Ibiza

Beyond its celebrated nightlife, Ibiza has reinvented itself as a destination where contemporary design, holistic wellbeing and secluded coastal landscapes coexist effortlessly. Hidden coves, exceptional beach clubs and elegant private villas reveal an island whose appeal extends far beyond summer.

Ibiza lies in the western Mediterranean, an hour’s flight from Barcelona or Madrid. Its capital, Eivissa, is crowned by Dalt Vila, the fortified upper town whose sixteenth-century walls are listed by UNESCO together with the island’s Posidonia seagrass meadows and Phoenician remains. Below the walls, the harbour and the Marina Botafoc hold the yachts, restaurants and boutiques of the town.

The island changes character as it goes north. Around Sant Antoni and Platja d’en Bossa the energy is high; around Santa Eulària, Sant Joan and Sant Miquel it gives way to whitewashed churches, almond and carob terraces, organic farms and small coves such as Cala Xarraca in the north — and, in the south-west, Cala d’Hort, facing the rock of Es Vedrà.

The main season runs from May to October. The large clubs hold their opening parties in late May or early June and their closing parties in late September and early October; July and August are hot, busy and expensive, with the sea at its warmest. Beach clubs and restaurants keep the same rhythm.

Late spring and early autumn suit travellers who come for the coast rather than the nights: warm water, open hotels, uncrowded beaches and long walks on the cliffs. Winter is mild and very quiet, with the almond trees flowering across the interior in late January and February, though many resort hotels close until spring.

The island’s leading hotels reflect its two sides. Six Senses Ibiza occupies the northern headland above Cala Xarraca, a wellness-led resort of terraces and sea views; ME Ibiza sits on the bay of Santa Eulària with a rooftop that looks across the water; Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay faces Talamanca beach near the town; and Hacienda Na Xamena stands on the cliffs of the remote northwest.

LVXVRY books Six Senses Ibiza through IHG Destined and ME Ibiza through Meliá PRO BRAVOS — at the official hotel rate, with the privileges each programme attaches to the stay. For Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay and Hacienda Na Xamena, LVXVRY advises on the choice of room and arranges the stay directly with the hotel.