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How to spend a weekend in Ibiza<\/h1>\n
Ibiza might be synonymous with music and mayhem, but there\u2019s much more to the world\u2019s most famous party island than meets the eye. Discover your own Ibiza, at your own pace.<\/p>\n
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Ibiza\u2019s reputation precedes it. But that reputation is entirely dependent on which Ibiza you\u2019re thinking of. Is it the huge clubs and superstar DJs? The notorious Club 18-30 package holidays? The glamorous scene of Ibiza Town? Or the bohemian markets and yoga weekends?<\/p>\n
For a small island, Ibiza is remarkably multifaceted \u2014 the south home to much of the above, while just 45 minutes\u2019 drive north is an island of quiet beaches, whitewashed farmhouses, olive groves and peaceful tranquillity. A rich and eventful history has seen the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans and Moors make their mark on the island, followed more recently by artists, intellectuals, beatniks, holidaymakers and generations of clubbers. However, a gentle shift upmarket over the past decade has heralded in a wealth of luxury villas, highend beach clubs and glamorous restaurants.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s still much that\u2019s affordable though, and Ibiza\u2019s appeal has long been its natural attractions and welcoming locals. The White Isle continues to thrive and reinvent itself during high season, but Ibiza is still ripe for exploration throughout autumn and winter, when some say the island is at its best, minus the crowds and heat. After all, reputation is based on perception.<\/p>\n
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Day one: island life<\/h2>\n\nMorning<\/h3>\n
Just 20 minutes\u2019 drive from Ibiza Town and San Antonio, but seemingly in the middle of nowhere, Can Lluc is typical of many of the agritourism properties that have emerged here in the past 20 years.<\/p>\n
Surrounded by palm trees and bougainvillea, the 25 acres of farmland has been owned by the same family for generations. A leisurely breakfast by the pool is how we begin the day.<\/p>\n
The 30-minute drive east brings you to Santa Eulalia, and while it might be the third-largest town in Ibiza it\u2019s relatively laid-back. A promenade hugs the seafront and a pretty marina draws visitors to its restaurants, cafes, bars and shops. A few minutes\u2019 drive further is the crescent-shaped beach of Es Can\u00e1.<\/p>\n
Afternoon<\/h3>\n
A short walk around the coast from Es Can\u00e1 \u2014 or a winding drive inland \u2014 is Cala Nova, a peaceful, cut-off bay overlooked by Aiyanna. Opened in 2017, it captures the essence of everything you\u2019d expect from a beach restaurant in Ibiza: decked terraces, palm trees, turquoise waters lapping the shore. The menu is influenced by the eastern Mediterranean, with a focus on organic, local ingredients.<\/p>\n
Continue your journey north and, after a stint inland, the road meets the coast again, hugging the rising cliffs as you reach the north-east of the island, before dropping dramatically to the sandy bay of Cala de Sant Vicent. Don\u2019t stop long, though, and take the steep incline west en route to Cala Benirr\u00e1s.<\/p>\n
Evening<\/h3>\n
On the north-west of the island, Benirr\u00e1s is best-known for its sunsets. And drums. Every Sunday, hundreds of people \u2014 armed with bongos of varying sizes \u2014 descend on this calm, unspoilt bay for the tribal sunset drumming ritual. Otherwise, the market runs several days a week. Whenever you\u2019re there, simply grab a beer at the Elements bar, sit back and enjoy the last moments of daylight.<\/p>\n
Back at Can Lluc, and dinner at its restaurant Olea is a reminder of how relaxing the island can be. The exquisite Mediterranean menu \u2014 confit cod with almond sauce and ratatouille, baby lamb chops with mint and pomegranate tabbouleh \u2014 is evidence of the island\u2019s newfound culinary prowess.<\/p>\n
<\/h2>\nDay two: Ibiza Town<\/h2>\nMorning<\/h3>\n
Morning<\/h3>\n
Dalt Vila is one of the island\u2019s truly remarkable sights. Set high over Ibiza Town, the UNESCO-listed medieval fortress originally dates back to the Phoenicians in the 6th century BC. Regular walking tours are available, but you can also download one from the tourist board website. Allow around two hours to explore this magnificent walled citadel, winding through its maze of whitewashed cobbled streets where the locals still stand and chat, hanging out their washing. Head up the stone ramp to Portal de Ses Taules, the majestic main entrance, and onto Patio de Armas where the island\u2019s first hippie market was held. The main highlights are the cathedral and the necropolis of Puig des Molins, but ambling around is equally satisfying.<\/p>\n
Afternoon<\/h3>\n
Occasionally you come across a place that feels like a real find. S\u2019Escalinata, a bar in Dalt Vila, is one of those; it\u2019s by no means a secret, but there\u2019s something very relaxed and casual going on, while hitting very high standards. Colourful beanbags tumble down the steps; umbrellas offer shade from the sun, and its tapas menu makes for a blissful lunch stop.<\/p>\n
After a morning walking, head to one of Ibiza\u2019s most famous beaches. Las Salinas lies just beyond the salt flats that have produced the island\u2019s most important commodity for centuries. The beach, backed by dunes and pine forests, is a long, alluring stretch of sand, its clear waters and bars attracting everyone from families to clubbers and the odd celebrity.<\/p>\n
Evening<\/h3>\n
Strolling the streets of Ibiza Town at night and admiring the superyachts in the harbour can give you a real insight into some of the island\u2019s visitors. Still, the rich and famous seemingly depart their vast vessels and blend in with the varied tourist demographic of this beguiling town.<\/p>\n
Stylish and cosmopolitan, the winding streets and cobbled lanes are home to shops, bars and restaurants, but it\u2019s the overall character of the town that really shines. Comidas Bar San Juan offers a taste of the traditional, if that\u2019s what you need \u2014 tapas as well as seafood \u2014 at prices hard to ignore. For a postprandial, stroll the streets as the bars begin to fill up \u2014 or head to the town\u2019s heights for the night-time view over the harbour.<\/p>\n
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Day three: club life<\/h2>\nMorning<\/h3>\n
Almost exactly in the centre of the island, Santa Gertrudis is at a crossroads, so people happen upon the place one way or another. The sleepy village\u2019s whitewashed buildings, home to art galleries, boutiques and some great restaurants, is the perfect place to watch the world go by.<\/p>\n
Just 20 minutes\u2019 away, historic Las Dalias is the largest and best-known of Ibiza\u2019s hippie markets. Every Saturday, thousands of people descend on the 300 or so market stalls. Las Dalias perfectly reflects the island\u2019s bohemian roots \u2014 clothing, jewellery and handicrafts \u2014 with music at the heart of everything.<\/p>\n
Afternoon<\/h3>\n
An early adopter of the ever-rising trend, you\u2019re never far from a beach club in Ibiza. Beachouse, with a low-key bohemian feel, has a superb selection of drinks and dishes from a modern, global menu: quinoa salad with roasted chicken, sea bass with leek puree and chive oil. The music, as it should be in Ibiza, is carefully curated by DJs throughout the day, building from mellow, Balearic beats to a hypnotic, tribal sound. And with a choice of beach beds or table in the restaurant, it\u2019s somewhere you can linger for hours. Situated at the south end of Playa D\u2019en Bossa, near the likes of H\u00ef Ibiza and Ushiaia, it\u2019s close to the action, but suitably relaxed.<\/p>\n
Evening<\/h3>\n
You don\u2019t want to be anywhere near a club much before midnight, so Mikasa is the perfect place for a drink as you get in the mood. With 16 rooms and a terrace bar overlooking the bay towards Ibiza Town, this boutique hotel has low-key lighting, soulful house music on tap, and chic design.<\/p>\n
When Space closed its doors in 2016 after 27 years, it was the end of a clubbing era. But the opening of H\u00ef Ibiza, its replacement, went some way to make up for the loss. Glitterbox is one of its best nights \u2014 an offshoot of the Defected Records label, it marries the likes of Masters at Work, Basement Jaxx and Dimitri from Paris, with a distinctly disco vibe.<\/p>\n
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Can Lluc<\/h2>\n
Offering 20 rooms and villas, discretely tucked away in the heart of Ibiza, this agritourism finca is a luxurious escape surrounded by pine trees and vineyards. Just 20 minutes from Ibiza Town and San Antonio, you\u2019ll be reluctant to leave.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"