Green Travel Guide to Formentera

Words by Rhiannon Batten, Illustration by Tina Smith

The southernmost and smallest inhabited island of the Balearics, Formentera is just
30-minutes by ferry from Ibiza but feels light years away. The entire northern part of the island is a nature reserve, while the south is a mix of juniper and pine forests fringed by sand dunes; beyond the island's white-sand coast, underwater meadows of the seagrass plant Posidonia oceanica help maintain crystal clear turquoise waters. A network of 32 signposted walking and cycling trails criss-cross the island's mostly gentle terrain and there are some wonderful places to sample the local cuisine, from lounge bars and seafood cafes to inland wineries and cutting-edge vegetarian restaurants.

The spectacular setting and turquoise sea at Calo des Mort

Photo: Mateu Bennàssar/Formentera Tourism

Formentera has a network of over 30 walking, running & cycling trails across the island

Photo: Shutterstock

Large mills, like this one at Moli Vell, were built in the C18th to harness the

Photo: Alfredo Montero/Formentera Tourism

The spectacular setting and turquoise sea at Calo des Mort

Photo: Mateu Bennàssar/Formentera Tourism

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Features

How to travel overland from the UK to Formentera, Spain

Stay, Eat, See & Do

Our pick of places in Formentera

Google Map Key:
Click on the coloured icons for more information about each listing
Green = Places to stay; Blue = Places to eat
Yellow = Attractions ; Purple = Activities

Click on the square brackets to reveal expanded map

Migjorn_Turisme de Formentera - Credit Visit Formentera.jpg

Ballades _Consell Insular de Formentera.jpg

How to travel to Formentera from the UK

Formentera doesn't have an airport, so the only way to reach it is by boat.

By ferry: Until recently, most visitors travelled to Formentera on the inter-island ferry from Ibiza (the crossing is about 30 minutes) after either taking a ferry across to Ibiza from Barcelona, Valencia and Denia or flying to Ibiza. However, there are now ferries that travel direct from Barcelona (overnight) and from Denia (daytime crossing of 2-3 hours) to Formentera. For a step-by-step guide to travelling from the UK to Formentera, see:

How to travel overland from the UK to Formentera.

If you choose to fly*, there are direct flights from many UK airports to Ibiza. You can find flights that produce less than average carbon emissions using the Greener Choices facility provided by Skyscanner.

*Compare transport carbon emissions: Transport Carbon Emissions Data

Baleria runs ferry services to Ibiza and Formentera.

Photo: Direct Ferries

Photo Credits: Main photos: Calo des Mort swimming scene: Mateu Bennàssar; Cyclists: Shutterstock; Moli Vell windmill: Alfredo Montero. Carousel top right: Windsurfer: Jose A Arribas; Seagrass and fish: Jose A Arribas; flamingos: Jose Arribas; Moli vell windmill: Alfredo Montero; Traditional dress: Ballades Consell Insular de Formentera; horse-riders: Alfredo Montero. With thanks to Formentera Tourism for supplying the images.

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Formentera