IBIZA’S MARKETS – You’ll have a great time discovering Ibiza’s popular hippy markets, where you can still today find a real 70s feel. The largest and oldest market on the island is on Wednesdays: it has 400 stalls and is known as the Es Canar market in Punta Arabi. On Saturdays there is another emblematic market, Las Dalias, in Sant Carles, which in winter becomes an alternative Christmas market.
The island also has markets selling typical crafts (baskets, table linen, ceramics, leather articles…), where you can even watch as they are being made. Be sure to visit markets such as Santa Eularia, Ses Figueretes, San Antoni and the Patio de Armas square at Dalt Vila to experience these crafts.
IBIZA BY NIGHT – Ibiza offers a multitude of leisure and nightlife options for every taste and predilection. Besides its fashionable bars and night clubs, there is also a host of other activities that get underway: street markets, outdoor terraces, cultural activities in the open-air, concerts and music performances.
Island protocol wisely decrees that nightlife starts at sundown. The western shore is, of course, ideal for this pursuit. Sant Antoni is legendary for its ‘sunset strip’ (a.k.a. Ses Variades) where several de rigueur bars and cafes combine great sky shows with top DJ sets. In the southwest, the pirate tower, Torre d’es Savinar (a.k.a. Torre del Pirata), perched on a cliff high above the Sant Josep coast, provides a superb sunset in an all-natural setting. Nearby, Sa Pedrera, the old quarry popularly known as Atlantis, furnishes the same spectacular vistas, while many would agree that the sunset experience par excellence belongs to Platges de Compte in the city.
After the sunset ritual has concluded, there ensues an interval in which people dress for the evening and dine at one of Ibiza’s world-class restaurants. They then proceed to Act Two, centred on pubs, cocktail bars and garden terraces across the island. The main haunts for the pre-party scene are La Marina and Calle de la Virgen (predominately gay) in Ibiza Town, the full-on West End in Sant Antoni and the laid-back marina in Santa Eularia.
The real action starts after midnight when the big clubs open and partiers let it all hang out. All-night dancing, world-famous DJs and high glamour combine here. Be too sure to visit famous discos such as Space, Amnesia and Pacha that guarantee a great time. A mention should also be made in regard to Ibiza’s casino. A subdued atmosphere of serious gaming makes for an elegant venue that you absolutely must visit.
