Famed as the clubbing centre of the universe, this Balearic favourite sees visitors who mostly end up travelling between the two main towns on the island - San Antonio and Ibiza Town. This is where all the action is, but if you are using taxis; expect to spend a large chunk of your holiday budget going back and forth. The alternative, hiring a car, means a cheaper mode of transport in the long-term and the opportunity to venture out when the music stops.



If San Antonio's crowded beaches start to get a bit much, drive north to the coast at Sant Joan de Labritjain, an area that used to popular in the 1960s when Ibiza first took off as a tourist destination, but which remains much less busy than most of the rest of the island today. The beaches here feature clear blue waters and soft sand. In fact, the only thing missing are the people. Drive around the coast here for great views out to sea as the shoreline rises to a higher elevation, dotted with little coves and bays that hide secluded beaches that are all but deserted in spring and autumn when the island winds down

At the other end of Ibiza, Santa Eul?ria del Riu is an exclusive area of upmarket villas, manicured lawns and designer swimming pools belonging to the high society crowd which holiday here each summer. The coastline here is fantastic and makes another good venue to hunt down that special beach, especially around the likes of Port des Torrent and San Carlos, among other towns. Visit the famous hippy markets of Punta Arabi and Las Dalias for a less plush look at life in this area of the island.

Those that like the outdoors should not miss Sant Josep de sa Talaia, the largest administrative region on the island and home to the tallest mountain of the same name that reaches nearly 500 metres. If the best views you have had so far been from the terrace at one of the super clubs, then a walk up here is a must. Almost the whole island is in view on a suitably clear day and it's just a six-mile drive from San Antonio.

Once you're out of the car, hire a bike or a horse for a slower-paced introduction to Sant Josep de sa Talaia, or even better, go hiking. In the nearby town of Cova Santa, the caves are well worth exploring, extending 25 meters into the rock face. The region's historic highlights are the Punic-Roman ruins that can be found dotted about which date back to over two millennia before Christ.

If there is just one place you end up visiting outside of the well-worn San Antonio and Ibiza Town tourist trail, make sure its Santa Eular'a des R'o. Sat overlooking the bay below stands the nearly 600-year-old Puig D'Missa, a fort offering stunning views and an insight into pre-disco life on Ibiza at the adjacent Living Museum. This is one of the best insights to life and culture on the island. The views from this vantage point extend down to the pleasant coastline with its attractive little marina filled with yachts.

The town is perhaps best-known for its strong fiesta spirit which comes to the fore at numerous times in the year, most notably during Easter when the whole town erupts into party mode without the thumping electronic beats that you can find every night during the long summer season in San Antonio.

Venturing out of the main towns may seem like time misspent for those who come for a short break to Ibiza to indulge in the endless club nights, but taking a car out of San Antonio for a day or more is sometimes the perfect antidote when you feel below par the morning after. To miss Ibiza's many charms is to see only one side of this stunning Mediterranean island.