Eivissa, as it is officially called, is the island’s capital and its only real town in the urban sense. Small by the standards of mainland cities, it still has everything: a busy port, a marina, shops, markets, restaurants and, above it all, the walled old town of Dalt Vila.
What it’s like
The town climbs from the harbour up to the walls. Below them, the old fishermen’s quarter of Sa Penya and the streets of La Marina are full of bars, shops and restaurants. Across the harbour are the marinas and, further along, the beaches of Talamanca and Ses Figueretes.
What to see and do
Walk up through the Portal de ses Taules into Dalt Vila, the Renaissance walled town that is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll along the Passeig de Vara de Rey, the town’s main boulevard, browse the market stalls of the old Mercat Vell and visit the Phoenician and Punic necropolis of Puig des Molins, also part of the World Heritage listing.
The town’s great celebration is the Festes de la Terra, which run from the end of July to 11 August and commemorate the Catalan conquest of Ibiza and Formentera in 1235, when the old mosque was consecrated as a Christian church dedicated to Santa Maria. Their main day is 5 August, the feast of Our Lady of the Snows, Santa Maria de les Neus, patron saint of the island, followed on 8 August by Sant Ciriac, patron saint of the town.
Getting there
Ibiza Town is 15 minutes from the airport, and buses connect it with every part of the island. Driving and parking in the centre are hard in summer, so the best plan is to leave the car in one of the free car parks on the edge of town and walk in:
- Sa Joveria: one of the largest, with room for around 1,000 cars, next to the fairground and a 10 to 15-minute walk from the centre.
- Es Gorg: near the port area, by IKEA, with more than 700 spaces, 15 to 20 minutes on foot from the harbour and the old town.
- Es Pou Sant: on Carrer des Cubells, large and 10 to 15 minutes from the centre.
- Multicines: also on Carrer des Cubells, convenient and free, but it fills quickly in high season.
- Cas Dominguets: a park-and-ride car park with around 230 spaces, just over a kilometre from Dalt Vila and the harbour.
Good to know
Unlike the resorts, Ibiza Town is alive all year round. Autumn and spring are the best seasons to explore it on foot.
