There is a wealth of things to do on Formentera, from eating in great restaurants and beach clubs, to seeing beautiful nature, having fun on the water, drinking great cocktails and even going out for a late night dance and drink. Check out our great guide on how to get there and get around.
Gastronomy and restaurants
There are many restaurants all across Formentera offering traditional dishes such as peix sec (dried fish), a star local ingredient that is used in the ensalada payesa salad that features on many restaurant menus. Other typical local dishes to look out for are squid cooked in its own ink, fish stew (bullit de peix) and meat stew (sofrit pagès) as well as fried lamb (frit de bestiar).
Many of the world's cuisines are represented on the island, such as Japanese and Indian. As well as much Mediterranean food, some of it local, some of it more Spanish in style. There are also many Italian restaurants, offering the finest of that country's food, often incorporating local products and adding to the Formenterense cooking canon.
Fresh fish is of course on most menus, as befits the island's history of fishing having been a key industry. Some of the best places to enjoy fresh fish and seafood are the beach restaurants of Playa Illetes and Playa Migjorn. Some of these can be expensive, so you might want to venture to more affordable restaurants in the capital of San Francisco or the resort of Es Pujols. These two places have the largest concentration of eateries, though wherever you are, a place to find good food is never far away.
Nightlife
Unlike the super-club Mecca that is Ibiza, Formentera's nightlife is more laid-back, but that does not mean you still can't have fun; in fact there's nightlife aplenty.
There is no better way to start your evening than with a drink in one of the many beach chiringuitos. The choice varies from small rustic beach huts to luxurious beach clubs with their own pool.
The resort of Es Pujols is where you will find the most buzzing nightlife, with bars open late on the main road to the beach and in the streets around it. It's typical to see people drinking into the early hours of the morning here. There are also some small discos where you can enjoy an eclectic music selection and dance until dawn.
On summer evenings, the programme 'Música en las plazas' brings live music to the villages of Formentera. Enjoy these small open air concerts once a week in La Savina, Es Pujols, San Fernando and San Francisco - ask your accommodation or the Formentera tourist information for the exact days.
Markets
A trip to Formentera is not complete without a visit to a market and what typifies these is the high quantity of craftsmen that make the goods for sale themselves. At these markets, you will find some truly original pieces of jewellery, ceramics, clothing and art.
The biggest and the best of these is at La Mola from the beginning of May until "Pilar Day" in mid October. It takes place on Wednesdays and Sundays from 16:30 to 22:00 and there's also live music with a good number of the bars taking part in the event. You will also find workshops at the side of the market where artisans sell some truly astonishing works.
The art-filled artisan night market in San Fernando (Sant Ferran) is worth a visit and opens on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings from end of May till end of September. This market has become a meeting point for painters and artists of the island and is an important place for them to exhibit their own art works. Occasionally activities are put on for kids and on Saturdays there is also live music.
The morning craft market in San Francisco has a wealth of goods and is open from 10:00 to 14:00 each day from May till October. Furthermore, there is a second-hand market in the island capital, each Tuesday and Saturday from 11:00 to 14:00, all year round.
Small street markets can be found, with the same high quality of goods as in other markets of the island too. La Savina's port market is on every day during the summer (from end of May to end September), from morning till midnight, and on the main promenade of Es Pujols the street market runs each day from May to October from early evening to midnight.
Please check the actual times of the markets here.
Water sport
A big of water sports ia available on Formentera and, with such unspoilt natural beauty, it is not hard to see why. There are also many great kayak routes, with different ones for all ability levels too.
Thanks to the clarity of the sea and the warm sea temperatures, Formentera is ideal for snorkelling from its beaches, where you will be able to see some amazing underwater treasures. The sea conditions are also great for diving and here you can do anything from a beginner's introduction courses to ones given by PADI-trained professionals.
Companies offering a variety of watersports' activities can be found in La Savina, Es Pujols and Playa Illetes.
Greenway paths for walking and cycling
Covering over 100 km, the 32 greenways that traverse the island are the perfect way to get around and discover beautiful nature and landmarks by foot or on a bike. Going at slower pace, it is the ideal way to take in what is can be found in the landscape. A detailed guide is available with all the greenways listed on the official tourist website for Formentera, with a summary or routes, what to see and all have a difficulty rating from easy to difficult.
You can download the greenway guide as pdf-file here.
Note that not all greenways are navigable by bike. You can hire bikes easily, including electric ones and ones for kids.
Boat charters
You can rent a variety of boats, some of which require a boat captain's licence and some which do not. You can rent a boat with a skipper, which is the best option if you have never sailed, or one without if you have. Get to explore parts of the island you might not normally see, including a wealth of hard-to-access beaches and some stunning coastline.
Things to see
The lighthouses of La Mola and Cap de Barbaria
In the south of the island is the lighthouse of La Mola, which you can reach via rural land that feels as if you are taking a step back in time. Once there, expect to take in some awe-inspiring views from the clifftop.
To see an amazing sunset plus views of Es Vedrà, the lighthouse of Cap de Barbaria in the south west is a must do spot. It is only accessible by foot, bike or scooter down a narrow road via an arid, almost lunar landscape. Once there, you will feel a true sense of solitude. From the lighthouse, it's just a short ten-minute walk east to the 18th century defence tower of Torre des Garroveret.
Museu Etnològic (ethnological museum) San Francisco
A small museum, with free entrance, that packs in a lot of interesting artefacts and information about how the people of Formentera used to live. As well as displays of how people dressed, you can find agricultural implements and utensils and details of traditional occupations like salt production and fishing.
Ca Na Costa megalithic graves
Between Es Pujols and the inland lake of Estany Pudent in the north of Formentera are the oldest tombs of the Balearics, the megalithic graves of Ca Na Costa. Here you will find a circular chamber of large slabs of stones surrounded by paving that dates back to 2000 BCE. Eight bodies were excavated in total, as well as ceramics. To get there, exit Es Pujols and take the road towards Playa Illetes. On the way, there is a turning on the left that is signposted.
The salt lakes of Estany de Peix and Estany de Pudent
Just outside La Savina is the smaller of Formentera's inland salt lakes, Estany de Peix, which is where the locals moor their boats and is also a great place to do watersports, thanks to its calm waters.
Next to it, and going east from La Savina, is the larger lake of Estany de Pudent, so called for the pungent smell of decomposing algae. Here, it's a good idea to wear mosquito repellent in summer. Both are worth a visit, are stunningly pretty and make great spots for taking some great photographs.
Ses Salines salt flats
A remnant of the first ever important industry of the island, salt production, now no longer in use. The Ses Salines salt flats are situated just outside of La Savina, on the way to Playa Illetes, and are truly beautiful. Tinged with hues of pink, these bodies of water are home to many species of wild birds, especially considering its size. There are two information centres in either San Francisco or at Can Marroig, near to La Savina, an ideal activity for nature lovers and families.
