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Three days on Ibiza beyond the clubs: the old quarter of Dalt Vila, Es Cavallet beach, the queer scene in Ibiza Town and a realistic plan for getting around.
For a lot of people Ibiza is mostly about long nights in the clubs, but the island has far more going for it than that. If you only have a long weekend, pick two or three areas and stick to them rather than trying to drive across the whole island. Queer life is concentrated in Ibiza Town. Everything else is spread out across the beaches and a handful of villages inland. This plan splits three days so that the scene, sightseeing and a bit of downtime all fit together. For a detailed overview with addresses and maps, take a look at the Gay Ibiza Guide, and if you're still deciding where to go this summer, our comparison of Mykonos and Sitges covers two obvious alternatives.
Day 1: Ibiza Town and the old quarter
The heart of the island is Ibiza Town, which locals call Eivissa. Looming above it is Dalt Vila, the old town from the 16th century wrapped in a huge fortress wall. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The view over the harbour alone makes the climb up through the narrow lanes worth it. Give yourself time on the first day to walk up slowly; at the top you'll find the cathedral and a viewing terrace.
Down by the harbour, around Carrer de la Mare de Déu in the Sa Penya district, is where the queer scene sits. During the day it's quiet, but in the evening the narrow lanes fill up. We've pulled together which spots are buzzing right now and where things stay more relaxed over at the Gay Bars in Ibiza. For your first evening a loose wander through the harbour lanes is plenty, no fixed plan needed. Eat something beforehand, because on Ibiza the evening starts late and runs long.
Day 2: Beaches and the slow island life
Ibiza is small. With a rental car or a scooter you can reach almost any beach in under an hour. A favourite among queer visitors is Es Cavallet in the south, a long natural beach just below the salt flats. For years the far end has been the gay meeting point, with a nudist stretch in front of it. The salt flats themselves are a nature reserve you drive through on the way, with pink-tinged pools and flamingos in spring and autumn.
If you prefer it quieter, head for one of the smaller coves on the north and west coast, around Cala d'Hort for instance, with its view of the Es Vedrà rock. Take the day at an easy pace. A beach bar, a long lunch, a dip in the sea, that's really all you need. Late in the afternoon it's worth heading back towards town to grab a shower and a break before the evening kicks off. If beaches are the main reason you came, our roundup of the best gay beaches in Europe puts Ibiza in context with the rest of the Med.
Where to base yourself
Where you stay makes a real difference. If you want to be close to the scene, look in Ibiza Town; if you're after quiet, somewhere outside it. There's an overview of places with a queer crowd under Gay Hotels in Ibiza. In high summer you should book early, the island fills up and prices climb noticeably. Worth knowing: many of the smaller boutique hotels are agroturismos out in the countryside, which trade walking-distance nightlife for calm and a pool.
Day 3: Nightlife and one last day
For plenty of people the nightlife is the whole reason to come to Ibiza in the first place. The big clubs sit outside town, in Sant Antoni and along the coast, and the season runs roughly from May to October. The parties start late, often only after midnight, and entry isn't cheap. If you want to play it safe, buy your tickets online in advance, because at the door it's usually more. A disco bus, the Discobús, runs through the night between the main resorts and the clubs, which saves you worrying about driving back.
How you spend the last day depends on your flight. If you were out late the night before, treat yourself to a slow morning on the beach or a coffee in the old town. On Wednesdays and Sundays the hippie market in Es Canar in the east of the island is worth a look, a leftover from the 1970s with stalls and live music. Still hungry for a good meal? There's plenty of choice around the harbour, from simple tapas to fine dining. A selection of places with a queer crowd is listed under Gay Restaurants in Ibiza.
Getting there and around
The airport sits about eight kilometres southwest of Ibiza Town; a bus and taxis will get you into the centre in roughly fifteen minutes. In season there are direct flights from many European airports, though outside the summer months the options thin out. On the island itself buses will get you between the larger towns, but for the smaller coves and the nightlife your own car or scooter is far handier. You'll rarely need cash, cards are taken almost everywhere. If you'd rather not deal with a car at all, our notes on getting there and around cover the alternatives, and the wider city trips hub has more long-weekend ideas in the same format.
