Ibiza town

Ibiza town is the most popular destination on the island along with nearby beaches and San Antonio. Ibiza town is situated on top of a small hill, surrounded by a few fortresses and dominating the bay with the harbour below. This sets the scene for the 3 main areas: The harbour and the Sa Peña quarter, the old city (D’Alt Vila) and the new city – each with their own unique offerings.

Despite being mostly known as the ‘party capital’ of the Balearic Islands, Ibiza town boasts some real cultural treasures such as the ancient quarter that holds some medieval buildings such as the impressive Cathedral and its illuminated clock. Additionally, there are also museums (e.g. of Contemporary Art and Archeology) and art galleries to be discovered if you want to truly know the islands history and culture.

Whether day or night there are plenty of things to do; from wandering up and down the cobbled streets identifiable with the Old Town, as well as taking in the stunning views across the bay, to browsing through the shops (including designer) and sampling local cuisine. Visits to surrounding beaches or even Formentera can be done by ferry.

Sunbathing is a well practised pastime in Ibiza and the nearby beaches are family friendly. There are also party beaches, which can become as crowded and vibrant as the clubs. Nudist beaches such as Platja Cavallet can also be popular.

However, the real attraction for many visitors to Ibiza town is the renowned and seemingly everlasting and eccentric night life. Clubs, bars, cafés and restaurants can be found in abundance here in the ‘centre of the island’. There is a real buzz about the place given how cosmopolitan the island’s residents are and how welcoming they are to visitors of many cultures, religions and sexual orientations. This coupled with the combination of bars, clubs & parades have created a party atmosphere, and made Ibiza famous world wide.

By contrast, in Ibiza town rented apartments are more prominent rather than tourist accommodations such as resorts etc. Within the walls of the old city are the more classy apartments, hotels and restaurants. Cheaper alternatives will guide you down the harbour. Visitors on package holidays generally arrive at complexes in nearby villages on the island like San Antonio, Talamanca, Figueretas or San Jose (for Playa D’en Bosa), with their own bars, beaches and restaurants.