How we spent five days in Ibiza
I’ve been to Ibiza once before, but this year we set off as a group of 13 and it wasn’t as chaotic as it sounds. We were able to do some exploring, visit a couple of beaches, eat out and some great restaurants, and obviously head to a number of clubs.
Things to do in Ibiza
Despite its reputation as a party island, Ibiza is a beautiful and relaxing place for a holiday. The country is stunning and green, with plenty of beaches, traditional old towns, and its famous white villas.
Ibiza Old Town
Ibiza Old Town is in the south of the island and close the airport, so it’s a convenient place to stay. There’s a lot to do here, from wandering the old streets to exploring the marina and visiting the historic Villa Dalt. There are also a lot of great places to eat and drink in Old Town, so it’s worth a day trip even if you’re staying elsewhere.
Es Vedrà
The rocky outcrop of Es Vedrà is thought to be one of the most magnetic places on earth, which might also be why it’s shrouded in mythology. From alien visits to the birthplace of Goddesses and the home of Greek sirens, Es Vedrà is the subject of a lot of rumours.
But what I can tell you for sure is that it’s an amazing sight to see. You park about 10 minutes away and walk along a well-worn but gravelly path to the headland. This gives you an amazing view of the 400-metre-high rock and the amazing blue sea that surrounds it.
While you’re here, you’re not far from the elusive Atlantis beach. But since it takes about an hour to get down (and longer to get back up) and we weren’t dressed or packed appropriately, we had to give it a miss.
Santa Gertrudis
If you want a chilled afternoon out in an authentic Balearic town, head to Santa Gertrudis in the middle of the island. The main square is home to a whole range of great restaurants, and you’ll find a number of charming shops along the way. It’s like a smaller and more relaxed version of Old Town that makes for a nice break in the middle of a busy trip.
Sunset boat tour
We took a sunset trip out from San Antonio marina and around to Cala Comte, where we were able to jump out and swim – and get mildly stung by jellyfish in the process. We then came back into the bay and watched the sunset before heading back in. The trip was a lot of fun and we had an amazing and enjoyable couple of hours doing this.
However, our boat was double-booked so we had to go out on a smaller one. This would have been fine, but it also was stocked with far less to drink (included in the price), and the toilet didn’t work properly which made it a little less annoying that our trip was 1.5 hours shorter than planned. We organised this through our villa, so I would recommend double-checking your booking – possibly with the actual tour company, if possible – to avoid this happening again.
The best beaches in Ibiza
There are so many good beaches to explore in Ibiza, and one day I want Atlantis to be on this list. But we didn’t have the time (or the appropriate clothing) to make the hike down this time. Instead, this was where we went.
Cala Comte
One of the most popular beaches in the south of Ibiza, Cala Comte is small and sandy, with a rocky headland and lots of little coves. It gets busy, but it’s a great place to relax and the sea is clear and calm. It’s fairly easy to park nearby and there are toilet and restaurant facilities. Although I had the worst veggie burger of my life at the Sunset Ashram bar so don’t recommend eating there!
Playa del Torrent
We happened upon this beach because it was close to our villa, but it quickly became a favourite. It’s quiet, the sand is clean and white, and the sea is clear and calm making it a great place to swim. The beach is surrounded by trees and grasses which gives it a nice, wild feel. There are two restaurants – one fancy seafood place that does an amazing paella, and a more relaxed tapas bar that serves takeaway drinks you can enjoy on the beach.
Benirrás
In the north of Ibiza you’ll find this amazing beach just beyond a pine forest. It’s a 45 minute drive from San Antoino, but worth it for the quiet and secluded feel. For me, this is exactly what I want a European beach trip to feel like: quiet, authentic, surrounded by trees, and with a beautiful blue sea to swim in. There are restaurants around the beach, but we didn’t eat here and brought our own snacks instead.
Cala Bassa
One of the most popular beaches in Ibiza, Cala Bassa is known for its iconic beach club. But the beach itself is worth a trip, without the expense of entry, drinks, and beds at the club. The white sands, curved cove, and turquoise water make it a beautiful and relaxing place to spend the day.
The best clubs in Ibiza
The Ibiza nightlife is one of the most common reasons that people visit the island. I still want to go back to visit Pacha and Defected at Eden. But these are the clubs I’ve experienced so far:
Amnesia - Elrow on a Saturday night is the ultimate party.
Hï - meant to be one of the best clubs in the world, which I’m not sure about, but it does have a great sound system.
Club Chinois - has the vibe of a London Mayfair club, but the lights and visuals are cool.
Pikes - the most fun, and relatively cheap compared to others. 27+ and you have to sign onto the guestlist.
Blue Marlin - we spent the afternoon here before catching the plane home, and it was relaxing albeit expensive.
Ibiza Rocks - the vibes are average, but the nights they put on are worth the visit.
Zoo Project - an abandoned zoo is definitely a fun and unique place to party.
Where to stay in Ibiza
The most popular places to stay in Ibiza are San Antonio or Ibiza Old Town. San Antonio is fairly trashy and down-market as it’s now filled with hotels that cater to clubs and bars along the strip. The beach here is also not great although the marina is beautiful.
Old Town is more upmarket but expensive. If you’re looking for a trip where you don’t need to hire a car or spend much on taxis, this is a good choice as you could easily spend the best part of a week exploring different parts of the Old Town.
The north of the island is beautiful and green, with much quieter beaches, towns, and villages. However, if you’re looking to party it’s much harder to get to and from the north, as it’s almost an hour’s drive from the nightlife in the south.
Talamanca is a good choice for the best of both worlds, as is San Josep, where I’ve stayed on both of my visits. Just outside of San Antonio – but much more peaceful – San Josep is full of villas that are only a short walk or drive from plenty of beaches, bars, and restaurants. And when night comes, it’s easy to get a taxi to any of the main clubs.
Do you need to rent a car in Ibiza?
If you’re planning to explore a bit further afield, then it’s worth having a car in Ibiza. The best beaches and little towns are only accessible by car, and the taxi fares can add up. So if you’re in a larger group it’s probably worth paying for hire cars. We paid around £90 for each car for five days, and we used them at least once a day. It’s also useful for food shopping as many of the villas in Ibiza are either in residential or remote areas.
What to pack for a week in Ibiza
The main season for visiting Ibiza is the end of April to the start of October. During this time, it stays warm all day and even into the night. Since it’s hot and you’re likely to get sweaty in Ibiza, it’s worth bringing enough clothing for one or two fresh outfits each day. Both of my visits have been at the end of September. This is what I packed for five days:
Three vest tops
An oversized t-shirt
Three pairs of shorts
Three dresses
A kimono to wear as a dress or beach cover-up
A pair of light trousers
A skirt
A pair of sandals
A pair of trainers
A sun hat
Sunglasses
Regular daily toiletries + SPF
A microfibre beach towel
Want to explore more of Spain? Check out our ultimate itinerary for a week in Barcelona.