Sant Joan de Labritja (Map)

San Juan, located in the northeastern part of the island, is the smallest municipality of Ibiza, both in terms of size and population. The main village, with its charming village atmosphere, is nestled amidst the hills of Es Amunts; tourist activity, along with the related hotel constructions, has developed only around the three larger sandy beaches—Port de Sant Miquel, Portinatx, and Cala de Sant Vicent.

The 18th-century fortified church of San Juan is quite atypical for Ibiza's architecture, with its tall, pointed bell tower. The key to the church can be obtained from the nearby Bar Vista Alegre, which has preserved the charm of old Ibiza. The whole village exudes tranquility and that feeling of "letting the soul relax," which in the 60s and 70s attracted so many hippies. This scene has remained here much more than in the rest of Ibiza: Esotericists, mystics, naturopaths, astrologers, and ecologists—an entire range of alternative lifestyle practitioners offer their services. The town hall is tucked away in a side street near the church square.

Sant Miquel de Balansat (Map)

The impressive fortified church of San Miguel, high in the northern part of the island, stands proudly overlooking the land. It was built in the 14th century and expanded several times. In the later-added Capella de Benirràs, 17th-century frescoes were discovered, which were meticulously restored by international experts in 1994. Folk dance performances take place every Thursday at 6 p.m. on the church square. The Colla de Balansat is the oldest folklore group on the island and also performs at festivals abroad.

Below the church hill, the village stretches along the road that connects to Santa Gertrudis. The numerous buildings are an example of the uninspired architecture of modern times.

Two beautiful excursions lead down to Port de Sant Miquel, which is no longer a harbor but rather a tourist beach. Almost at the water's edge, a narrow path leads left, which goes up over the small Caló des Motons to the old watchtower Torre des Molar. The path is poorly marked with blue paint spots, but once you reach the destination, the magnificent view of the sea and the Benirràs bay makes the effort worthwhile.

On the other side, a road leads past the hotels uphill to the cave Cova de Can Marçà. The cave, whose entrance is only 12 meters above sea level, was long used by smugglers who could access it directly from their ship. Their color markings can still be seen today. To make the stalactites and stalagmites appear even more impressive, the tour ends with a dramatic light and water show accompanied by music.

Sant Vicent de sa Cala (Map)

From San Juan, a winding road leads east along a former riverbed to the sea. Halfway, you'll find the village of San Vicente, undoubtedly the smallest on the island. The associated buildings—school, grocery store, pub—are so scattered across the landscape that at first, you may find yourself standing alone in front of the church. This church, dating from the 19th century, was the last to be built as a fortified church.

A visit to the Es Culleram cave on Puig des Clapers is worthwhile. If you continue on the main road from Sant Vicent toward the sea, you'll see the red signs pointing the way. In Phoenician times, this cave, which offers a magical view of Cala de San Vicente, served as a sanctuary for the priestesses of Tanit. It is divided into several main and secondary natural chambers. In 1907, a large number of terracotta figurines were discovered here, all of which are now housed in a museum, including the famous Tanit bust, whose replicas can be found in every souvenir shop. In recent years, the island council has organized guided tours; ask at the tourist office for more details.

Sant Llorenç de Balàfia (Map)

Deep in the island’s interior lies San Lorenzo. However, this did not prevent pirates from advancing even as far as here. San Lorenzo owes its name to the old watchtowers of Balàfia, the only ones not located along the coast. The few houses are tightly clustered around the three towers, where the farmers of the fertile plain of Es Pla d'Atzaró sought refuge in times of danger. The small medieval fortress is worth a visit, but please remember that the buildings are still inhabited.

Behind the 18th-century fortified church lies a small nature reserve with a picnic area, offering a lovely view of the rural landscape. A school, two pubs, a few houses, and a large parking lot for tourist buses make up the rest of the village.

Portinatx (Map)

Portinatx is the northernmost point of Ibiza. It is a large holiday resort with many hotels, several streets, bars, restaurants, shops, a mini-golf course, and more.