Guide to Ibiza

Beaches

If there's one thing Ibiza's not short of, it's top notch beaches. And with over 60 to choose from, you can be sure that golden sands are never far from reach. But which type of beach lover are you? Do you prefer bustling sands with bars and ice creams galore? Or do you prefer things a bit more laid-back, with only the sea for company? Well, the liveliest beaches fringe Ibiza Town, with Playa de ses Figueretes and Playa d'en Bossa topping the list. Both have long, sandy stretches full of sun worshippers vying to get the best spot. There are plenty of bars and cafes, with Playa d'en Bossa's lively Bora Bora beach club a firm favourite. Cala Bassa is slightly less frantic, with a large curve of fine sand and rocky inlets that are perfect for fishing. The shallow, gently sloping waters are ideal for families with small children. Backing the sands and rocky features are shady pine forests - perfect for those afternoon walks.

Eating out

When you're on holiday the last place you want to be is the kitchen. And with such an enormous amount of restaurants, tavernas and cafes, there's no excuse for being stuck behind a sweltering grill. So throw out your apron and venture out. The first dilemma is where to eat – the marina? By the sea? Up on the hillside? Once you've decided, you can get to the best part - the food. With over 30 miles of coastline, seafood plays a big part in Spanish meal times. As the fresh catch is hauled in, choose from the popular prawns, crabs and lobsters, along with swordfish, squid and skate. But not everything is fish based - meat, poultry and game play an important part in some of the most popular dishes. These ingredients are usually given a Spanish kick, with garlic, olives and peppers all thrown into the mix. If you're not in the mood for a heavy meal, tapas is a great way to sample a bit of everything. The platters are crammed full of Spanish nibbles, like olives, cheese, prawns, mushrooms and squid. Perfect for sharing with friends over a bottle of wine or three. Of course, you may want to branch out from local grub, so try one of the international restaurants scattered around the island. Dip your tastebuds into a mixture of Italian, Chinese and French cuisine. But some holiday-goers agree there's no place like home, so you can still get a taste of good ol' Blighty. Whether it's sausage and mash or fish and chips, these dishes guarantee you'll never get homesick.

• Bambuddha Grove, Santa Eulalia Set in a wonderful garden of bamboo and Buddhas, this upmarket restaurant offers a taste of the East with a Mediterranean twist they've called 'MediterrAsian'.
• L'Elephant, San Rafael If you like a side order of fresh air with your meal, this is the place to be. The rooftop terrace is nothing short of magical. Oh, and the food's excellent too.
• Moorea Grill Restaurant, Playa d'en Bossa Open 18 hours a day, this is the most popular restaurant in Playa d'en Bossa. The beachside terrace offers the ideal place to escape from the action and recharge your batteries. Try the chef's special - traditional paella with fresh fish and shellfish. Delicious.
• Jackpot Restaurant, Ibiza Town Forget burgers and chips - this is fine dining all the way. Monkfish medallions. Charcoal-grilled duck. Salt cod salads. Mouth-watering stuff indeed. If you hear a faint scratching noise, don't worry, it's just Gordon Ramsay taking notes.
• Cafe Sidney, Ibiza Town You'll find this great restaurant on the corner end of the marina, where the biggest boats and their owners hang out. Although the food's great, the best part is making people believe you own a yacht.

Nightlife

Ibiza's nightlife - where do you start? It's officially the clubbing Mecca for dance enthusiasts from all over the globe. Forget New York. Forget London. Forget Rio. This place has the finest nightlife in the world, bar none. Today, Ibiza's still the place to hear cutting-edge DJs on the best sound systems around. Space has clubbers from all over the world flocking to join in the madness, especially for the opening and closing parties. The sunset terrace is famous for day-long hedonism, plus the fact that it's under the airport flight path. Even with 747s a mere few metres above, the booming sound of the PA still manages to drown out the roar of a jet engine. Just as impressive is the Spanish institution, Pacha. With tonnes of different zones and bars, you'll find a real mish-mash of cultures and sounds. Although it has a huge capacity for over 3,000 clubbers, somehow it manages to retain a cosy and intimate feel. Of course, you can't talk about nightlife without mentioning the infamous Privilege, which is the world's biggest club. It hosts many different nights, but their Friday night Manumission parties grab the headlines. Borrowing heavily from Michael Alig and the New York Club Kid scene, their mix of midgets, cross dressers and whip-wielding wonder women are truly out of this world. Popular with clubbers and A-listers like P Diddy, it's a carnival of sins that's not for the faint-hearted. But it's not all about tough beats and bustling streets - there's a chilled-out flip side to Ibiza's hectic hedonism. The calm fishing villages are the ideal antidote to the 24 hour madness of the busy towns. Also, popular chill-out spots are the beaches around Cafe Mambo and Cafe del Mar, where you can catch a glimpse of the legendary sunset. It's the ideal place to relax with a drink, listen to some of the famous Balearic tunes and watch the sun sink into the horizon.

• Space, Playa d'en Bossa A club that needs little introduction, this is the place for true 24 hour party people.
• Privilege, San Rafael Officially the world's biggest club and home to the world's most infamous night - Manumission. Unmissable.
• Pacha, Ibiza Town Originally a hangout for glamorous hippies, this place has become a true institution. If you want to hear the finest sounds of house music, this is the place to be.
• Amnesia, San Rafael For many Ibiza veterans, Amnesia's Cream night is Ibiza. This Liverpudlian diamond's packed with wild clubbers and Cream's trademark sound of euphoric synths and boshing beats.
• El Divino, Ibiza Town More intimate than its neighbour, Pacha, but no less popular. Expect an electric atmosphere and house music in the vein of Erick Morillio and his Defected label.

Shopping

There's more to Ibiza than clubs and bars - did you know that Ibiza Town has the world's greatest concentration of boutiques in one small area? There are tonnes of shops with everything from jewellery and music to souvenirs and trinkets. But it's fashion where Ibiza Town really comes into its own. This island is thriving with local designers, wielding their needles and thread like an artist's paintbrush and easel. Attracted by the free-spirited attitudes of the island, there are some truly outlandish clothes. During high season, many shops in the old quarter stay open until after midnight, so take advantage of the siesta and head out later than normal. Around nine o'clock the port area's transformed into a mini hippy market, packed with all sorts of trinkets and souvenirs. Throws, wraps, jewellery- take your time and hunt for a bargain.