Ibiza

Why this port matters

Ibiza is the rare destination where UNESCO heritage, Phoenician archaeology, some of the clearest water in the Mediterranean, and a distinctive cultural identity all fit on one manageable island. Arriving on a Thursday in daylight and departing before nightlife hours, you'll see the Ibiza most visitors never do.

Brief history

Settled by Phoenician traders around 654 BC as Ibossim, then a major Carthaginian religious center, the Phoenician necropolis of Puig des Molins remains the largest of its kind in the world. The fortified upper town of Dalt Vila, with 16th-century Renaissance walls built to repel Barbary pirates, is UNESCO-listed.

Highlights

• ·Dalt Vila (UNESCO), ramparts, the Castle of Ibiza, and the whitewashed Cathedral at the summit
• ·Necropolis of Puig des Molins, the finest Phoenician necropolis in the world
• ·Es Vedrà, dramatic 382-meter limestone rock off the southwest coast
• ·Ses Salines Natural Park, flamingos, dunes, and the island's most pristine beach
• ·Cala Comte, turquoise coves with some of the clearest water on the island
• ·Day trip: Formentera by fast ferry (~30 min), long white beaches, almost no development