Ίμπιζα

May, June and September are the best months: warm, sunny and less crowded than July and August. July and August are hot, busy and expensive, and the clubs run at full speed.

Many bars, clubs and hotels close from about November to March, when the town is quiet and mild but some beach services are shut.

• Dalt Vila is the walled upper town, with 16th-century Renaissance walls, steep cobbled lanes and views over the harbour and the sea.
• Catedral d'Eivissa is the cathedral at the top of Dalt Vila, with a Gothic bell tower and a small museum.
• Ajuntament is the town hall, in the old town.
• Monumento a los Corsarios honours the privateers who defended the island, and stands by the harbour.
• Marina Ibiza is the marina, a good place for an evening walk.
• Far de Botafoc is the lighthouse at the end of the harbour mole.
• Puig des Molins Necropolis and Museum has Phoenician and Punic tombs and finds, and is part of the UNESCO listing.
• The Museu d'Art Contemporani, in Dalt Vila, shows modern art.
• Talamanca is a sandy beach a short walk or bus ride from the harbour, and Ses Figueretes is a city beach on the other side.

• Walk up through Dalt Vila at sunset and look at the harbour from the walls.
• Have dinner by the marina or in the old town.
• Take a boat to Formentera or to the island's quiet coves.
• Visit the salt pans at Salinas.
• Go to a club or sunset bar, if that is what you came for.

• Ibiza (the island): beaches such as Cala Comte, Cala Bassa and Benirràs, and the villages of Santa Eulària and Sant Joan.
• Formentera (about 30 minutes by fast ferry): a flat island with white-sand beaches and clear water.
• Salinas de Ibiza (about 8 km south): salt pans and beaches in a nature park.
• Mallorca (by ferry or flight): the larger island to the northeast.

Other places nearby:

• Balearic Islands: Mallorca, Menorca, Formentera and Ciutadella.
• Mainland ports: Dénia and Valencia, with ferries to Ibiza.

• By air: Ibiza airport (IBZ) is about 7 km from the town. A bus runs to the center, and a taxi takes about 15 minutes. There are many seasonal flights from Europe and year-round flights from Madrid and Barcelona.
• By ferry: Ferries run from Barcelona, Valencia and Dénia, and between the Balearic islands. Crossing times range from a few hours on fast boats to longer on slower ones. Book ahead in summer.
• From Formentera: Frequent ferries run from La Savina.

• On foot: The harbour and Dalt Vila are walkable, but the old town is steep and cobbled.
• Bus: Public buses link the town with the airport, the beaches and the other villages. They are cheaper than taxis, but less frequent in the evening.
• Taxi: Available, but in high season you may need to book.
• Rental car or scooter: Useful for the island's coves, but parking is hard in summer.

• Is a car worth it?: In the town itself, no. To reach quiet coves and inland villages, a rental car or scooter is useful.
• Parking: Paid car parks fill up in summer. Dalt Vila has restricted access for vehicles.
• Roads: Roads on the island are generally good but narrow and busy in July and August.

Ibizan food is Mediterranean and island-based. Look for bullit de peix (fish and potato stew served with rice), sofrit pagès (a meat stew with sausage and potatoes), sobrassada (a soft cured sausage) and flaó, a cheesecake flavoured with mint.

Hierbas ibicencas is the local herbal liqueur. The island has been known for its sea salt since ancient times.

Ibiza Town is generally safe. Pickpocketing is possible in crowded areas and at night. In summer the sun is strong, so use sun protection and drink water.

If you go out at night, watch your drinks and your belongings. Swim only where it is safe, and pay attention to beach flags.

The island was settled by the Phoenicians, who founded a trading port in the 7th century BC. It later passed to Carthage, Rome and the Moors, and was taken by the Catalan-Aragonese crown in 1235.

The Renaissance walls of Dalt Vila were built in the 16th century to defend against pirates and the Ottoman fleet. In the 1960s the island became known as a destination for hippies, and later for club culture. Dalt Vila, together with the Posidonia seagrass meadows and the Phoenician site of Sa Caleta, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

Quick practical facts for Spain at a glance: