Ibiza Holidays

Ibiza holidays spell party with a capital everything. But there’s more to it than the nightlife. The daytimes open your eyes to chocolate-box scenery and picture-perfect villages.

Serene to snappy

Spain's White Island has a knack of coming up trumps for holidaymakers, no matter what sort of break you're after. At the peaceful end of the scale, you’ve got villa-studded villages like Cala Tarida, where the sunsets are eye-poppingly good. Santa Eulalia’s beach-facing hotels tick the family holidays box. And San Antonio’s the party animal of the Balearic Islands.

Picture-book surroundings

Think of Ibiza’s landscape as a melt-in-the-middle dessert. What you see at first glance are the beaches and bars that cling to the coastline. But when you get to the centre, there’s a surprise in store. Shove the celeb DJs and neon lights out of the way, and the island's natural side makes a play for your attention. Pine-cloaked countryside, hill-framed lakes and an arty version of Stonehenge are all in the offing.

Daytime must-dos

There are plenty of ways to fill your days in Ibiza. Head to one of the famous hippy markets for a gander at retro jewellery, colour-splashed clothing and make-your-own souvenir stalls. Es Cana’s a good place to start for beginners. If you’d rather stick to the white-sand fringe, there are beach bars and restaurants by the barrel-load. Families, meanwhile rave in a different fashion about Cala Llonga’s Blue Flag waterfront.

At a glance

Sample the seafood beside Santa Eulalia’s marina
Check out San Antonio’s cocktail bars
Hit pause in Cala Llonga

Destinations in Ibiza

Top Destinations

Show More Destinations

The White Island

Although it’s Ibiza’s clubbing scene that earns it column inches, this island is pretty impressive on the beach front, too. The sands come soft and white here, and when it comes to picking a spot to park your beach towel you can choose between huge, super-stylish sweeps and dinky coves half-hidden by pine trees.
The big beach

Ibiza’s headline act is Playa d’en Bossa. Measuring up at two kilometres, it’s the island’s longest beach. The white sands are prime tanning turf, and the shallow waters are just the ticket for pint-sized paddlers. There are loads of cafés and restaurants lining the sand, as well as bass-pumping beach bars for those who like to keep the party going 24/7.
The secret beach

If secluded sands are more your thing, make a beeline for Cala Xarraca. This tiny cove is up in the north of the island, and is home to a hidden grotto. It’s also a favourite with snorkellers, thanks to its gin-clear waters. And despite its small size, there’s plenty of room to spread out – the only people you’ll be sharing the sands with are a handful of locals.

Bargain Buys

You’ll find dreadlocked hippies lining up alongside locals at Ibiza’s biggest hippie market. It’s in Es Cana on Wednesdays, and stalls heave with the likes of jewellery, leather and pottery. For something more low-key, head to the Thursday market in San Miguel village, a five-minute drive from Puerto San Miguel. The stallholders here sell everything from local honey to handmade soap.
Mid-Range Buys

In Figueretas, you’ll find big-name brands jostling for position, and football fans will be right at home thanks to the FC Barcelona Official Store. Over in San Antonio’s town centre, meanwhile, you’ll find boutiques chock-full of clubbing gear – the Pacha shop is one of the biggies.
Designer Buys

Vintage queens should make a beeline for Ibiza Town’s old quarter. It’s got loads of little one-off shops where you can hunt down old-school party frocks and Spanish handbags that go back decades. In Santa Eulalia, the posh boutiques are near the main square and on Calle San Jaime – you’ll find things like Chanel sunglasses and silver jewellery. And in Playa d’en Bossa, the beachfront shops lining the sand are the place to pick up jewelled flip flops.

Laid-back evenings

Ibiza isn’t just about thumping tunes. Santa Eulalia is Ibiza’s culinary hotspot – you’ll never eat a posher paella than on Calle San Vicente, and you’ll get top-end haute cuisine at the harbour. In Portinatx, chow down on traditional fish stews at the restaurants lining the prom.
Lively evenings

Ibiza’s definitely earned its stripes as the clubbing world’s head honcho, and San Antonio is home to the biggest and best places to party. Join the masses on the seafront, or head for the West End, which is chock-full of cocktail bars and cafés. The party never stops at Playa d’en Bossa either, where the clubs lining the beach range from budget to blow-out.

Pa torrat amb tomata

This is breakfast the Ibizan way. A big chunk of rustic bread is whacked on the grill and toasted until it’s golden brown. It’s then rubbed with some salt and the inside of a tomato, to give it just a hint of flavour. A generous glug of olive oil rounds everything off nicely.
Ensalada payesa

This tipped-and-tossed concoction is made up of potatoes, boiled eggs, peppers, tomatoes and onions, teamed with slices of dried fish. Literally meaning ‘peasant salad’, it hails back to the days when most of the population made a living from fishing and harvesting vegetables.
Zarzuela

Ibiza’s answer to French bouillabaisse crams in a lot of fish. Expect everything from monkfish and seabass to crayfish and clams in this stew. It’s named after Zarzuela operettas – famous for their huge variety of songs – and is cooked in an earthenware pot called a ‘cazuela’.
Orelletes

Not the option for those watching the waistline – these biscuit-style sweet treats are made up of flour, aniseed and lemon, which gets fried and dipped in sugar. They used to be Easter exclusives, but now you’ll find them regularly partnering a glass of wine on any day of the year.
Hierbas ibicencas

Islanders throw the A-Z of herbs into this traditional drink. It’s made from around 18 different plants, and it’s got a sweet, citrussy flavour with loads of aniseed and rosemary. The locals knock it back at the end of a meal – they reckon it helps their dinner go down.

Ibiza Holidays

Serene to snappy

Picture-book surroundings

Daytime must-dos

At a glance

Destinations in Ibiza

Top Destinations

Top things to See and Do in Ibiza

The White Island

The big beach

The secret beach

Bargain Buys

Mid-Range Buys

Designer Buys

Laid-back evenings

Lively evenings

Pa torrat amb tomata

Ensalada payesa

Zarzuela

Orelletes

Hierbas ibicencas

SIMILAR DESTINATIONS

Our destinations in Ibiza

Popular holidays

BOOK NOW! Call us on: 0203 636 1310

Travel Aware – Staying Safe and Healthy Abroad