and that’s part of its magic.
An island to take slowly
The best way to enjoy Formentera is to take your time. Explore it slowly, without a map or a fixed plan. Stop wherever takes your fancy, chat to the locals, and let yourself be carried along by what you see and what you feel.
