Discover the village of Santa Gertrudis, in the centre of Ibiza

By car: from the capital, Eivissa, 12 km away, take the Santa Eulalia road. After 3 km, after passing the Ca na Negreta district, turn right onto the road to Santa Gertrudis and Sant Miquel. Continue as far as the village. By bus (line 25 from Ibiza and San Miguel).

The village of Santa Gertrudis, with its whitewashed houses, is a surprisingly lively place to spend an afternoon or a day, despite its small size. There are plenty of shops, cafés and restaurants around the whitewashed main square. It's a place that invites you to indulge in epicurean delights. Between shopping sessions, art exhibitions and gastronomic tastings, it's easy to get carried away. A fantastic market featuring stalls selling local fruit and vegetables and handicrafts takes place every weekend.

The small eighteenth-century church, with its pretty yellow bell tower, is also well worth a visit, especially inside. Its ceiling is beautifully decorated with hand-painted oranges and figs, a reminder of the village's agricultural status as the island's main fruit supplier.

Where to eat and drink in Santa Gertrudis?

To start the day with a good breakfast, we recommend the elegant café-restaurant Le Musset, with its beautifully painted walls. There is also a pleasant terrace filled with banana trees. The menu offers affordable fusion cuisine of excellent quality. Breakfast is served until 1.30pm. Opening hours: 9am to midnight. Closed the first week in January.

In the centre of the square is Bar Costa, one of the oldest and most famous bars, serving the best Serrano and Iberian ham, Manchego cheese, cured loin, chorizo and sausages. It's a popular local meeting point, and the outdoor terrace is almost always packed with regular customers. The interior is also worth a visit to admire the impressive art collection. Bar Costa is particularly cosy in winter when the fire is crackling in the fireplace. Open from 8am to 1am from Wednesday to Monday. Closed in February.

For a chic dinner, the Macao Cafe is one of Ibiza's most popular Italian restaurants, with a splendid shaded terrace. Prices are rather high, but it's well worth the diversions. Open from 7.30pm to midnight from April to September.

If you like creative cuisine, Wild Beets is the place for you! This trendy establishment offers a 100% organic and vegan menu, while being very generous. The salads in particular are particularly delicious. An oasis of freshness in the heart of Ibiza's scorching summer. Open from 9am to 11pm from April to October and from 10am to 5pm from November to March.

If you're looking to treat yourself to some great finds to take home, you've come to the right place! Santa Gertrudis is full of charming little shops where you're bound to find what you're looking for. These include AUROBELLE, a clothing boutique featuring neo-hippie pieces created by German designer Jane Naeke, as well as Indian handicrafts imported directly from Rajasthan (open from 10am to 10pm Monday to Saturday, and from 11am to 4pm and from 6pm to 10pm on Sundays.

The Libro Azul bookshop has a wide selection of books about Ibiza, so you can find out more about the island's history, nature and culture (open from 10am to 2pm, Monday to Saturday, and from 5pm to 8pm, Tuesday to Friday).

Finally, just a few minutes from the village centre is SLUIZ, an unusual shop housed in a blue warehouse filled with an incredible bric-a-brac of antiques, bizarre objects and eccentric clothing. A veritable Ali Baba's cave, with Barbie dolls crucified on the wall! Events and concerts are frequently organised here, and there's a certain artistic and eccentric spirit that's part of Ibiza's DNA. At Sluiz you'll also find a small café-restaurant and a host of international food stalls. Tel: +34 971 93 12 06