With the island of Formentera to the south and numerous smaller and uninhabited rocky islands, Ibiza forms the Pitiusan archipelago. The official languages are Spanish (Castilian) and Catalan, and the island's dominant Catalan dialect is called Ibicencan. The island has 147,914 inhabitants (as of 2019), the proportion of foreigners is around 20 percent, the proportion of German residents is around 3 percent. Since 2001, the number of permanent residents in Ibiza has increased by more than 60 percent. The largest communities are the main town of Ibiza (Eivissa in Catalan) with around 50,000 inhabitants, Santa Eulària des Riu (around 36,000 inhabitants), Sant Josep de sa Talaia (around 26,000 inhabitants) and Sant Antoni de Portmany (around 25,000 inhabitants).
The island is located 153 km from the east coast of Spain, located in
the Mediterranean Sea. The island is divided into five municipalities ,
as indicated under Cities above. Its function is much like that of a
town hall: to provide local government, services and maintenance for
both citizens and tourists. Sant Joan de Labritja occupies the north,
with Santa Eulària des Riu to the east, Sant Josep de sa Talaia to the
south and Sant Antoni de Portmany to the west. Eivissa Vila (Ibiza Town)
is located between Santa Eulària and Sant Josep- but its small size
should not detract from its position as the third most populous
municipality in all the Balearic Islands.
Outside the cities, the
townships are surprisingly rural: their unspoilt simplicity and majesty
contribute greatly to the island's status as a UNESCO World Heritage
Site for its biodiversity and culture. Its beauty is due to its
conservation: many areas, such as the Parque Natural de Ses Salines ,
have strong restrictions on the areas in which you can walk, while some
beaches (even within the tourist complexes) can have areas roped off for
access to the beaches. in order to maintain and preserve both the sand
dunes themselves and the biodiversity within them.
The island is
largely flat, with rocky inlets that occasionally rise above sea level.
The sand and calcium-rich volcanic soil lends itself to wildlife,
resulting in thousands of flowering pine and almond trees lining the
island. The highest point of the island is Sa Talaiassa , which is 476
meters.
Name
Given the multitude of languages spoken on the
island, the name Ibiza has gradually evolved: the Ibiza designation only
became a concrete nickname after the package travel boom of the late
20th century. Ibiza is the Spanish name for the island, which has led to
its widespread use in English cultures. However, as detailed on Talk,
the official language of the island is Balearic Catalan. In Catalan, the
island's title is Eivissa , although it is now more often used in
reference to the island's capital.
Historically, the island's
name was Ibossim , a Phoenician name that evolved into the Roman Ebusus
. From this title, the modern name arose, with the title Ivica applied
by the British Army in the 18th century.
Ibiza and Formentera are
also collectively known as the Pitiusas Islands (from the Greek word
"pitys" meaning pine tree) for the abundance of pine trees that cover
their landscapes. This phrase is an evolution of the original Pityoûssai
, which literally meant 'pine-covered islands'.
It has about
111,200 inhabitants.
It is world famous for its intense nightlife
and huge clubs, attracting the best DJs from all over the planet.
The most popular arrival is by plane through Ibiza Airport (IBZ).
Although you can also get to the port of Ibiza by boat and by small
boats to various marinas such as Ibiza, San Antonio or Santa Eularia.
By plane
There is one main airport on the island. Its capacity
increases with the tourist season, so it benefits from many low-cost
charter and holiday flights in the summer months, particularly from the
UK, Italy and Germany. These seasonal services are mainly operated by
Ryanair, Jet2.com, Easyjet and Tui. Services in winter are usually
limited to other Balearic Islands and mainland Spain, through Iberia and
its subsidiaries.
Ibiza Airport ( IBZ IATA ) (7 km SW of Ibiza
town), ☏ [ 91321 10 00 ], toll free: 902404704 (non-geographic number).
The airport is centrally located in the south of the island. It connects
directly to many European destinations in the summer, and
internationally through connections in mainland Spain throughout the
year.
Airport services
There is a tourist information center
in the airport building itself, in the1 Tourist Office , Ibiza Airport
Work Terminal (Desk in the arrivals hall next to the exit doors.), ☏ [
809118 ]. Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 15:30. These are also present
in Ibiza town and the larger resorts as well, and are extremely useful
for maps!
The airport has a paid entrance hall, but it is a bit
smaller. It's often worth checking for space as soon as you enter the
terminal; leave it too late and you can really struggle, especially if
you're in a group.2 Airport Lounge (Cap des Falcó), Boarding Area, Floor
One. A bright and open airport lounge, but small. Max 40 occupants.
Adult €35, Child €16.
There is no left luggage service in the
airport building, but there is one nearby in3 Ibiza Ticket Offices
(leave luggage), Can Pep Cristoful, s / n Ibiza Airport Roundabout (Bar
La Ponderosa and Bravo Rent a Car in the car park, approx. 400m from the
airport), 24 hours. Automatic lockers, also on FB Standard lockers €1.50
/ hour; king lockers €5/hour.
Transportation to the airport
Bus lines
Bus lines connect the airport with the different towns and
tourist complexes on the Island. Follow the bus signs once in the
arrivals area to get to the bus station.
Line 10 connects the
airport with Eivissa (Ibiza City), from where buses leave to most of the
tourist centers and towns on the island.Ibiza-San Jorge Airport (Line #
10). From November to March: from 07:00 to 23:30, every 30 minutes; From
April to October: from 06:00 to 24:00, every 20 minutes (from July to
August: every 15 minutes). €3.50.
Line 9 connects the airport with
Sant Antoni, so it is not necessary to change in Eivissa .Sant
Antoni-San José Airport (Line # 9). From June to September: from 08:00
to 01:00, every hour; July August: 08:00 a.m. to 03:00 p.m. Out of
season, take the #10 bus to Av. Isidoro Macabich in Ibiza Town, then
change to #3 or #8 (longer route) to Sant Antoni €4.
Line 24 runs
through some of the other most popular resorts on the island, passing
through Santa Eluaria, Es Canar and Cala Nova on its route. Ideal for
vacationers in the eastern seaside resorts.Cala Nova-Es Canar-Santa
Eulària-Airport (Line # 24). 07:00 to 23:00, every hour. €4.
Car
rental
The airport has a variety of official car rental services on
site, as well as companies that operate a shuttle bus to a larger site
nearby. The companies in charge of the airport are Hertz, Avis,
Enterprise, Europcar, Goldcar and Sixt.
Coach transfers
Those
traveling on package tours and those looking for a slightly cheaper
alternative to a taxi may find a bus transfer useful. Departing from the
1 Bus Parking just in front of the terminal exit, they will serve
resorts throughout the island. Several companies offer them, and their
minibuses and coaches are often more practical than luggage taxis. A
good comparison tool can be found using Dipesa.
Taxis
The
airport has an officerAirport taxi rank (Exit the airport terminal and
turn right.). Be sure to take a taxi from the official rank, as it is
serviced by licensed official taxis, which are reportedly more reliable
and cheaper. In case the taxi rank is empty, the airport site advises
calling Radio Taxi de San José (971 800 080)
By boat
Ibiza is
regularly serviced by ferries from all over mainland Spain, as well as
ferries between the other Balearic Islands. Most operate to the Port of
Ibiza City, and some end in San Antonio. Ferries often accept passengers
and vehicles, and can be used for day trips to other islands.
Other Balearic Islands
If you enter from the rest of the Balearic
Islands, most of the trips will end in the Port of Ibiza. The island can
only be directly accessed from Mallorca and Formentera: to enter from
Menorca, it will be necessary to make a transfer between ferries in
Palma de Mallorca. Several car rental companies are located around the
perimeter of the port, along with a large car park. See Get Around for
information on transfers with Formentera.
The main inter-island
ferry companies are:
Baleària , ☏ [ 966 42 87 00 ]. edit
Acconia Trasmediterranea , ☏ [ 45 46 45 ] (non-geographic number).
There was a third company, Iscomar , which ceased operations in 2016.
Prices and hours are highly dependent on demand, so check their
websites.
Mainland Spain
The same companies identified above
also operate on the mainland. The following destinations can be reached
directly from the port of Ibiza Town:
Denia from Ibiza (Eivissa)
with Balearia. There are 9 weekly departures.
Barcelona (all year):
Trasmediterranea (5 weekly departures), Balearia (3 weekly departures).
Valencia (all year): Trasmediterranea (6 weekly departures) Balearia (8
weekly departures).
The most recommended option is to rent a car to get to know the whole
island.
By bus
The bus lines in Ibiza and their schedules can
be found on the Ibizabus site . There is also an unofficial timetable
search engine.
By boat
Formentera
The most popular
destination for ferries is Formentera, given the high volume of day
trips to the nearby island. Some of the larger resorts may even have
direct routes to Formentera ( Playa D'en Bossa and San Antonio certainly
do), so check the local port for more information. Departures are
usually early in the morning and late in the afternoon/evening to
maximize time on the island.
Operators include:AquaBus . Check
website for departure times. Operating from Ibiza Town Port, Playa D'en
Bossa and Figueretes. Adult return €29.
Balearia . Check the
website for departure times. Fast (30 minutes) and slow (1 hour) boats
from the port of Ibiza town. The return for adults on the slower boat
costs €18, the return on the faster 30-minute journey costs €48. Prices
scale based on demand so check the site.
Mediterranea Pitiusa
.See website for departure times. Operating fast crossings of 25 and 30
minutes per hour from Ibiza town during high season. The return for
adults costs €40, regardless of the time or duration of the journey.
Trasmapi . Check the website for departure times. Departures of 30
min every hour from the port of Ibiza town. Adults roundtrip crossing
€40.
By taxi
Taxis can be used to get around the island and
cost €20-30 to travel between cities. Do not use fixed price taxis
immediately after leaving the airport. Instead, queue up to use one of
the licensed taxis - prices will be about 50% lower.
By car
Driving a car requires extra care as the locals are terrible drivers.
Many tourists have run off the road trying to avoid deadly head-on
collisions. The construction of new roads has led to the temporary
development of bypass roads that are poorly marked and dangerous. During
the summer months, many drunk drivers of tourists pose a potential
threat.
Renting a car in Ibiza is easy as long as you show your
driving license. During the summer months of July and August, renting a
car can be difficult due to the high demand, it is best to reserve in
advance. Car rental prices are very competitive.