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About Ibiza
With its (well deserved) reputation for fantastic, frenetic nightlife, this little Mediterranean gem has rather more to recommend it. Sure, San Antonio rocks . . . but elsewhere there's rural calm, family resorts, colourful scenery, and charming tradition. Open your eyes to the real Ibiza.
During the Day
The longest Blue Flag beach on the island, Playa d'en Bossa tops a list of bays that includes the peaceful sands of Es Cana, Santa Eulalia's horseshoe sweep, the deep and gently shelving bay of Cala Llonga, the pine-backed dunes of Ses Salinas and boat trips from the ribbon sands round San Antonio bay.
Take a trip to the densely wooded interior of the island for olive, almond and carob groves, hilltop churches, whitewashed villages and terrific tapas bars. See the fossil rocks and waterfall cascade of the Can Marca cave. And allow a full day to explore Ibiza Town's medieval fortress and the UNESCO World Heritage site of its ancient Dalt Vila district.
Our most popular excursions in Ibiza include: the Fiesta Del Mar a castaway adventure, that has loads to offer, a cracking day out starting with a boat trip and ending with sea, sand and games. Mardi Gras is an all-singing, all-dancing night out, featuring a packed programme of professional, live entertainments at one of Ibiza's premier venues. Discover Ibiza's hidden majesty, complete with the services of an Airtours specialist guide. And because taking in the sights gives you a healthy appetite, lunch is included in the price. Hop on a boat and call on your neighbours at Ibiza's sister island', Formentera. It's a beautiful place, and you'll have a full day to enjoy its many charms, especially its golden beach. Your Customer Service Representative will provide prices and full information on what else there is to see and do at your holiday destination.
By Night
Seafood treats include the island's delicious fish casserole, while breaded chicken is among the meat specialities. Along with locally grown fruit and vegetables, Ibiza produces some likeable wines and hierebas herby liqueur.
Bags, belts and shoes are good leather ware bargains. Pottery and glass make colourful hand crafted souvenirs, and woven raffia work is light enough to pack & bring home. San Antonio and Ibiza Town are the best bets for serious shopping.
After-dark Ibiza needs no introduction! Probably the nightclub capital of the world, it attracts the most famous DJ's to an array of clubs in Ibiza Town and San Antonio, backed up by countless ultra-cool bars. Steer clear of these two areas if outrageous behaviour and loud music aren't your thing.
Beaches
Beautiful wide bays and stunning coves, Ibiza's beaches are the stuff of
dreams. The family friendly beaches with lots of facilities and water sports
are easily accessible but you need to take a boat or hire a car or mountain
bike to reach the really beautiful, secluded spots.
Please note: Bora Bora bar is closed until 8th July 2007.
Please Note: Bora Bora bar is closed until 8th July 2007.
Some of the beaches are frequented by 'freelance' masseuses, offering a 45-minute rub-down with aromatic oils. Worth every euro!
Ibiza has three nudist beaches: Aigua Blanca in the north; and Ses Salines and Es Cavellet in the south. Topless sunbathing is acceptable elsewhere but cover up in villages, where old people retain traditional values.
Here are our top ten Ibiza beaches:
Platja d'en Bossa A gently shelving sandy beach, lined with hotels and bars. It is the island's longest beach at 2.5 km. Family-friendly with clear, shallow water for plenty of water sports. The white sand stretches as far as you can see and it never seems to be over-crowded even in peak season. Have a drink at Bora Bora bar, a kind of ultra-cool, all-day open air club, right on the beach. It's close to Ibiza Town and popular for its pedaloes, motor boats and schools for diving.
Please note: Bora Bora bar is closed until 8th July 2007.
Salines South of Platja d'en Bossa, backed by salt pans. Very hip, with three fashionable chiringuitas (beach restaurants) attracting a glamorous crowd, many of whom arrive by motorboat and wade ashore. Lots of space here and less development along the beach than Platja d'en Bossa.
Port de Sant Miguel Beautiful sandy beach at the end of a long cove. The cliffs either side are built up with holiday apartments and hotels but there's room for everybody, plenty of water sports and roped off areas for swimmers. The beach once had the Arabic name of Balansat and is a deep inlet with white sand and pinewoods, situated far below and beyond the hilltop town of Sant Miquel. The village is worth a visit after a day at the beach.
Cala Xarraca One of the island's most stunning coves, off the main Portinatx road and perfect for lunch at the restaurant and a lazy afternoon sunning on the rocks. Great snorkelling and pedalos for hire.
Cala d'en Serra Another exquisite beach, accessible by a steep dirt track from the main Portinatx road or by boat from Portinatx beach. Good snorkelling and one chiringuita (beach bar).
Portinatx Sleepy resort beach where scenes from South Pacific were filmed in the incredibly turquoise water. There are actually three beaches, the best one at the far end of the resort from where the coast rises into a series of dramatic sandstone cliffs, guarded by a lighthouse. All the usual resort facilities can be found here.
Santa Eulalia The main town beach is directly in front of the rambla, the principal avenue through the centre. Not surprisingly, the beach gets busy but it's clean and has facilities. It's a beach where the 'river' meets the sea, with pebbles as well as sand and several shady picnic spots. Take time off from the beach to visit the old historic town, which is the island's second largest town and has a dazzling white church giving a magnificent view over the bay.
Es Cana The beach encircles a wide, sandy bay fringed by pine trees. It gets busy in summer, although swimming areas are roped off. A favourite beach for water sports but safe for children, too. It's also a lovely spot for a stroll at sunset, past the colourful fishing boats.
Cala Llenya Walk north from Es Cana around the headland and the coastal footpath leads to a series of small, pretty, relatively quiet coves with rocks for sunbathing on and good snorkelling. After about an hour, the trail ends at Cala Llenya, which has a sandy beach, facilities and buses back to Es Cana.
Cala Mastella Beautiful fjord with wooded headlands either side and a tranquil, sandy beach, signposted from the road to Cala Llenya. It gets popular in high summer, partly thanks to the two fabulous restaurants nearby. There are no beaches in Eivissa Town as such; the best are to the south.
Platja d'en Bossa A 2.5km stretch of gently shelving sand, lined with hotels and bars. Family-friendly, with plenty of watersports. Very busy in summer. Have a drink at Bora Bora bar, a kind of ultra-cool, all-day open air club, right on the beach.
Please Note: Bora Bora bar is closed until 8th July 2007.
Salines South of Platja d'en Bossa, backed by salt pans. Very hip, with three fashionable chiringuitas (beach restaurants) attracting a glamorous crowd, many of whom arrive by motorboat and wade ashore. Lots of space here and less development along the beach than Platja d'en Bossa.
Es Cavallet Around the headland from Salines. Less crowded. Nudist, with a big gay following. Pleasant for strolling along late afternoon when the heat of the day has died down.
Platja Talamanca Family beach to the north of Eivissa Town with decent facilities.
Top Tip Some of the beaches are frequented by 'freelance' masseuses, offering a 45 minute rub-down with aromatic oils. Worth every Euro!
Night Life
As most people know, Ibiza is a clubbing mecca. In the main towns and
resorts you'll be spoilt for choice, but here's a very small sample of
what awaits!
Base and Rock (C/Garijo, Eivissa Town) The only places to be seen for posing and people watching before everybody moves on to the clubs in the small hours. Both bars are expensive, crowded and hip.
Pacha (Avda.Vuit d'Agost, Eivissa.) One of the most famous and sophisticated clubs and the longest established. Very glamorous, with a roped off VIP area. Look out for the famous Pacha theme nights, when everybody wears fancy dress.
Space (Platja d'en Bossa.) The best known 'after clubbing' club, open at 6am and still going at midday.
Cas Costas (Santa Gertrudis) Great village bar a short drive from Sant Antoni, with sandwiches and smoked ham served at the bar and contributions from local artists adorning the walls.
Cafe del Mar (C/Vara de Rey, Sant Antoni); Savanah (C/ Balanzat 28); Mambo (C/Vara de Rey, Sant Antoni, tel. 971 34 66 38) Three legendary chill-out bars for drinking at sunset, listening to cool music and people-watching. Very popular with young Brits.
Privilege (Sant Rafael.) Officially the world's biggest club, holding 10,000 partygoers. Lush gardens, big swimming pool, outrageous shows, beautiful people and a glass-roofed room from which to watch the sunrise.
Arlequin (Santa Eulalia waterfront) Cool bar overlooking the sea with occasional live music.
Disco Kancela (Santa Eularia) One of the town's liveliest spots, with visiting DJs and occasional live bands
Las Dalias (Sant Carles) An eclectic crowd and live music at weekends in the heart of the countryside. There's a tapas bar and restaurant, too.
Teatro Pereira (C/Conde Rosellon 5, Ibiza Town.) Former 19th century theatre, now a bar in the old lobby area with live jazz every night.
Casino de Ibiza (C/Paseo Juan Carlos I, Ibiza Town.) Pleasant piano bar and restaurant; slot machines as well as roulette, blackjack and stud poker.
Trotting Races Hipodromo Sant Jordi (Ctra. Aeropuerto, Ibiza Town, km 4.1.) Ibiza is not big on spectator sports but the trotting races (horse and trap with jockeys) held every Sunday are fun to watch and attract a large crowd.
Eivissa, nearby Sant Antoni and Platja d'en Bossa form the epicentre of the island's nightlife. The two biggest clubs, Privilege and Amnesia, are out of town, on the road from Eivissa to Sant Antoni. Even if you don't particularly like clubs and even if you only go once, check these out, for the beautiful and outrageous people, the opulent surroundings, space age sound systems and lavish theme parties. And if you do like clubs, welcome to your spiritual home!
Base and Rock (C/Garijo, Eivissa Town) The only places to be seen for posing and people watching before everybody moves on to the clubs in the small hours. Both bars are expensive, crowded and hip.
Pacha (Avda.Vuit d'Agost, Eivissa.) One of the most famous and sophisticated clubs and the longest established. Very glamorous, with a roped off VIP area. Look out for the famous Pacha theme nights, when everybody wears fancy dress.
Space (Platja d'en Bossa.) The best known 'after clubbing' club, open at 6am and still going at midday.
Anfora (C/Sant Carles 5, Dalt Vila) Ibiza's only gay club, packed with glamour and drag queens.
El Divino (Puerto Ibiza Nueva, Eivissa.) Glamorous, relatively small (1,500) club in beautiful setting in the marina, facing Dalt Vila. International crowd and big name DJs.
Blue Rose (C/Navarra, Figueretas.) Raunchy strip club as only Ibiza knows how to produce. Definitely not for families or the prudish.
DC10 (Las Salinas road at the end of the runway) Cool after hours club (which in Ibiza means early morning till midday) with progressive music and famous DJs.
Konga (Eivissa to Platja d'en Bossa road, before Figueretas) Relatively new, dark, cell-like after hours club with visiting DJs.
A K Morgana (Eivissa - Airport road) Pre-clubbing Moroccan themed bar, with pretty garden, dancing and chilling out.
Dome (C/Alfonso XII, Eivissa) Glamorous, posey pre-clubbing bar frequented by beautiful people and drag queens.
Teatro Pereira (C/Conde Rosellon 5.) Former 19th century theatre, now a bar in the old lobby area with live jazz every night.
Casino de Ibiza (C/Paseo Juan Carlos I, www.casinoibiza.com Pleasant piano bar and restaurant; slot machines as well as roulette, blackjack and stud poker.
Trotting races Hipodromo Sant Jordi (Ctra. Aeropuerto, km 4.1.) Ibiza is not big on spectator sports but the trotting races held every Sunday are fun to watch and attract a large crowd.
Cinema A popular foreign film series, 'Anem al Cine', organised by the Eivissa Town Hall, runs from September to July. Each week, an original-version feature film with subtitles in Spanish is shown at the Multicines Eivissa. Sessions are held on Wednesdays (10:30 pm) and Thursdays (8:30 pm and 10:30 pm). The complete program is available at the Multicines, the Eivissa Town Hall, the Island Council or Can Ventosa.
Top Tip Ibiza is not a cheap island; real estate here costs more than it does in Madrid. If you're on a budget, look out for happy hours, or club promotions, or enjoy the free entertainment of the passers-by in the Sa Marina area. Look out for the nightly street parades through Eivissa Town as the big clubs send out weird and wonderful-looking scouts to lure business through their doors. Absolutely anything goes in terms of wacky costumes, makeup and stunts. Carrer Garijo is the best place to watch, from midnight to 1am.
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