Over the years, Ibiza has earned a reputation as the clubbing capital of the world. During the busy summer months, the very best of Europe’s DJs congregate on this gloriously sun-kissed island in the Balearics, drawing revelers from around the world. The destination even attracts celebrities including the likes of P Diddy, Kate Moss and Dizzee Rascal.
The birth of a phenomenon
A premier spot for party holidays on the island is the town of San Antonio, or Sant Antoni de Portmany. It is home to the now world-renowned Café Del Mar, which gave birth to the genre of chill out tunes and set in motion the emergence of Ibizan clubbing. Situated in the beautiful Sant Antoni Bay, this formally quiet cafe quickly became known as the perfect place to listen to music while watching the sun go down. Now, hoards of visitors head to this part of Ibiza to mark the end of the day and the beginning of the night.
With its impressive new boardwalk terrace, Café del Mar is the ideal venue to go for a cocktail to get the evening’s entertainment underway.
The best clubs
Another top party destination is Amnesia. This legendary club is located inland on the San Antonio Road and it regularly packs in 5,000 people during the high season. You’ll find two huge spaces and a variety of artists. If you can stay on your feet, you can drink and dance there until 6am.
Located in Playa d’en Bossa, Space is a popular club too, attracting some of the world’s top DJs and plenty of partygoers. You can expect a different vibe on each night of the week, and the venue — which modestly describes itself as ‘the best club in the world’ — has a fashionable, fresh look and feel.
Pacha is also well worth checking out. It may be four decades old, but this Ibiza Town venue shows no signs of falling out of favor. With a host of events, it caters to a variety of crowds on different nights. You’re sure to find something you like in its labyrinth of rooms.
Also in Ibiza Town you’ll find La Bodega. This bar, cafe and restaurant may not be as high octane as the clubs, but it’s a great place to enjoy a few drinks and a bite to eat.
Lots more to see and do
Of course, there’s more to Ibiza than just bars and clubs. If you feel as though you’ve had your fill of booze and bars and you want to try something different, there are a host of activities to keep you entertained. You might like to test your skills on two wheels, for instance. Ibiza has 13 all-terrain cycling routes and it’s easy to hire bikes.
Meanwhile, to help your body and mind recover after all that partying, perhaps a yoga lesson on the beach would be perfect. You can also enjoy some retail therapy in the island’s many markets. The biggest take place in San Carlos and Es Caná.
Images by Amnesia Ibiza and David, Bergin, Emmet and Eliott, used under Creative Commons license
Canadian expat Carrie Kellenberger has kept a home base with her husband in Asia since 2003. A prolific traveler, Carrie has funded her travels primarily as a writer, editor, travel blogger and photographer, but she has also worked as an educator, voice over artist, model and nightclub singer. She draws upon her 15+ years of travel experience to write about travel-related issues and the countries she has visited on her award-winning web site, My Several Worlds.
Her photography and travel articles have appeared in both print and online publications around the world, including Travel and Leisure Asia, Unearthing Asia and Hip Compass Escapes.
