Though Ibiza is renowned for its clement weather year-round, there can be seasonal changes, meaning grey skies, winds and downpours. Fortunately, the island still offers plenty of things to keep you entertained.
Read on for inspiration and make sure to read our article on indoor and outdoor play areas if you're on holiday on Ibiza with kids.
Join a food tour
Let Ibiza Food Tours educate your taste buds with a guided walk through the charming nooks and crannies of Ibiza Town. Here you will sample some famous cured Jamon Ibérico ham, tapas, cheeses, teas, wines and the popular local tipple, hierbas. The tours are offered in the early evening, last three and a half hours, and the fare is equivalent to an evening meal. Though we do recommend that you arrive hungry!
Explore the island's natural beauty
Grey days and lower temperatures are ideal for getting out and discovering the island's stunning natural beauty. Take advantage of less crowded beaches, go for a stroll along the strand and shelter in a pine forest if rain falls. Walking Ibiza holds lots of weekly walks, while, for the more adventurous, Balearic Outdoor Adventures offers bespoke hikes.
Go to a beach club and enjoy the sea spectacle
If you want luxury on a grey day, head to a beach club or beach restaurant, where you will still get excellent food and drinks in plush surroundings and an atmospheric view of the beach. There's no such thing as a dull day in these opulent settings.
Visit one of the museums
Ibiza does have a good number of museums for an island its size, ranging from contemporary art and Ibiza's Moorish or Phoenician past to folk museums showcasing the customs and traditions of life in the country centuries ago. You'll also find a good number of private galleries filled by their benefactors with stunning modern art.
Get a tattoo
Now could be your chance to get that tattoo you've been thinking about. Between Ibiza and San Antonio, you'll find Lindo Vicio, who specialises in tribal-ethnic and dot work. If you are around Ibiza Town, pop down to El Flaco, which offers tattoos and micro-dermal piercing.
Bowling
If a spot of ten-pin bowling is right up your alley then head for Friend's Kitchen Ibiza American Diner in Playa den Bossa. And once you've struck out, check out their tasty range of classic American food and drinks. Definitely one for all the family!
Get to know Ibiza's villages
With many lovely White Isle villages, now is the time to go and see them. From the picture-postcard prettiness of San Agustín and its terrific countryside views to the hilly village of San Juan, you'll find charm and character in abundance. Check out the original hippy haunt Bar Anita in San Carlos, where you'll see the postboxes that the locals still use to this day. Here is our guide to all the towns and villages on Ibiza.
Visit a market
Ibiza has great hippy, artisan and local produce markets, some of which take place year-round. Whether you want jewellery, a great hat, handmade soaps, artisan food or that perfect gift for someone back home, you'll find it here. Take a peek at our popular markets page to find when they are on and where to find them.
Visit the Can Marça caves
Step into another era and see centuries old-stalagmites in the mysterious caves of Can Marça. Once a smuggler's refuge for contraband, today it's a fascinating local spectacle with multi-level, luminous pools of green water and superb light and sound show that accompanies a waterfall, making it plenty of fun. Located near Puerto de San Miguel, you'll have a nice trip out too.
Discover art in unusual places
Art isn't just found in museums. Ibiza has many treats for the eyes in places you wouldn't expect. A great way to experience urban art is to join the free tour of San Antonio & Street Art, a 2.5-hour walking tour that will open your eyes to the surprising art and history hidden away in the popular resort of San Antonio.
Learn some Spanish
When you visit Ibiza, a few words of Spanish go a long way to curry favour with the locals. No one would expect you to learn the Catalan dialect Ibicenco, though brushing up on your Spanish is great fun, and you really will get a lot out of it. Talk to the locals in bars or simply download an app like Duolingo and enrich your life. Or, you could even look into doing one of the language courses offered weekly at the Instituto de Idiomas Ibiza.
Pamper yourself
Why not ride out the storm or just a gloomy day by having a high-end treatment in a spa or massage centre. Two spectacular spas are those of Pure Seven at 7Pines Luxury Resort near Cala Conta and La Posidonia Spa in Hotel Hacienda Na Xamena in San Miguel, with its jaw-dropping cliff-top setting. If it's a therapeutic massage you are after, try the experts at Terysol Massage in San Antonio who do everything from Indian head massage to deep tissue work. Check out our article for a full lowdown on the best spas on Ibiza.
Personal wellness
Why not use a rainy day to bend and breathe your way to bliss? Here are two of our favourite spots on the island to help you rejuvenate and connect with your inner self.
At Can Tao yoga centre, just outside the lovely village of San Juan, avail yourself of the services of multi-talented wellness instructor Jessi Mierzwa, whose holistic practices are designed to enrich soul and body. If you don´t fancy leaving home, she is also available to teach in private villas around the island.
Located close to the famed sunset strip, in the resort of San Antonio, IBZ Balance is a veritable sanctuary for those in search of physical, mental, and spiritual rejuvenation. It offers all sorts of holistic activities, massages, treatments as well as nutritional consultations. Private group sessions can be booked on request.
Check out what's on at the Cinema
A trip to the cinema is a great indoor thing to do, and you can't beat watching a film on the big screen. On Ibiza, many original language films can be seen, often in English (look for en inglés and/or VO Versión Original) and other languages with Spanish subtitles. Enjoy the latest blockbusters and classics at Cine Regio in San Antonio and Teatro España in Santa Eulalia and get back into movies. Find full details here.
Shop for fashion in Ibiza's famed boutiques
Clothes shopping is always fun, so, on a day when you need to be indoors, why not spend it browsing for some of the fashion that has made Ibiza famous? Designers abound, some with their own boutiques, or, if your budget is smaller, try one of the La Sirena/Art stores dotted around the island for high-street brands at affordable prices.
Have fun go-karting
Step on the gas as you race around the Ibiza Karting track just outside San Antonio. Get competitive with timed laps around the track but remember, it's an unspoken rule that the slowest driver has to buy lunch at the track's café. With special karts for the little ones and a fun play area, the whole family can enjoy the day here. Take note that this activity is not available when it's raining.
History, eco-activities and walking tours in and around Ibiza Town
Cool, cloudy days are the ideal time to explore the historic Phoenician Ruins of Sa Caleta or the atmospheric cave dedicated to the island goddess Tanit in Cala San Vicente, without breaking a sweat. A visit to the walled citadel of Dalt Vila in Ibiza Town on one of the free walking tours in multiple languages is a great way to guide you through the capital's rich history.
Lastly, if you'd like to discover the beauty of Dalt Vila (the Old Town), its inhabitants, ancestral culture and true essence in an active, participatory way then don't miss one of the fantastic guided tours and workshops on offer.
While away the time in a café or bar
How about seeking out a cosy local bar for some typical Spanish tapas. Try a typical Ibizan breakfast of pan con tomate (bread with tomato) with a cafe con leche (milky coffee), or for those who need something a little more invigorating, a carajillo, essentially a long espresso topped up with brandy or Baileys liqueur to warm your heart. Then, plan what to do when the sun comes back out.
Another great source for ideas is our daily updated event calendar.
