Chapter 3 of the Ibiza villa rentals guide.
In this chapter we’ve made it quick and easy for you to get an idea of where to begin your villa search in earnest. And one thing is certain: the right location for your villa will depend on what kind of priorities you and your group have.
Although each group (and their list of priorities) is unique, take a look. You’ll see that each set of priorities comes with some recommended locations, allowing you to narrow down and simplify your search.
Priority 1: Culture
You’ll want to be based in a town. And of the three main towns, Ibiza Town has it all. Choosing a villa close to Ibiza Town will give you easy access to an array of museums, galleries, dining options and boutique shopping.
Special points of cultural interest:
- UNESCO World Heritage site (Dalt Vila)
- Cathedral
- Museum of Contemporary Art
- Archaeological Museum
- The annual Medieval Festival in May
- International Music Summit
Glamorous Marina Botafoc offers designer shopping, dining and clubbing.
Tip: if you’re into local history, get a copy of The White Island by Stephen Armstrong. It’s a brilliant read and really brings Ibiza history to life.
Priority 2: Nightlife and clubbing
Is your main group holiday priority to party to the max? The best villas for clubbers are usually close to one or more of the main clubbing zones. Especially for those moments when no one really wants to drive.
The main clubs and where they are:
- Amnesia, on the road between San Antonio and Ibiza Town near San Rafael
- Pacha, in Ibiza Town by the marina
- Ushuaia and Hi Ibiza, in Playa d’en Bossa
Villa Savines is close to Pacha, and anything around Playa d’en Bossa or Ibiza Town puts you within a short taxi of all of them.
Priority 3: Good facilities for children and family
Is your group, or part of your group, a family? The best located villas for families are not too far away from fun stuff for them to do.
Around the towns and nearby resorts of San Antonio (town and bay) and Santa Eulalia you’ll find a great range of facilities and stuff to do for families on holiday in Ibiza with the kids. Quite aside from the array of water toys and sheer fun to be had on the beach and in the sea all day, there’s also plenty of cool stuff for families to do nearby.
Santa Eulalia
- Acrobosc Ibiza (fun in trees for kids: zip lines, climbing, great for young Indiana Jones types)
- The Hippie Market at Punta Arabi, Es Canar (live music, face-painting, kids’ activities)
- Las Dalias artisanal market, restaurant and music venue on the road to San Carlos (fabulous Bohemian vibes)
- Go Karts Santa Eulalia
- Ibiza Vertical (rock climbing and climbing gym)
- Ibiza Horse Valley (horse riding with rescue horses)
- Can Muson (working organic farm using traditional methods, tours available)
- Babylon Beach Ibiza (gorgeous restaurant with fabulous kids’ play area)
- Guarana, for those with babysitters or older teenagers: Santa Eulalia’s funkiest night-time venue, right in the port and open until 6am
San Antonio
- Surf Lounge Ibiza (ride artificial waves)
- Sirenis water park (day passes available)
- The Gorilla market in San Antonio bay (look out for the massive gorilla)
- Hang Loose Ibiza (cave snorkelling trips)
- Starboats Ibiza (rent a boat without a licence)
- Boats Ibiza (larger boat hire for groups)
Tip: there’s a great, locally trusted mobile babysitting service, Dollysitting, on the island. All Dolly’s babysitters are experienced and vetted. Kids in Ibiza provide a great nanny service too.
Priority 4: Close to the beach
Are sun, sea and sand your thing? Ibiza has a lush array of beaches (over 60) with different vibes. If you’re looking for a villa close to the beach, here’s a quick guide:
- Daytime party vibes: Playa d’en Bossa, Cala Jondal (home of Blue Marlin), Las Salinas (home of Jockey Club and Sa Trinxa, and popular with celebs)
- Chilled, family friendly vibes: Talamanca, Figueretas, Santa Eulalia, S’Argamassa, Cala Llenya, Es Figueral, Portinatx, Cala Nova, Cala Tarida, Cala Vadella, Port of San Miguel, Cala San Vicente
- Nature and rustic vibes: Es Codolar, Sa Caleta, Cala d’Hort, Cala Salada. Check out Ibiza resident Rob Smith’s Secret Beaches for more hidden beach treasures if you’re up for some light adventuring
- Good child facilities: the bay of San Antonio, Cala Llonga, Santa Eulalia, Es Canar
- Gay friendly vibes: all of Ibiza is gay-friendly, but you might want to look for a villa down south. Es Cavallet in the south of the island is without a doubt the beach epicentre of the gay community. The closest village is Sant Francesc de s’Estany
- Hippie and nudist vibes: Benirras, Punta Galera, Cala Contita (next to Cala Conta), Aguas Blancas, or Atlantis
Resource: Beach Inspector has impartial descriptions and photos of 61 Ibiza beaches.
Priority 5: Natural, rural Ibiza
Gone are the days when Ibiza was all about parties. We’re not saying that Ibiza doesn’t do glamour, glitter and world class parties very well. Maybe better than anywhere else on the planet. But natural Ibiza is all the rage.
Mountains, forests and wild herbs abound. Outdoor pursuits including cycling, climbing and horse riding are abundant and there are some fantastic hiking trails to get stuck into.
Sound like your idea of heaven? Check out villa rentals around the villages of San Rafael, San Mateo, San Carlos, San Juan, Santa Agnes, San Miguel, San Lorenzo, Santa Gertrudis, Portinatx, Es Cubells, San Agustin and San Jose.
Tip: check out Walking Ibiza, run by Ibiza-born Toby Clark, who offers walks at various levels for a donation. A brilliant way to get out in nature, discover the island in a new way and completely disconnect. Very popular with residents and tourists alike.
Resource: The Greenheart Guide is ideal for finding all the eco-conscious businesses in Ibiza: a directory of the ethical, local and eco shops, cafes, restaurants and services on the island. The Greenheart Foundation is a charity; drop by and see them at Casita Verde on Sundays from 14.00 to 17.00.
Priority 6: Special occasion
If you need to rent a villa in Ibiza for a wedding, hen or stag celebration or some other special occasion, then tell your agent or owner before booking. Honestly, this is 100% essential.
You won’t believe how many times each summer the police close down parties, confiscate sound equipment and dole out hefty fines for unlicensed events, normally summoned there by angry residents or powerful neighbourhood associations. You don’t want your celebration to end up with that kind of finale.
Local laws in Ibiza are strict concerning private events in villas. Local agents with a physical office in Ibiza know this, can offer expert advice and suggest only appropriate villas.
It can be tough to get anything important organised on the ground in Ibiza unless you know the ropes and speak pretty good Spanish. Get some help if it’s important that an event goes 100% smoothly. Our concierge services can help you organise all kinds of extras, from catering to boat hire and VIP tables.
The location will be influenced by many factors: dates, proximity to related venues, ease of getting taxis. Consult your agent.
Tip: if you’re planning any important date for the group at an iconic venue (such as a sunset table at Cafe Mambo), book it way in advance. We’ve seen folks weeping with disappointment after leaving it too late.
Priority 7: A mixture of beach, dining and a bit of partying
If you and your group have mixed interests (a common scenario) then renting a villa near San Antonio, Playa d’en Bossa or Ibiza Town would offer the best of all worlds.
And don’t be put off by San Antonio’s outdated reputation as full of drunken young Brits behaving badly. Maybe that was at least partly true many moons ago, and even then only ever centred around one street in the west end. New restrictions have seen alcohol banned from the streets, much earlier closing and strictly enforced sound caps on bars and clubs. The west end is still lively though, make no mistake.
Some of Ibiza’s most beautiful beaches are nearby (Cala Salada, Cala Conta and Cala Gracioneta to name but three). Es Paradis is in the town centre and Amnesia is less than a 10-minute drive away.
Just out of town and for the slightly more mature crowd, Pikes Hotel holds some blinding events, and the daytime pool parties down at Ocean Beach Club in the bay are brilliant.
The dining scene in and around San Antonio is varied and of great quality, and there is nothing in the world quite like sunset on the strip: Cafe Mambo, Cafe del Mar and many more.
Priority 8: Alternative, bohemian, hippie Ibiza
Are you wild and free? Yearning to release your inner flower-child? You are not alone. Proceed directly north. Specifically, north of Santa Eulalia and particularly in and around the villages of San Carlos and San Juan.
These nearby venues and events are Bohemian essentials:
- Las Dalias (live events, kids’ area, plus hippie market on Saturdays all year round)
- The Hippie Market at Punta Arabi, Es Canar
- La Chirincana (beach bar on Cala Martina, live music, vegan food, all summer)
- Ibiza Spirit Festival at Atzaro (May and October each year)
A few minutes’ drive from San Juan you’ll find Cala Benirras. Sundays are famous for the sunset hippie drumming ritual and summer can see many hundreds packed onto the beach. With a small artisan market too, we’re talking 100% Bohemian.
Tip: don’t attempt to park in the car park right beside Benirras beach. It’s always packed and easy to get a fine for even slightly incorrect parking. Use the park and ride service instead.
Around San Carlos you will find some of the island’s most stunning beaches, with Aguas Blancas (nudist) a particular favourite of hippies. It’s a steep walk up and down but really, it’s worth the effort.
Tip: to properly get your Aguas Blancas hippie stripes: 1. Get naked. 2. Smear yourself in the clay from the cliffs (no proven health benefits whatsoever). 3. Jump (carefully) off the big rock in the sea.
To sum up
You’ve now got a good overview of how different Ibiza locations suit different priorities. Which priorities did you resonate with? Was it a mix?
We’re now ready to tackle the next big question: when is the best time to visit Ibiza for your villa holiday? The next chapter discusses exactly that.
