More than a hippy market, Las Dalias – situated in the charming village of San Carlos in the northeast of the island - is a veritable Ibizan institution. Dating back to the late 80s, this bustling bazaar, boasting over 200 stalls on a Saturday, is a must-see for anyone visiting the island. Keen to keep up with recent developments there, Ibiza Spotlight sent out its team to explore the market, find out what’s new and soak up its unique ambience.
A melting pot ever since it started, the market’s organisers are emphasising its character as a unique global tribe where visitors can experience the very best of what the world has to offer. It’s a place that promotes the local and the worldwide, and one that celebrates the many vibrant cultures that have left their mark on the island.
Nor is this multicultural approach limited to the vendors and wares alone; Las Dalias can witness up to 20,000 visitors on its busiest days in summer and it’s a pleasure to hear the multiple languages spoken around you as you peruse.
Las Dalias market happens almost all year round (January Las Dalias is closed and in December the Christmas market takes over). From February till November it opens each Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00 and from February to May and October to November also Sundays from 11:00 to 17:00.
During the hot summer months, you can enjoy an evening version with the famous Night Market, offering a magical atmosphere with hundreds of twinkling lights on balmy summer nights. The Night Market takes place from June to September from 19:00 to 00:30 on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays.
It’s a genuine treat for the senses: colourful, fragrant, and atmospheric. As you wander around, browsing for handicrafts from all corners of the planet, you’re assailed by the subtle smell of incense, perfumes and aromas wafting in the breeze amid the fluttering Tibetan flags.
The sheer variety of products on offer is astounding, and the way each stall seems to possess its own “aura” makes it all the more captivating. There’s everything from exotic textiles, jewellery, footwear and designer garments to complements of all kinds – including for kids - home décor and original artwork. You can even find something for your pet!
The market is brimming with local products from aloe vera preparations and herbal remedies to salt from Las Salinas and hierbas ibicencas, the island’s signature beverage. It has its own line of natural cosmetics, The Potingues, selling a wonderful range of products combining active ingredients with essential oils. You can even buy fresh, locally-sourced organic vegetables – perfect for making a salad when you get back to your villa!
There’s a distinctly organic, sustainable tone to many of the goods on offer. You can find reusable wax wraps, wire figures and recycled PVC pipes made by tribal communities in Africa, Guatemalan vitro-maché, Balinese batik and items with an Aboriginal aesthetic. Climbing the steps from the garden to the main building, you encounter the Boutique, selling high-quality, exclusively designed fashion lines that change yearly.
Naturally, this being Ibiza, esoteric offerings abound, ranging from palmistry to tarot readings. Another highly unexpected discovery was the chance to receive a custom-written poem. It’s a market that never ceases to amaze!
After some time wandering through the market’s passageways, you’ll no doubt be in need of refreshment. So, it’s good news there are a plethora of options. Our personal favourite was the Berber haima, a Moroccan tent with plenty of comfy seating that offers mint tea, sweet pastries, and yummy Middle Eastern delights.
Other snack stops include a juice and cocktail kiosk, the Las Dalias Cafe beside the main road – perfect for a breakfast bite - and the main restaurant in the central garden zone, with its own take on Mediterranean bohemian fare.
On top of that, there are freshly baked pizzas, salads, the market’s distinctive food truck - Las Dalias Van - serving burgers, vegetarian dishes, and homemade desserts, and the gastronomic experience of the Sky Bar. One thing’s for sure: you won’t leave hungry!
We came across lots of musical entertainment on our circuit of the market. The DJ booth in the lower section known as the Soul Bar plays a wonderful mix of organic DEEP HOUSE and DOWNTEMPO, providing a warm soundtrack of jungle and desert sounds perfectly matched to the venue’s vibe.
Other zones have their own cosmopolitan sounds. Live bands also perform during the night markets and, on Sundays, known DJs play outside till midnight and visitors of all ages dance under the stars, before the party carries on in Las Dalias up and coming nightclub Akasha.
Las Dalias hippy market is highly organised these days: the maximum capacity of 2,500 persons at one time is digitally monitored and you can reserve your parking place online, thus guaranteeing entry. It also has an online store that can ship goods worldwide and accept returns.
The website is also a great place to find out more about the market’s designers and craftspeople, their individual approaches, creativity, and fantasy.
Las Dalias market is a place with a long, illustrious history that’s adapted itself to the modern world with great success. If you visit Ibiza at any time of year, make it a stop on your itinerary: you’ll feel you’ve been around the entire world in one single day or night!
Find more information about all markets on Ibiza or browse our events calendar.
