Looking for ideas for your next getaway to the White Isle? The prospect of discovering new hotels in Ibiza is one of those plans that’s impossible to resist. This destination itself invites you to explore it with a wholehearted yes as your travel companion. You may have already visited once, but do you really know it? The following curiosities about Ibiza will show you just how much there is still to discover.
The White Isle that has captivated for millennia
The city of Ibiza was founded by the Phoenicians, who arrived on the island in 654 BC during one of their Mediterranean expeditions. They named it Insula Augusta, while the first Phoenician-Punic settlement of the capital was known as Ebusus (for the Romans) and Ibosim (for the Phoenicians). Its modern name, Ibiza or Eivissa, is derived from these earlier versions.
Beyond postcard-perfect beaches and its famous nightlife, this free-spirited destination captivates with its authenticity, revealed in the most unexpected places: its rural landscapes, inherited traditions, open and hedonistic attitude, and deep ties to creativity, music, and art. The hippie movement of the 1960s put it on the international map, attracting all kinds of personalities and igniting its legend. Incidentally, there’s a local saying that Ibiza either embraces you or rejects you. Which feeling resonates with you?
Dalt Vila: a World Heritage jewel
Amid the fragrance of citrus trees and the color of bougainvillea, the old town of Eivissa rises above the sea beyond its exclusive harbor, like a historic watchtower gazing out at the horizon. Dalt Vila, or the “high city” of Ibiza, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 along with the island’s Posidonia meadows, Puig des Molins, and the Phoenician necropolis of Sa Caleta. The citadel is flanked by Renaissance-style walls designed in the 16th century by Italian military architect Giovanni Battista Calvi.
Step through its entrance gate and you’ll be welcomed by a maze of cobbled streets and emblematic buildings, where charming restaurants alternate with artisan shops. Phoenician, Punic, Roman, and Muslim cultures have all left their mark here. Sunsets from its viewpoint will leave you speechless. And if you’re traveling with friends and want to start the night with drinks in lively bars and terraces, Calle de la Virgen is the place to go.
The magic of Es Vedrà: the triangle of mystery
Gazing out over the Mediterranean, the “giant” of Es Vedrà dominates the island from its southwest coast. It is considered one of the most energetic points on the planet, on par with the Pyramids of Egypt or the Bermuda Triangle. UFO sightings are said to have taken place in its vicinity. Over the centuries, locals, seekers, and travelers have been drawn to this magnetic enclave for rituals. Others place here the gates to the sunken city of Atlantis, the home of Homer’s sirens, or the so-called “witch stone,” which is said to grant transformative sexual energy with a single touch.
Today, due to overcrowding in this area of extraordinary biodiversity (including illegal parties held near the islet), access is restricted. Because Es Vedrà is not just a backdrop for Instagram photos. Rather, it is beauty, mystery, and balance. Visit this environment responsibly from your hotel base in Ibiza.
The salt flats of Ibiza: natural beauty and ancestral tradition
The salt flats of Ibiza are a living testament to ancestral knowledge that connects humans with the sea, a tradition that dates back more than 2,200 years. They are also a marvel of Mediterranean nature, expressed on the island through marine habitats such as Ses Salines and the Posidonia oceanica.
The salt extraction area and its facilities form part of the Ses Salines Natural Park of Ibiza and Formentera, encompassing an ecosystem of marshes and wetlands spread across both islands. Here live birds such as flamingos, mallards, cattle egrets, stilts, and Kentish plovers, as well as raptors like ospreys and Eleonora’s falcons. In total, around 210 bird species either reside in the park or migrate through it. If you visit the beaches of Ses Salines and Es Cavallet, you’ll start to understand the importance of this protected area. Choose beachfront hotels in Ibiza to explore the surroundings in a respectful way.
Ibiza, a Starlight destination
Ibiza is part of the Starlight network of destinations, a recognition awarded to places around the world where clean, protected skies make them ideal for stargazing. On new moon nights, when the darkness of the sky allows the stars to shine with greater clarity, the Milky Way viewed from the island is especially captivating. And you won’t even need a telescope! Apps like Stellarium or SkyView can help you identify celestial bodies and navigate by their positions. Now imagine admiring that starry sky with your favorite person, while unwinding from routine in adults-only hotels in Ibiza.
Ibiza also has a scent: the island of Mediterranean aromas
In the forests, beaches, and fields of Ibiza, countless Mediterranean plants thrive—some of them endemic. They don’t just fill the air with fragrance (the island’s scent is unmistakable), but also help maintain soil health and regenerate the air through their interconnected systems. The fresh emanation of pine, carob, orange, lemon, and olive trees blends with the intense aromas of rosemary, thyme, sage, lavender, sea fennel, wormwood, chamomile, and juniper.
Losing yourself along the trails that cross the island means being cradled by these perfumes. Especially in spring, when all of Ibiza blooms, creating the perfect setting for hiking and cycling routes. These itineraries lead to quiet, intimate corners, some with legendary spiritual significance—such as the Cala Blanca Cave and its cliffs, Sa Pedrera de Cala d’Hort (also known as Atlantis), and the sanctuary dedicated to the island goddess Tanit, Cova des Culleram, reached by a trail that begins in San Vicent de Sa Cala.
An island of inspiration for artists and creatives
From the peaceful beaches and coves of Santa Eulalia to the mystical surroundings of Es Vedrà, from hippie markets to the electronic scene, from inland villages like San Carlos or Santa Gertrudis to Dalt Vila, Ibiza has always been a refuge for artists. For decades, writers, painters, photographers, fashion designers, filmmakers, and musicians have lived on this bohemian-spirited island in search of inspiration.
Among them were writer Albert Camus, members of Pink Floyd (who stayed in a farmhouse to compose their celebrated album More), philosopher and Amnesia founder Antonio Escohotado, and designer and socialite Janne Anker Heegard, who arrived in the 1960s, became one of Ibiza’s first go-go dancers, created her own clothes to perform, and later founded the bikini brand Jane Ibiza. Follow in the footsteps of this eclectic group at the hotels of Santa Eulalia, one of the island’s most authentic and creative locations.
Secret beaches that look like postcards
Speaking of inspiration: astonishing as it may seem, Ibiza still has a few (almost) secret beaches where you can lose yourself and reconnect. Coves of turquoise, crystalline waters framed by white sand or guarded by reddish cliffs; hidden Edens reached through steep paths and pine forests that always lead to the sea; coastal hideaways where calm reigns and time stands still. In most cases, you’ll need to walk part of the way, as they are located off the usual routes. Precisely for that reason, these spots are rarely crowded. Keep in mind names like Punta Galera, Cala Olivera, Cala d’en Serra, or Cala Pluma if you’re seeking peace and tranquility.
A gastronomy with soul and a taste of the sea
Ibizan cuisine tells a story of multiculturalism and community life, where culinary knowledge passed down through generations is as expressive as the island’s Mediterranean forests and beaches. From aromatic herbs growing wild in every corner to carefully tended orchards, from fishing traditions to farming roots, the typical food of Ibiza reflects the essence of both land and sea. Some delicious examples include seasonal vegetable dishes like ensalada payesa; seafaring stews such as bullit de peix and borrida de rajada; cuintat, a vegetarian dish made with wild colewort harvested on the island; and flaó, the island’s version of cheesecake.
You’ll have the chance to savor these and other flavors during your stay at Iberostar Selection Santa Eulalia Ibiza, one of the Ibiza’s finest resorts for embracing self-care and indulging all five senses (starting with taste) in the S’Argamassa area, near the Hippy Market and Santa Eulalia.
The world’s largest nightclub is in Ibiza
There are destinations where going out is much more than just a plan. Staying in peaceful 4-star hotels in Ibiza (like the one mentioned above) doesn’t mean missing out on the unique sensation of its endless nights. Did you know the world’s largest nightclub is on the island? With a capacity of more than 10,000 people, the venue formerly known as Privilege holds that Guinness record. After hosting several projects, the megaclub closed permanently in 2019. In the summer of 2025, it reopened under the name UNVRS.
No doubt you’ll also recognize the iconic Pacha, inaugurated in 1973 during the height of the Flower Power era. Just three years later, in 1976, the legend of Amnesia began in a former farmhouse near Sant Antoni de Portmany. Meanwhile, DC10 symbolizes the rebirth of Ibiza’s club culture in the 1990s. The legacy of these temples of electronic music reverberates far beyond their dance floors.
A natural repellent found only in Ibiza (and Formentera)
Known as wild leek, ajo-puerro, or ajoporro, this edible plant grows naturally in Ibiza and Formentera. Its strong garlic scent contrasts with its delicate clusters of pale pink and mauve flowers arranged in a sphere, and it acts as a natural insect repellent. It drives away mosquitoes and other flies and, according to island mythology, evil spirits as well. For this reason, since ancient times, local farmers have used Allium ampeloprasum not only in cooking but also as a protective amulet placed at the entrances and windows of their homes. Practicing sustainable tourism while staying in hotels in Ibiza is the best way to help preserve this native flora.
Ibiza has its own “Stonehenge” by the sea
Some consider it Ibiza’s Stonehenge and therefore a sacred portal. Others mistake it for a UFO compass built centuries ago. Yet despite its ancient appearance, Andrew Rogers’ land art installation Time and Space was completed in 2014, making it more a contemporary expression of humanity’s drive to connect with the spiritual. Located by the cliffs of Cala Llentia, it is made up of thirteen basalt columns arranged in a Fibonacci sequence, aligned with the winter solstice. Perhaps the powerful energy felt in this mystical place stems from the artist’s desire for transcendence, combined with the imprint of its visitors—a force you’ll sense the moment you arrive.
Keep exploring the island’s most surprising side while enjoying your holidays at the best hotels in Ibiza and the Balearic Islands.
