Boutique Hotels in Ibiza

Why go?

Whether you’ve been or not, you’ll probably have a few preconceptions about Ibiza: jam-packed clubs, rowdy crowds, a hedonistic lifestyle and chilled-out music. But what you may not realise is that there’s a whole other side to this Balearic island: a tranquil, laid-back and beautiful one. Just 10 minutes' drive from the hustle and bustle of San Antoni or Eivissa where the nightlife takes place, Ibiza unfolds into glorious beaches and a simple, more rural landscape admist the remote green countryside. Empty winding roads, meticulously ploughed fields and row upon row of orange, almond and olive trees. Craggy rocks and dry stone walls pepper the vistas; goats wander untethered down rough track roads.

However long you’re coming for (and we’d suggest at least a week), hire a car and spend time driving around the island and taking in the beautiful countryside. Head north to Santa Eularia and visit secluded beaches and go walking; drive east to Eivissa’s Old Town and wander through cobbled narrow streets up to the cliff-top cathedral; meander your way south to the salt plains and nudist beaches, or spend a couple of days in sleepy Formentera. Whether you go clubbing or not, you’ll leave the island with any entirely different picture of it.

Any Downsides?

Although the police are cracking down on it, drugs are an ever-present problem in Ibiza. In itself, this drug scene fosters petty burglary and is obviously illegal, but it also leads to people being out of control and vulnerable to muggings or worse. However, the clubbing world is a midnight-til-dawn one, so you're unlikely to be exposed to it all. Apart from all this, your only real concern is sunburn. Temperatures can soar to the mid-thirties in summer, and when you’ve had a late night, you’re prone to fall asleep in the sun. Drink lots of water, wear a high-factor suncream and snooze in the shade.

What's where?

• Eivissa & South: Eivissa's beautiful old town plus gorgeous beaches, mystical Es Vedra, extraordinary salt flats and the clubs of San Antoni Read More >>
• Santa Eularia & North: Stunning landscapes and blissful peace: walk in aromatic pine forests, wander through fields of almond blossom, find a tiny cove and be all alone Read More >>