Before you go · Ibiza
Ibiza essentials
The practical things worth knowing before you arrive, checked against official EU, Spanish and Balearic sources on 22–23 October 2026. Rules change: always check the official sources before you travel.
Updated October 2026
Entry: EES and ETIAS (checked 22 October 2026)
The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) started on 12 October 2025 and was rolled out over six months at the Schengen area’s external borders (European Commission). If you are not an EU citizen, your passport details, fingerprints and a photo are recorded the first time you enter.
ETIAS, the travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors, is not yet in operation: the official site says no applications are being collected and that the start date will be announced several months ahead. When it starts it will cost EUR 20 (travel-europe.europa.eu). Never pay an unofficial website.
The Balearic tourist tax
The Impuesto sobre Estancias Turísticas is charged per person per night by hotels, holiday apartments and other tourist accommodation in the Balearic Islands; under-16s are exempt, and the rate depends on the type of accommodation and the season (Llei 2/2016 and Decret 35/2016, atib.es). Your hotel collects it.
The Posidonia, buoys and Espalmador
Anchoring on the Posidonia seagrass meadows is prohibited in Balearic waters; use sand or authorised buoys (Decree 25/2018, caib.es). The meadows here are part of the UNESCO World Heritage site, which UNESCO describes as the best preserved in the Mediterranean.
Ports IB runs low-impact buoy fields at Ses Salines, Espalmador and Caló de s’Oli, with new fields at Cala d’Hort and Porroig (caib.es). Moorings are booked online at reservas.portsib.es after you register and validate your boat; past seasons ran from 1 June to 30 September.
In the Ses Salines natural park, bathing in or using the mud of Espalmador’s lagoon is prohibited (Conselleria de Medi Ambient). Es Vedrà and the western islets are nature reserves: landing is not allowed without authorisation (caib.es).
Buses, taxis and ferries
The island’s buses, including the airport lines and the night Discobus, are listed on the official site, alsaibiza.es. Taxis wait at ranks in the towns and at the airport; in August, book ahead for late nights.
Baleària gives Ibiza–Formentera as 30 minutes, with departures every 45 minutes; Trasmapi and Aquabus also sail. Baleària gives Ibiza–Mallorca and Dénia–Ibiza as 2h 15min each, and Barcelona–Ibiza as an overnight crossing; Trasmed sails from Valencia (balearia.com, trasmed.com, read 22–23 October 2026). Some routes are seasonal.
When to go
Many beach restaurants, beach clubs and clubs open from spring to October and close in winter; check each one’s own website. The museums and the walls of Dalt Vila are open year round, with shorter hours out of season.
Health and emergencies
Call 112 for police, fire or an ambulance. The public hospital is Can Misses in Ibiza Town, with 24-hour emergencies; see our health page. EU visitors should carry their European Health Insurance Card; everyone should have travel insurance.
Questions and answers
Do I need ETIAS for Ibiza?
Not yet. ETIAS is not in operation, and the EU will announce its start date several months ahead (travel-europe.europa.eu, checked 22 October 2026).
How often do ferries go to Formentera?
Baleària gives departures every 45 minutes, with a 30-minute crossing; Trasmapi and Aquabus also sail. Check the timetables on the operators’ sites.
Can I anchor anywhere?
No. Anchoring on the Posidonia seagrass is banned; anchor on sand or book a Ports IB buoy at reservas.portsib.es.
What is the emergency number?
112.
Entry rules, buoy seasons and timetables change. Check travel-europe.europa.eu, reservas.portsib.es and the operators before you travel.