Ibiza is famous for its nightclubs, Amnesia, Pacha, Ushuaïa, DC-10, the superclubs that have made the White Island synonymous with electronic music and 4am dancing since the Balearic beat exploded in the 1980s and transformed a quiet Mediterranean island into one of the world’s great party destinations. But Ibiza is a lot more than nightclubs and bars, and the quieter, more beautiful side of the island, the pine-covered hills, the hidden coves of crystal-clear water, the hippy markets, the salt flats, and the perfectly preserved medieval fortress of Dalt Vila, rewards the traveller who ventures beyond the club strip of San Antonio and Playa d’en Bossa.

Quick Facts: Ibiza Beyond the Nightclubs

• Dalt Vila (the Old Town): The walled upper town of Ibiza Town, a UNESCO World heritage site, one of the best-preserved medieval fortifications in the Mediterranean, with steep cobbled streets, a magnificent cathedral, and views across the harbour to Formentera. The restaurants and bars of the old town are excellent, La Oliva is the classic, and the sunset from the terrace bar at the top of the walls is the best view on the island
• Es Vedrà: The most iconic sight on Ibiza, a dramatic limestone island rising 400 metres from the sea off the southwestern coast, the subject of myths and legends (the tip of Atlantis, a magnetic anomaly, the home of the sirens who tempted Odysseus), and the focal point of the best sunsets on the island. The view from the clifftop near Cala d’Hort is unforgettable. Walk down to the beach at Cala d’Hort for a swim with the rock looming over you
• The beaches: Cala Comte (the most beautiful sunset beach, a series of coves with shallow, impossibly turquoise water and views of the small islands offshore. Very busy in summer, arrive early or go for the sunset), Cala Salada (a beautiful cove on the north coast, harder to reach, quieter, and worth the effort), Cala Xarraca (the far north, a rocky cove famous for its mud baths, locals cover themselves in the mineral-rich mud for a natural spa treatment), and Aguas Blancas (the wildest beach on the island, a wide, undeveloped stretch of sand on the east coast, popular with nudists and those seeking a quieter Ibiza)
• The Hippy Markets: Las Dalias (near San Carlos, in the north, the original hippy market from the 1980s, a colourful, bohemian mix of crafts, jewellery, clothing, and live music. Saturdays year-round; night market on Mondays in summer) and Punta Arabí (near Es Canar, the largest, with over 500 stalls. Wednesdays April–October). Both are touristy but genuinely atmospheric, the spirit of 1970s Ibiza lives on in the incense, the tie-dye, and the sound of hand drums
• Hiking and nature: Ses Salines Natural Park (the salt flats between Ibiza and Formentera, a wetland that is one of the most important bird migration stops in the Mediterranean. The pink colour of the salt ponds at sunset, with the flocks of flamingos feeding, is one of the most beautiful sights on the island). The coastal walk from Cala d’Hort to Atlantis (Sa Pedrera), the mysterious abandoned quarry on the coast, carved with strange shapes and sculptures, reached by a steep and unofficial path (wear proper shoes and be careful)
• When to visit: June and September for the best balance of weather, warmth, and manageable crowds; July–August for the full-on Ibiza experience (the clubs, the beach parties, the crowds, book everything months ahead); May and October for a quieter, more beautiful Ibiza, the sea is still warm, the island is green, and the crowds have not yet arrived / have already gone