Guides · Ibiza
5 Best Towns and Resorts in Ibiza
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Ibiza is made up of five main towns and a scatter of smaller villages, resorts, and urbanisations - and where you base yourself shapes the entire holiday. The best places in Ibiza are not interchangeable: Ibiza Town gives you history, nightlife, and the best restaurant scene; San Antonio gives you access to the west coast beaches and the sunset strip; Santa Eularia des Riu gives you a calm, family-friendly alternative to both. This guide ranks the 5 best towns and resorts on the island, with practical information about what each offers, its beaches, and who it suits best.
Each entry covers the town's character, its best beaches and attractions, the best type of traveller it suits, and a Pro Tip with insider knowledge about the area. The public bus network (Autobuses Ibiza) connects most of these towns from the Avinguda d'Isidor Macabich terminal in Ibiza Town, so a hire car is a convenience rather than a necessity for most visitors.
1Ibiza Town (Eivissa) - The Best All-Round Base on the Island
Ibiza Town (Eivissa) is the capital of the island and the most compelling urban destination in the Balearics. Its defining feature is Dalt Vila, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed medieval citadel that rises above the port district on a limestone hill, visible from most of the island. The port area (Sa Marina) below the old city walls has the most concentrated restaurant and bar scene on the island, running from budget tapas bars to upscale seafood terraces. Accommodation ranges from rooms above the port to boutique hotels built into the old town walls.
The nearest beaches to the centre are Talamanca (east, 2 km, accessible by water taxi) and Playa d'en Bossa (south, 4 km, bus route L1). Ibiza Town suits couples, solo travellers, and groups who want culture, nightlife, and good food alongside beach access.
Pro Tip: Book accommodation on the harbour side of the port rather than the Figueretes area - you're closer to the old town, the ferry terminal, and the water taxi to Talamanca, and the morning walk past the moored yachts is excellent.
2Santa Eularia des Riu - The Best Family-Friendly Town in Ibiza
Santa Eularia des Riu is the largest town on the east coast and the island's most family-friendly resort. It has a long promenade beach (Platja de Santa Eularia, just over 1 km), a small marina, a good range of mid-range restaurants, and a noticeably calmer atmosphere than either Ibiza Town or San Antonio. The Puig de Missa - a hilltop church and museum complex just above the town centre - is worth 90 minutes of any visitor's time.
The town is the best base for exploring the east coast beaches: Cala Llonga (14 km south), Cala Mastella (18 km northeast), and the coves around Santa Eularia bay. The weekly craft market (Mercado de Santa Eularia, Sundays near the port) draws a regular crowd. Bus route L14 from Ibiza Town takes 30 minutes.
Pro Tip: The esplanade restaurants immediately north of the main beach have significantly lower prices than equivalent spots in Ibiza Town or San Antonio. Lunch with a sea view costs about 30-40% less here for the same quality. The beach also gets good light until late afternoon, unlike the east-facing coves further north which go into shadow early.
3San Antonio (Sant Antoni) - The Best Base for West Coast Beaches and Sunsets
San Antonio (Sant Antoni de Portmany) is Ibiza's most active resort town and the natural base for anyone whose priorities are the west coast beaches, the famous sunset strip, and affordable package accommodation. Its reputation for budget British holiday culture is deserved but doesn't tell the full story - the waterfront promenade and the coves immediately north and south of the bay (Cala Gracio, Cala des Moro) are genuinely attractive and the sunset views from the Passeig de ses Fonts are among the best on the island.
The town is the departure point for boat trips to Cala Conta, Cala d'Hort, and the northwest sea caves. The bus to Ibiza Town (route L3) takes 30 minutes. Accommodation is the most price-competitive on the island, particularly for group bookings of apartments.
Pro Tip: Stay in the older residential streets behind the promenade rather than the main tourist hotel strip - Carrer de Cervantes and the surrounding blocks have smaller guesthouses with more character, less noise, and lower prices than the seafront accommodation.
4Santa Gertrudis - Ibiza's Best Village and Bohemian Interior Base
Santa Gertrudis de Fruitera is an inland village in the central part of the island and the most characterful small settlement on Ibiza. It has no beach of its own but its central plaza - with whitewashed church, fig tree shade, and half a dozen cafe bars - represents the bohemian Ibiza that pre-dates the club scene. Bar Costa (Placa de l'Esglesia, 3) is the central institution; its tapas and pa amb tomaquet (bread with tomato and olive oil) are among the most reliably good on the island.
The village has accumulated a cluster of serious contemporary art galleries and artisan studios that give it an artistic identity distinct from the coastal resorts. A Sunday morning market on the church square draws local artists and food producers. The village suits couples, digital nomads, and anyone looking for a genuinely quiet base with easy access to the north coast beaches (25 km).
Pro Tip: Fincas (rural farmhouses) rented by the week around Santa Gertrudis offer better value and more space than comparably priced hotel rooms in Ibiza Town or San Antonio, with private pools and the central village reachable by a 10-minute walk. This is the most relaxed way to experience the island's interior.
5Portinatx - Ibiza's Most Peaceful Northern Resort
Portinatx is a small resort at the northernmost point of the island, accessed by a narrow road through pine forest that hints at what to expect when you arrive: three connected small bays with clear, calm water, a handful of hotels and apartment complexes, and the quietest atmosphere of any resort on Ibiza. It's at least 45 minutes by car from the busiest parts of the south coast, which makes it feel genuinely removed from the party island below.
The three bays (S'Arenal Gran, S'Arenal Petit, and Port Balansat) are all walkable from each other and vary in character - S'Arenal Gran is the most sheltered and best for swimming, Port Balansat has a small harbour with boats for hire. Bus route L11 connects Portinatx to Ibiza Town in about 55 minutes. It suits families, couples, and anyone prioritising quiet over convenience.
Pro Tip: Walk the 1.5 km cliff path south from Portinatx towards the Punta de sa Torre lighthouse for one of the best coastal views in northern Ibiza - looking back over the three bays with the Pyrenees occasionally visible on the mainland horizon on very clear winter days. The path is unshaded so go early morning in summer.
CEO and co-founder
Tomas is the co-founder and director of trip1, an European company specializing in reservation services. He launched the company in 2025 with a focus on building scalable, efficient operations.
5 Best Towns and Resorts in Ibiza - FAQ
No - Ibiza Town (Eivissa) is the best base for most visitors. It's centrally located, has the widest range of accommodation, and is reachable by public bus from all the other towns on this list. If you plan to spend most of your time in the north of the island, Sant Miquel or Santa Eularia des Riu are quieter alternatives.
Santa Eulalia des Riu and Portinatx in the north are the quietest options and best suited to families with children. Both have calm, shallow beaches, good restaurants, and accommodation at lower prices than the Ibiza Town area. San Antonio is the liveliest of the five and better suited to groups or younger travellers.
Yes. The Autobuses Ibiza network (routes L1-L15, fares from 1.65 EUR) connects all five towns from Ibiza Town. Santa Eularia is on route L14 (30 min), San Antonio on L3 (30 min), and Sant Joan on L10 (40 min). A hire car gives more flexibility for exploring beyond the main towns, particularly in the north.
Ibiza Town (Eivissa) has the widest range of accommodation - from boutique hotels inside the walls of Dalt Vila to budget options along the port road. San Antonio is the most affordable for package-style accommodation. Santa Eularia des Riu sits between the two in terms of price and is consistently the most family-friendly option.
Yes - visiting all five in a single day is possible with a hire car. Leave Ibiza Town in the morning, drive north through Sant Joan de Labritja to Portinatx, then return via Santa Gertrudis to Santa Eularia des Riu, finishing in San Antonio for sunset. The total driving time is about 2-2.5 hours, leaving plenty of time at each stop.
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