Ibiza holidays provide a feast for the senses. There’s the Old Town’s world heritage site complete with a magnificently placed cathedral, an elegant harbour, sophisticated restaurants and designer boutiques, stunning beaches, undiscovered coves, white-washed villages and there’s the world-famous all-night club culture. Luxury Ibiza holidays deliver an enjoyable and classy way to visiting the most lively of the Balearic Islands.
Ibiza is a fairly small island just 45km long by 25km wide and is the nearest Balearic Island to mainland Spain. Thanks to its hilly terrain the island offers some magnificent scenery with towering cliffs and the countryside, particularly in the north, is a rural patchwork of groves of almonds, olives and figs, dense pine forests and many tiny hamlets with pretty whitewashed village churches, whilst the entire coastline is made up of stunning cove beaches, many of which are deserted even in high season. Whilst most famed for its vibrant nightlife the island has a wonderful amount to offer whilst the sun is shining – making luxury Ibiza holidays a pleasure for every visitor.
Our top tip is that you really need your own transport to reach the best spots although there’s a good bus service around the island and local boats serve various destinations along the coast.
Ibiza Island
Here at Classic Collection Holidays we have a variety of great recommendations for places to visit when on luxury holidays to Ibiza.
Dalt Vila, the old part of Ibiza Town is a UNESCO world heritage site where restaurants and cafés abound as well as some worthwhile museums. By day it is wonderful to wander through the cobbled streets up to the 13th century cathedral and by night, even if clubbing isn’t for you, the beautiful streets of the old town are brought alive by the party-goers and it’s worth visiting simply to spectate.
Take a trip in a glass bottomed boat from San Antonio round to the delightful bay of Cala d’Hort with fantastic views of Ibiza’s dramatic cliffs and the magical rock of Es Vedra, or visit Sant Josep, a scenic hilltop village boasting delightful panoramic views and home to artists and painters, plus all around the coast are numerous delightful coves and beaches to discover.
Other tourist attractions on Ibiza include Punta Arabi, the original hippy market in Es Cana, Aguamar, a water-park ideal for children, a spectacular Mardi Gras Evening for all the family, the salt flats at Ses Salines, and the impossibly busy beach area surrounding Malibu; perfect for spotting the rich and famous! Simply contactour resort representatives when you arrive for further details of sightseeing possibilities.
Classic Collections Holidays also offer a fantastic range of exclusive 4 and 5 star hotels in Ibiza, chosen to cater for the perfect sunshine holiday.
Formentera Island
Just 12 miles south of Ibiza, the island of Formentera, just 20km long from east to west, boasts some of Spain’s longest and least crowded beaches perfect for sun worshipping, windsurfing and scuba diving. The most famous is the beach at lletas although at Playa de Migjorn, the fine white sands and turquoise waters extend for more than 5km.
Formentera is an easy place to visit for the day by ferry or hydrofoil from Ibiza Town, and although it is possible to drive around in a hire car or catch the local bus, the best way to discover this delightful island is to rent a bicycle or moped.
Ibiza has a wide variety of restaurants and Ibiza Town offer many excellent eateries serving traditional Ibicencan cuisine and the old town, Dalt Vila, a particularly romantic setting for an evening meal. Santa Eulalia on the east coast boasts a wonderful array of restaurants, many of them lining the promenade running alongside the beach.
Cuisine
Luxury Ibiza holidays are not fully experienced without tasting the islands glorious Mediterranean cuisine. Along the coast and on some of the beaches, chiringuitos (bar-restaurants) serve chilled drinks and grilled fish in high season.
Fresh seafood and fish dishes are particularly popular and local specialities include Bullit de Peix, a fish stew made with different types of fish, alioli garlic sauce and potatoes, or Burrida de Ratjada, skate with almonds.
Arrocerias are restaurants specialising in rice based dishes such as arroz negro, rice that has been coloured with cuttlefish ink or the local fideua, a vermicelli paella cooked in a large frying pan usually to be shared by two or more people.
Bread, olives and ailoli is served in most places as a nibble whilst waiting for the main course, or with an aperitif, and the local dessert is flao, a fresh mint-flavoured cheesecake, is worth a try.