| Cala Llonga Ibiza |
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When to
go
Our view Cala Llonga is a deep, pine-clad fjord lined with whitewashed hotels, some quite boxy, overlooking a broad, curving, sandy beach with a gentle shelf set in a cove between the hills. Both Ibiza Town and Santa Eulalia are nearby, accessible by car (less than 15 minutes' drive) or shuttle boat, making this a good base if you want to dabble but maintain some distance from the island's exuberant nightlife. What to do Pedalos, windsurfers and dinghies can be hired on the beach and there are hikes over the cliffs to Santa Eulalia. Nearby Roca Lisa has 27 holes of golf. The weekly hippie market at Es Cana is commercial but popular for jewellery, tie-dye clothing, CDs and pottery. What to see Santa Eulalia has a fine church and some pleasing traditional architecture in the old quarter. Ibiza Town is divided into four sections: Dalt Vila, or the 'high town', perched on top of a hill and walled since medieval times; Puig des Molins, a Punic burial ground behind the hill; Sa Marina, the heart of the nightlife and bars; and Sa Penya, an ancient fishing district jutting out into the sea, its crumbling houses teetering close to the cliff edge. Dalt Vila is, historians believe, over 2,500 years old and the spot where the cathedral stands was once a Phoenician temple. You can walk around the tangle of narrow streets - few cars make it up here. In addition to the 16th-century cathedral, visit the Museu d'Art Contemporani, the local modern art museum, and the Museu Arqueologic, a beautifully laid-out museum charting the island's history from prehistoric times to the Islamic period, which ended in the 13th century. For a total change of pace, do a day trip by ferry to sleepy Formentera Island, a world apart from the other Balearics. After dark Cala Llonga itself has some international restaurants and plenty of bars but evenings are fairly quiet. Those who want more should head into one of the nearby towns. One of Santa Eulalia's main streets, Sant Vincent, is packed with restaurants and bars, while Ibiza Town's outrageous nightlife has to be sampled (people-watch from Zoo, Tango and Vogue bars). The big, famous clubs, Privilege and Amnesia, are at San Rafael, outside Ibiza Town, accessed by disco bus from the town centre. Ibiza The Balearic island of Ibiza has two faces: Europe's summer clubbing capital; and a safe, charming family holiday destination, with sandy beaches, a stunning coastline and an unspoilt, wooded interior. There are big contrasts between the resorts. Ibiza Town, the tiny hilltop capital, dates back hundreds of years and has great historical interest as well as attracting a hugely fashionable mix of tourists, celebrities, gays and yachties in the busy summer months. San Antonio is the other end of the scale - a teenage riot of clubs, bars, budget hotels and round the clock partying. For a quieter, more family-orientated experience, the towns of Es Cana and Santa Eulalia have the right mix of enough to do, sandy beaches and less riotous nightlife. Cala Llonga is great for older couples and families, with its steep, pine-clad cliffs and peaceful atmosphere, while Playa d'en Bossa is perfect for young families, with masses to do, a big waterpark and the island's longest beach. 
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