I’m a travel writer and here are six reasons (apart from clubbing) why Ibiza is a dream destination, from mysterious cliffs to world-class hotels and beaches

Ibiza is known as a party island, a place where you can let loose and dance until the sun comes up. But I’ve never experienced it like that.

Like many others, I fell in love with a side of the White Isle that reveals peaceful towns, beautiful beaches and soothing wellness retreats.

My first visit to Ibiza was on a family trip when I was in my early teens. We spent a week in a hotel in laid-back Santa Eulalia which was just metres from a sandy beach.

I remember it as a relaxing holiday where I spent a lot of time in the sea and ate ice creams almost every day. Just thinking about it now makes me happy.

Since then I’ve been back to Ibiza a few times to chill and explore, most recently at the end of last summer as the island started to cool down for the season. It was as dreamy as ever. Ibiza never disappoints – and here’s why…

1. World-class hotels

Ibiza has a number of stylish hotels. One of the most sought after is the Montesol Experimental hotel (above)

Montesol Experimental has 30 rooms and three suites that are a ‘utopia of pastel shades’

Ibiza has some pretty chic hotels – ranging from boho-chic boutiques to updated classics that put innovative interior design to the fore.

One of the most coveted is the Montesol Experimental hotel, in the heart of Ibiza Town.

It originally opened as the Gran Hotel Montesol in 1933 and has hosted a diverse celebrity clientele from Orson Welles to Pink Floyd and Princess Caroline of Monaco.

The elegant neo-colonial building was purchased by the Experimental Group in 2021, giving it a beautiful makeover.

Guiding the redesign was Parisian interior designer Dorothée Meilichzon, the woman behind some of the most notable hotels in the world today, such as the Grand Pigalle Hotel in Paris and Cowley Manor in Gloucestershire. She has transformed Montesol’s thirty rooms and three suites into a striking utopia of pastel shades, with rattan lamps and funky furniture.

There’s also a charming cosmic theme, with lunar motifs recurring throughout.

2. Sensational beaches

The Experimental beach club in Cap des Falco has sun loungers and sunbeds

You are spoiled for choice when it comes to beaches in Ibiza. The island is home to more than 80, from beautiful hidden coves to dazzling white sand wonders.

Luckily, given Ibiza’s relatively small size (it takes about an hour to drive from top to bottom), you don’t have to limit yourself to just one or two.

You can spend the whole day hopping from beach to beach and visiting as many beaches as possible.

Be sure to visit Cap des Falco, a pebble beach in the south where you’ll find the Experimental Beach club.

A safe beach destination for families is Cala Gracioneta, a white-sand cove that locals flock to for its tranquil tree-lined setting, turquoise waters and relative seclusion

The sandy beach belongs to the aforementioned hotel and is lined with white loungers and sun beds that offer beautiful views of the sea and the sunset. To reach it, the drive takes you through the Los Salinas Salt Reserve, home to flocks of pink flamingos.

For a taste of the island’s hippie atmosphere, head to Benirras in the north of the island, where drummers descend on the beach every Sunday, fires are lit and the sunset is celebrated.

A safe spot for families is Cala Gracioneta, a white-sand cove that locals flock to for its tranquil, tree-lined setting, turquoise waters and relative seclusion.

3. Delicious local cuisine

Paella is a popular dish in Ibiza and is usually served in giant pans so the whole table can share

Meals usually start with an offering of fresh bread and aioli (mayonnaise with a strong garlic kick), washed down with carafes of wine and classic sangria.

Many restaurants also serve basic products such as patatas bravas, croquettes, grilled octopus and a good paella.

Ibiza’s traditional paella, paella de marisco, is packed with squid, mussels, prawns, cockles and scallops and is served in large steaming pans brought to the table for everyone to share.

Other specialities worth sampling include butifarra sausage – a ‘pate’ made from pork, bacon and herbs, spread thickly on country bread – and sofritpages, a hearty stew of mixed meats such as chicken, lamb and Ibizan sausages.

4. Craft shopping

With more than 500 stalls, the Es Cana Hippie Market (pictured) is a shopper’s paradise

Forget fridge magnets and keyrings, Ibiza offers truly unique treasures to take home.

The island is known for its ‘hippie markets’ in Es Cana, where local vendors display their handmade wares – from kaftans, crocheted two-pieces, silver jewellery, leather bags and more.

Serious shoppers should head to the oldest and largest hippy market, Punta Arabi, held every Wednesday (April to October) in Es Cana. It’s a bustling affair, where you can easily spend a whole day browsing around its 500 stalls. On Saturdays, the Las Dalias hippy market takes place in San Carlos.

These are located alongside the many local craft markets scattered across the island selling everything from ceramics to homemade soap.

5. Mysterious natural wonders

Es Vedra, the 400-metre-high monolith off the southwest coast of Ibiza, said to be the third most magnetic spot in the world

From Cala d’Hort beach in Sant Josep you can enjoy uninterrupted views of Es Vedra

There is no doubt that Ibiza has a certain attraction. Some believe that this has to do with the mysterious rock Es Vedra.

This uninhabited formation lies off the southwest coast of the island and is, according to legend, the third most magnetic place in the world, after the Bermuda Triangle and the North Pole.

The limestone monolith, which reaches a height of 400 meters (1,312 feet), is certainly fascinating.

Don’t miss the chance to admire it from the cliffs above the beach of Cala d’Hort in Sant Josep. The view is breathtaking and especially at sunset the view is breathtaking.

6. World-class wellness

The photo shows the spa of Six Senses Ibiza, a luxury resort on the north coast of the island

Discover the secrets of a long life at Six Senses Ibiza.

The luxury resort in the bohemian north of the island has taken the wellness hotel to a whole new level with the launch of its ‘RoseBar Longevity Club‘.

The ‘secrets’ are revealed during a one, three or seven day programme, which includes a full wellness screening to understand individual needs.

RoseBar’s programs provide guests with “insights and tools” to stimulate the body’s natural healing systems.

Treatments available at the extensive spa include hyperbaric oxygen therapy and IV vitamin drips, ice baths, infrared saunas, and yoga and meditation classes.