The number one reason to go to Ibiza is to feel the sand beneath your feet, the warm sun on your shoulders, and to experience the sound and smell of the sea surrounding you.
Ah, I guess that’s more than one reason.
As a premier vacation spot in the Mediterranean, Ibiza packs a large punch for a small island. Notorious for incredible nightlife, enchanting beaches, and storied culture — Ibiza is truly a perfect place for any type of vacation.
Now let’s dive in to find some of the best places to visit in Ibiza.
Finding The Best Beaches
On the island, you can enjoy the gorgeous summer weather between June and September, perfect for soaking up the sun and working on your Spanish.
Ibiza has many beautiful beaches and bays that are worth exploring. From long, busy sandy beaches to hidden bays with crystal clear water and small crowds.
For a popular choice, you can visit Playa d’en Bossa, one of the island’s most famous beaches, and definitely one of the best places to visit in Ibiza (more on this later).
The cozy Cala d’Hort is also a popular beach due to the view of the rocky island of Es Vedra, the golden sunsets, and stunning surroundings.
For a quick list of beaches known for their lovely views and ideal location, be sure to visit:
- Sa Caleta
- Cala Xaracca
- Cala Conta
If you’re traveling as a family, beach accessibility and convenience are critical. Some of the more popular and enjoyable options might include:
- Cala Llenya
- Cala Llonga
- Cala Vadella
- Cala Martina
Let’s Hit The Town
The capital of Ibiza is aptly called Ibiza Town, but locals commonly refer to it as Eivissa.
The center is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is therefore the best place to visit in Ibiza to soak up some culture. Inside of it, you’ll find Dalt Vila — one of the most well-preserved and largest fortresses in the Mediterranean.
Enclosed by 16th-century city walls, which have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1999, you will find historic squares, a cathedral, and seventeen bastions. An incredible amount of space is packed throughout this formidable structure.
This higher part of Ibiza Town, including Dalt Vila, is a labyrinth of narrow alleys and whitewashed buildings, surrounded by an ancient city wall with five gates. Be sure to visit the Sa Penya district if you’re looking for cocktails and nightlife.
Basically, Ibiza Town can be summarized as a former fishing district, now full of vibrant restaurants and specialty shops.
There is somewhat of a bohemian atmosphere and many LGBTQ friendly bars. The Port of Ibiza (La Marina) is also a spectacular place to visit for entertainment. Here you will find luxurious yachts sailed by the world’s richest, alongside shops, restaurants, and clubs.
For a special trip, take the ferry from the harbor to the old town. From the boat you have a beautiful view of photogenic, white houses.
Recommendations in Ibiza
Port de Sant Miguel
Port de Sant Miguel is located in a small cove that was once used as a harbor. Here, you will find a modest beach of only 100 meters long and 80 meters wide. The beach is surrounded by beautiful pine trees and equally beautiful crystal clear water.
Although quaint, the area offers some solid activities, like watersports, or a relaxed vibe in the vicinity of the beach – where you will find some tourist shops, excellent restaurants, and beach bars.
Torre Des Savinar
One of the most beautiful places in Ibiza is the viewpoint of Torre Des Savinar.
This historic watchtower can be found on top of a cliff directly opposite the famous rock Es Vedra. Es Vedra is a limestone rock island of about 400 meters high and is seen as a magical place.
The rock island contains a high concentration of minerals and emits very strong magnetic rays, giving birth to various myths and legends about Es Vedra.
The hike to Torre Des Savinar, also known as the pirate tower, is easy for people in shape. And it’s a hike well worth the while — the viewpoint is arguably the best place for a picnic or sunset in Ibiza.
The climb to Torre Des Savinar is probably one of the cooler things you can accomplish in Ibiza. And before finishing your hike, you can also visit the secluded Atlantis cove. On this deserted beach, you can find various special rock formations that resemble sunken ruins.
With all of these activities and views packed into one excursion, Torre Des Savinar is easily one of the best places to visit in Ibiza.
Santa Eulalia del Rio
Santa Eulalia del Rio, called Santa Eulalia by locals for short, has perhaps the most central location of all the beach resorts in Ibiza. You’ll discover lovely beaches nearby and can easily travel to various highlights, such as Ibiza Town, the beautiful bays in the north, and the bohemian market Las Dalias.
The seaside resort itself is seen as one of the gastronomic and cultural epicenters of the island, even given its recent modernization for tourism.
For example, on the hill near Santa Eulalia, you’ll discover a 16th-century cemetery and beautiful whitewashed houses. Some authentic villages in the area also belong to the seaside resort.
And if you work up a hunger while exploring some of these cultural delights, you can rest assured knowing there are numerous good restaurants, spread throughout the center, along the promenade, and at the luxury marina.
The nightlife is not as big as in Sant Antoni de Portmany, for example, but you will find great bars for live music and cocktails.
Playa d’en Bossa
As the longest beach, Playa d’en Bossa is not short of popularity (see what we did there). With a long promenade, nice restaurants, and shallow coastline, it’s an excellent choice for people who came to party, as well as those that prefer to relax in the sun.
For activity enthusiasts, there are various water sports such as pedal boats, kite surfing, or water skiing. Playa d’en Bossa is located about two and a half miles from Ibiza Town and a short drive from the airport.
The audience in Playa d’en Bossa is quite mixed. Because of the many clubs, you’ll mainly find a lot of teenagers, people in their twenties, and folks in their thirties. Not too many families around here, but you can still expect to see some.
The only thing to keep in mind is that Playa d’en Bossa is lively. If you’re looking to party, then this is one of the best places to visit in Ibiza.
That means that you can deal with quite a lot of outside noise, especially from notable buildings like the Hard Rock Café Hotel and the adults-only Ushuaïa Beach Hotel. These two high-rise hotels form a new heart in the nightlife of Playa d’en Bossa.
Disco down and check out the scene.
Where to Stay
For our top recommendation on where to stay in Ibiza, look towards Hacienda Na Xamena — a luxury, five-star hotel featuring stunning ocean views and a midcentury interior.
This resort offers comfort, magic, and unique experiences, plus plentiful facilities such as three pools: two outdoors and one indoor, a tennis court, a soccer court, a world-renown spa, a cinema room, and a games room with billiard, giant chess, kids’ area, PlayStation, ping-pong and foosball.
Above all, the resort is known for featuring some of the most beautiful scenery, and some of the best hotel service in Ibiza; from the front desk to the guest relations teams, every team member at Hacienda Na Xamena is there to make your stay and experience unforgettable.
But no matter where your Spanish escape takes you, you can be sure to enjoy it in Ibiza.
