It was 2012, and I set off for the legendary party island of Ibiza with my best friends Dušan and Honza. Looking back as I write this today, I still have to smile at how absurdly simple, spontaneous, and, above all, brilliant the whole decision was. There was no planning, no comparing hotels weeks in advance, and no philosophizing about “where we were actually going this year.” Just an ordinary Saturday evening, a couch, the film Kevin & Perry Go Large, and a thought that flashed through my mind: “Wow… Ibiza.”
I don't know whether it was the film, the atmosphere of an evening tinged with the smell of alcohol, or simply a desire for adventure, but the longer I thought about it, the more it seemed that it might not be such a bad idea after all. I mentioned it to the guys—more in passing than anything else, without any expectations—and, to my surprise, they neither rejected nor mocked it. Quite the opposite. They were both on board almost immediately.
And this is where things unexpectedly began moving very quickly. On Monday, I went to see my mom, who owns the Grand Travel agency. I only had a very rough idea in my head that we would “look into something” and see what happened. But instead of looking into it, we went straight to booking. Flights, accommodation, everything. It was all done that same day.
When I then told the guys that we were going, they stared at me for a moment, wondering whether I was serious. They were a little taken aback by how quickly it had all happened, but fortunately neither of them backed out. And honestly, I'm still glad about that today. At the time, I had no idea that one of the best vacations I had ever experienced was about to begin. And that it would produce plenty of stories that… well… are better left where they happened 😄, even though we always enjoy talking about them whenever we get together—perhaps at an outdoor café.
But there is a reason people say: what happens in Ibiza stays in Ibiza.
After several months of waiting, the big day began to approach. Our excitement grew, our suitcases began to fill, and we couldn't wait. On the day of our departure, we got into the car and headed for Vienna Airport, where we left it parked for the entire duration of our stay. The journey itself already had that special feeling of an adventure beginning—a mixture of nervousness, anticipation, and joy.
Everything at the airport went smoothly. Check-in without any problems, no delays, no stress. We took a few classic “airport” photos so we would have something to send home and post on social media, and then we headed to the bar. Maybe we also sent the photos home because “this might be the last time they saw us.” We sat down at the aforementioned bar, had our first drink, and simply watched the bustle around us. Boarding was approaching, and with every minute it sank in that this was no longer just a plan but reality.
Ibiza was within reach.
And the best was yet to come.
Arrival in Ibiza
The flight took about two hours, so we barely had time to settle in before we were already there. As soon as the plane touched down on the runway, we realized that this wasn't just another ordinary seaside vacation. We had landed in Ibiza. An island that, until then, we had mainly heard about in connection with endless parties, the world's best DJs, and nights that only end at sunrise.
As soon as we stepped off the plane, we were surrounded by posters, billboards, and advertisements for the most famous clubs. Colorful visuals, logos, and the names of DJs we knew from festivals and YouTube videos. It was clear that music truly ruled here. You hadn't even left the airport yet, and you already felt as though you were part of some enormous nonstop festival.
We had already bought tickets for our very first evening at Amnesia, one of the most famous clubs on the island, where Paul van Dyk was playing that night. That combination alone was a dream come true for me. Moreover, 2012 was precisely the period when my wild side was in full swing. Besides running a business, we were constantly traveling somewhere, partying, and attending events—something was always happening, and we had energy to spare.
That's why I was incredibly excited about Ibiza. And honestly, of all the parties I had experienced up to that point, this was in a completely different league. Ibiza, Amnesia, Space—at the time, those names represented the absolute pinnacle of the club scene for me. Something spoken about with respect and also, occasionally, with a slight touch of myth.
Since we hadn't organized the vacation ourselves but had purchased a flight and all-inclusive hotel package through the German travel agency Neckermann, a transfer was already waiting for us at the airport. After all the posters, music, and anticipation, it was actually quite calming just to sit down on the bus, toss our backpacks onto the seats, and let ourselves be driven straight to the hotel without having to worry about anything.
We were staying at Ibiza's best-known and busiest beach—Playa d'en Bossa. A place where daytime beach chilling meets nighttime partying and where things are happening practically 24 hours a day. Even on the way there, we watched palm trees, hotels, bars, and the first signs that people really don't get much sleep here through the bus windows.
We arrived at the hotel, threw our suitcases into the room, and had only one thought in our heads:
Amnesia tonight. And this is only the beginning.
Our first evening and a visit to Amnesia
Immediately after arriving at the hotel and checking in, we met the people staying in the room next door. They were young Turks who—judging by their mood and energy—had come to Ibiza for exactly the same reason as us. Vacation, sunshine, music, and parties. One thing led to another, and during the afternoon we hung out at the hotel, smoked a hookah, and slowly began getting ready for the first evening, which we were all incredibly excited about.
The atmosphere intensified with every hour. It was simply that feeling when you know something extraordinary awaits you, but you don't yet know just how extraordinary… Before leaving, we stopped at the hotel bar, had a few drinks to warm up, and then headed into town. I had more or less “planned” the route to the club. Google Maps looked harmless—everything on the map appeared relatively close. I figured it would somehow work out and left the rest to fate.
I don't know whether it was the fatigue from traveling, the first drinks, or simply the euphoria of finally being in Ibiza, but after a while we all got into a strange mood. We laughed, made noise, gesticulated, and clearly looked like a typical group visiting the island for the first time.
And that was precisely when a young couple stopped us in the street. Surprisingly, they spoke Czech. We couldn't understand how they had managed to identify us among so many people, so we asked. The answer was simple:
“You were loud enough.” 😄
After briefly introducing ourselves, we sat down at a nearby bar and ordered sangria. We learned that they came to Ibiza every year and had rented a car. When we mentioned that we were heading to Amnesia, we received a slight reality check. Apparently, the club was about 10 kilometers away, and walking that far was out of the question. It can't possibly be that far, I thought… but the reality of Ibiza is uncompromising in this respect.
Fortunately, they offered us a solution. A ride. The condition was that we pay for the sangria and the bar tab. It was a no-brainer. It turned out that our new acquaintances were heading in exactly the same direction, so it was actually a win for everyone. Meanwhile, the young woman borrowed my iPhone and played around with it for a while. At the time, I paid no attention to it.
The next day, however, I received a text message from someone called Pepina. For a moment, I had absolutely no idea what it was about, but when I read the message “How are you?” and the signature Mom, it began to dawn on me 😄 Yes, the name associated with the number had somehow mysteriously been changed on my phone. Ibiza was making itself known from the very first evening.
We finished our drinks, got into the car, and were dropped off right in front of Amnesia. And then it all kicked off.
It was an incredible party. From the first minute until the end, I had an amazing time. The guys clearly did too. For Honza, who is a DJ, it was an experience on a completely different level. You could see that he was absorbing it with all his senses. I was delighted that the whole spontaneous idea had worked out and that we were all absolutely thrilled.
I was most excited about Paul van Dyk, but I have to say that, from my perspective, DJ Halliwell shone brightest that night. The music, sound, lights, and atmosphere—everything came together so perfectly that time ceased to exist.
The entire night passed incredibly quickly, and we didn't leave the club until early morning. Regular buses run from Amnesia, so we boarded the first one we saw. But when the driver asked where we were going, we were unceremoniously thrown off—apparently, we would have ended up on the exact opposite side of the island.
Fortunately, we managed to find the right bus. Tired, satisfied, and full of impressions, we made it back to the hotel, collapsed into bed, and fell asleep feeling that Ibiza had shown us on our very first night what this island is truly all about.
I also managed to dig up a few videos on YouTube :). (The quality is what you would expect from a 2012 iPhone.)
Our first short geocaching trip
After returning to the hotel, we basically slept through the entire morning. Our bodies were paying the price for the first night, and we didn't wake up until sometime after lunch. The sun was already high, our heads were slightly heavy, but satisfaction prevailed. Exactly that feeling when you know the night was worth it.
After eating, we decided to at least go for a short walk and explore the surroundings. But I insisted on one more thing—a geocache. I was really into geocaching at the time, and the idea of being in Ibiza without finding even one simply didn't feel right. The guys weren't particularly enthusiastic, but they eventually agreed.
We didn't go very far. About a kilometer along the beach toward a nearby round tower, of which a surprising number are scattered across Ibiza. The route ran directly along the sea, over hot sand, with views of turquoise water and anchored boats. The perfect backdrop for a short, easy trip that was more of a walk than a real adventure.
As I already hinted in the heading, Ibiza is one huge nonstop party in summer. And you can see it absolutely everywhere. Right on the beaches by the individual hotels, you'll find bars, DJ booths, and sound systems pumping out electronic music all day long. There is no clear boundary between day and night here—the tempo simply changes.
What amused me most, however, was the sight of the people around us. The same young people who had been going wild in clubs and at parties until morning just a few hours earlier were now lying motionless on the beach. Sunglasses on their noses, towels under their heads, and expressions of utter exhaustion. They were gathering strength for the next evening. It was a kind of quiet, collective recovery from all the nighttime madness we had experienced a few hours earlier.
We eventually found the geocache, cooled off in the sea, and slowly made our way back to the hotel. The day was only just getting started, but we already knew that the evening would once again be worthwhile.
Ibiza simply never stops. It just moves to a different rhythm.
The town and local bars
In the evening, after briefly hanging out in the hotel lobby, we once again returned to the scene of the crime—the town. This time without stress, without racing against the clock, and with a greater desire simply to wander around and soak up the atmosphere. Unlike the first evening, we weren't in a hurry to get anywhere. Ibiza called for a gentle start… at least for a while.
There is certainly no shortage of bars and places to sit down here. Practically everywhere you turn, you'll find an open venue, music drifting out into the street, and people laughing, drinking, and having fun. And the local promoters are part of it all. Someone stands outside every bar, waves at you, says a few words, offers you a drink or discount, and tries to get you inside. We avoided some and let others entice us. Over the course of the evening, we gradually visited several venues this way.
At one of them, a young guy caught our attention by rather insistently trying to pull us inside. He asked where we were from, and when we replied that we were from the Czech Republic, his eyes literally lit up. The bar was called Coco’s Cafe And Bar, and he immediately told us that we had to go inside because a Czech woman worked there.
That naturally worked.
And he wasn't lying. There really was a Czech woman named Lucka behind the bar. One thing led to another, there were a few drinks and a few stories, and the decision was made. From that evening onward, this became the place we returned to most often. A place where you could chat in your own language, have a drink without unnecessary chaos, and take a brief break from the omnipresent party atmosphere was priceless.
Coco’s bar thus became our little sanctuary. The starting point for our evenings, a place where we warmed up, laughed, and often planned where we would go next. This is also Ibiza—not only megaclubs and madness until morning, but also ordinary bars, chance encounters, and the feeling that, for a while, you're “among your own people.”
Trips around the area and renting a car
Over the next few days, we decided to slow down a little and take some trips around the surrounding area. One of our first destinations was the town of Sant Jordi de ses Salines, located only a short distance from our hotel. It was the ideal place for a short walk, a change of scenery, and a chance to soak up a more civilized—and, above all, more local—atmosphere away from the main tourist bustle of the beaches and clubs.
Besides the town, of course, we also went on another geocaching trip, this time along the local cliffs. And it was beautiful—jagged rocks, the open sea, and views that remind you that Ibiza isn't just about parties but also about incredibly photogenic nature. Honestly, these moments were among my favorites of the entire vacation.
To be honest, Dušík wasn't quite as enthusiastic. While Honza and I enjoyed every step, every view, and the search for the geocache, Dušan treated us to a monologue lasting several hours about where he would most like to send every part of this walk, including the rocks, the path, and the idea itself. Surprisingly, it didn't bother me at all—quite the opposite. Honza and I found it all the more entertaining, and it gave the whole trip an even more amusing feel.
We also made a video of his “speeches,” which we enjoy watching over and over again whenever we get together.
About three days before our departure, we decided on the next logical step—renting a car. If you want to explore Ibiza in a little more depth, it is the perfect solution. We rented a car for just one day, which was more than enough. The island is relatively small and can easily be driven around in a few hours.
One of our main destinations was the local Cova de Can Marçà caves. The journey itself was worthwhile, and the caves offered a completely different view of the island from the beaches and towns we were accustomed to. The cool air, stone passages, and history carved into the rock provided a pleasant contrast to the heat outside.
Following the trail of geocaching, we also reached a round tower high on the seaside cliffs, where a beautiful view of the sea opened up before us. I can no longer remember the exact name of the place, but if it appeals to you, it can easily be found on Geocaching.com—the geocache has its own map and description there. After all, that is exactly how I got us there too.
And I have to say that it was worth it. These moments, when you're standing high above the sea with the wind blowing and waves crashing against the rocks below you, may remain in your memory even longer than the nighttime parties.
If I had to sum it up—feel free to rent a car for just one day. Ibiza is small enough to explore easily, yet varied enough for you to see a great deal in that one day.
An unexpected twist on the final evening
The entire vacation was slowly drawing to a close, and by the evening of the final day, it looked as though we weren't going anywhere at all. I was shut away in the room dealing with something urgent at the company over Skype. Reality briefly made itself known even on this otherwise carefree island. Meanwhile, the guys headed to the hotel bar to at least have something small to drink.
I joined them about an hour later. At first glance, it was clear that they had approached the evening a little differently from me. By the time I arrived, they were both in a rather “interesting” state and announced as though it were the most natural thing in the world that we were going into town. It was around eight or nine in the evening. We hadn't packed at all, our airport transfer was scheduled for eleven in the morning, and common sense told me it would be a good idea to stay at the hotel or at least slow down a little.
But in the end, I agreed. And I still had absolutely no idea what awaited me.
We headed to our favorite Coco’s Cafe And Bar. By then, we were practically regulars. The staff recognized us, greeted us, and automatically struck up conversations with us. Even the owner noticed us; apparently, he had been watching us for some time. He came over, asked where we were from and how we liked Ibiza, and before we knew it, he invited all of us to have a drink.
One thing led to another, and the situation slowly began to take off. Honza had the idea that the owner should try some typical Czech liquor. He accepted the offer without hesitation, so Honza ran back to the hotel to fetch a bottle of slivovitz.
Meanwhile, a young woman joined us. We later learned that she was from Ireland. In Ibiza, it's quite common for someone to simply approach you, strike up a conversation, and offer to have a drink—with you paying for it, of course. Probably students earning some extra money this way. She sat with us for a while, we bought her a few drinks, and she was quite entertaining, so it didn't seem strange or unpleasant to us.
And then Honza returned with the slivovitz.
It wasn't only the owner who tried it, but the Irish woman as well. And this is where events began racing forward at an unexpected pace. Not even an hour had passed before almost the entire bottle was gone. Lucka's shift was ending at that point, and she asked whether we wanted to join her and head to Space Ibiza.
We didn't hesitate. We bought tickets from her—I assume bars commonly have club tickets available and earn a commission from selling them. The Irish woman joined us too, and we headed toward the club.
Unfortunately, she didn't make it all the way inside with us. The slivovitz took its toll, and the young woman gave up along the way after “making a mess of the entire sidewalk.” The slivovitz probably didn't agree with her, which doesn't surprise me much.
But we carried on.
Space was absolutely perfect. The atmosphere was indescribable—the music, lights, people, and energy. Everything worked exactly as it should. Overall, I have to say that parties in Ibiza truly are world-class. And Space only confirmed it.
We didn't emerge from the club until around nine in the morning. Without having slept at all, we hurried back to the hotel, where we still had to pack. For the first time during our entire stay, we managed to make it to breakfast. I consider that a small personal achievement.
After breakfast, we packed, slept for another hour, and were then taken to the airport by our transfer. From there, we flew safely back to Vienna. Tired, but satisfied.
Ibiza said goodbye to us exactly as befits it—chaotically, intensely, and unforgettably.
In conclusion
For me, Ibiza wasn't just another vacation. It was an intense mixture of experiences, emotions, music, and unforgettable moments. Yes, clubs and parties of every kind make up a large part of the island, and that is simply part of Ibiza. It is in its DNA and an inseparable part of an atmosphere you would struggle to experience anywhere else.
At the same time, however, it would be a tremendous shame to view Ibiza solely through the lens of its nightlife. The island has beautiful nature, dramatic cliffs, peaceful beaches, caves, and places where you can truly relax and slow down for a while. It is precisely this contrast between daytime tranquility and nighttime madness that makes Ibiza so exceptional.
If you're considering Ibiza, don't hesitate. Go. Whether you're going for the music, the experiences, or simply to soak up the island's atmosphere, it's worth it. We enjoyed this vacation to the fullest, and I still remember it with a smile today.
Ibiza simply stays in your mind. And perhaps in your heart too. 🙂
