Practical information : Going out Balearic Islands
Timetable
Whether you're looking for a drink on a terrace or a dance floor all night long, the Balearics have plenty of options. On Mallorca, cosmopolitan Palma is undoubtedly the place to be, with terraces filling up around 5 p.m., and even earlier in the summer months. In Menorca, you're more likely to head for Maó or Ciutadella to enjoy the festive atmosphere. Generally speaking, bars dedicated to nightlife open around 6pm and close between 1am and 3am in the Balearics, but you're sure to find several establishments open from early morning in all the archipelago's towns and villages. If Formentera has plenty of places to relax, starting with its chiringuitos (beach bars), Ibiza turns up the heat a few degrees: at any time of day or night during the summer season, you'll find a plethora of bars and discos open on the white island. Ibiza's clubs start to fill up around 1am.
Budget & Tips
A beer costs between €2 and €3 in Spanish bars, while the price of cocktails, depending on the venue, varies from €6 to €15. At nightclubs, where admission can cost from €20 to €60, drinks tend to cost around €10 for a beer and €15 (or more) for a cubata (a simple mix of alcohol and juice, such as rum and coke, gin and tonic, etc.). The price of admission to most of the island's nightclubs can be daunting, but there are a few strategies for finding cheaper or even free ones! The port of Ibiza is full of opportunities. Just go there and you'll be mobbed by street vendors offering reduced rates. Some bars advertise this fact: they offer up to 50% discount on the sole condition of having a drink in their establishment. Free tickets are of course interesting, but they're only valid early in the evening, and the drink isn't included! You'll find them in certain stores displaying the evening's signs in their windows; but also on certain large beaches (Platja d'en Bossa, Ses Salines...), where discotheques parade groups of gogos advertising the evening with pockets full of free tickets to hand out.
Night transport
In general, it's easy to find cabs in the Balearic towns, which run until late. However, when it comes to Ibiza's clubs, which are outside the towns, it's not always easy to find a coach to take you back to your hotel. It's best to plan ahead: either have your own vehicle, or arrange for a cab to pick you up at a specific time. In Ibiza, you can also use the DiscoBus service: these buses criss-cross the island, stopping off at the best dancefloors from early June to late September. There are four routes: Sant Antoni-Ibiza, Platja d'en Bossa-Ibiza, Ibiza-Santa Eulària-es Canar and Sant Antoni-Platja d'en Bossa. Timetables are those of the nightclubs, from midnight to 6:30 or 7am, depending on the line. Information is available at the bus station, where you'll be given a small booklet of timetables updated for the season. If you look at this little leaflet, you'll immediately see which places are a must: Pacha, Privilege, Amnesia, etc. Fare: €3 per trip.
Age restrictions
The legal drinking age in Spain is 18. The same applies to nightclubs.
What's very local
As a general rule, it's better to wear closed-toe shoes rather than flip-flops when entering nightclubs, even if some clubs are less demanding than others.
Smokers
Smoking is prohibited in clubs and entertainment venues on the Balearic Islands. Some establishments are more relaxed than others about smoking, and in most of them smoking on the terrace is tolerated. All nightclubs have smoking areas.