Marbella and Ibiza Blog Amàre Beach Hotels

Ibiza town has the ancient charm of Mediterranean ports that have seen history pass before them and has the vibrant atmosphere of cosmopolitan destinations. Declared a World Heritage Site, you can find charming spots, museums, medieval houses, lanes full of maritime history, boutiques and a multitude of terraces, bars and … Read More

Discover Ibiza town and find out why it is a must-see visit

Ibiza town has the ancient charm of Mediterranean ports that have seen history pass before them and has the vibrant atmosphere of cosmopolitan destinations. Declared a World Heritage Site, you can find charming spots, museums, medieval houses, lanes full of maritime history, boutiques and a multitude of terraces, bars and restaurants. Are you coming along?

Called Vila by the Ibizans, the island’s capital is without doubt one of the visits that you must include in your trip, taking the time to climb to the top of Dalt Vila, “the city from above”, stroll along its walls and wander through the streets of La Marina, the neighbourhood that is very lively during the summer afternoons and evenings. From the sophisticated establishments that surround its marinas to the humble whitewashed houses that welcome you to its historic centre, Ibiza town reflects the island’s past and present.

 

Where is Ibiza town?

 

Ibiza town aerial view

 

The capital of the island is located on the eastern side of Ibiza, 7 km from the airport, 17 km from Santa Eulària, 17 km from Sant Antoni, 30 km from Portinatx and 19 km from Amàre Beach Hotel Ibiza. The network of regular bus lines connects the city with the terminal area, the tourist hubs and numerous beaches, while a ferry service connects the port of Ibiza with Cala Llonga, Santa Eulària, Es Canar and Es Figureal, as well as with the island of Formentera.

The old town of Ibiza stretches along the southern side of the bay and includes the neighbourhoods of Dalt Vila, S’Alamera, La Marina and Sa Penya, as well as the Figueretes and Passeig Maritim neighbourhoods, with a wide range of nightlife and gastronomy.

 

How to get to Ibiza old town

 

Ibiza road sign

 

From the airport, you can take a taxi for approximately €18-20 (day/night) or take the L10 bus. The L3 route is between Ibiza and Sant Antoni and the L13 is between Ibiza and Santa Eulària. Other lines that connect the capital with other parts of the island are the L11, L11B, L14, L15, L20A, L23, L25, L25A, L35, L38 lines, and the discobus L3, L13 and L14.

The port of Botafoc is 3 km from the city centre. If you arrive in Ibiza by boat from the mainland or during a cruise, you can get around by taxi or using the L12B bus line.

 

 

From Iboshim to Ibiza: a walk through the history of the city

 

Ibiza old town entrance

 

More than 2,500 years await in the streets of Ibiza in a dizzying journey through time that will take you from the 7th century BC to the present day. Iboshim, meaning the city of Bes, was the name given by the Phoenicians when they settled in this enclave, from where the acropolis and the harbour in the bay began to develop. The trading of the Phoenicians put the city on their trade routes, through which they exported manufactured goods. Nothing of this past remains visible in the streets of Dalt Vila, although it can be seen in the Archaeological Museum and in the Punic-Phoenician necropolis of Puig des Molins, the most extensive and best-preserved in the Western Mediterranean, included in the declaration of Ibiza as a World Heritage Site.

 

Architecture of the island of Ibiza.

 

The Romans’ passage through the city hardly left a trace, except for a change of name from Eboshim to Ebusus until the island fell under Arab rule in the 10th century, when it was christened Madina Yabisah. This period, unlike the Roman period, did leave remains in the city, such as the walls of the citadel and several towers that made up the old city walls. This flourishing period of the city ended on 8th August 1235, the date on which the Catalan troops of King Jaume I conquered the island, converting it to Christianity and integrating it into the prevailing feudal system. Eivissa was born, the toponym in Catalan that was later Spanishified as Ibiza. From then on, the city grew, incorporating the Gothic and Renaissance houses that you can see today, as well as its walls, a masterpiece of civil engineering declared a World Heritage Site.

 

What to see in Ibiza town?

 

Most of the places of interest to visit are to be found within Dalt Vila, the inner city quarter, while the historic quarters of La Marina and S’Alamera are where the greatest variety of shops, terraces and restaurants can be found.

 

Dalt Vila

 

Dalt Vila Ibiza - Crédito: jotapg / Shutterstock.com

 

The early morning or the late afternoon are the best times to discover Dalt Vila during the summer. You can explore the oldest part of the city by wandering around at your own pace or by following a route that starts at the Portal de Ses Taules, continues to the bastion of Santa Llucía and from there winds its way up towards the Cathedral, then follows the city walls until you reach the Plaça del Sol and, shortly afterwards, ends at the Plaça de Vila. Depending on how much time you have, we recommend that you stop in the museum areas and in front of the information panels located along the walls, in order to learn all about the citadel designed by Giovani Battista Calví, an example of defensive architecture that was imported to Latin America.

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Museums to visit in Dalt Vila

 

Museum of Contemporary Art in Ibiza - Crédito: joan_bautista / Shutterstock.com

 

Museum of Contemporary Art of Ibiza MACE: A permanent collection of paintings, prints and posters created from the 1960s onwards by national and international artists.

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Puget Museum: The collection of 130 watercolours, oil paintings and drawings by Narcís Puget Viñas and his son Narcís Puget Riquer will bring you closer to Ibiza in the first half of the 20th century.

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Madina Yabisa Interpretation Centre: discover what the city was like in the times of Arab rule with this recreation that also shows you what part still survives.

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Puig des Molins Museum-Necropolis

 

Phoenician Ibiza - necropolis of Puig des Molins

 

Over 3,000 hypogeum underground tombs have been excavated in the largest and best-preserved Punic-Phoenician necropolis in the Mediterranean. During your visit you will be able to see some that remain open to the public as well as the museum’s permanent collection, where Phoenician, Punic and Roman artefacts are on display.

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Broner House

 

Broner House

 

Located in the seaside neighbourhood of Sa Penya, this house designed by the architect and painter Erwin Broner in 1960 is an interesting example of rationalist architecture.

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La Marina and S’Alamera

 

La Marina and S'Alamera Ibiza

 

These two neighbourhoods have a lot of charm. La Marina is reminiscent of not too long ago when traders, sailors and travellers fresh off the boat walked through its streets, while S’Alamera preserves the colonial spirit brought with them by the Ibizans who returned from Cuba at the end of the 19th century. The Mercat Vell, in the Plaça de la Constitució; the Plaça del Parc, the Plaça de Vara de Rey, the Monument to the Corsairs and the Monument to the Hippies are other icons of the city that you can’t afford to miss.

Google Maps

 

What to do in Ibiza town

 

boutiques Ibiza

 

In addition to its attractions, Ibiza town offers a wide range of nightlife, boutiques, restaurants and terraces during the summer months. And not only in the centre of Ibiza, but also in the area known as Passeig Marítimo or Puerto Nuevo, where you can find sophisticated restaurants and, very close by, the famous Pachá and Lío Ibiza nightclubs.  But apart from these leisure plans, in Ibiza town you can also go for a swim at the beaches of Figueretes and Talamanca, as well as take a boat to Formentera for the day.

 

Travelling to Ibiza: everything you need to know

When is the best time to visit Ibiza?

43 things to see and do in Ibiza

 

Recharge your batteries at Amàre Beach Hotel Ibiza

 

Amàre Beach Hotel Ibiza bedroom

 

Visiting Ibiza town and enjoying the night in its terraces, bars and clubs is exhausting, so don’t hesitate to alternate your day of action with a day of absolute relaxation in our recommended hotel for adults in the bay of San Antonio, where you will find everything you need to pamper yourself as you please: two swimming pools, exquisite contemporary cuisine, massages and cosmetic treatments, sunset views and, if you have chosen the The One service, a largeprivate lounge with sea views, drinks and snacks.

Summer is here. Enjoy!

Do you have a reservation with us through Thomas Cook tour operator? We will be happy to help you on +34 917 941 285.