Top Places to Party in Spain

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 like Sasha, Tiesto and Paul Van Dyk 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 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. And of course, you can't talk about nightlife without mentioning the infamous Privilege, the world's biggest club. It hosts loads of 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 is truly out of this world.

But oOf course, all good things must come to an end. It's around this time that clubs wrap up the season with their legendary closing parties. This year, Space and Amnesia are offering a rumble in the jungle of true superstar heavyweights for their September closers. Spinning for Space is possibly the finest DJ in the world, the hefty Carl Cox. And not to be outdone, Amnesia's bagged the man Mixmag refer to as 'The Son of God', the almighty Sasha. Whichever you choose, you can be sure both parties will go down in Ibiza legend.

One thing's for sure, Valencianos know how to party. More than 2,000 bars and restaurants have set up home in the city so you're not going to be short on choice. A typical night kicks off around 10pm, usually at a tapas bar where you can refuel for the night ahead. Then it's time to tick off a few cocktail bars in the build up to the superclub crescendo.

Café Bolseria's possibly the most popular pre-club warm-up, where a strict door policy ensures only the cream of the crop's allowed past the velvet rope. Inside, the bass-heavy sounds of R&B are pumped out to a crowd of champagne socialites drenched in designer labels. Club-wise, La Indiana's been making noise on the scene for a while now. Besides the fact it's home to a live shark aquarium, the blend of funk, salsa and funky house pretty much guarantee an up-for-it carnival vibe.

In the cooler months, however, it's all about the city centre, where you'll find watering holes galore. But from late May through to September, the focus flicks to the beach - Playa de Malvarrosa - where open-air bars keep you awake until late. And the vibrant Barrio del Carmen district, in the heart of the old city, is a hotspot for the modern bohemian crowd. Many of the old houses and palaces have been turned into bars, catering for punters who want something different. So it's out with house music and in with jazz dens, gay bars and live punk bands.

The nightlife in Magaluf is the stuff of Balearic legend. The happy hour never seems to end in this party pocket, which draws people in with offers of pocket-friendly cocktails and free shots. The Strip is stuffed with bars belting out the latest tunes. And while it's yet to pinch Ibiza's clubbing crown, Magaluf still manages to draw big-name DJs like Judge Jules, Erick Morillo and Timo Maas who keep the sounds spinning 'til sun-up. BCM remains the undisputed club giant, both in size and reputation. Get yourself along to a foam night there when the place is filled with three million gallons of bubbles. If you prefer the glitterball sounds of the seventies, point your platforms in the direction of Carwash.

Neighbouring Palma Nova's another prime spot for big nights out. Here nightspots serve up a mixed bag of music, making sure you sleep through breakfast. And a night out in Palma is an absolute must. It's trendy waterfront and tangled streets are full of bars ranging from the traditional tapas to the chic cocktail. For the best choice, head for the city's Paseo Maritimo district. That's where you'll find Pacha, one of the city's superclubs. The area around the cathedral's a magnet for the party pack, too, while La Lonja's another city slice that sizzles come sundown.

Together with beaches, nights out are what the Costa Dorada does best. All happy hours and neon lights, Salou comes into its own after dark. The liveliest of all the resorts, its main street is packed with British-style pubs, karaoke bars and discos. La Pineda is lots of fun, too. A long strip of disco bars and cafés runs parallel to the beach, and for hardcore clubbers there's a super-club tucked at the edge of town. The name alone should have you running for the guest list - Pacha. With a mixture of go-go dancers, lasers and plenty of foam parties, this is easily the Costa Dorada's hottest night spot.

The port down in Tarragona is another party playground. By day the port area is nothing to write home about. But arrive by night and you'll see it in its gladrags. Full of funky Spanish bars and glam drinking dens, it's a real hit with locals. Weekends in particular are a blast with things kicking off at about one or two in the morning. Then there's Barcelona. Standing shoulder to shoulder with the likes of London and Berlin, it's one of Europe's great party cities. And Razzmatazz goes all out to show you exactly why. This beauty's spread over five rooms and plays everything from techno to punk. So expect a wild crowd and possibly a hangover the next morning.