Ibiza Information

Ibiza is an island of excess. For years it was the European hippie escape, but nowadays it's the extraordinary clubbing scene that most are here to experience. Home to seven of the most famous venues in Europe, the island can lay a strong claim to be the globe's clubbing capital. In fact many of the world's top club DJ's flock to the island every year for the May to October summer season.

Visit Ibiza during the off season and you'll find a very different, much more peaceful island - just one club (Pacha) and ony a handful of bars open through the winter months. Ibiza Town, the capital, is the most obvious place to base yourself and is only a short bus ride from two great beaches - Ses Salines and Es Cavellet - and rammed with bars, restaurants and boutiques. Sant Antoni de Portmany, a large, high-rise resort on the western coast catering to young British clubbers can almost match Ibiza Town in the hedonism stakes.

Around the entire shoreline of the island, you'll find dozens of exquisite cove beaches, many all but deserted even in high season, though you'll need your own transport to reach the best spots. Inland the scenery is hilly and thickly wooded, dotted by a series of tiny hamlets, each boasting a stunning whitewashed village church, and an atmospheric local bar or two.

However outrageous you may want to be (and outrageousness is the norm here) the locals have seen it all before - and remain determinedly blasé about the thousands of lotion-smeared tourists preening themselves on the beaches during the day, in preparation for an all-night session in the bars and clubs.