Extravagant fashion, markets and wine
Shopping in chic boutiques, forays into hippy markets - between art and kitsch you will find a wide selection for every taste. Adlib is the magic word that has determined the fashion industry since flower power times. Out of the hippie culture, local designers followed the motto “dress as you like” - but with taste! The unconventional clothing of the hippies offered the fashion designers a source of inspiration, from which they developed a socially acceptable style for the modern woman over time with a lot of imagination and skill: revealing, extravagant, body-hugging, sensual. Traditionally, white indicates the color, but it is also possible to have a fresh color. All the dresses, blouses and costumes found and are selling well with those who have enough change for the unusual creations. You will find exclusive shops in Ibiza Town in the area of Marina Botafoc as well as around Passeig de Vara de Rey and in the port district of La Marina.
There are fashionable shops in Ibiza like a dime a dozen. In Formentera, shopping plays a relatively minor role. The ceramic masters in Sant Rafel, a small town halfway between Ibiza Town and Sant Antoni de Portmany, cultivate authentic handicrafts. You can choose from jugs with handles, vases, decorative plates, tiles, pots, bowls and other vessels of any shape.
Edible and drinkable souvenirs are also very popular. First and foremost is the local herbal liqueur (hierbas), which is also sold in smaller bottles and with decorative herb sprigs in the yellowish-sweet liquid. The products of the Marí Mayans distillery, founded in 1880 and based in Puig d'en Valls, enjoy a good reputation and use no fewer than 18 different plants for their award-winning Hierbas Ibicencas liqueur. The excellent Ibizan wines, which can be bought fresh from the source in the few bodegas, are recommended as further top alcoholic products. This way of buying wine is not only more stylish, but also cheaper than shopping in the islands' rather expensive supermarkets.
At the weekly markets you can stock up on typical Spanish food, whether for direct consumption or to take away: pickled olives, figs, freshly harvested oranges or tangerines, a piece of sheep's cheese, a few slices of air-dried Iberian ham (Jamón Serrano) or black pudding (Butifarra) . The reddish, spicy pork and paprika sausage (sobrasada) is also suitable as a spread, depending on the product. When buying fruit, it is worth paying attention to notes from organically operated cultivation. The market halls are usually joined by cafes where you can relax a little. The hippy markets, which are held regularly between spring and autumn, are legendary as colorful get-togethers with plenty of entertainment. The Es Canar Wednesday market in Punta Arabí is famous. The selection seems almost inexhaustible and includes everything essential and unnecessary such as fashionable necklaces, bracelets, earrings, buttons, blouses, dresses, bags, T-shirts, scarves, sculptures, incense sticks, leather articles, soap, candles, aromas. In contrast to the 1970s, when the flower children really romped about here and sold home-made things, today's hippy markets are mainly dealing with professional suppliers and products from several continents - kitsch and trinkets included. The only year-round hippy market takes place on Saturdays at the Las Dalias restaurant in Sant Carles. In the summer months, the night market is added every Monday evening.
Last but not least, a word about other Spanish products that you can get in Ibiza and Formentera. Cigarettes are much cheaper and medicines are usually cheaper than in Germany. If you are looking for Spanish CDs, you should try one of the well-stocked music stores.
General opening times of the shops:
Monday to Saturday 09:30 - 13:30 h as well 16:30 /17:00 - 20:00 h.
Since there is no strict law on closing times, the shops sometimes close their doors later during the high season and are also open on Sundays in tourist strongholds.
Market days
Monday
Las Dalias hippie market near San Carlos (evenings from 19:00 hours)
Tuesday
Las Dalias hippie market near San Carlos (evenings from 19:00 hours)
Wednesday
Hippy market Punta Arabi in Es Canar (during the day from 10:00 hours)
Thursday
Market in Cala Llonga (evenings from 18:00 hours)
Handicraft market in San Miguel (evenings from 18:00 h, June – September)
Craft Market in San Rafael (evenings from 19:30 h, June – September)
Market in Pilar de la Mola, Formentera (from 16:00 hours)
Saturday
Las Dalias hippie market near San Carlos (during the day from 10:00 hours)
Flea market in San Jordi (during the day from 08:00 hours)
Forada Market Can Tixedo Art Café at San Rafael (daytime from 10:00 hours)
Organic and handicraft market in San José (during the day from 09:30 hours)
Sunday
Hippie Market in San Juan (during the day from 10:00 hours)
Las Dalias hippie market near San Carlos (July & August, evenings from 19:00 hours)
Market in Pilar de la Mola, Formentera (from 16:00 hours)
