Whenever I tell someone that I’ve been to Ibiza, I am always greeted with a surprised face and “Ibiza? I didn’t know you was a party girl…” The thing is they’re right, I’m not! There’s much more to Ibiza than just parties (even though they are said to be amazing). Ibiza will always be a place for the ravers but the island has more to offer.
Ibiza is a beautiful and magical island that’s great for all kinds of travellers – from solo flyers (yes, I’ve been to Ibiza alone!) to family funsters and soul searchers. Ibiza is demographically part of Spain and belongs to the cluster of Balearic Islands. The other popular Balearic islands are Tenerife, Majorca (Mallorca) and Menorca (Minorca).
My case of wanderlust always brings me back to this place and I’m so glad On The Beach have a low deposit option. I find it hard to save and can’t always book in full because I don’t usually have enough money so the payment plans work for me. You pay an initial booking deposit, usually around £30pp for most holidays and then the remaining balance up to 2 weeks before departure. The further in advance you book, the lower the initial deposit. Paying off my holidays in small, manageable chunks helps me to budget better around my bills, rent and other expenses.
5 reasons why you need to visit Ibiza at least once
I’m sure once you’ve gone, you will want to return one day. There’s something quite magical about Ibiza that I can’t put my finger on yet. I think it’s just the fully relaxed atmosphere, the welcoming locals and the friendly people that also flock here – not for the parties – but for the slower pace of life. If you don’t speak a word of Spanish, you can still get by everywhere as English is the second language here. It’s so close to fly from the UK too, with flights lasting about 2.5-3 hours. That’s quicker than cooking a Christmas dinner or watching Lord of the Rings back to back!
So, what are the other attractions to the island?
1. The constant balmy weather
Ibiza’s climate is balmy and generally warm all year long with moderate rainfall. When I first went to Ibiza back in August 2010 the temperature was around 26-30’C degree celsius. I went back again in September 2017 and 2018 and the temperature varies from 24-28’C degree celsius. In 2018, there was one day we got caught in torrential rain that lasted about 15-20 mins but as soon as it stopped it was warm and humid again.
- Check Ibiza’s average monthly temperature: https://www.holiday-weather.com/ibiza/averages/
Monthly average high and low temperatures in Ibiza:
2. The various scenery
From the beautiful views and party places in Antonio Bay to the historical old town of Dalt Vila, there’s a lot to see around the little island. Each little town has something unique to offer. Don’t forget to explore around Castell de Eivissa when you’re in the old town, it’s cobbled floor is so pretty but awkward if you have weak ankles so wear decent shoes and not flip flops like me! The steep walk up has a great scenic route down as you pass Dalt Vila. There’s not much to do up at the castle top but the views are spectacular.
On Sundays, you can head over to Benirras beach to experience one of the most beautiful sunsets accompanied by the sensational drumming. It happens every Sunday during the summer and is an event not to be missed. I tried to go there by bus but got mixed-up with the bus times (or perhaps the bus just never came) so I missed it. My advice would be to catch a cab there early or travel to San Miguel a day before as the roads leading to Benirras beach gets very busy by Sunday afternoon. If you’re driving try to get there in the morning, chill out by the beach all day then get ready for the sunset in the evening. Bliss!
3. The sister islands (Formentera and Espalmador)
If the Ibiza mainland is boring you a little, take a trip out to its sister islands. Whether you head out to the pristine white sand beaches of Formentera or stop off at the secluded island of Espalmador (I’ve visited both!) it’s definitely a trip not to miss.
Formentera is a fantastic escape from the mainland. Within 40mins by boat with the main service, Aquabus you’ll reach the pristine shores of Formentera. It looks like somewhere out of a postcard, I kid you not. Plenty of luxury yachts dock at its marina and its beach shores are filled with white sand and turquoise waters. You can easily find places to eat and drink, go surfing or cycling, and explore different parts of the island.
It’s a great place to explore with the whole family. The cosy coves dotted along the coastline are calming and lovely enough to enjoy before the tide comes in. There are frequent Aquabus services to Formentera from all over the Ibiza mainland for about €20 (day return). You can even stay on the island with many B&Bs, luxury apartments, charters and yachts available to rent.
There’s also tiny secluded island on the way to Formentera called Espalmador. It lies between Ibiza and Formentera and is basically a mass of land which has become a secluded getaway for Ibizan goers looking for peace and quiet. There’s not much to do on the island apart from sunbathe – you can go nude, semi-nude, as free as you like! There is also a mud spring somewhere on the island which you can take a dip in. There’s hardly any coverage on the island so apply plenty of sunscreen, if you burn easily I’d say skip Espalmador and just visit Formentera as there’s plenty of secluded bays there plus rocky coves where you can salvage some shade.
If you’re keen on visiting Espalmador, bring a picnic, plenty of suncream as there’s not really shady areas and water bottle – there’s no food/drink places here and the Aquabus only passes here a couple trips per day. Also there’s no toilet on Espalmador so make sure you go before you arrive either on the ferry boat or mainland if you’re not hiring your own charter or have a private yacht.
4. The Hippy Market and other local markets
Even if you’ve never visited Ibiza, you would’ve heard about their famous Hippy Markets which is open every Wednesday throughout the summer. I remember my first time going to the Hippy Market; it was busy, chaotic but super fun! There’s something for everyone, there’s even a little play area for the kids. The last time I visited it was less chaotic but still just as busy.
There was so much to see and if you’re looking for special or unique gifts you will find something here. I picked up a gorgeous amethyst crystal necklace on a leather cord. I’d seen so many similar necklaces before but they were too expensive. I think mine cost me around €15-18 which wasn’t too bad as the quality was great and the amethyst stone looked genuine enough.
Here’s a short list of the markets you can visit on the island:
- Hippy Market – Wednesdays Punta in Es Cana
- Las Dalias Market – Saturdays in San Carlos
- Las Dalias Night Market – Monday and Tuesday nights in San Carlos
- Cala Llonga Market – Thursday in Cala Llonga
- San Rafael Artisan Market – Thursdays in San Rafael
Check out Ibiza Spotlight for the full list of Ibiza’s markets sorted by days.
5. The fun, active lifestyle
The Ibizan atmosphere is super chilled. I always felt relaxed and the pace of life here seems very easy-going which is fantastic. But despite the relaxing lifestyle, there’s plenty of activities you can do around the island to keep you healthy, fit and active.
These include:
- Surfing (there’s even indoor surfing!)
- Stand-Up Paddling
- Yoga (even yoga stand-up paddling)
- Pilates
- Cycling
- Watersports
- Sailing
and so much more!
If you regularly work out, there’s plenty of gyms around the island for you to keep up your strength.
PLUS! Lots of healthy places to eat out
Ibiza is actually quite a health-conscious destination. There’s loads of cafes that offer delicious and nutritiously healthy food so you don’t have to worry much about stuffing yourself with junk. There’s a healthy café in San Antonio Bay called The Skinny Kitchen. They make a good salad/buddha bowl for a decent price, plus it was the only place I could find that offered matcha lattes. There are loads of nice healthy cafes around the island so don’t be afraid to explore. Check out their food reviews on Tripadvisor.
For a more extensive list of things to do around the island, visit Tripadvisor’s 10 best things to do in Ibiza.
Where to stay in Ibiza
I’ve visited most parts of the island and it’s excellent wherever you go. You’re bound to find a beach near you no matter where you stay in Ibiza. Here are some of my recommendations:
- San Antonio/San Antonio Bay is for you if you want to be where all the party and action is
Search for hotels in San Antonio Bay - Playa D’en Bossa is for you if you want luxury hotels and party life
Look for hotels in Playa d’en Bossa - Santa Eulalia/Es Canar/San Miguel/Portinatx is great for those who want somewhere laid back and family-friendly
Look for Es Canar hotels and Portinatx hotels - Eivissa Old Town is for you if you want to be near the marina and prefer old charms, boutique cafes and shops and want to be close to the airport
Book hotels in Dalt Vila, Eivissa
Top Tip: If you want to avoid the major party season, visit the island between May – June or September – October instead. The island is well connected by bus so take advantage of this especially if you’ve got more time on your hands to explore the island. X
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Manny.Wandering | The Wandering Mother Blog 
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