Is Ibiza Safe? What to Know For Your Visit & Safety Tips
Looking up the safety of a destination you’ll be visiting is super important, especially when that destination is an island and when there’s partying involved. Whether you’re coming to the island with friends, family, your significant other or are coming solo, read my blog on Is Ibiza Safe to make sure you have all the info you need so you can leave the stress at home and ave a fun vacation.
Click this link if you’d like a short cut to an infographic at the end of this blog with Ibiza Safety Tips!
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Is Ibiza Safe? Everything You Should Know
Luckily, although Ibiza is a known as a wild party island, the general consensus to the question is Ibiza safe is that yes, Ibiza is a safe island as long as you use common sense – which is true in any city around the world. After all, it’s known as a destination because there are different kinds of people from all around the world visiting at any given time, so you never know who or what situations you’ll run into and it’s best to be extra safe then sorry when it comes to safety abroad. Plus, Ibiza counts on tourism dollars to thrive, so the locals are not trying to drive tourists away (at least most of them).
When I was in Ibiza I actually noticed much less conflict than you would see in an American party city like Vegas, which was pleasantly surprising and made for a really great holiday! Even at the biggest Ibiza club nights we attended I personally didn’t see anyone really in distress, looking lost or having any sort of issues. I’ve heard crazy stories of Ibiza travel, but I didn’t see anything along those lines, which was comforting! Neither my husband or I had anything pickpocketed, although while we were in Barcelona someone tried to pull something out of my husband’s back pocket unsuccessfully.
Violent crime is less common in Ibiza, but theft is more prevalent than in other destinations and the pickpocketers here are professionals. I used to have the idea that theft wasn’t too serious, but when you’re abroad, the items you own are typically what is keeping you safe, so when traveling theft does becomes very very serious. For example a stolen wallet, passport, medications or cell phone can keep you from entering your accommodation, staying healthy and/or traveling home.
And of course outside of theft, when you’re in a party atmosphere you will tend to have your guard down more – as will other people, so being extra careful to guard your drinks, your belongings and to not trust strangers you have just met is important.
Pickpocketers in Ibiza
The biggest concern when asking is Ibiza safe is the pickpocketers, which are said to be professional at what they do and very sneaky unfortunately. Thankfully there are a few things you can do to prevent this from happening to you! Make sure to keep things in a closed bag or purse versus your pockets, and don’t leave your belongings unattended at a restaurant table, on the beach, etc. Also make sure to lock your doors and windows in your accommodation.
Is Ibiza Safe For Solo Female Travelers?
Yes, from experience as long as you generally watch out for yourself, use common sense and the tips below to prevent pickpocketers from targeting you, Ibiza is a great destination for solo female travelers. Save the Pinterest graphic with Ibiza safety tips while you’re planning your Ibiza itinerary to keep on you as reminders!
Is Ibiza Safe? Yes, As Long As You Use Common Sense & Follow These Tips
Use these tips to stay safe on your trip to Ibiza, or really any other country you’re visiting with pickpocketing is common (like Barcelona).
Use the safe in your room or a locking suitcase
If that’s not possible, you’ll want to use a locked suitcase or at the very least an extendable lock to tie your luggage and deter anyone trying to steal things.
If I was traveling alone I’d bring a locked suitcase in case the room safe didn’t work or they didn’t have one or if it was too small for what I wanted to put in there which would be valuables (jewelry), passport, laptops and electronics and cash
Don’t leave valuable belongings behind on a beach towel or on a table like you may do other places
If you’re sitting down make sure to have an eye on, or even better a hand or strap, your purse and belongings at all times. This may sound intense but if you just carry a crossbody bag or a fanny pack then that’s all you’ll need. This will prevent the pickpocketers from snatching your stuff when you aren’t looking.
Be extra careful to lock windows and doors
Doors and even windows should be kept locked securely at all times to be safe in Ibiza. It’s very unlikely but I have heard stories of people’s luggage getting broken into while they were asleep. No thank you!
Make copies of your passport and bring them with you to Ibiza
It’s always a good idea to make a copy of your passport before you travel to hold onto in case your actual passport is misplaced. This is especially true in any country where pickpocketing is common! Scan your passport a few times and then leave one at home and bring one with you, so you have all the information you need if you were to misplace it or have it stolen.
Is Ibiza Safe? A word on drugs
If you’re planning on doing any drugs, make sure to use a test kit and be wary. If you’re traveling solo, don’t do drugs period to make sure you have a clear mind at all times!
Watch your drinks
As always, especially ladies, watch your drinks and don’t ever leave an open drink unattended, especially when you’re at one of the many bars or clubs in Ibiza. Also, be mindfully suspicious of people you don’t know. 😉
Use licensed taxis only
Make sure to only used licensed taxis to prevent getting robbed or paying way too much. There are taxi queues which is what my husband and I did while in Ibiza, but if your accommodation isn’t near one, make sure any taxi you get into has a working meter, is the same color as all the other taxis (white as of the time I’m writing this) and has a taxi light on top of the car.
Make sure any liquor you buy is sealed
This isn’t specific to Ibiza, but make sure that any liquor bottles you buy on the island are sealed. This is to prevent the tiny chance of methanol poisoning, which can happen when someone fills alcohol bottles with homemade alcohol which is cheaper and contains too high a percentage of methanol, which can lead to blindness and death. A lot of people aren’t aware of this risk so I’m trying to spread the word! This is more prevalent an issue in places like Bali (don’t drink arak), Greece and Mexico.
Assure you are covered by insurance in case you get sick
Make sure you have travel insurance in case you get sick, or that your regular health insurance covers International travel. It helps logistically, financially and mentally to have coverage while you’re abroad because you won’t have to worry about huge costs in order to get treated.
Often the insurance will help you to find care if you need it. I’m fortunate enough to have health insurance that covers me regardless of where I am in the world, so make sure to check your regular health insurance to see what type of international coverage you have.
Drink bottled water over tap water
Don’t drink the tap water, or at least drink it minimally, and instead drink bottled water. The tap water in Ibiza is said to be OK to drink, but it’s better to be safe than sorry for anything you’re putting into your body in my opinion!
Don’t walk alone at night
Again a safety tip that is the same for most cities and destinations but make sure not to walk too much by yourself at night! A short distance should usually be fine but if you go too far alone you could be targeted. Thankfully taxis are easy to find and the best way to get one is to go to one of the designated taxi queues. Download the TaxiClick app before leaving if you prefer to use an Uber-like service.
Is Ibiza Safe: What to Do If You Have Your Belongings Taken
It can be confusing when you’re in a new country and trying to solve a problem with a completely different system than at home. I’m no stranger to this – I actually left my purse behind on a flight in Barcelona and had to go to the embassy!
This page on Ibiza Spotlight has some great information on what to do in an emergency. For example, if you are to either lose your medication or have it stolen, if you visit a pharmacy (also called chemist there) they should be able to help find you an equivalent. There’s also information on how to call the police and more.
Ibiza Safety Tips Infographic to Share
I’ve created an Ibiza safety tips infographic which can be easily shared and saved, so you can have these on hand when needed along with anyone else who may need them. Solo female travelers I’m looking at you. 😊
Make sure to read my blog on the best Ibiza club nights and parties you don’t want to miss during your time on the island, or if it’s more your style, my guide to the best Ibiza bars. Cheers to having an amazing and safe time in Ibiza!
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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