Known as the ‘The World’s Party Capital’, Ibiza is famous for it’s wild nightlife, festivals, parties and clubs. Over the past few decades this beautiful little island has gained quite the reputation across the globe as being ‘the’ place to go if you’re looking for a damn good time, and by that I mean to get wasted and party until 6 in the morning.
As someone who’s never really been into the clubbing scene, the appeal of Ibiza never really called to me. It’s not somewhere that was on my bucket list and if I hadn’t had attended a retreat on the island in May 2023, I probably never would have gone.
I never would have found the true beauty of this island, the true spirit of it. I never would have watched the sun set over Es Vedrà whilst eating fresh seafood on the cliff’s edge. I never would have experienced the rugged, rural countryside that the island has to offer, and I never would have known the history of the old town.
I will be forever grateful for this trip that seemed to land into our laps as in all honesty, it’s one of my favourite areas of Spain so far. So much so that we’ve even considered the possibility of spending months at a time on this stunning island.
If you’ve got a trip planned to Ibiza, whether it’s part of a group or as a couple, there’s so much more to see than just the party side of the island. If you get the chance, we’d highly recommend taking in some of the history, sights, and culture of this glorious island. Here’s a few of the things we did whilst in Ibiza – all of which we would endorse you to see if you can!
I couldn’t start this list on any other location than Es Vedra. I did absolutely no research before going to Ibiza and during the retreat someone (who lives on the island) mentioned this place. This glorious location that was supposed to be the perfect spot to catch a sunset and off course, after hearing this I was immediately enthralled by the idea of making the journey to said location to see what all the fuss was about.
I did some googling that evening and found a cute little restaurant, nestled right into the cliff’s edge with views of Es Vedra and the surrounding coast. Es Boldado was the restaurant choice for me!
The following evening, we set off on the 40 minute taxi journey and arrived at the most beautiful location. There’s something about Es Vedra that seems majestic, almost mythical, that is felt by almost everyone that visits and spends time taking in the rock.
That’s what it basically is, by the way. Es Vedra is a small island, pretty much a large rock formation that sticks up out of the middle of the ocean. It’s around 413 meters tall and is completely inhabited. In fact, it’s a completely protected location meaning you aren’t allowed to visit or set foot on the island itself.
It is said to be the third most magnetic place in the entire world (just behind the North Pole and the Bermuda triangle) and is apparently the source of the islands energy.
Es Vedra is no stranger to myths and is actually at the centre of a whole host of mythical stories told about the island. Some say it’s home to sirens and sea nymphs, others say that it is the tip of Atlantis. All of these stories feed into the magic of this location and I genuinely believe that there’s something spiritual happening here. Problem is, you really must actually go there to know what I’m talking about because seeing it, being there in person is a totally different playing field to writing about it or reading about it online. If you have the time and the opportunity, please take the journey out to this part of the island to take in a sunset during your own trip.
Another location not to be missed whilst in Ibiza is without a doubt the old town or ‘Dalt Vila’. Set within the old castle walls, complete with a drawbridge entrance, this is where you’ll find the most history on the island. Founded over 2500 years ago, the cobbled streets of Dalt Vila are packed full of local shops, bars and restaurants and is one of the main attractions of the island. The shops in this particular area are really unique, and we spent several days slowly meandering the pathways here and were still coming across quirky shops we’d missed the day before. I think you could easily spend a whole day or two exploring the old own of Evissa.
Just below the city of Dalt Vila is the historic port area. From here, you can grab lunch with scenic ocean views and watch the yachts flow in and out of the marina. You could even charter your own private yacht for the day or book yourself a spot on one of the party boats, spending the day or evening sailing the coastline of the island.
Whilst you’re visiting the old town, be sure to take the steep walk to the top of the castle walls where you can take in stunning views of Ibiza, the marina and the ocean. It’s an absolute must if you’re able to make the hike!
Lastly, if you get a chance we'd highly suggest trying to visit at least one of the smaller beaches of the island. The water in Ibiza is incredibly clear and with over 80 beaches on this small island to choose from, it's pretty likely there will be one close by to wherever you choose to stay.
We personally chose to visit Cala Gracioneta, which is a stunning small beach with turquise waters and the most beautiful beach restaurant you could ask for: Cala Gracioneta Chiringuito. This place had the best food, the best cocktails, the best location and the best atmosphere we experienced on the island. It's somewhere I'm desperate to return to as we didn't get to take a dip during our stay in ibiza and I'd honestly love to spend the entire day at this location.
Where to stay:
When choosing where to stay during your visit, I'd suggest basing your decision on:
1. Where are most of the things you want to see
2. How you intend on getting around the island
3. What type of experience you want from your stay
Ibiza is a relatively small island. On average, it takes around an hour to get from the north side to the south side of the island, meaning most car journeys will be no longer than an hour (ish). Having said that, a lot of the typical sights are pretty spread out across the island. I'd make a list of the things that you definitely want to do during your trip and work out a central location to the majority of your list and go from there.
We personally chose to get around by taxi's which worked for us for the type of trip we were on, however we have said that if we were to visit again we'd likely hire a car to get around. We'd have loved the chance to explore more areas of the island, some hidden beaches and locations that are very remote. There was a particular evening during our stay that we ventured out to the lovely Es Boldado restaurant (the one with the Es Vedra view) and due to the location we really struggled to get a taxi home.
Ibiza is a versatile island and your experience can vary depending on where you stay. For us, we were on a semi-work trip so we knew we wanted somewhere quiet, but close to the old town so we could also do some exploring. We chose to stay at Can Sastre Hotel in San Rafael, a more rural setting than most people opt for but it was absolutely perfect for what we wanted. Decide what kind of atmostphere you're looking for before deciding on an area, and be sure to do your research on the hotel or villa before booking!
If you get a chance to visit Ibiza, we can almost guarentee that you'll be pleasantly surprised by the history, the authenticity and vibrancy of this gorgeous little island.
Happy Travels!
Becca x
Comentários