Updated July 5, 2023
Published September 11, 2018
By Elly Earls
It might be the super clubs, the private yachts and the expensive villas that tend to hit the headlines, but a holiday to Ibiza doesn’t have to involve either splashing a huge wad of cash or partying every night until dawn.
While the island’s spectacular scenery and magical sunsets make it an ideal destination for romantic getaways, its ubiquitous beaches and watersports mean families are never short of activities either.
There are also many quiet resorts hidden away in the mountains and on off-the-beaten track parts of the coast, as well as a wide range of affordable hostels and hotels for travellers on a shoestring budget. Of course, if you’re heading to Ibiza for the clubs, you'll have no shortage of options.
Whatever you’re looking for, our guide narrows down the best places to stay in Ibiza.
Where to stay in Ibiza for families
It might not be the first destination that comes to mind for a family holiday, but Ibiza is surprisingly kid-friendly, with resorts such as Santa Eulalia on the east coast, Portinatx in the north and Santa Gertrudis smack bang in the middle set up particularly well for families.
While Portinatx is all about beaches and watersports, you’ll feel almost like a local in Santa Gertrudis, where you can spend your days in pretty playgrounds or sitting in one of the many al fresco cafes that line the town’s charming central square.
Meanwhile, Santa Eulalia has a bit of it all. Its long stretch of sand is teeming with activities for kids, its squares double as play areas and it’s just a stone’s throw from Es Canar and Cala Llonga, both of which are also great for children with beaches, amusement parks and family-friendly restaurants and hotels.
Where to stay in Ibiza for couples
Spectacular sunsets, beautiful scenery and an excellent selection of restaurants and bars make Ibiza the perfect destination for a romantic getaway.
For those who want to be near the action, both the Montesol Experimental Ibiza in the centre of Ibiza Town and Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay on neighbouring Talamanca beach are great for couples. While Montesol is an elegant mix of art deco and colonial style and feels more like New York than Ibiza, Nobu is beach chic personified, with its comfy poolside beds, bright contemporary rooms and selection of beachfront dining options, including Nobu Matsuhisa's signature Japanese fusion restaurant, with an Ibizan twist.
More peaceful but equally romantic options include luxury agroturismo Atzaró, which is surrounded by orangeries and known for its organic homegrown cuisine and calmer-than-calm ambiance, and cliffside Hacienda Na Xamena, in the northwest corner of the island. It’s best known for its Cascades spa, a series of heated outdoor thalassotherapy pools linked by waterfalls, and its spectacular ocean views.
Where to stay in Ibiza for nightlife
Ibiza’s legendary clubs are scattered all over the island, but the greatest concentrations are in the San Antonio, Ibiza Town and Playa d’en Bossa areas.
Both Hard Rock Hotel and Ushuaia Ibiza Beach Hotel in Playa d’en Bossa host their own parties and are close to one of the island’s most renowned clubs, Hi, where popular events include Glitterbox. Time your visit and you'll enjoy a night of uplifting house and flamboyant performers.
The big clubs in San Antonio are Es Paradis and Eden, as well as open-air pool party venues Ocean Beach Ibiza and Ibiza Rocks. And just a short drive out into the countryside is the legendary Pikes Hotel, a 500-year-old converted farmhouse where anything goes and famous guests have included George Michael, Grace Jones and Freddie Mercury.
Popular parties at Ibiza’s original club Pacha are Flower Power and Solomun, while HEART Ibiza fuses electronic music nights with Michelin-standard cuisine from the Adria brothers and Cirque du Soleil performances. Destino Pacha Resort, which is just off the beaten track in Talamanca, is a laidback luxury resort that also plays host to big name DJ events.
Where to stay in Ibiza for peace and quiet
There are no shortage of options for peace-seekers in Ibiza, many of them within spitting distance of the island’s busiest towns.
Just 3km (1.8 miles) outside San Antonio lies lush hideaway Hostal La Torre, which boasts some of Ibiza’s most magical sunset views, best taken in from its terrace restaurant with a cava sangria in hand and a tapas platter on order.
The 7Pines Resort Ibiza is even more tranquil. Set on a clifftop surrounded by pine forests, it offers truly spectacular views of Ibiza’s famous Es Vedra island, which is said to be the third most magnetic place on earth, after the North Pole and the Bermuda Triangle. The hotel’s spa is also excellent – and there’s a cocktail bar designed after a Pershing yacht, complete with an outdoor fire pit.
Where to stay in Ibiza for budget travellers
A holiday to Ibiza doesn’t have to break the bank. As well as the many five-star luxury properties on the island, there are a wide range of much cheaper hostels and hotels.
With more than 30 hotels all over the island – from San Antonio to Playa d’en Bossa and Ibiza Town – the Playasol group has the affordable end of the chain hotel market pretty much covered.
For a more authentic Ibiza experience, there are hostels and affordable family-run hotels scattered all over. In Es Canara near Santa Eulalia, try the charming Hostal Mar y Huerta, a family-friendly hotel just a few moments from the beach. Or, in Ibiza Town, Vara de Rey Guest House occupies a prime position near one of the town’s most popular squares and offers uniquely decorated accommodation as well as deluxe rooms with private balconies
Food-wise, the traditional pintxos bars in Ibiza Town such as El Zaguan serve great quality wine and Spanish snacks for next to nothing. The Menu del Dia app will point you in the right direction for cheap lunches island-wide.
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