Ibiza: A virgin's Guide to the White Isle

Popping your Ibiza cherry this year? Don't worry, with our handy guide for Ibiza Virgins you'll feel like a seasoned pro - and your first time will definitely leave you wanting more.

Mike Warburton

Last updated: 22nd Apr 2015

Image: Space

The season is upon us, and Ibiza is waiting with open arms and baited breath to welcome us all to enjoy its warm Balearic sunshine, cool blue seas, golden sandy beaches - and, of course, to party harder than ever before.

Clubbers' paradise it may be, but a first timer may find the ‘White Isle’ quite daunting. There are so many recommendations, places and events to take in that you won’t even know where to start.

But don’t fear, Skiddle are on hand throughout the season with our Ibiza Guide - full of all the latest Ibiza news, reviews, hot tickets and information to help you get the most out of your summer holiday. And to get you started, here's our Ibiza Virgin's guide to the White Isle.

When does the season start and finish?

The season runs from May – October. Most regular bars and clubs open straight away, however major clubs don’t tend to open until the very end of May and the first few weeks of June. Some even later.

Here are some of the bigger 2015 opening parties:

Sankeys Ibiza: 20th - 21st May BUY TICKETS

Circoloco @ DC10: 25th May

Aoki's Playhouse @ Pacha: 25th May

Space Opening Fiesta: 31st May BUY TICKETS

Cocoon @ Amnesia: 1st June BUY TICKETS

W.A.R! @ Ibiza Rocks Hotel: 5th June BUY TICKETS

Hed Kandi @ Es Paradis: 6th June BUY TICKETS

The Zoo Project: 6th June

Together @ Amnesia: 9th June BUY TICKETS

Where are the clubs?

There are three main resorts the clubbers flock to in Ibiza, but wherever you may find yourself there is no need to worry about moving round the island as taxis and buses are plenty and most of the clubs will include transfers via coach to and from major resorts.

The central hub of the island is home to many bustling restaurants, shops, cafes and bars, including the crème de le crème of Ibiza nightlife:

Amnesia (Cream, Cocoon, Together, Matinee, House of Madness, La Troya, Pop Stars, Espuma)

Pacha ( F**ck Me I’m Famous by Guetta, Aoki's Playhouse, Flower Power, Insane, Solomun +1, Martin Sloveig My House, Pure Pacha)

Privilege (Armin Van Buuren's A State of Trance, Saturday Night Project, Supermartxe, Tiesto, My Club Room, The Face of Ibiza)

San Antonio:

Bypassing the West End, Café Mambo and Café Del Mar along the sunset strip make the ideal place to cool down with sangria and watch the sunset, and are located very close to the following San Antonio clubs:

Ibiza Rocks Hotel (Ibiza Rocks, We Are Rockstars)

Eden

Es Paradis (Water Party, Hed Kandi, Clockwork Orange, Glow)

At Playa D'en Bossa (5 minutes in a taxi from Ibiza town) you will find:

Space (Carl Cox Music Is Revolution, Richie Hawtin's ENTER., Clandestin presents FULL ON, Kehakuma, Lovin Ibiza)

Sankeys Ibiza (We Love, Shelter, CUFF, Tribal Sessions, Magna Carter, ViVA Warriors, The Redlight)

Ushuaia (Emerging Ibiza, David Guetta)

DC10 (Circoloco)

What do I do when I arrive at the airport?

If transfers are not already arranged then don’t worry, there are shuttle buses which run regularly from the airport early morning until late at night. Find out more at www.ibizabus.com. Alternatively, there are always plenty of taxis outside, ready to take you to your destination for reasonable prices (e.g. a taxi from the airport to San Antonio will cost roughly 20 euros)

Where and when should I buy club tickets?

It is always best to buy your tickets before you arrive in Ibiza, especially if there is an event you're planning on going to. It’s much easier, safer and cheaper to do so.

Tickets for most events can be bought by ticket sellers up and down the beach during the day however many a scam can happen and you could find yourself parting with money and not having a valid ticket, so please be careful.

Tickets to major clubs can cost between 30euro – 80euro so make sure you budget accordingly. Buying tickets on the lead up to your holiday is a good idea
so you're not spending a big chunk of your holiday spends while you're there. It certainly cushions the blow!

AVOID QUEUES by buying tickets early too. You can be stood outside a club for well over an hour and getting more irate by the second watching people walk straight past you and straight into the venue.

Buy advance tickets for all major Ibiza clubs

Is Ibiza as expensive as everyone says?

In a word, yes. It's no secret that the Euro makes everything slightly more expensive, and in Ibiza nearly everything is marked up. However it is still possible to find good deals by exploring your resort a little.

Expect to pay at least 5euros for a full English breakfast, around 7euros for a burger and chips. Supermarkets are very reasonable if you want to cater for yourself, and the regular chains such as KFC, Burger King and McDonalds are on hand for those on a budget.

Expect to pay through the nose for drinks in the major clubs. 15euro for a vodka and mixer, 10 euro for beer, 5euro for water – it’s pretty grim. The tip is to get the majority of your drinking done before heading to the clubs.

Many bars offer happy hours and special offers, with so called 'PRs' offering free drinks and offers to get you into their bar. But remember kids, DRINK RESPONSIBLY. If the club bouncers sense that you're too pissed, you may as well wave goodbye to the 75euro you just spent on your “F**ck Me I’m Famous’ ticket.

Is there a dress code to get into clubs?

The dress code is very relaxed, however please bear in mind that most people will still dress to impress when out in Ibiza. Being uber trendy can win you a few points when getting into bars and clubs. VIP areas generally won't admit men wearing shorts but, unless you’re in Ibiza to try and schmooze with the rich and famous, that will probably be irrelevant.

Can I withdraw money easily?

There is a cash machine on practically every corner in Ibiza, so there's no need to worry. Many bank accounts don’t charge you to use your cards abroad anymore, but double check before you arrive so you don’t get home to any nasty surprises in your bank statement.

Some more tips

Check our Ibiza Guide regularly for news on events, line ups and what's going on around the island, as well as reviews and interviews with acts and DJs due to appear.
Keep your eyes peeled in and around resorts as you will see posters advertising special guest DJs and acts that are often only announced a few days before the event.
August is the busiest time in the Ibiza calendar so it is imperative you pre-book tickets for events then as most places will sell out.
Clubs are generally open from 12am – 6am. Queues to get into clubs are mental between 1.30am – 3am so if you haven’t pre-booked your ticket, then avoid these times.
Don’t try and smuggle alcohol into a club as you’ll probably be thrown out.
Carry a bottle of water with you through the day. It's easy to get excited and carried away with your surroundings when in Ibiza, but don’t risk sunstroke.
Wear sun cream.
Experience a boat party.
Have the time of your life!