Ibiza Holiday Guide: My Top Tips for Ibiza Party Holidays – Where to Stay, Party, Dine and Explore

Planning an Ibiza Holiday? Discover where to stay, party, eat, drink and explore with my top tips from my recent trip to the island.

I’ve just returned from my first ever Ibiza holiday, and what a trip it was! We originally booked just two nights, but quickly realised there was no way we’d see everything we wanted, so extended our stay and spent three full days exploring the island.

I’m not exactly a regular raver, and I’d always had the impression that Ibiza was somewhere best enjoyed when you were younger. I also worried that an Ibiza holiday would be far too expensive. But after finally visiting, I realised that Ibiza really is what you make it. You can stay out all night at the famous super clubs, spend your days at beach clubs, explore the island’s beaches and towns, or simply enjoy a mix of everything.

Ibiza is not just for the younger crowd, it is somewhere everyone should visit! I was surprised by how much there was to do beyond the partying, from great restaurants and sunset drinks to beautiful beaches and plenty of places to explore.

If you’re planning your first Ibiza holiday, you’re probably wondering whether you can afford the famous nightlife and what there is to do during the day. In this guide, I answer both and share best areas to stay, Ibiza nightlife, things to do, where to eat and plenty of tips I picked up during my trip, including cheap eats and ways to save money, because you really don’t need to spend a fortune to have a great time in Ibiza.

If you’re not looking to party in Ibiza, or you’re travelling as a couple or with family, the below travel guide explores the island’s many resorts and highlights the best places to stay.

Read: Where to Stay in Ibiza, Best Resorts for Adults, Families and Top Things to Do.

Where To Stay in Ibiza

Choosing the right area can make a huge difference to your Ibiza holiday, especially if you plan to party. If you’re picking where to stay based on Ibiza’s biggest clubs, it’s worth knowing where each one is located.

Pacha is in Ibiza Town, Ushuaïa and Hï are in Playa d’en Bossa, Es Paradis and Eden are in San Antonio, while Amnesia and UNVRS are located between Ibiza Town and San Antonio. The two main resorts party goers usually choose are San Antonio or Playa d’en Bossa – you can see more on these below.

San Antonio Area

Why stay in San Antonio, Ibiza?

Good value party hotels – Vibra District, Ryans Lolas, Apartamentos Mar i Vent

Great location non party hotels – Orosol Hotel by Typic Hotels, Hotel Ses Savines, Hotel Arenal

I stayed in Hotel Arenal on my recent Ibiza holiday and honestly couldn’t fault it. It’s basic but clean, and you really can’t beat the location in San Antonio, right on Arenal Beach. It’s just a 2 minute walk to O Beach, with loads of shops, bars and restaurants nearby.

The rooms were spacious and great, although the hotel as a whole is a little dated. If you’re just looking for somewhere cheap and cheerful with a great location and a good base for exploring, then this is hard to beat.

Best Ibiza hotels for groups – Vibra Marco Polo, Ibiza Rocks Hotel, Sunside Ibiza Studios, All Suite Ibiza Aparthotel

Mid range party hotels – THB Ocean Beach Hotel, THB Naeco Ibiza, Axel Beach Ibiza

Cool & Stylish hotels – Paradiso Art Hotel, NYX, Romeos, Cubanito

Best Ibiza hotels for couples or friends – Sol Bahia Ibiza Suites, Vago Ibiza, Osiris Hotel

High end Luxury – Bonito, TRS Ibiza Hotel, OKU Ibiza, Amare Beach Hotel

Top tip: If you want to be super central and save money on transport, don’t stay in San Antonio bay as you will be relying on water taxis, regular taxis, or walking a lot!

Playa d’en Bossa Area

Why stay in Playa d’en Bossa, Ibiza?

Good Value Party Hotels– Hotel Vibra Algarb, FERGUS Style Bahamas, Hotel Vibra Bossa Flow

Cool & stylish hotels – Tropicana Ibiza

Best for groups – Apartamentos Bora Bora, Jet Apartments

Best Ibiza hotels for couples or friends –Torre del Mar, Bless Ibiza, Grand Palladium White Island Resort

High end luxury – The Unexpected by Ushuaia, Dorado Ibiza

12 Top Things to do in Ibiza

There is so much to see and do in Ibiza that you could easily spend weeks exploring the island. From world-famous clubs and beautiful beaches to pretty towns, boat trips and excellent restaurants, there really is something for everyone. I have rounded up the best things to do in Ibiza below, with a mix of partying, exploring, dining and relaxing to help you make the most of your trip.

1. See your favourite DJ at a world famous Ibiza club

Whatever your age, I don’t think you can go to Ibiza without experiencing at least one of its famous clubs. Even if that means seeing Calvin Harris at Ushuaïa in the evening, it still counts! The island is home to some of the biggest clubs in the world, including Hï Ibiza, Ushuaïa, Pacha, UNVRS, DC10, Amnesia, Cova Santa and Pikes, with an incredible line up of world class DJs throughout the summer.

If you want to plan your trip around a particular DJ or club night, keep an eye on the Ibiza line ups, which are usually released between January and March. Ibiza Spotlight is a brilliant resource, with a full events calendar showing which DJs are playing where, making it much easier to plan your nights before you go.

I saw Sonny Fodera at Pacha – a regular Monday night event, and it was such a fantastic night. I already love Sonny, so I would have chosen this event anyway, but from everything I read before travelling, his Pacha night was consistently recommended as one of the best on the island.

It is also a great option if you are not into hard techno or heavy house, as you get more commercial dance music with plenty of songs you will actually recognise and sing along to.

Top tips for booking Ibiza Clubs: Some Ibiza clubs have started offering drink bundles along with online tickets, including Chinois Ibiza, Pacha and Destino Five, which can offer significant savings compared with buying drinks individually at the bar.

Whenever possible, buy your club tickets online in advance and check whether a drinks package is available. We paid around €26 for three alcoholic drinks, which would have cost roughly the same for just one drink at the bar on the night. You can often choose water as part of these packages too, which is a great way to save money in Ibiza.

Another money saving tip is to consider dining at Pacha’s restaurant before heading into the club. Your meal can include entry to the club, so if you’re planning to eat or pre drink there anyway, it can work out cheaper than paying separately for dinner and club entry.

Note: Some of the clubs like Pacha, UNVRS, Ushuaïa, Hï, and Chinois Ibiza don’t allow entry in flip flops, swimwear and football or basketball shirts, and some often require long trousers for men. Please read the appropriate dress codes before your trip. 

2. Sunset Supper at Wiki Woo

Sunset Supper at Wiki Woo was one of the best things we did on our Ibiza holiday, and it was great value too!

The famous Mambo has a minimum spend, so I suggest you forget that. If you are on a budget, I highly recommend trying the Sunset Supper at Wiki Woo Ibiza instead. It is available on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays during the summer months, and for €85pp you get a two course meal, unlimited drinks for two hours, including beer, wine and cocktails, plus entertainment as you watch the sun go down.

We chose to share each course so we could try a bit of everything, including crispy chilli beef, charred corn, a beef burger and vodka pasta, and everything was so tasty. The venue itself is also so cool. It is basically a pink girl’s dream, with palm trees, great music and such a fun atmosphere.

Considering how expensive an Ibiza holiday can be, I thought this was fantastic value for money. Two courses and two hours of drinks alone could easily cost you €200+ elsewhere, so if you want to enjoy an Ibiza sunset, great food and plenty of drinks without completely blowing the budget, I would definitely consider this.

3. Party at O Beach

If you ask anyone who has been on an Ibiza holiday what the best day event is, I can almost guarantee the majority will say O Beach, formerly known as Ocean Beach. Located in San Antonio, it is open every day from early May until early October, with world class DJs and incredible shows featuring aerial acrobats, confetti cannons and plenty more.

Personally, I would book a bed here. Otherwise, you could find yourself sitting around the pool all day in the heat with no shade, while having to keep your belongings in a locker.

I would also advise buying your tickets in advance and opting for a drinks package. I paid €100 for entry plus five premium cocktails, and I thought it was well worth it. Entry is usually around €35, while cocktails are around €16 each, so the drinks package can work out much better value.

If you are dining at the restaurant, just be aware that there is a €50pp minimum spend. However, this should be fairly easy to reach with a main course and a drink. There is a great selection of food, including sushi, burgers, pasta and plenty of other options.

Top Tips: If there are only 2 to 3 people in your group, check out the sunset loungers. These are some of the cheapest and best options if you want a bed without spending €€€. They can sell out really quickly as they are such good value, so if you know which day you want to visit O Beach, I would definitely recommend booking them in advance.

Shhh keep this one quiet – If you plan to go to O Beach on a Friday, check out Bam-bu-ku Ibiza next door which is their sister venue that offers a Brunch club each Friday in summer, which includes entertainment, a 3 course brunch, unlimited drinks for 90 minutes and you can enjoy entry to O Beach after 6pm included in the price of €60pp, what a steal!

4. Explore the beaches

While Ibiza is known for its world famous clubs, people seem to forget just how beautiful the island is, with some of the best beaches in Europe found across Ibiza and nearby Formentera. Beyond the nightlife, you’ll find crystal clear water, amazing sunsets, and plenty of places to explore.

While San Antonio maybe renowned for its party lifestyle, there are also some gorgeous beaches nearby with crystal clear water that is perfect for swimming. I would skip Playa Arenal and the main bay and instead take a water taxi to nearby Cala Bassa, Cala Comte or Port des Torrent, with tickets starting from around €5 to €6 one way.

If you don’t fancy getting a boat, you can also take a taxi to many of the beaches around San Antonio or walk to Reggae Reggae Beach, just past San Antonio Bay. It is a great spot for a more laidback and vibey beach day, with reggae music, a beach bar atmosphere and gorgeous water for swimming. Sunday is the best day to visit if you want to enjoy the full Reggae Reggae Beach experience.

Top tip: If you want to explore the best beaches on the island you will need to rent a car.

5. Formentera Day Trip

While you may be impressed by Ibiza’s beaches, they do not quite compare to the white sands and crystal clear waters you will find on nearby Formentera. The island is regarded as having some of the best beaches in Europe, and honestly, I could not agree more. I absolutely loved Formentera and think it is one of those places you really cannot miss on a trip to Ibiza.

Formentera is a small island just off the coast of Ibiza and is incredibly easy to visit as a day trip. The ferry from Ibiza Town takes just 30 minutes and we paid €50pp return, and before you know it, you will be stepping off onto what feels like a completely different side of the Balearic Islands.

The beaches on Formentera are up there with some of the best I have ever seen. I would compare them to the beaches you find in the Philippines or Thailand, which is pretty high praise! I was genuinely blown away by how beautiful the water and beaches were. You would never think you were still in Europe.

If you want to keep the party vibes going check out Beso Beach for lunch/ dinner party with high energy entertainment.

I highly recommend hiring a bike or scooter if you want to explore more of the island and discover its many beautiful swimming spots. We chose to visit Playa Illetes, which is one of the more popular beaches on the island, the bus from the port cost €10pp return and goes every 15 minutes in summer, it was handy as it was a little too hot for bikes.

Alternatively, you can book a boat trip from Ibiza, which takes you around Formentera and stops at some of the island’s best beaches and swimming spots. This is a great option if you want to spend the day on the water without having to worry about getting around once you arrive.

Formentera was one of the highlights of my Ibiza trip, and if you only take one day trip on your Ibiza holiday, I would make it this one. It is absolutely worth giving up a day of partying for plus your body and liver will thank you!

If you have the time and budget, I would actually look at staying on the island for a night or two. While it is gorgeous to explore in a day, I really feel you need at least two days to fully appreciate its beauty.

Top Tips for visiting Formentera: We left Formentera until our last day as the airport is close to Ibiza Town, where the ferry departs from. We left our bags in a storage locker across from the port and, when we got back, headed straight to the airport on the public bus, which was super handy. This works especially well if you are staying in San Antonio, as you do not have to travel back and forth to Ibiza Town for the ferry.

Pack a sun hat and plenty of sun cream as there’s not much shade, especially on the beaches unless you bring an umbrella

If you’re travelling on a budget and plan to take the ferry, I would pack snacks as the restaurants here as high end and expensive, we came across a place that sold spaghetti with lobster for €250…

6. Explore Ibiza Old Town

Ibiza Town is usually missed by the party goers but I highly recommend you to visit. It;’s a UNESCO World Heritage Old town, also known as Dalt Vila (Upper Town in Spanish), was founded by the Phoenicians over 2,500 years ago and is one of the oldest towns in Europe.

The Old Town is accessed by a drawbridge where you will find top class restaurants and beautiful boutiques inside whitewashed buildings. You will also find locals living inside its walls today. This is one of the top things to do in Ibiza Town, don’t miss it! 

Outside the walls there is an impressive marina lined with restaurants, bars, boutiques and market stalls, as well as a New Town with a large plaza, and high street stores such as Mango and Sephora.

Top Tip: If you are planning to visit Formentera, it is easy to combine it with a visit to Ibiza Old Town, as this is where the boats to Formentera depart from. You can take a boat from Playa d’en Bossa, Figueretas and Santa Eulalia, but Ibiza Town has the most frequent services. Timetables and routes can vary depending on the season.

7. Marvel at Es Vedrà

The legendary rock of Es Vedrà is one of the top things to see in Ibiza. This 400-metre high rock is located off the south west coast of Ibiza, and while you can’t set foot on the island, you can get up close to it by boat, or enjoy the spectacular viewing points on land.

There are many myths and legends told about Es Vedrà, but the one most people like to believe is that it is the world’s third most magnetic point, which is thought to be one of the reasons behind Ibiza’s energy. Others believe the rock has healing powers, and crowds gather at sunset to feel the heat and energy from this magnetic rock. 

If time allows, enjoy some time at Cala d’Hort beach and enjoy a drink or meal in Es Boldado cliff op restaurant. 

8. Enjoy a Boat Day

Book a boat party, hire a skipper or even drive your own boat and spend the day exploring Ibiza’s hidden coves and swimming in crystal clear water. The coastline around Ibiza is absolutely insane and really has to be seen from the water.

Forget just sticking to San Antonio or Playa d’en Bossa. Take a boat out and see the beaches and coves that Ibiza is actually famous for. There are so many charter options available, depending on your budget, from affordable group boat trips to private boats with a skipper.

If a party on the water is more your thing, there are plenty of boat parties with music, drinks flowing and a proper Ibiza atmosphere. Pukka Up and Aftersun were the two I heard about most.

9. Dinner & Drinks on the Sunset Strip

If you want to enjoy the best sunset bars in Ibiza you will have to pay for the privilege. You may choose to hang out at the iconic Café del Mar in San Antonio, or book an upmarket restaurant with a sunset view, but regardless of your personal choice, you need to make sure to pre book the experience.

Most bars and restaurants on the famous Sunset Strip have a minimum spend requirement for dining or drinks after 7.30 pm. Prices vary depending on where you are sitting – front row seafront tables are the most expensive, and can be anything from €60 per person in Cafe del Mar to €100 per person in Mint by Mambo. 

Mint by Mambo was the most recommended to me and certainly appears to have a better food menu than Cafe del Mar. We arrived in Cafe del Mar for cocktails at 7pm but were advised we would need to vacate our table at 8pm unless we had pre booked the sunset experience. 

Top tip: Many choose to sit on the rocks outside Cafe del Mar and enjoy the sunset view for free! 

One the best restaurants in Ibiza with sunset views is Hostal La Torre and if you want a livelier beach club experience, check out Experimental Beach Club. Sunset Ashram. Sa Trinxa are also good for a more relaxed beach club experience.

Another good idea is to book a sunset cruise. These usually include snacks and drinks, and many pull up outside Cafe del Mar at sunset, so you can enjoy the atmosphere and view, without having to pay a supplement for a seafront table.

10. Enjoy a high end luxury beach club

For a more luxurious side to your Ibiza holiday, spend a day at one of the island’s beach clubs. Its such a lovely way to spend a few hours, with beautiful beaches, stylish settings, great food and cocktails, and plenty of options depending on the vibe you are after.

Blue Marlin, Cala Bassa Beach Club (no minimum spend), CLAP HOUSE, Beach House Cala San Miguel (new opening), Nikki Beach, Playa Soleil and Aiyanna are all great options.

Some are laidback and perfect for a long lunch and a few hours relaxing by the sea, while others bring more of that high energy Ibiza atmosphere with music, DJs and a party vibe as the day goes on. If you have room in the budget, I would definitely add a beach club day to your Ibiza holiday.

11. Hotel Day Pass

One thing I really liked about Ibiza is that it can actually be done on a budget if you plan it well. If you choose a good value hotel without all the facilities, you can still enjoy some of Ibiza’s more luxurious hotels by booking a hotel day pass.

Prices start from around €30pp, usually with food and drink credit included, and can go up to around €120pp for some of the more high end options. It is also a great way to explore a different part of the island for the day and experience some of the hotels you might not otherwise stay at.

Some of the most popular options include Palm Star, Wiki Woo, Amàre, OKU, Romeo’s, Paradiso, TRS, Nobu and 7Pines.

12. Daytime Events

If O Beach is not your thing, but you still want to try some daytime music events, then there are plenty to choose from.

If you like commercial music, try Ibiza Rocks pool parties, which has plenty of different genres and events throughout the week. 528 is a newer day to night event space run by Pikes, and I have only heard good things about it. Or, Destino Five, part of the Pacha group, hosts some amazing daytime events with seriously good DJ line ups.

Where to Eat and Drink on your Ibiza Holiday

San Antonio Restaurants

Breakfast or Brunch

Skinny Kitchen – The yummiest Breakfast and brunch spot in San Antonio. It is popular and always busy for a reason, everything we ate here was 10/10 and it sets you up nicely for the day. Sometimes you will need to wait in a queue for a table but it should go quickly.

Milkd – Coffee & Matcha bar that offers breakfast favourites.

Rita’s Cantina – Known for their cheap and tasty breakfast and brunch items, locally ran and voted number 8 on TripAdvisor in the area.

Lunch

Ibiza Rocks Bar – one of the cheapest and liveliest bars on the beachfront in San Antonio, cocktails were around €9, which for Ibiza is great value, and food was reasonable and tasty.

Mundos Street Food – the perfect hangover food including spice bags, tacos, burgers, pittas. The menu is huge you’ll find it hard to choose something, so share with your besties and try a few items.

El Kiosko – a hidden gem popular with the locals serving cheap eats and cocktails.

Que Pasa – Burgers, tacos, wings, and nachos, great food with great prices.

Dinner

Tapas Ibiza – Rated number 1 on TripAdvisor in San Antonio, What it says on the tin, Lively open-air venue in a secluded area serving cocktails, global small plates & homemade desserts.

Sanan Thai – Highly rated thai restaurant offering great value and delicious food.

Madunia – High end beachfront restaurant with fantastic Mediterranean dishes and funky cocktails.

Aragma – Sister restaurant with Tapas Ibiza offering Greek and Mediterranean tapas with rave reviews online.

Golden Buddah – Cannot be pre booked, but it is meant to be a great spot for sunset, with a chilled atmosphere, reasonably priced food, globally inspired dishes, plus cava and cocktails to enjoy as the sun goes down.

Monkey – Another great sunset spot with no minimum spend if you want to try somewhere other than Mambo’s, and it is cheaper too.

Ibiza Old Town Restaurants

La Bodega – Gorgeous setting in old town with amazing tapas and sangria, a popular one so maybe book in advance.

Mr Cocos Bar and Kitchen – Great happy hour 6-8pm and tasty nibbles.

La Oliva – Quite possibly the most popular restaurant in old town it’s definitely worth booking if you’re plan on spending an evening in old town.

TKO Tacos – €1 tacos in Ibiza Old Town the perfect cheap eat.

Angelo’s Bar – Known for good value cocktails and high energy atmosphere.

Formentera Restaurants

Aigua Restaurant – Right on the marina when you get off the ferry, really tasty pizza and patatas bravas with a great view. I found it to be really good value for quality food.

Es Molí de Sal – Dua Lipa’s favourite on the island, if you’ve got the cash book a table in advance here especially in August. The view from this restaurant alone is worth booking a table or even grabbing a drink sit back and relax in paradise.

Chez Gerdi – Beautiful setting and amazing food. Book in advance as its popular in high summer season.

When to go to Ibiza

If you are wondering when to plan your Ibiza holiday, the season runs from late April until late October. July and August can get extremely busy and very hot, so I would say the sweet spot is June or September. You still get great weather, but with fewer crowds and, in many cases, better prices.

The first week of August is usually when BBC Radio 1 Weekend takes place, bringing huge crowds and higher prices across the island. I would avoid this period unless you specifically want to attend the event.

The end of April and early May marks the start of the opening parties, while the second week of October is usually when the closing parties take place. These can both be fantastic times to visit if you want to experience Ibiza’s party scene, although you should still expect some crowds and higher prices around the main events.

If you are travelling on a budget, the best times to visit are May, late September or October, when flights and hotel prices tend to be lower.

Top Tips for an Ibiza Holiday

• If travelling from Ireland I highly recommend booking flights in advance especially if you want to travel on a weekend/ bank holiday or high summer season, Ryanair is the only carrier offering direct flights form Ireland from Dublin airport so these can book up quickly and end up expensive if you leave it late to book..
• If you don’t mind when you travel to Ibiza early may and mid October can be fantastic value times to travel with flights as low as €50/€60pp return.
• Book event tickets in advance spread the cost and save more of your spending money.
• Ibiza spotlight party calendar will be the best tool for planning your holiday and what events you want to do.
• Use the disco bus if you are staying in San Antonio – most of the super clubs are in Ibiza Town / Playa d’en Bossa so save yourself money on taxis and use the disco bus shuttle bus which is around €3 each way.
• The tickets you buy online are between €5-€15 cheaper than buying at the door. And for nearly all parties, the earlier you book, the cheaper the tickets, as ticket prices get more expensive nearer the event date.
• Don’t overbook your itinerary with so many events – the nights are long with some headlining DJs starting at 3am so pencil in some downtime at the pool or beach.
• Hire a car if you plan to explore more of the island and all the hidden coves.

• I would avoid travelling to Ibiza in late July and August if you don’t like crowds and want to be able to dance in the clubs, August is high season in Ibiza and it gets super crowded.
• It’s illegal to sleep on the beach. So, if you go to the beach to catch an early sunrise post-clubbing, try your best not to fall asleep. The police patrol regularly, and they’re not kindly disposed to holidaymakers sleeping on the beach.
• If landing on a late flight into Ibiza airport always pre book a transfer as the public buses don’t run late and taxi queues can be very long.
• Do not use Uber, they cost a fortune – I priced from San Antonio to Pacha at 1am and it was showing €100+ for a 20 minute drive, try local taxis instead and rideshare with others if you have a small group.
• The public transport is excellent with regular running buses, we used both the disco bus for the clubs and the regular local bus from San Antonio to Ibiza Town and onwards to the airport and it’s so easy and really cheap €3 to €4 each time.
• I wouldn’t book to go to a club every night as it’s just not feasible, even if you are a millionaire!

I hope you enjoyed this Ibiza holiday travel guide and we hope it inspires you to book a trip soon. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, accommodation facilities and attractions are subject to change.

Note that some of the links in this Ibiza holiday guide contain affiliate links, where I receive a small commission if a booking is made, but at no additional cost to you.