Ibiza for The Family Explorers: a Friday-to-Monday weekend

Up the ramp through the drawbridge gate to the cannons on the bastions; children run the ramparts while the parents follow the view.

Tapas in an old salt warehouse at the foot of the walls, with tables outside on the square; croquetas and patatas for the children, a wine for you.

The little boat across the harbour to Marina Botafoch and Talamanca beach, ten minutes each way, with the lit walls behind you on the return.

The island's water park, slides for every nerve and a pool for the youngest; go at opening and leave at one before the queues and the heat.

The Saturday market since 1954 under the trees: drums, dresses, bracelets, and a juice stand; children find something for five euros.

The village bar where the market traders eat, with its wall of post boxes; pizza and sofrit at the long tables in the courtyard.

A smugglers' cave with the marks they used to find their way out, a staged waterfall, and a light show; forty minutes, with steps.

Shallow sand in a sheltered bay below the cave, pedalos for hire and a nap under the pines afterwards for everyone.

Paella on the terrace over the bay, the island's reference for it; order it at the table so it arrives at six, when the children are hungry.

Pull in by the salt pans on the causeway and count flamingos from the car; the salt stacks by the jetty are a mountain to a six-year-old.

A red headland with a boardwalk round the ruins of the island's first town, ten minutes of walking and a lot of lizards.

Lunch above the cove with the fishing boats below; paella for the table and a last paddle on the beach before the airport, fifteen minutes away.