Things to do in Ibiza
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D'Alt Vila
D'Alt Vila is the old walled town; a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1999. The Romans were the first to fortify this hilltop, but the walls you see were raised by Felipe II in the 16th century to protect against invasion by French and Turkish forces. A ramp leads from Plaça de sa Font in Sa Penya up to the Portal de ses Taules gateway, the main entrance.
Above the entrance hangs a commemorative plaque bearing Felipe II's coat of arms and an inscription recording the 1585 completion date of the fortification - seven artillery bastions joined by thick protective walls up to 22m (72ft) in height.
Immediately inside spreads Plaça de la Vila, with its upmarket restaurants, g…
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Es Bigotes
Offering bullit de peix (whatever fish was caught that morning simmered with herbs, mixed vegetables and potatoes in a huge vat), followed by arròs caldós (saffron rice cooked in the broth of the bullit de peix), this simple shack is known far and wide. Finish off with café de caleta (coffee prepared with lemon zest, cinnamon and flamed brandy). No phone, no reservations; in July and August, you need to turn up in person at least the day before to book a spot. During other months, arrival by 1pm should get you a table. To arrive by car, take the last turning left before Cala Mastella.
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Necròpolis del Puig des Molins
The earliest tombs within this ancient burial ground date from the 7th century BC and Phoenician times. Follow the path around and peer into the burial caverns, oriented north to south, cut deep into the hill. You can descend into one interlocking series of these hypogea (burial caverns). The site museum displays finds such as amulets and terracotta figurines discovered within the more than 3000 tombs that honeycomb the hillside. Both museum and site were closed for restoration work at the time of writing
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Sa Penya
There's always something always going on portside. People-watchers will be right at home - this pocket must have one of the highest concentrations of exhibitionists and weirdos in Spain.
Sa Penya is crammed with dozens of funky and trashy clothing boutiques and the intense competition between the locally made gear and the imports keeps a lid on prices.
The so-called hippy markets, street stalls along Carrer d'Enmig and the adjoining streets, sell everything under the sun.
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S'Ametller
The 'Almond Tree' offers local cooking based upon fresh market produce. The daily menú (for dessert, choose the house flaó, a mint-flavoured variant on cheesecake and a Balearic Islands speciality) is inventive and superb value. As an indication of its credentials, S'Ametller also offers cookery courses – including one that imparts the secrets of that flaó.
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Europcar
The big boys have car-hire desks at the airport and in Ibiza City, but local (and sometimes cheaper) outfits are scattered around the island. The bulk of those in Ibiza City gather around Carrer de Felipe II and Carrer de Carles III. Europcar has the advantage of being open seven days. It hires out an Opel Corsa for about €48 a day.
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Cova de Can Marçà
A turn-off to the right just before Port de Sant Miquel takes you around a headland to the Cova de Can Marçà, underground caverns spectacularly lit by coloured lights. Tours in various languages take around 30 to 40 minutes. After resurfacing, pause for a drink on its terrace and savour the panorama of sheer cliffs and deep blue water.
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Pacha
In business on the northern side of Ibiza City's port since 1973, Pacha has 15 bars (!) and various dance spaces that can hold 3000 people. The main dance floor, a sea of colour, mirror balls and veils draped from the ceiling, heaves to deep techno. On the terrace, sounds are more gentle and relaxing.
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Privilege
One kilometre from Amnesia, this club, with its 20 bars, interior pool and capacity for 10,000 clubbers, claims to be the world's largest. The main domed dance temple is an enormous, pulsating area, where the DJ's cabin is suspended above the pool.
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Space
In Platja d'en Bossa, aptly named Space can pack in as many as 40 DJs and up to 12,000 clubbers. Action here starts mid-afternoon and regular daytime boats make the trip between Platja d'en Bossa and Ibiza City (€6 return).
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Lola's Club
Anyone who remembers Ibiza in the '80s will have fond memories of Lola's Club, one of the first on the island. It's still a hip miniclub, nowadays with a gay leaning. Right beside it, Lolita, a sparky little terrace in its own right, is a great spot for a drink before climbing the stairs to join her bigger sister.
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El Divino
Another of eight Ibiza 'superclubs', El Divino rivals Pacha for longevity and size. Situated across the water from the centre of Ibiza City, El Divino is the only club besides Pacha that is open year-round - weekends only between October and April. It organises boats and will refund taxis for groups of three or more.
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Church
Sant Miquel is overlooked by its shimmering white, boxlike 14th-century church. The restored early-17th-century frescoes in the Capella de Benirràs are a swirl of flowers and twisting vines. Each Thursday from June to September, there’s traditional island dancing on the pretty patio at 6.15pm.
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El Ayoun
When clubbers are ready to take a breather, some like to chill and feed at El Ayoun, a relaxed Moroccan restaurant (with sushi bar). The Middle Eastern food is just the beginning (kitchen closes around midnight). The huge garden terrace is another attraction.
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Discobus
During summer (June to September), Ibiza's Discobus operates nightly from midnight until 06:00, doing circuits between the major discos, bars and hotels in Ibiza City, Platja d'en Bossa, Sant Rafel, Santa Eulària d'es Riu (and an extension to Es Canar) and Sant Antoni.
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La Torreta
Opt for al fresco dining on local fish and other Mediterranean dishes or head inside - groups should try for the big table set on a separate lower level and surrounded by the inside of the massive city walls. The seafood canelones de marisco are melt-in-the-mouth.
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La Paloma
La Paloma, located in Sant Llorenç 100m downhill from the church, is an ecofriendly option. It offers creative Mediterranean, especially Italian, cuisine (hams and salamis come fresh from Tuscany) and sources vegetables from its own kitchen garden.
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KM5
This bar, named after its highway location, is where you go to glam it up. Head out of town towards Sant Josep and dance in the gardens as you gear up for the clubs. Lounging is the second major activity and there are plenty of pillows strewn about the tents.
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Osteria Es Figueral
Pull up a little blue wood-and-wicker chair on the shady roadside terrace, listen to Paolo Conte sing and tuck into excellent pizzas or such Italian faves as saltimbocca a la romana (slices of pork oven-cooked with prosciutto and parmesan cheese).
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Kumharas
You can eat, drink and soak up the final rays of the day at Kumharas. Sunday night is best, with live performances (especially fire dancers). Look for the Rodeo Vaca Loca sign on the main road and turn down Carrer de Lugo towards the sea.
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Villa Mercedes
This traditional Ibizan bourgeois mansion stands out among the sometimes horrendous muddle of Sant Antoni. It looks over the marina and offers eclectic cooking, from wok-fried vegetables through rice and noodle dishes to the local catch of the day.
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Bar Anita
A timeless tavern opposite the village church of Sant Carles de Peralta, this restaurant and bar has been attracting all sorts from around the island for decades. They come to enjoy pizza, pasta and a hearty meal – or simply to drink and chat.
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Teatro Pereira
This is a lively bar, packed most nights with a more eclectic crowd than the standard preclubbing bunch. It often has live music sessions. Out back is the much abandoned 1893 theatre. For years there has been talk of restoring it.
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Museu d'Art Contemporani
Its normal home is within an 18th-century powder store and armoury. While it undergoes lengthy refurbishing, elements of the collection are on show in the Casa Consistorial (Town Hall) on Plaça d'Espanya.
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Comidas Bar San Juan
A family-run operation with two small dining rooms, this simple eatery offers outstanding value, with fish dishes for around €10 and many small mains for €6 or less. It doesn't take reservations, so arrive early.
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