Ibiza Holiday
A small island with an enormous reputation, Ibiza hosts some of the world's best nightlife and is one of the most beautiful of the Balearics. Green hills and open plains become golden sand bathed in the warm Mediterranean, and as resorts flourish on the coast, traditional life still thrives inland.
"A legendary destination where top resorts and traditions still bloom side by side, Ibiza makes everyone feel welcome. Buzzing nightlife, awesome beaches and rural beauty, this energetic island has it all."
Ibiza Holiday - Beaches
From secluded sandy coves to broad reaches of golden sand, Ibiza's beaches are one of its greatest assets. Whether you're after stretching out for a bit of sun worship or looking for somewhere for kids to make sandcastles, the coves and bays along the north and west coasts are ideal. Cala Xarrac, Cala D'en Parc and Portinatx are some of the best of a great selection. Playa d'en Bossa 2 kilometers of white sand forms the island's largest beach, and is great for families, as are Cala Llonga and the sheltered inlet at San Miguel, while watersports are run from all resorts.
Shopping
Ibiza brims with chic boutiques, timeless markets and souvenir shops. Ibiza Town and San Antonio have impressive arrays of shops, especially for the fashion conscious. Don't miss the colorful hippy market, with its beads and kaftans, in Es Cana every Wednesday. Local handicrafts include designer glass, leather ware and pottery.
Nightlife
The nightlife in San Antonio is inescapably legendary. With its bars and discos galore, this is a frenetic and fashion conscious resort, frequented by some of the world's top DJs and home to some of the best clubs in the world. If this is not your scene however, never fear as there is life beyond San Antonio once the sun sets. All of Ibiza's resorts have plenty of bars, restaurants and entertainment, most at a much calmer pitch the San Antonio. Stroll along a palm lined promenade as you choose somewhere to sit and sip hierbas in the warm night air.
Once thought sacred by the Carthaginians, people now make pilgrimages to Ibiza's shore for a very different type of worship - sun, sand, music and fashion have become the new religion of today's visitors. First made fashionable by the hippy generation of the 1960s, Ibiza's popularity has continued to grow, but not at the expense of the island's traditions and natural beauty. Its peasant past is not forgotten, captured in the folk dances you can see performed across the island. It's hard to believe that on an island that can attracts the some of wealthiest and most fashionable people in the Western world, women in traditional Ibecian dress can still be seen collect almonds from the orchards. However, in the rural villages nestled among pine covered hills and fertile valleys, that is exactly how people continue to live, regardless of the bustling resorts on the coasts below. Ibiza has a home for every kind of holidaymaker, for those looking for a carefree family break, a hideaway immersed in local culture or bright lights and glamour. From the cosmopolitan Ibiza town where private yachts anchor in front of Gothic churches, to the endlessly energetic San Antonio, to the picturesque and calm resorts such as Portinatx, Ibiza really is the island with it all.
Holiday Tips
In most hotels and aparthotels gentlemen are required to wear long trousers to dinner. Most hotels or apartments ask customers to vacate their rooms between 10am and 12 midday. For late afternoon or evening flights, late check out rooms may be available. Local Specialities
Ibiza attracts people from all walks of life and so caters for all kinds of tastes. The native cuisine is much like the rest of the Mediterranean, with fish and seafood dominating many menus. For a uniquely Ibecian dish, try sofrit pages, potato and red peppers stewed in olive oil, or esta fado de buey, a kind of beef stew. Resorts are peppered with restaurants and streets offer up many pavement cafés where you can sip coffee in the sunshine. With international cuisine served everywhere, your only decision is how you want to dine - in the up market, chic restaurants in Ibiza Town, in a beamed medieval building, or something relaxed along the seafront. Of course, along with the clubbing culture comes fast-food and there's plenty of places to grab a bite in San Antonio. Sip local spirits, flavored with aniseed and herbs, the most famous of which is hierbas.