Ibiza has a reputation as one big party — but that’s only one side of the island. A short drive from the clubs of Playa d’en Bossa you’ll find quiet, pine-fringed coves in the north, gentle family beaches that shelve slowly into the sea, and an old town above the harbour where the evenings are made for a glass of wine. An Ibiza holiday can look completely different depending on where you choose to base yourself — and that is exactly what this practical guide is about.We’ll walk you through the essentials for planning your trip: which areas suit which kind of holiday, what it all costs, how to get around (car, scooter or bus) and how long to stay. We’ve thrown in our favourite beaches, the best spots for sunset and a day trip to Formentera. For a full rundown of the sights and attractions, see our separate guide, What to see in Ibiza.
Parties and clubs: Playa d’en Bossa and San Antonio — the main resorts for nightlife and sunsets.
Peace and quiet, families: Santa Eulalia and the north of the island (Portinatx, Es Canar, Cala de Sant Miguel) — an easy-going mood with no thumping bass until dawn.
Best of both worlds: Ibiza Town (Eivissa) — history, restaurants and nightlife all within reach.
Loveliest beaches: Cala Comte, Cala Salada, Ses Salines, Cala Bassa, Benirràs and Cala d’Hort with its view of Es Vedrà.
When to go: ideally May–June and September — warm, fewer crowds and lower prices than August.
Budget: a relaxed holiday from around €70–90 per person a day; a party-focused trip easily double that.
Getting around: a hire car is handy for exploring (from around €30–50/day out of season), while the bus covers the coast nicely (€2–4 a journey).
How long: 5–7 days is just right for the beaches, the old town and one day trip.
Planning an Ibiza holiday: when is the best time to go
Ibiza is a summer island — the season runs roughly from May to October, when the resorts, transport links and clubs are all in full swing. The difference between the months is huge, though, above all in price and how busy it gets. August is the most expensive and most crowded: accommodation prices climb to dizzying heights and the beaches are heaving. Winter is the cheapest by far, but that’s when most places are shut.The happy medium is May, June and September — the sea is already (or still) pleasantly warm, the days are long, the crowds are bearable and prices are far friendlier. If you’re coming mainly for the clubs, they run at full tilt in July and August; for peace and beaches, aim for the shoulder season. For a month-by-month breakdown of temperatures and sea conditions, see our guide to the Ibiza weather.
💡 Tip: Ibiza is in the eurozone, so all the prices below are in euros — the local currency. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but it’s worth carrying a little cash for smaller beach bars and bus fares.
Where to stay in Ibiza (by type of holiday)
This is the single most important decision of the whole holiday. Ibiza is small — you can drive from one end to the other in under an hour — but the atmosphere changes every few kilometres. Pick the wrong resort and you could end up with the kids next to a club, or longing to dance in the middle of a sleepy cove. We’ll run through the five main areas and tell you who each one suits.
1. Ibiza Town (Eivissa) — history and nightlife within reach
The island’s capital and the best choice when you want a bit of everything from your holiday. Above the harbour rises the fortified old town of Dalt Vila, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; down below, a promenade lined with restaurants and clubs; and the beaches of Talamanca and Playa d’en Bossa are just minutes away. It isn’t the cheapest place to stay, but you have everything on foot or a short taxi ride away — so no fretting about parking or the last bus. Ideal for couples and travellers who want sights by day and a choice of bars by night.
💡 Tip: If you want somewhere quiet to sleep but the town close at hand, look at the Talamanca district or Marina Botafoch across the bay — there’s a lovely view of Dalt Vila from here and the centre is only a short hop away. Compare places to stay via accommodation in Ibiza Town →.
Ibiza Town
2. Playa d’en Bossa — the heart of clubbing Ibiza
The island’s longest beach and its party epicentre. Home to legendary clubs like Ushuaïa and Hï Ibiza, with beach bars going from the afternoon onwards and an atmosphere that’s loud, young and full-on. Brilliant if you’re here mainly to dance and don’t mind missing out on sleep. For families with small children or anyone after peace and quiet, it’s the exact opposite of what you want — and the noise and beach-bar prices reflect that.
3. San Antonio (Sant Antoni de Portmany) — sunsets and a young crowd
The second-largest town, on the west of the island, famous for its sunsets over the bay and a lively seafront full of bars (the celebrated Sunset Strip with Café del Mar). It’s a party destination, but a touch more down-to-earth and cheaper than Playa d’en Bossa. One important detail: San Antonio’s centre itself is loud and youthful, whereas neighbouring Cala de Bou on the same bay is noticeably calmer and more family-friendly.
💡 Tip: For sunset in San Antonio, arrive early and settle a little way from the best-known bars — a beachfront cocktail can easily set you back €12–15, while a few metres further along it’s half the price with exactly the same view.
4. Santa Eulalia (Santa Eulària des Riu) — calm and authentic Spain
The most agreeable choice for couples, families and older travellers who don’t want to deal with nightlife. An elegant seafront promenade, a marina, plenty of good restaurants and cafés, and an altogether more settled, “more Spanish” atmosphere. Evenings here are for drinks on a terrace, not dancing on bar tops. It makes a great base for day trips right across the island while returning each evening to somewhere peaceful.
💡 Tip: From Santa Eulalia it’s a stone’s throw to the Las Dalias hippy market (Sant Carles) and to the smaller resort of Es Canar with its own Wednesday market — a pleasant way to spend a morning. Pick out a quiet hotel via accommodation in Santa Eulalia →.
5. The north of the island — the most peace and nature
If you’re after the quietest, most natural side of Ibiza, head north. Portinatx offers three sandy coves among the pines and rocks, Cala de Sant Miguel (Puerto de San Miguel) a broad, sheltered beach ideal for families with children, and the surrounding hills are laced with dirt tracks leading to secluded beaches. You’ll have to drive out for a night on the town, but you’ll fall asleep to the sound of crickets. Without a car, though, the north is very limiting — plan on having one.
The loveliest beaches in Ibiza: 6 coves worth the trip
Ibiza has dozens of beaches and coves, each with a slightly different mood. We’ve picked six that turn up on most people’s lists and that are worth going a little further from your resort for. You’ll find the full rundown and a map in our guide, What to see in Ibiza.
1. Cala Comte (Cala Conta): the sunset icon
On the west coast, a short way from San Antonio, with crystal-clear turquoise water and views of the little islands of Illa des Bosc and S’Illa des Bosc. It counts as one of the most photogenic beaches on the island and is famous for its sunsets, when crowds head over in the early evening. By day there’s a beach service and bars, and the gentle entry into the water is broken here and there by rocky ledges. Parking in season can be a headache.
💡 Tip: Come either in the morning, for the parking and a quieter spot to lay your towel, or in the evening purely for the sunset. In the middle of the day in peak season the beach is packed.
2. Cala Salada and Cala Saladeta: pines and quiet
A pair of neighbouring coves roughly 4 km north of San Antonio. The larger Cala Salada has a few basic facilities and old fishermen’s huts, while you reach the smaller, wilder Cala Saladeta along a path beside the rocks. Both are lined with pines and the water is a deep blue-green. Saladeta is popular for snorkelling, but expect very little shade or services — bring your own water and a snack.
3. Ses Salines: “see and be seen” in the south
A long sandy beach in the south of the island, within the Ses Salines natural park with its salt pans, from which it takes its name. It’s close to both the airport and Ibiza Town, so it draws a younger, more stylish crowd and is lined with well-known beach bars. Facilities are solid and the crowds in season are large. Beautiful long shallows and fine sand make Ses Salines one of the island’s most popular beaches.
4. Cala Bassa: family facilities near San Antonio
A sandy beach in a sheltered bay that you can reach comfortably by boat from San Antonio. Gentle entry into the water, a full service, watersports hire and a well-known beach club. Thanks to the shallow water and good facilities, it’s a firm favourite for families with children. The water shows off those famous shades of blue — a treat for photos.
5. Benirràs: Sunday drumming at sunset
A cove in the north surrounded by pines and rocks, with the rock formation of Cap Bernat (nicknamed “the finger of God”) jutting out of the sea at its mouth. It’s best known for its Sunday drum circle: as the sun goes down, drummers gather and the famous laid-back atmosphere takes over. Access is by car along a winding road and parking is limited, so it pays to arrive early.
6. Cala d’Hort: the view of mysterious Es Vedrà
A smaller beach in the south-west with an iconic view of the rocky island of Es Vedrà, steeped in legend. The viewpoint above the beach by the Torre des Savinar tower is one of the finest sunset spots on the whole island. Right by the beach sit a handful of restaurants serving fish, where you can round off the trip over a plate of fresh seafood.
💡 Tip: You can also take in Es Vedrà from the viewpoints above Cala d’Hort, reached by car along a turning off the road. The sunset from up here is completely free and comes without the crowds down on the beach.
Where to go for sunset and clubbing
Sunsets are a discipline all of their own in Ibiza. The best-known address is the seafront in San Antonio, with the legendary bars Café del Mar and Café Mambo, where crowds gather and chill-out music plays as the sun drops into the sea. Quieter, more natural alternatives are the coves of Cala Comte and Benirràs, or the viewpoint above Cala d’Hort with Es Vedrà.The island is also a world-class party destination. Among the biggest clubs are Pacha, Amnesia, Hï Ibiza and the open-air Ushuaïa, while DC-10 has a more underground feel. The club season peaks in July and August, entry usually runs to around €40–80 and drinks inside are pricey. For a detailed look at the scene, see our guide to Ibiza parties and clubs.
How long to stay in Ibiza
For a first visit, 5–7 days is ideal. In a week you can comfortably work your way round the beaches, walk the old town of Dalt Vila, catch one hippy market and take a day trip — perhaps by boat to the neighbouring island of Formentera with its Caribbean-looking beaches. If you’re coming purely to party over a long weekend, 3–4 days will do (we’ve got a separate weekend guide for that).
Getting around Ibiza: car, scooter or bus?
Ibiza is a small island, but the best bits (the secluded coves, the north, the viewpoints) are hard to reach without your own transport. Choose between three options depending on the kind of holiday you’re after:
Hire car — the most freeing option, especially if you’re staying in the north or want to tour the beaches. Out of season from €30–50 a day; in July and August prices rise sharply and without an early booking there’s often nothing left to hire. Book as soon as you’ve bought your flights.
Scooter — cheaper and fun for short hops along the coast. Out of season roughly €25–40 a day, and in peak season easily €60–80.
Bus — reliably links the main resorts (Ibiza Town, San Antonio, Santa Eulalia, the airport). A one-way ticket costs €2–4, and in season there’s a night Disco Bus to the clubs (€3–4). You can get by without a car if you’re staying in a resort and don’t plan to tour the far-flung beaches.
💡 Tip: From the airport into Ibiza Town it’s around €15–20 by taxi, or a few euros on the airport bus. If you only want the car for day trips, hire it for just two or three days in the middle of your stay — you’ll save money and won’t be paying for it on the days you’re lying on the beach.
Which kind of Ibiza holiday to choose
An Ibiza holiday can take many shapes. You can stay in the resorts and enjoy the beaches by day and the clubs by night, you can explore the nature and keep away from the tourist spots, or you can combine the two — a weekend in town, say, and then the rest of the time relaxing somewhere quieter. It’s up to you.
Type of holiday
Where to stay
What to expect
Party
Playa d’en Bossa, San Antonio (centre)
Clubs, beach bars, noise until dawn, higher prices
Quiet / couples
Santa Eulalia, Ibiza Town (Talamanca)
Restaurants, promenades, sights, wine in the evening
Family
North (Portinatx, Cala de Sant Miguel), Es Canar, Cala de Bou
Calm beaches with gentle entry, quiet, nature
Bit of everything
Ibiza Town (Eivissa)
History, beaches and nightlife within reach
If it’s mainly the Ibiza parties that tempt you, take a look at our roundup of clubs and parties in Ibiza.
How much does an Ibiza holiday cost (budget)
Let’s be straight about it — Ibiza isn’t a cheap destination, especially in peak season. With a smart choice of dates, resort and accommodation, though, you can do it on a tighter budget. Here’s a rough daily budget per person (excluding flights):
Item
Roughly per person / day
Accommodation (apartment / mid-range hotel, per person)
€40–90
Food (bistro + self-catered breakfast)
€20–40
Transport (bus, share of car/scooter)
€5–20
Beach, trips, extras
€5–20
Relaxed holiday total
around €70–120 / day
With parties and clubs
easily €150–250 / day and up
The biggest single item is accommodation — in August prices leap to several times what they are in May or September. Entry to the big clubs is no joke either: it usually runs to around €40–80, on top of pricey drinks inside, so the party budget climbs fastest. You’ll save the most by choosing the shoulder season and an apartment with a kitchenette.
💡 Tip: Compare flights and dates via Kayak → and trips (a Formentera crossing, a sunset boat cruise) via GetYourGuide →. Booking ahead is usually cheaper than sorting it on the spot.
Food in Ibiza: what and how much
The cooking is classically Mediterranean and Balearic — fresh fish, seafood, arròs rice dishes in the paella vein, and the local speciality bullit de peix (a fish stew served in two courses). For something sweet there’s flaó, a cake made with fresh cheese and mint. In the resorts, mind you, you’ll also come across plenty of international and touristy places.Rough prices: a main course in an ordinary restaurant is €15–25, while the lunchtime menú del día (a multi-course set menu) tends to be the best value — often around €15. Coffee €2–3, a beer €3–5. In the beach clubs and smarter spots (the celebrated marina restaurants, say) prices shoot up steeply, so bear that in mind.
💡 Tip: To eat well without breaking the bank, follow a simple rule: the further from the beach and the promenade, the more down-to-earth the prices and the more locals at the tables. And stock up on basics for the apartment at a supermarket (Mercadona, Spar) — breakfasts and snacks “at home” save you a genuinely large amount in Ibiza.
Prices and ratings are indicative (source: GetYourGuide); you’ll see the latest once you click through.
When is the best time for an Ibiza holiday?
The best compromise is May–June and September: warm weather and sea, bearable crowds and much lower prices than August, which is the most expensive and most crowded. Come in July and August for the parties, when the clubs are in full swing, and in the shoulder season for peace and quiet.Which beaches in Ibiza are the loveliest?
Among the most beautiful are Cala Comte and Cala d’Hort with its view of Es Vedrà in the west, the pine-fringed Cala Salada and Saladeta near San Antonio, family-friendly Cala Bassa, southern Ses Salines and northern Benirràs with its Sunday drumming at sunset.Where should you stay in Ibiza with children?
Go for somewhere calm: Santa Eulalia, the north of the island (Portinatx, Cala de Sant Miguel) or Es Canar have quiet beaches with a gentle entry into the water and no club noise. Avoid Playa d’en Bossa and the centre of San Antonio, where the dancing goes on until dawn.Where should you stay in Ibiza for the parties?
The liveliest spots are Playa d’en Bossa (clubs Ushuaïa, Hï Ibiza) and San Antonio, with its sunsets and bar-lined seafront. Ibiza Town is a good compromise — it has nightlife and history alike, with beaches close at hand.How much does an Ibiza holiday cost?
You can manage a relaxed holiday from around €70–120 per person a day, including accommodation, food and transport. With parties and clubs the budget easily jumps to €150–250 a day and more, chiefly because of club entry and drinks.Do I need a car in Ibiza?
It depends on your plans. If you’re staying in a resort and happy with the local beaches, the bus will do (€2–4 a journey). If you want to tour the secluded coves and the north, a car is worth it — from €30–50 a day out of season. Book ahead, as it often sells out in summer.How long should you stay in Ibiza?
For a first visit, ideally 5–7 days — enough for the beaches, the old town of Dalt Vila, one hippy market and a boat trip to Formentera. For a long party weekend, 3–4 days is enough.What’s the difference between San Antonio and Santa Eulalia?
San Antonio is younger and more of a party — sunsets, bars, noise. Santa Eulalia is calmer and more settled, with a promenade, restaurants and an atmosphere that suits couples and families. Choose Santa Eulalia for peace, San Antonio for nightlife.Is a day trip to Formentera worth it?
Yes, if you have at least a week. The neighbouring island of Formentera has some of the finest beaches in the whole Mediterranean, and you can get there by ferry from Ibiza Town harbour in about half an hour. An ideal day trip away from the beaches and clubs.
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