Ibiza: Top Things To Do
Dear lilioftheworld.com reader, here is Dimo, your co-editor. Today I will take you to a short and sunny trip to one of the iconic summer destinations in Europe – Ibiza (Eivissa in Catalan). It has been a long time since I planned to visit the island and I finally managed to do so in July 2019. I spent there seven days and in the end I didn’t want to leave: there is just so much to do 🙂 To find out the Top things to Do in Ibiza, continue reading below!
Ibiza belongs to the Balearic islands and is located south-west of Mallorca. The island is known to be the party capital of Europe. Top DJs perform every day and the fun runs for 24 hours. However, Ibiza isn’t only about world class parties. There are also many beautiful beaches and places of interest to visit. I got surprised, then stressed and overwhelmed when researching places to visit for my seven day trip. There is so much to see…
One must prioritize and make a choice. Therefore, I have decided to write the present short article, which is intended to give a hint for the must-do things for a first-timer in Ibiza… A first-timer, who isn’t there only for the parties and nightlife 🙂
5 good-to-know tips when traveling to Ibiza:
- Transportation. During active summer season the traffic can be hectic. Therefore plan your trip in advance and try to avoid rush hour. You have plenty of options to move around: rent-a-car, scooter rental, public buses, taxis, etc. For a budget traveler I would recommend the public transport: in the high season there are bus lines getting to practically all points of interest. Most of the lines which I have used had an accurate timetable in Google Maps.
- Ibiza is an expensive place. Especially when it comes to restaurants, bars and clubs. Cocktails in good bars start from €15. Of course you can find your way to a more balanced budget, but keep in mind your spending when visiting the most famous clubs and places of interest.
- Where to stay. Generally there are several options to have a nice stay in Ibiza, depending what you preference is. If you are into parties, you would consider Playa d’en Bossa, which is the heart of the party life, but is also very pricy. A more budget option you will find in Ibiza town and in San Antoni. I recommend staying at San Antoni as it is relatively cheaper and most of the best beaches are close to it. Furthermore the city is very well connected to all other places of interest on the island.
- When to go. You might consider avoiding the typical vacation season in Europe. Going end of June or mid-September can still give you the full-blown experience without being overcrowded.
- Stay hydrated. Long warm days on the beach and vibrant nightlife can exhaust your body. Therefore, stay well hydrated at all times.
OK, I know that you are already impatient to go ahead, so let’s start with the top things to do in Ibiza when you visit for a first time – beaches and activities.
Must-visit beaches
1. Cala Bassa
It is located in a small gulf, about 10 km from San Antoni. The water is still and you can enjoy swimming and snorkelling. The sandy beach isn’t big, so go early to make sure you get some nice spot. You can get there with a public transportation: a boat taxi or a bus from San Antoni. The boat taxi departs from the port and the bus departs from the bus station. In a rush hour I would recommend the boat taxi to avoid the busy traffic.
2. Cala Comte
Located couple of kilometers from Cala Bassa, Cala Comte is one of the most impressive beaches of Ibiza. And not only: it is one of the best beaches I have ever visited. Why? Because it has it all: turquoise-blue water, nice sandy beach, an island on the sea landscape, a cliff above the beach, wonderful sunset, a great restaurant (turning into bar with a DJ in the late afternoon). All of the listed contribute to a unique experience. Make sure that you don’t miss it!
It is totally worth seeing the sunset from Cala Comte. It was very hard for me selecting just one from the many amazing photos that I made.
3. Cala Tarida
This place is located further south from Cala Bassa and Cala Comte. A sandy beach with a couple of restaurants and many sunbeds: everything that you need for a nice day next to the sea.
4. Playa de ses Salines
A long and wide sand strip in the south part of the island, very close to the airport. There are several restaurants and bars along the beach and you can enjoy a great day. It is a relatively longer trip to get there from San Antoni, but you could combine it with your visit to Ibiza town.
5. Cala Salada and Cala Saladeta
Those are two small, but very beautiful beaches about 8 km north from San Antoni. There is a very convenient public bus, which gets there for about 20 minutes.
The sandy area is very small and most of the people place themselves on the surrounding cliff rocks. There is also a small area with sunbeds and a nice restaurant on the side of Cala Salada.
The area of the beach is a bit secluded and it might be useful for you to know that the mobile network coverage is very weak.
The shortcut between Cala Salada and Cala Saladeta goes through slippery and high rocks, so if you don’t feel comfortable with it, take the longer, but much easier path.
Must-do activities
6. Sunset at Café Del Mar
Even if you don’t stay in San Antoni, you cannot miss its sunset. Best places to see it are the legendary Café Del Mar and the bar next to it Mambo. Listen to some top chillout music, while the sun goes slowly down the horizon. You will see amazing and unique sunset every day.
Tip: watch for the man with the parachute 🙂
7. Go to a party
Well, we said that Ibiza is mainly known for its vibrant party life. Unless you are really not into partying, you have the choice of day pool parties and night club parties. I would highly recommend Fridays in Hard Rock Hotel or Hi Ushuaja. In addition to this you have Pacha, Amnesia, Bora Bora and many more. You can find information about the coming parties and DJs on almost every street. Below you can see the atmosphere of one of the signature parties in Ibiza, F*** Me I’m Famous, where David Guetta is a resident DJ:
If your accomodation is in San Antoni, don’t worry: there is the so called Party Bus, which will take you as far as Playa DNbossa (where the major clubs are) for the single ticket price of €2. The bus runs on every hour after midnight in the direction of San Antoni, so you won’t have to take a taxi (the much more expensive option, which costs about €25-30). As in the beginning I remind that the clubs are expensive and you could end up paying for a mineral water €10-12.
8. Explore Ibiza Town
Ibiza town is a wonderful city and you can enjoy half or a full day wandering its streets. The highlights here are the Fortress, the Necropolis de Puig des Molins and the Marina. You will be surprised to find out that the first settlements date back to about 600 B.C. and Ibiza has been an important trading port in the Mediterranean.
We hope that you have enjoyed the read and you will find it useful for your visit to Ibiza. Of course, there are many other places and things to do on the island and its surroundings, but the above laid is the essential package for a first-timer. I can’t wait visiting Ibiza again to continue the list 🙂 Stay tuned for more traveling tips in Lili’s tips.
P.S. I had a very hard time selecting the photos for this article. I have made so many good ones. In the gallery below you can see some of them 🙂
Chichen Itza
