Ibiza City Guide

• Places of Interest
• Maps
• Getting to
• Getting around the city

Ibiza is the third largest of the Balearic Islands and is located in the Mediterranean Sea, 79km off the coast of the city of Valencia. With Formentera, it is one of the two Pine Islands and its largest cities are Ibiza Town, Santa Eulària des Riu and Sant Antoni de Portmany. The island is well known for its clubbing scene, most prominently during the summer months and in addition to this, visitors have over 80 beaches to choose from when they are relaxing during the day.

The Island is also a great destination for families and has a number of cultural sights and attractions on offer. Ibiza offers fantastic weather all year round, not only during the summer, however temperature can get as high as in the 30s during the months of July and August. With the huge variety of amenities and holiday activities on offer, this buzzing island does not fail to disappoint and is a perfect destination for anyone depending on what it is you're looking for. Relaxing on the golden beaches and seeing the cultural sights by day, and experience the buzzing party atmosphere by night, Ibiza is a destination that will not fail to disappoint!

Places of Interest

La Marina

This is the historic city centre bursting with shops, restaurants, bars and houses. This is a popular and lively place in the summer with a highly cosmopolitan atmosphere and is used as a meeting point by many people. In the harbour, you will find an obelisk which is the only public tribute to pirates in the world.

Sant Joan Village

The church here has a whitewashed façade and stone walls on its sides and is the most important building in Sant Joan. The church's construction ended at the end of the 18th century and it has since become a landmark for the village. Sant Joan has always been a popular village of the island and is a great opportunity to visit a more authentic part of the island as it contains a small number of shops and bars however nothing much to modify the environment.

Hippy Markets

These famous markets are definitely a must for anyone visiting the island. At the markets there is an enormous variety of purchases to choose from such as batik wraps, moccasins, East Asian jewellery, and, better still, some of the original hippies can still be seen there!

Es Vedrá Rock

Standing at almost 400 metres above the sea, this is a breath-taking sight was once the home to a hermit who resided on the rock for several years. At sunset, the view of the rock is said to have a magical appearance and boat rides are readily available which allow a closer look at this natural phenomenon and other rocky isles nearby.

La Catedral

The construction of this beautiful cathedral became a reality during the middle of the 13th century. It is a very solid building and is a good example of classic gothic style. During the 18th century, a big refurbishment was carried out due to the bad condition of the temple. Nowadays, many works of art are kept inside such as a gothic monstrance of golden silver and two gothic panels of Saint Tecla and Saint Anthony.

Museo Arqueológico de Ibiza y Formentera

This archaeological museum founded in 1907 exhibits the remains of Ibiza and Formentera's historic past from the prehistoric to the medieval Islamic Age. The museum is open all year round however the hours vary depending on the season. Generally the museum is open for longer hours during the summer and shorter hours during the winter.

Nightclubs

Ibiza is, without a doubt, the capital city of partying. The best DJs from all over the world come here to join in with the best clubs and the best nightlife. Not only is there music, but the island bars and discos put on incredible audiovisual spectacles also. Celebrities can also be seen soaking up the atmosphere in the bars and discos on the island. Some of the popular clubs are Amnesia, Eden, Discobus, Pacha and Es Paradís however some are only open during the summer or at certain times of the year so it is recommended to find out this information beforehand.

Beaches

Ibiza boasts 18 kilometres worth of over 80 natural, sandy beaches and sparkling crystal clear waters. With this large number, it means you will always have a beach to cater for your need or desire as they all offer different things. The beach culture on Ibiza is just as important as the clubs. On the majority of the beaches, there is the chance to do all kinds of water and outdoor sports. Most of the quieter beaches can be found in the north of the island and also in the south where many of the beaches are relatively undiscovered. There are even a number of nudist beaches so that everyone is catered for.

San Antonio
This is probably the busiest and most popular beach of the island and is located very near to the busy town centre. The sand is remarkably clean and there are a large number of available services on offer. This is a great place to relax in the blazing sun and get a tan or go for a long and beautiful walk.

Cala de Boix
This beach is both beautiful and special as it has black sand. It is never busy so perfect if you are a nature-lover or want to escape the crowd and enjoy something a little more quiet. The restaurants which are actually located on the beach are an important draw from locals so if you are looking to avoid the tourist spots then this is the place for you.

Port des Turrent
This beach is for the more active amongst you and is a beautiful golden beach offering opportunities to parasail, swim snorkel or even sail. There are also a number of restaurants which is why many choose to taste a dish of local gastronomy in its restaurants.

Ses Salinas
This is the most fashionable of the beaches and is a meeting point of celebrities. Belonging to the natural park of Ses Salines, it is nearby a beautiful ecological area. This beach is popular for the transparency of its waters, the large host of services it offers and its close proximity to the city of Eivissa. There is a breath-taking view from the bay and five beach-bars to choose from if you fancy sipping a cool drink in the sun.

Playa Des Cavallet
This is the island's official nudist beach and is also one of the most beautiful with its array of dunes and the long white strip of sand. The beach has a very long and open structure and there are many fantastic places to sunbath and bathe in the crystal waters. The Torre de ses Portes is at the end of the beach and a visit here should definitely be made!

Maps

Getting to Ibiza

By Air
Sant Josep, Ibiza's own airport is located 7km from the capital in the southern part of the island and there are a large number of both international and Spanish airlines which provide direct access from the Spanish Peninsula into Europe.

By Sea
Ibiza can be easily reached by ship and the three main ports are the ports of Ibiza, Santa Eulària and Sant Antoni. Balearia, Iscomar and Acciona are the ferry companies which sail into the ports of Ibiza and San Antoni from different places on mainland Spain, the most regular being Barcelona, Valencia, Dénia and Palma de Mallorca. There is also the possibility of travelling to the island by private ship, chartered crossings and various cruises.

Getting around the city

Ibiza has a number of transport options for getting around the island so this makes it relatively easy getting from place to place. There are a large number of bus companies and services which offer a number of routes across the island and fares will not exceed €2.70 for the longest journey. There are half-hour connections between all major resorts, including many of the most popular beaches. During the summer months, buses run from approximately 7am-10pm and the disco bus takes over from midnight to 6am which takes clubbers to and from all the major clubs and resorts. If you fancy a more active means of travel, it is even possible to rent a bike from the number of companies which offer this service. Even though road travel is the most widely used means of getting around on the island, sea crossings enable visitors to travel around the island easily also.