Solo Ibiza
Ibiza beaches and coves
Ibiza’s beaches and coves are the backbone of tourism on the island. Locals know it well, and care for the environment, together with the quality of the services, has created charming spots that leave their mark on everyone who visits.
01Ibiza TownIbiza Town beaches
Ibiza Town, or Eivissa, is home to three large beaches, each with its own character.
One of the longest beaches on the island, and one of the liveliest too. It starts right after Figueretas: what begins as a quiet atmosphere gives way to an area of nightlife and music, and the calm returns as you approach the salt tower, where its services stand out.
Next to the Ses Paises nature area you’ll find a beach full of services in a very natural setting. Its wide stretch of sand is ideal for walking or playing beach sports, and its good connections with the town have made it a favourite with the general public. If you’re looking for an Ibiza beach near the port, it’s a good choice.
The most urban beach in Eivissa. In the bay next to the port there are three natural stretches of sand alongside a seafront promenade. It’s lively day and night, and perfect if you’re staying in town.
02Sant AntoniSan Antonio beaches
These are the main beaches of San Antonio, some of them truly spectacular.
One of the most picturesque beaches in San Antonio lies next to the port, opposite the Ses Fonts promenade. It’s the beach in the centre of town, the handiest one if you’re staying in Sant Antoni.
The bay of San Antonio is full of beaches. This one comes right after S’Arenal and you can get there by road, with a short detour, or by following the coast. It’s a very busy tourist spot, with plenty of accommodation around it.
A small cove north of the port, on the stretch of coast where people gather to watch Sant Antoni’s famous sunsets.
For us, one of the best coves in Ibiza. In a natural setting, a beautifully kept beach opens up, sheltered from the wind. It’s probably the best beach in Ibiza for snorkelling.
This is the San Antonio locals’ cove: almost everyone in town has set foot on its sand at some point. Small, charming and very family-friendly, with calm water and a deep stretch of sand, it’s perfect for little ones.
Cala Gració’s little sister. The two share a bay, separated by a spit of land that splits the sand in two, and they’re just as charming. If you’re staying nearby, it’s a perfect option for a quiet day with a nice atmosphere.
03Santa EulàriaSanta Eulalia beaches
The Santa Eulalia coast is home to a large share of the beaches and coves on the island of Ibiza
Travelling around Santa Eulalia means passing through ever more rugged landscapes as you head north. On the way up, this stretch of sand appears, tucked into a very steep coastline. The way down to the beach is quite steep, but the scenery you discover makes up for it.
One of the most idyllic and beautiful spots in Ibiza. Its shallow water and the gentle way the sea laps the shore make it ideal for those who love to relax. It’s among the best places to visit in Ibiza.
Also known as Canal d’en Martí, it’s a string of sandy patches and low coastline that forms a unique whole, watched over by the torre d’en Valls, an 18th-century defence tower. The boat slipways along its shore leave sand-free spaces where you can sunbathe in comfort.
This long beach has two faces. The better-known one, to the north, leads to the famous mud baths, with a curious mix of nudists and young people. To the south the atmosphere is much more family-oriented. The natural setting is fantastic.
This is the Santa Eulalia cove closest to Ibiza. Past the large bay of Talamanca, the coast gets rougher until it reaches a hidden, deep stretch, where a beach flanked by two long breakwaters appears. It’s a secluded spot, waiting to be explored.
In the centre of town, with a spectacular seafront promenade, it’s one of the best-equipped beaches. Next to a renowned marina, its wide stretch of sand lets young and old enjoy a relaxed atmosphere with lots of activities.
One of the most touristy areas in Santa Eulalia, with plenty of hotels. There’s no shortage of space: it’s one of the widest stretches of sand. The surroundings are fantastic and the water is very calm and perfect for swimming.
This small village on the Santa Eulalia coast has carved out a place on the tourist map, with a beach that has a laid-back atmosphere.
If you like waves, this cove is spectacular on windy days: it has a lovely stretch of sand and the wind often blows hard. On calm days the water turns crystal clear. Next to the main beach there’s a small rocky cove, very quiet even in summer, where you can take shelter.
One of our favourite beaches. Separated from Aguas Blancas by a large rock, Es Figueral has much easier access and the same virtues: clear water and an impressive seabed. On days with waves, young and old alike have a great time.
One more in the long string of coves along this stretch of coast, here with a sandier seabed. The surroundings are well worth it, and not only if you enjoy hiking.
West of Ca Na Martina, just a few metres away. Its calm water invites you in for a swim, and both the cove and its surroundings are a pleasant surprise.
Ibiza’s only river has its own beach too. The river mouth sits on the edge of town and, together with Santa Eulalia Beach, forms a broad arm of coastline barely separated by a few rocks. You reach the natural stretch of sand along a pretty path beside the boats, with plenty of wildlife.
It’s not very well known, but it’s gorgeous. Next to a hotel, you reach it through a real maze that opens onto a beach of pale sand and crystal-clear water, with the centre of Santa Eulalia as a backdrop.
A few hundred metres north of Es Canar, another lovely spot appears. Cala Nova is a different kind of beach, with a much simpler atmosphere. Its wide stretch of sand is perfect for spending a good day.
A rather unusual beach: an arm of the sea reaches inland and forms a small lagoon you can walk through in the water. The stretch of sand is especially wide, leaving a leisure area much loved by locals. Ideal for a family day out; it’s a must-see.
A clean, well-kept beach. The beach looks great, just like its surroundings, and the atmosphere is fairly quiet.
04Sant JosepSan José beaches
San José has one of the coastlines with the most beaches, and the most varied ones
The west coast of the island is nothing like what came before, and Cala Carbó is a good example: the vegetation turns into pine forest and low scrub, and the cove, barely open to the sea, is very peaceful. Calm water and a nice atmosphere.
Another of our favourite coves, in an unexpected setting. It’s hard to describe the feeling of turning the wheel and finding such a spectacle in front of you. Parking may be tricky, but the place is worth it.
If you like quiet places, add this one to your list. When you arrive, all you want is to dive in and let time go by: the best cure for stress. Luckily, the general public barely knows about it. Sand, crystal-clear water and plenty of peace.
Access is very tricky, especially in a long car, and parking isn’t easy either. There’s hardly any sand, it’s all pebbles, and it isn’t particularly big. So what does it have? A tranquillity few beaches can match.
If you’ve ever seen an advert featuring an Ibiza cove with spectacular houses facing the sea, it was probably Es Cubells. Access by road is awkward. It’s a group of small coves at the foot of a dizzying cliff.
More than a cove, a paradise with something magical about it. It faces the islets of Es Vedrà and Es Vedranell, surrounded by mystery and legends about their energy, and that makes it a unique place in Ibiza. Don’t miss the sunset.
The island’s main naturist beach. It’s in the Ses Salines Natural Park and is the favourite place for nudism. With Formentera in the background, the scenery has a beauty that’s hard to match.
Another of the beaches in the Ses Salines park, and the one that gives it its name. Next to the salt jetty, it’s known as the Ibiza beach where the celebrities go. The surroundings are beautiful.
The last beach in the park is a stretch of codols (pebbles) that very few people visit. This is where the sea flows into the salt pans, and the flamingos and herons, together with the abundant marine life, make Es Codolar a place apart.
A beach next to the Phoenician settlement of sa Caleta, one of the first Phoenician settlements on the island and part of the site that UNESCO declared a World Heritage Site in 1999. Its appeal and beauty make it a very popular meeting point.
One of the liveliest beaches on the south coast. The sand only appears here and there among the pebbles.
If you had one day left in Ibiza and we had to recommend a beach, Cala Tarida would leave you longing to come back. The main beach has several attractions, but nothing compared with its surroundings. As evening falls it gets very lively, and it’s one of the best beaches for watching the sunset.
The quintessential Ibiza beach: if you haven’t been here, you haven’t seen Ibiza. It’s made up of three adjoining beaches with spectacular views of the isla des Bosc. In summer it’s one of the most sought-after. Its currents leave crystal-clear water that’s hard to match, just like its famous sunset.
It’s easy to confuse it with Es Codolar, but they have nothing in common. A small strip of sand opens up between two rises and forms a beach with some sand and quite a lot of rock. The pine forest, the easy parking and the few people make it a good option for a day out. It’s one of the quiet beaches.
One of the most distinctive beaches in San José and probably one of the busiest, with a very family-friendly atmosphere along its whole length, which is considerable.
The northernmost beach in the municipality of San José lies in a small, sheltered cove. Just before the car park there are several hotels that have made it very popular. Its large stretch of sand contrasts with a coastline of rock platforms, perfect for sunbathing without getting covered in sand.
05Sant JoanSan Juan beaches
San Juan has the most rugged coastline, with dreamy coves
The municipality of San Juan is a succession of small coves that are hard to reach, and Cala Xuclà fits right in: few people, almost no services, but enchanting. A few metres of sand and small pebbles await you.
Probably one of the quietest coves. Few people make it here, and even fewer dare to drive down its road. If you do, you’ll find a very secluded cove, surrounded by mountains, with spectacular scenery. One of the most impressive.
The port of San Miguel is a wide bay with small coves around it: some you can reach with a simple stroll, while others are harder to get to. If you stay at the port, you’ll have every service you can imagine.
It’s not one beach, it’s two. A small passage joins the coast to an islet, and on both sides a magnificent landscape opens up: in front, a view of the whole port of San Miguel; behind, spectacular cliffs over the open sea.
The smallest of San Miguel’s little coves. You walk there from the port beach along a short path, and when you arrive it feels like another world: sheltered by cliffs, you can barely hear the noise from the beach. Only the odd canoe will disturb you now and then.
Three coves make up the bay of Portinatx, in the north of the island, and a pretty promenade runs along almost all of it. The turquoise water is dazzling. It’s an area halfway between touristy and residential, perfect for a holiday stay.
The big hotel complexes arrived at this cove years ago and took over its seafront, well aware of what it was worth. They’re the only human presence in a panorama that takes in a good part of the coast; the views of Aguas Blancas and Es Figueral are superb.
This is home to the “finger of God”, as the small islet that rises a few hundred metres out to sea is known. Besides the scenery, it’s famous for its drum party: at sunset, the beach throbs with a rhythm that’s hard to describe.
One of the most hidden beaches on the island, and the way there holds surprises: a viewpoint on the road shows you the beauty of this rocky coast. Once on the beach, a cluster of huge rocks rises from the sea. The sand is very coarse and comes from a large bank that shelters you from the wind.
A tiny strip of sand between rocky outcrops. The rocks are flat, perfect for lying down without the bother of sand.
Getting around Ibiza
Reach the beaches by bus, by hire car or from the sea. Check the bus lines and timetables, hire a car or find a boat to explore the coves.
Here you’ll find out how to get to the beaches of Ibiza, what services each one has and whether it suits what you’re looking for. The beaches with the most services are the most touristy and get crowded in high season; the ones without a bus are usually much quieter, although to reach them you’ll need a hire car in Ibiza. Every beach has its own charm, and it’s worth knowing what to expect before you go.
Which are the best beaches in Ibiza?
The best beach in Ibiza depends on what you’re after. With children, you’ll want somewhere sandy, without rocks and fairly built-up: Es Figueral is a good example. If you’re looking for the beach of the rich and famous, Las Salinas is your place. And for the sunset, the west coast awaits with spots like Cala d’Hort or Cala Conta.
If it rains, don’t worry: Solo Ibiza has an Ibiza guide with the most interesting cultural places to visit.
Nature in Ibiza’s coves
The beaches of Ibiza Town, or Eivissa, are urban, with every service you could wish for and lots of visitors, generally in a family atmosphere. Talamanca lets you enjoy all kinds of services and entertainment. Figueretas mixes tourists and locals a few metres from the centre and is a good beach for children. Playa d’en Bossa brings the fun and the nightlife to the most touristy area.
In Sant Josep you’ll find the perfect place for any outdoor activity, with large sandy beaches and pebble beaches where you can enjoy the celebrity beaches and nudist beaches with crystal-clear water. The beaches of San José are quite far from the municipality’s main village, so they draw a very varied crowd.
Sant Josep shares Playa d’en Bossa with Ibiza and leads into the Es Cavallet and Las Salinas reserve. It also has some of the best bays in Ibiza, such as Es Codolar, a pebble beach in the middle of the salt pans. Bol Nou, Cala Jondal, Es Xarcu and Es Cubells complete the south coast, with the island of Es Vedrà as a landmark.
Heading up towards Sant Antoni are Cala d’Hort and the coves of Carbó, Vadella, Molí, Tarida and Codolar, until the west coast ends at the beaches of Comte, with the isla des Bosc looking on. Cala Bassa and Port des Torrent welcome you to the beaches of Sant Antoni.
In Sant Antoni itself you’ll find the San Antonio beaches in the bay, Es Pouet and S’Arenal, plus Caló des Moro, Cala Gració and Gracioneta, small and secluded. Away from the bay, Cala Salada, a magical spot, will surprise you.
Charming beaches in Ibiza
If you’re looking for charming beaches, we suggest places like Es Pas de S’Illa or Cala Xarraca. If you prefer peace and quiet, the beaches of San Juan hide the most unspoilt coves and the most secluded ones, dreamy spots the road doesn’t reach, where the island’s deepest spirit lives alongside Ibiza’s most mystical hippie stronghold. The port of Sant Miquel, with the little cove of Moltons and the impressive Es Pas de S’Illa, and the coves of Benirràs, S’Illot des Renclí, Xuclà, Portinatx and Cala d’en Serra round off the northern beaches. San Vicente’s beach already borders the Santa Eulària coast.
The beaches of Santa Eulalia in Ibiza give you the widest view of the Mediterranean, on a coast where it’s hard not to find a spot for a swim. Following the coast you reach the area with the most quiet coves: Aigua Blanca, Es Figueral, Canal d’en Martí, the coves of Boix, Mastella, Llenya and Nova, and Es Canar. Ca Na Martina, S’Argamassa, Cala Pada and Niu Blau lead to the town. Santa Eulària Beach, followed by the mouth of the island’s only river, gives way to a rocky coast that ends at Cala Llonga. Right on the border with Ibiza lies S’Estanyol.
