Ibiza is known for legendary parties led by world-famous DJs that attract revelers from around the globe during the summer. But there’s more to the Spanish island than endless nightlife and crowded summer beaches. Those seeking a more tranquil escape will uncover the other side of Ibiza in the spring and early fall, once the revelers have gone home and the clubs have entered their deep repose, recovering for the next party season.
More and more businesses stay open in the off-season, and some even operate year-round. In the south of the island, Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay is usually one of the first hotels to open each year, somewhere between late March and early April, and it closes at the end of October.
While many Ibiza visitors are distracted with all-night dance parties, active souls at the Nobu Hotel can join three-night holistic hiking retreats in April, May, June, September and October, where invigorating hikes and wellness experiences offer relaxation in a natural setting. The hotel also provides yoga sessions at sunrise and sunset, held against the peaceful backdrop of Talamanca Bay.
Here’s a guide to what to do in Ibiza on a three-day escape beyond the clubs and commotion.
Day One
Depending on where you’re traveling from, you’re probably eager to start your Balearic holiday with some much-needed vitamin D on the sand. After dropping off your bags in your room, head to the Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay pool area and look for one of the two wooden doors that leads directly to the beach. Walk to the right and find a spot at Almar Ibiza, a beach club with straw huts and comfortable loungers where you’ll settle into the Ibiza groove.
Once you’ve had your fill of sun rays, roam the boardwalk to the right until you get to a street crossing, Carrer d’Alhaueth, where you can take a taxi to Dalt Vila, Ibiza’s fortified old town. If you prefer to walk, continue your hour-long journey along Passeig Joan Carles I, bordering the Marina, before taking Avinguda de Santa Eulària des Riu, which will lead you to the heart of the city, Passeig de Vara de Rey.
Make your way up to Dalt Vila by crossing the city gates and go to the medieval castle for hilltop views of the city below. Then, get lost in the maze of laneways and plazas housing eclectic international restaurants and shops selling clothing exemplifying Ibiza’s bohemian party style.
Once the Dalt Vila visit is over, return to the hotel for an unforgettable meal at Nobu Ibiza Bay. By now, you will have worked up enough of an appetite to enjoy the omakase menu that changes regularly. If you’d rather order à la carte, you shouldn’t miss the freshwater eel nigiri, the world-famous black cod with miso and the beef toban yaki. Pair them with the kaffir lime and lychee martini or one of Nobu’s other signature cocktails.
Day Two
Your second day should begin with breakfast at Chambao by the Beach, where you can sit by the pool, inside by the scrumptious buffet or at the sand-covered terrace, letting you live out your barefoot luxury dreams. Don’t leave without trying the Matsuhisa Benedict (freshly poached eggs on crispy tofu with snow crab, topped with salmon roe). Finish on a sweet note with a chocolate-filled ensaimada, a local spiral-shaped pastry sprinkled with powdered sugar.
While wine tasting may not have been on your Ibiza-activity radar, the island has a burgeoning scene with five wineries and nearly 90 acres of vineyards. Pay a visit to Ibizkus, a winery established in 2007 that follows a sustainable winemaking approach, which includes hand-picking the grapes and employing dry-farming techniques. This style of farming allows the roots of the plants to grow deep into the ground, resulting in more minerals and less acidity in the wine. On the main road between Ibiza and Santa Eulalia, Ibizkus is open year-round and offers wine tastings at noon on Mondays and Saturdays, and two seatings (noon and 5 p.m.) from Tuesday to Friday.
After your tasting, which may include a cheese and charcuterie board and olives and almonds sprinkled with hibiscus flowers, continue your journey to the town of Santa Eulalia, a mere five- to 10-minute taxi ride away. Once there, stroll down Carrer de Sant Vicent, a lively road locally known as “the Restaurant Street” for its variety of Indian, Chinese and local eateries. Walk one street over to Carrer de Sant Jaume and pop into Cas Forner. This bakery sells two local delicacies: flaó, a cheesecake made from fresh goat and sheep cheese with a hint of spearmint, and coca de pimiento, a bell-pepper tart that some consider the precursor to pizza.
If you’re visiting around the beginning or end of summer, you may run into a fair with stalls dotting this area, selling clothing exuding Ibiza chic and food from around the world near the aforementioned Restaurant Street.
Keep walking toward the beach and grab a seat facing the sea at Iza Restaurant Bar to watch the world go by with a cocktail in hand. Finish your Santa Eulalia expedition with a stroll by the river, where you can spot scores of ducks, a popular activity for families with children.
Next on the agenda is some well-deserved R&R back at the hotel, whether on a Balinese bed by the pool, at the pool bar or in the hammam at the Ibiza Bay Spa by Six Senses.
End your day on a high note at the nearby Bes Talamanca for some of the freshest seafood on the island. Housed in a white manor with bright blue doors along the wooden walkway behind the hotel, this restaurant serves a memorable salt-baked seabass. You won’t regret ordering the shrimp ceviche marinated Peruvian style with leche de tigre or a uramaki sushi roll as well. Open year-round, the restaurant hosts flamenco shows on Saturdays around 9:30 p.m.
Day Three
After breakfast, consider visiting a cala (cove or bay) if you still have time before making your way to the airport. The water may be cold for swimming, but the calas’ clear turquoise hues and natural beauty are undeniably great spots for photos. Cala Olivera, Cala Blanca and Cala Llonga are all just a 15- to 20-minute cab ride away from the luxury hotel.
Once you’re ready to head to the airport, call a taxi to pick you up. Cabs tend to arrive quickly but allow enough time for a leisurely trip since the calas are north of the hotel and the airport is south.
