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What to do in Ibiza

Top Ibiza attractions

The antics of Ibiza's clubbers may dominate the headlines, but you only need step off the strip to see that this surprisingly varied isle has a whole lot more going on.

Talamanca

Just around the corner from Ibiza Town, this beautiful 800-metre (2,625ft) long golden stretch of sand has managed to avoid the attention of high-rise developers. Calling it quiet would be misleading; this place does get busy, though that tends to happen when the late-risers arrive. Come before noon and you'll have your pick of spots.

The water is shallow, calm and clear as glass, and there are plenty of restaurants and bars. The real draw, however, are the varied people-watching opportunities: napping locals, families and bleary-eyed clubbers are all there.

Benirras Beach

While DJ-spun trance and electronic dance music sets tend to dominate the Ibizan playlist, Benirras offers an entirely different musical experience: a live drumming session.

Every Sunday in summer, beginning in late afternoon, a group of bongo bashers arrive, tapping away as the sun sets. A hangover from Ibiza's hippie heyday, the drumming ritual still lures in a large crowd, so get there early to bag a parking space and a good spot.

Sa Talaiassa

If you can pry yourself from the dancefloor and the sun lounger, you'll find a multitude of twisting hiking routes promising life-affirming views of the Mediterranean coastline.

Among the pick of the bunch is the ascent up to the 475-metre (1,558ft) tall Sa Talaiassa summit. The hour-long trail, which departs from San José, should be manageable, even for those with sore heads. If you aren't up to the task, take the lazy option and drive to the top instead.

Espalmador

Besides lolling away a day on the beach, there isn’t much to do on the undeveloped island of Espalmador, found off the south-eastern coast of Ibiza. Its lack of attractions is the key to its appeal.

It’s in private ownership, but its snow-like sand beaches are open to all. To get there, take the ferry from La Savina in Formentera. Even better, arrange your own private boat charter and arrive in style.

Las Salinas

A long, broad stretch of pine-fringed sand, this beautiful beach attracts a fittingly beautiful crowd.

Toned flesh and trendy swimsuits are de rigueur, while beachside bars blare Ibizan beats and serve photogenic cocktails to stylish, semi-clad clientele. Continue north along the beach and the crowds begin to thin out, leaving only nudist bathers who come here to tan their naughty bits.

The best Ibiza nightlife

As nightlife scenes go, Ibiza’s is hard to beat. In fact, we could write a hefty tome on the after-dark happenings on the island and we still wouldn't have covered it all. Suffice it to say, Ibizan nightlife isn’t for the faint-hearted.

Hit up a super club

If there is one Ibiza nightlife experience you must do, it is a trip to one of the so-called super clubs. The heavy hitters among them are Pacha, Space, Privilege, Amnesia and the recently renovated Eden all of which pack in crowds of thousands and promise the wild, pounding club culture for which the island is so well known. None are cheap, so be prepared to dig deep into your wallet.

If you fancy dabbling in some daytime clubbing, the open-air Ushuaïa club in Playa d'en Bossa opens its doors in the afternoon so you can dance and carouse your way through until dusk.

Sun-loving clubbers may also be partial to the boat parties that depart from San Antonio, taking the action out onto the Med.

Alternatively, join the masses that flock to Café Mambo or the venue’s legendary sunset parties, during which top-of-their-game DJs, such as Steve Aoki and David Guetta, spin the decks.

Sunset sounds on the sand

For a slower tempo Balearic experience, head to the coast where strings of beach bars offer chic toes-in-the-sand dining and drinking.

Blue Marlin, on the south coast shores of Cala Jondal, attracts a fashion-forward crowd, while Amante, tucked away in a small cove north of Ibiza Town, is a family-friendly daytime option. There is even a kids menu with dishes suited to younger palates.

Where to eat in Ibiza

The White Isle doesn’t always get the attention it deserves for its gastronomic offerings. Sure, the strip-side pubs of San Antonio may peddle greasy full English breakfasts, mediocre Sunday roasts and forgettable plates of burger and chips, but the real epicurean joy is in the local Mediterranean ingredients.

Delights from the deep dark sea

Ibizan cuisine reflects its environment, so fish and shellfish feature prominently. Some edible sea species, such as cod, swordfish and sea bream, are familiar. Other delights from the deep, such as the much-tastier-than-they-sound sea slugs (known locally as espardenyes), may be entirely new.

Freshly caught delights

Either way, the fish in Ibiza is never long on land before it shows up on the plate. It is often prepared a la sal (salt baked) or as part of bullit de peix (fish stew), and it is usually enough to make your taste buds do a little happy dance.

Though simple preparations that allow the seafood to shine are most common, chefs do often add some of the island’s other delicious crops, such as tomatoes, olives, figs and lemons, as well as aromatic wild herbs, into the mix.

Wine and swine

Cured meats and sausages are also specialities, and make a great match for Ibizan wines, which are produced from home-grown varietals such as Mourvedre and Malvasia.

Ibiza events

Carnival; February/March: Held every year and one of the highlights of the Ibizan winter calendar, this pre-Lent blowout features colourful parades, costume competitions and, strangely enough, a sardine burial ritual.

Medieval Festival; May: The clock is rewound for this throwback celebration in Ibiza Town’s UNESCO-listed Dalt Vila, during which costumed dancers, acrobats, clowns, jugglers, maidens and minstrels crowd the streets.

Diada Nacional de Catalunya (National Day of Catalonia); September 11: Ibiza celebrates this public holiday, which marks a famous Catalan defeat, with all the vigour you would expect from this fiesta-loving, Catalan-to-the-core island.