Formentera is a heavenly destination, indeed, and once you are here enjoying the island you won’t want to leave—of that I’m sure! But sometimes, for a number of reasons, we only have a couple of days to enjoy the island. So, I’d like to tell you what you can’t miss seeing or enjoying in just a weekend.
I’ll begin telling you that Formentera isn’t just its beaches. And, though one of them has been declared the best beach in the world, the variety the island offers you will make you say: “I’m staying here forever, and not coming back!”
If you already know when you’re coming, the first thing you should do is book your ferry ticket to Formentera. You can do it right here, with Trasmapi, right now the best-rated shipping company for trips from Ibiza to Formentera. And if you use the promo code 2020YOSOYFORMENTERA, you’ll get a discount and I’ll get a small commission, so we all win!
Use promo code 2020YOSOYFORMENTERA and enjoy the discounts.
Secondly, you need to find a way of getting around the island. If it’s just for a couple of days, I recommend renting a bike. You can also find electric ones. If you are a traveling couple, a motorcycle might be better, so you can get around freely and fast.
And if you come during summertime, there are some parking spaces where you’ll have to pay a small fee, which is obviously cheaper for motorcycles. If you’re traveling with your family, I recommend getting a car. For shorter distances, enjoying a family bike ride around Formentera will sure be an unforgettable experience for the little ones. My two-year-old daughter really loves these strolls in the child seat!
Spending a weekend in Formentera isn’t necessarily expensive. You can find quite budget-friendly accommodations. In the summer months it’s harder to find a hotel room or apartment for less than 140€ per night.
Here are some of the cheapest hotels you can find in Formentera.
El Hostal Bon Sol Formentera se encuentra en la localidad de San Ferran, a 10 minutos del puerto de la Savina y cerca de bares y restaurantes.
El Hostal Illes Pitiuses se encuentra en el corazón de Formentera, en pleno pueblo de San Ferran y a 10 minutos del puerto de la Savina.
But if instead of getting the best deal you are in for a special one-night treat and looking forward to spending a deluxe night, you’ll fall in love with these hotels:
Finally! The island is ours. We have everything. A plane ticket (or not) to get to Ibiza, a booked ferry ticket from Ibiza to Formentera and a vehicle to get around. And now what? Now it’s time to enjoy the island. This is the itinerary I’ve prepared for you.
Let’s start by taking a good look at how beautiful and cozy our island can be. The longest distance on the island is about 20 km!
You can download our map of Formentera, with a fresh design, specially prepared and updated so you can find all the most important spots of the island. Perfect for getting “lost” around the island.
When you arrive at Formentera, you will be greeted by la Savina port and lighthouse. Of the three lighthouses in Formentera, this one is probably the least-known. However, you’ll have to agree it deserves a sunset picture, right? Note it!
If you rent a vehicle, you can pick it up in the very port. If you’d rather keep your luggage at the accommodation, you can ask the rental company to leave the motorcycle or bike somewhere on the island that suits you.
We’ll spend the day getting to know Ses Illetes. This beach, designated one of the best in the world, will make you feel love at first sight. Plus, here you’ll find all the services you need for a chill day: restaurants to eat, “chiringuitos” to enjoy a cocktail, lifeguards, access for people with disabilities, garbage bins, hammocks, and parking. If you want to know more about this beach and how to get there, you can take a look at the full information sheet for Ses Illetes beach.
After a nice relaxing swim, our next destination is Es Pujols village. When you exit Illetes, you may take the road around Estany Pudent and continue towards Es Pujols. Halfway through and before you arrive, you may make a quick stop to discover the Ca Na Costa megalithic site, a vivid revelation of the presence of prehistoric settlers on the Pityusic Islands.
At Es Pujols village you’ll have everything you might need at your disposal: from supermarkets to fashion boutiques, pharmacies and restaurants. This small and very charming village is the most attractive to tourists, precisely because of the variety of services that it offers and, of course, because of its namesake beach.
Es Pujols has an incredible variety of very good lunchtime options. But my recommendation is Sa Palmera, because of its location, views and fideuá, with which anyone will fall in love. Don’t expect a fancy restaurant. In fact, it’s one of the most affordable ones. That said, you’ll most likely have to wait for a table to eat. But it’s definitely worth it!
I’ve reserved you a coffee time at Es Caló de Sant Agustí, where you can get with no hurry. A small fishing village that you could traverse in ten minutes, but that will hook you for hours.
Here you’ll find Can Rafalet and Es Caló Restaurant. They’re both perfect for enjoying a refreshing cup of coffee looking at the sea.
To keep enjoying all the delights of Formentera to the fullest, while you discover the island in just a weekend, I thought a nice cold beer at Migjorn would be the best way of ending your afternoon, right before watching the sunset.
You’re going to love Kiosko 62. It’s a beach bar on Migjorn beach, with a very fun, chill atmosphere. They sometimes have concerts, so you might be lucky and come upon one. It’s located between Gecko Hotel and Sa Platgeta Restaurant (by the way, they serve amazing fish rice in this one). It’s a small beach bar, but it won’t leave you indifferent. If you want to know how to get there, you can take a look at the information sheet for Kiosko 62 in Migjorn.
And if you haven’t succumbed to the charms of Kiosko 62 and you’re still in time to watch a dazzling, unforgettable sunset, our destiny is Es Cap de Barbaria. In case you’re wondering, you can also enjoy an amazing sunset from Migjorn beach.
The Es Cap de Barbaria lighthouse is one of the three lighthouses in Formentera and it’s located in the Southern area of the island, on top of a cliff almost 80 meters above sea level. This is the perfect moment to visit it and take in the sunset.
In order to get to the lighthouse, you have to join the Cap de Barbaria road through Sant Francesc. If you come to Formentera in the summer months, you’ll have to leave your vehicle at the 6,5 kilometer spot, about 2km away from the lighthouse, and continue this last bit walking or by bike.
Sant Ferran is a small inland village situated in the center of the island and it’s very well connected. In the 70s, it was the village of choice for young hippies, who gave the island the character it still has today. Gather in the Fonda Pepe, still open.
Its unique church is located in the village’s main square, also the center for events celebration and flea market street during summer nights, the Carrer Major.
And it’s precisely on this street where we can find Pizzeria Macondo, a very charming establishment where you’ll taste some of the best and most generous pizzas of the island. In summer, the terrace is very busy, so I recommend making a reservation if you’ve decided to have dinner here.
After dinner, don’t hesitate to visit the emblematic Fonda Pepe and wander around the streets of this lovely village.
¿Quieres ver otra maravilla de Formentera, de esas que se te quedan en el recuerdo para siempre? Pues mi consejo es el siguiente: pon el despertador lo suficientemente temprano como para que te de tiempo a ver amanecer desde el Faro de la Mola. Si ya de por sí, este faro, tan emblemático luce por sí solo, verlo al amanecer te deja sin palabras. En serio, ¡es casi una obligación!
The La Mola lighthouse is situated in the highest point of the island. You’ll have to go through the village El Pilar de la Mola. If you come to the island between the months of May and October and it’s Wednesday or Sunday, don’t forget to stop at the La Mola market. A hippy flea market in which you can get a souvenir from Formentera, handcrafted by island artisans and locals.
On your way down to the village, I suggest stopping in the famous restaurant El Mirador. From here, you can enjoy a coffee or snack while staring at a true panorama of Formentera.
San Francisco Javier, or Sant Francesc, is the capital of Formentera, and one its six villages. Formentera’s Hall is here, and everything in this village is very accessible. I recommend you to park your vehicle and explore it on foot.
Here you can also find the biggest supermarket on the island, Eroski. If you need to make a big purchase for these days, this is your best option. Plus, it has a fairly large parking lot, so finding a parking spot isn’t usually a problem.
Walk up to the village Main Square. In front of the village Hall, the Sant Francesc Church. Picture-worthy anytime, it offers you a stunning image. In the evening, this village has a great nightlife. It’s also a wonderful option to have a drink after dinner in any of the surrounding restaurants.
In Sant Francesc, there’s also a Post Office, a Hospital, a sports center, a high school, some libraries, fashion boutiques, bank branches, exhibitions centers, museums and even windmills.. You’re gonna need some time to visit everything.
After having enjoyed Sant Francesc village’s life, it’s time for Cala Saona, yet another of the many Formentera gems, which you must explore even if you’re here just for a weekend.
It’s a medium-size cove located between the cliffs. It has white sand and turquoise waters and what makes it even more special is that it gives you one of the most beautiful sunsets in Formentera.
Occupation tends to be quite high in summer, also because it’s one of the safest beaches for kids. Though it’s worth it if you’re traveling with your partner, too.
Lastly, and as I imagine you’re making the most of your time in Formentera, I recommend you to reserve a couple of hours to visit La Savina village. It’s the first village you’re going to stumble upon when you arrive at Formentera, but unless your accommodation is here, chances are you overlooked its charm and went right to your first destination.
I invite you to wander around its streets, visit the Ses Salines Natural Park, located near the port, or stretch your legs on the shore of the Estany des Peix, one of Formentera’s best beaches to enjoy with children for its safety, calm waters and the variety of services it offers as well.
You can consider you’ve reached the end of your shore walk once you get to Café del Lago, a restaurant specialized in Italian cuisine, but where you can also have a coffee staring at the sea. Or you can also visit the flea market near the port, where you’ll find that souvenir that’ll forever take you back to the island.
Estas son las rutas que he preparado para aprovechar bien un fin de semana en Formentera de lo lindo y también de lo más completo. No olvides disfrutar de cada momento y sobre todo, ir sin prisas. Formentera invita a relajarte, a aprovechar el ahora y sentir que cada momento que pasa en esta isla se vuelve único e irrepetible.
¿Cuáles son tus recomendaciones? Incluirías alguna nueva a esta larga lista para un fin de semana? ¡Te espero en los comentarios!
These are the routes I’ve prepared to really enjoy a weekend in Formentera, both to its fullest and its greatest. Don’t forget to cherish every moment and, most importantly, not to rush through it. Formentera invites you to relax, enjoy the now and feel every moment on the island as something unique and unrepeatable.
What are your recommendations? Would you add anything new to this long list for a weekend in Formentera? See you in the comments!
