Best Area to Stay In Ibiza Spain | Full Guide
Ibiza may look like a tiny island on the map but in reality there are beaches and hotels lining the coast on all sides. Whether you’re coming to the island to party or to relax and unwind, or both, finding the best area to stay in Ibiza can be tough. This is your Ibiza travel guide with tips on how to choose where to stay based on lots of hours of research for my own trip (which totally paid off!).
Quick note: This guide has been put together assuming you’ll be visiting in high season during the summer months. Outside of summer, a lot of places will be shut down as the island gets quiet outside of high season.
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Summary of the Best Area to Stay In Ibiza Blog
For first time visitors to the island, the absolute best area to stay in Ibiza is either the Old Ibiza Town and Playa d’en Bossa OR San Antonio depending on your budget. The Old Town is home to the beautiful Dalt Vila and next door to the megaclub epicenter of Ibiza, Playa Bossa. They are located right near the airport and will cost you much more than anywhere else on the island. San Antonio is where you’ll find the island’s best boat parties, excursions, beaches, bars, water sports, pool parties and perhaps most importantly, budget accommodation options.
Outside of the two biggest areas to stay in Ibiza, Santa Eulalia and Es Cana are also popular, known as the cultural and artistic centers of the island and where the year-round locals live. Cala Llonga is another popular area to stay, with a stunning secluded beach still within easy reach of town. And if you really want seclusion and peace, consider staying in one of the other 5+ smaller “towns” in Ibiza.
First A Quick Note on How to Get Around Ibiza
Getting around Ibiza is fairly easy, between the many taxis on the island, scooter and car rentals, private transfer options and of course the Ibiza disco bus. That being said, there can be traffic in Ibiza sometimes and just in general it’s always a good idea to plan for extra time while getting around the island to avoid missing reservations, etc.
Some general travel times to note:
• Ibiza Town <-> San Antonio : 30 minutes
• Airport <-> Ibiza Town : 20 minutes
• Airport <-> San Antonio : 25 minutes
• Ibiza Town <-> Santa Eulalia : 30 minutes
• San Antonio <-> Santa Eulalia : 35 minutes
Best Area to Stay In Ibiza For First-Time Visitors : Ibiza Town or San Antonio
If you’re either visiting Ibiza for the first time or are mostly interested in attending the world-class Ibiza club nights and parties, you should definitely stay in either Sant Antoni de Portmany or the Ibiza Town / Playa d’en Bossa area. These two areas of the island hold most of the clubs, parties and restaurants, and they are also the easiest to get around – especially because both are on the disco bus Ibiza route.
One more quick note for planning your Ibiza itinerary: If you have any health or mobility issues, you are best off staying within the Ibiza Town or San Antonio town where you will have easy access to conveniences. If you are renting a car, venturing out farther away from the main towns should be just fine, but once you get to the more remote areas of the island it can be hard to get anything you need. I personally have some health conditions I deal with while traveling, so we make sure to stay within easy reach of stores where I can get anything I need quickly.
San Antonio Ibiza (Sant Antoni de Portmany)
San Atoni de Portmany, also called San Antonio, is where you’ll find the best hotels & accommodation options for the budget traveler. You will certainly spend less staying on this side of the island as opposed to the other side, while still being close to everything you could want to do in Ibiza. What makes Sant Antoni de Portmany a great place to stay aside from being a little more budget friendly is that it’s home to the best pool and day parties, two big and historic clubs, the best excursions and boat trips, cheap bars and the lively sunset strip.
To get a little more specific, O Beach and Ibiza Rocks Hotel & Pool are the two big day party venues on Ibiza and both are located in the San Antonio area. Also, a lot of the Ibiza boat parties leave from the port of San Antoni, which is a third option for daytime partying.
In terms of clubs and Ibiza nightlife, Es Paradis is one of Ibiza’s oldest and most beautiful clubs, where you can attend the Fiesta Del Agua every Saturday, aka the water party and one of the best Ibiza club nights to experience by far. Eden is the other big club in San Antonio, which is another one of the longstanding clubs on the island.
San Antonio is also home to some of the best Ibiza bars. Ibiza Rocks bar is separate from the Ibiza Rocks hotel & pool party, and has some of the island’s best pop and dancing music in an open-air atmosphere which doesn’t get as crowded. There is also a few Irish pubs and less intense bars.
The beautiful sunset strip is where people come to from all around the island to have drinks and food as the sun goes down over the ocean. It is definitely one of the best places to be for the sunset in Ibiza if not the BEST place. The energy is electric and while the bars and restaurants on the strip can be pricy, you can also just post up along the path with your own drinks and snacks for free while still getting to people watch and experience the excitement.
If you’re a water sports fan, it’s a no brainer to stay in the San Antonio port, where you’ll have easy access to renting jet skis, chartering a boat or going on countless excursions where you can do pretty much anything you can think of on the water.
San Antonio Ibiza Hotels & Best Accommodation Options
For a budget-friendly stay in a bare bones hotel in the heart of the action, the Red Hotel is great and we had a great experience there. We even got a room that was overlooking the port for a really surprisingly good price.
The Amistat Island Hostel is one of the only hostels on the island, perfect for the most budget-friendly option, and is near Ibiza Rocks in the San Antonio area, where you can reserve a bed for a great price and save money on a very expensive island.
If you’re willing to spend more and are looking for a nonstop party, consider staying at Ibiza Rocks where you can get a room overlooking the stage for a pretty decent price.
Lastly, for a luxury stay consider TRS Ibiza Hotel where you can get a room with panoramic ocean views or a terrace and private jacuzzi with an unbelievable view.
There are TONS of hotels in the San Antonio Ibiza area to check out, so try searching on Booking.com below to see what the best deals are for your dates!
Ibiza Town (Eivissa) and Playa d’en Bossa
If you’ve ever seen pictures of Ibiza, you’ve probably seen pictures of either the iconic Ibiza town and Dalt Vila with the limestone cliffs and beautiful architecture over the water, or the mega clubs and party scene. Both can be found on the east side of the island in Ibiza Town and Playa d’en Bossa, offering the best of the island and making it the best area to stay in Ibiza for those that can afford it, as this side of the island is pricier than San Antonio.
The Magic of Ibiza Town
Ibiza’s Old Town is home to Dalt Vila which is breathtakingly stunning. To enter you cross through the edges of the Old Ibiza Town and through the castle, where you’ll find restaurants, shops and bars lining the narrow cobble stoned streets. Some of the white buildings and streets reminded me of Mykonos, which I fell in love with.
As an island Ibiza at night is magical, but even more so in the Ibiza Town. Around dusk you’ll find performers around every turn, a saxophonist playing out the window above the table you’re dining at and a really electric atmosphere. There’s also tons of little bars that get going around 11:00pm each night and the Ibiza marina and port just a short walk away where you’ll find gorgeous views of the town and the three main clubs in/near Ibiza Town – Pacha, Lío and Club Chinois.
Playa d’en Bossa
Next to Ibiza Town is Playa d’en Bossa Beach, which is where all of the biggest parties and clubs on the island are including Ushuaia and HI, along with the best beach clubs, like Playa Soleil which is the former Bora Bora beach club. For these reasons many people think of Playa d’en Bossa as the absolute best area to stay in Ibiza.
Along with the mega clubs and dozens of beach clubs lining the beach, there are also tons of restaurants and bars to explore and so much to see.
Playa d’en Bossa & Ibiza Town Hotels + Best Accommodation Options
Playa d’en Bossa and Ibiza Town hotels will cost you more than if you’re staying elsewhere on the island as there are many luxury hotels and accommodations, but to be within close proximity to the historic town, the lively beach, mega clubs and the airport, it could be worth it for you. It was for my husband and I!
For a budget stay, Hostal Juanita in Ibiza Town is an excellent choice. You’ll have more privacy than at a typical hostel because they have all private rooms with shared bathrooms.
If you’re hoping to do a budget stay on Playa d’en Bossa it will be harder to find a cheaper hotel due to all of the mega clubs in Ibiza that in Playa Bossa and the overall, so start looking early. The Jet Apartments seem like a good option for a cheap to moderately priced stay.
For the ultimate party hotel and bucket list trip, consider staying at the Ushuaia hotel. They have rooms which overlook the stage, and each room comes with free access to each of the daily shows during their stay. I have a trip here with a jacuzzi room overlooking the stage on my bucket list!
We found Hotel Royal Plaza in Ibiza Town to be a really great value. It’s a midrange hotel on the more budget-friendly side, and overall the experience was great. The location is almost perfect and the hotel had everything we needed.
For a luxury stay, consider staying at the R&C Hotel Mirador de Dalt Vila, which is one of the hotels within Dalt Vila and right in the heart of Old Town Ibiza. This is another stay which is on my bucket list, as I was completely obsessed with the beauty of Dalt Vila!
There are tons of options for most budgets in Ibiza Town, and you can search for a hotel that fits your taste best below.
Best Area to Stay In Ibiza : 3 Other Top Spots Around the Island
Aside from the two main hubs in Ibiza, there are other places to stay dotting the entire perimeter of the island. These farther spots can be some of the best areas to stay in Ibiza for a relaxing vacation away from it all, for people who have already visited Ibiza and want to see something different and the beautiful beaches, nature lovers, couples and families.
Santa Eulalia
The third most popular and best area to stay in Ibiza is Santa Eulalia, which is really popular among families or those wanting to experience Ibiza in a more relaxed and calm way. Located only about 20-30 minutes outside of Ibiza town, Santa Eulalia is also perfect for those that want a more low key vacation with more of a focus on art, nature and connection, with the town easily accessible if desired.
Lots of year-round Ibiza residents live here, so you can talk with locals while meeting people from around the world. There are also plenty of small restaurants, shops, bars and conveniences, spas, a golf course, a really wide and nice beach and the exclusive Yacht Marina.
P.S. If you’re into wellness, consider coming here for Energy week!
Cala Llonga
Cala Llonga is a small area in Ibiza known for its beautiful crystal clear waters, slow days and relaxed pace. This gorgeous beach is only a 20-minute drive from Ibiza Town, making it an amazing place to stay where you can get the best mix of secluded beach time and fun time in town when you want.
Plus, you’ll be close to the art and culture of Santa Eulalia. While there aren’t tons of options for places to stay here, there are a few different hotels and resorts that are right on the beach. What else do you need?!
The beach in Cala Llonga is cleaned via a pipe system from what I understand, so you can ensure there is always crystal clear water here. This particular beach is great for kids, as there is a playground right on the beach, a few very small rides and the water is shallow where the ocean meets the sand. There are also SUP and kayaks to rent, plus of course beach loungers, and a few restaurants and bars to enjoy a snack and drink.
Playa Es Cana
Playa Es Cana is about ten minutes further past Santa Eulalia away from the Old Town and home to the historic Punta Arabi hippy market Ibiza. It’s a smaller area which still has plenty of small restaurants and bars to visit, beautiful beaches and that relaxed pace these three smaller areas in Ibiza are known for. There are also plenty of resorts, water sports and things to do, while still being close enough to Ibiza Town, the airport and right next door to Santa Eulialia.
More Areas to Stay In Ibiza
Besides the areas I mentioned above, there are over ten other places on the island to explore and stay, which are really quaint and great for people who have already been to the island and want to see something new. A few of these include Cala Tarida, Santa Gertrudis, Sant Josep de Sa Talaia (San José) and Cala San Vicente.
Planning a trip to Ibiza? 🎉 Make sure to check out all of my Ibiza travel blog posts where you can find valuable info for your trip.
Lauren Kessel
Lauren Kessel is the author of this blog post and the creator of the Inspired Backpacker travel blog. She is a passionate digital nomad, with the mission to make slow travel a more accessible way of life for everyone. Lauren believes travel is an important means of education and more importantly, a way for people of different cultures to come together and understand each other better. She has a BS in Tourism and has planned countless domestic and international trips for herself, her family and friends, having visited over 12 countries and 30 states so far.
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