If you’re considering your first visit to Ibiza, one of the most beautiful and magical islands of the Mediterranean, the following is a list of what are probably the 15 best beaches in Ibiza.
In the 1960s, Ibiza was the chosen destination of the professional pleasure seekers, hippie backpackers, and those seeking spiritual enlightenment.
Known as the ‘White Isle’, it has over the years evolved into one of Europe’s most popular holiday destinations, attracting more than six-million visitors a year.
The 15 Best Beaches in Ibiza
1. Cala d’Hort, a great beach in Ibiza for the whole family
This small, 150m long beach on the south-west of the island is just a ten minute drive from both Cala Vadella, and San José.
As you gaze down onto the white sand and blue sea; and notice the Es Vedrà Rock rising from the depths as you descend the steep hill to the beach, you’ll know you’ve reached somewhere mystical.
Es Vedrá Rock is said to be the third most magnetic place on the planet.
Nestled between steep barren cliffs dotted with pine and cypress trees, the beach has the usual sunbeds and parasols available, and a selection of beach-boutiques, bars, and restaurants along the front.
Lifeguards are on duty throughout the summer, and although access is steep, it is suitable for disabled visitors. It is also a non-smoking beach.
If you are staying close by, it has a couple of excellent seafood restaurants, is a great place to enjoy an evening seafood platter, and one of the best beaches in Ibiza to watch the sun set.
2. Benirras beach, take a trip back in time to the hippie era of the seventies
Situated on Ibiza’s north-west coast and close to San Miguel, Benirrás is another small (160m), pretty picture-postcard beach enclosed by high cypress and pine covered cliffs.
The beach is equipped with sunbeds, parasols, shops, showers, toilets and lifeguards, and beach shacks are open for the necessary snacks and drinks. If you fancy a little time off the sunbed you can hire a pedalo, and various trips are available.
Flip-flops or beach shoes are recommended, as the beach is a mix of sand and pebbles which could be a bit hard on bare feet.
Although it is a beach popular with all ages, couples and families, in the evenings, and especially Sunday evening, it is one of the best beaches in Ibiza to watch the island’s hippie past come to the fore.
Young and young-at-heart hippies, as well as many ordinary visitors, gather on the sands to light fires and sway to the hypnotic, rhythmic beat of bongo-drums, as the sun begins to set behind Cap Bernat Rock.
As with the majority of these beautiful little bays and coves, if travelling by car, an early arrival is recommended to avoid parking problems.
3. Playa d’en Bossa, Ibiza’s famous party beach
At over three-kilometres long, Playa d’en Bossa stretches around the south-east coast of the island between the capital Ibiza Town, and the airport. A typical touristy beach full of sunbeds and parasols.
With shops, boutiques, bars, clubs, restaurants, showers, and WCs, it attracts visitors of all ages and nationalities from across Europe and beyond, and is one of the best beaches in Ibiza to enjoy that full-on party vibe.
During the day contrasting music genres emanate from the bars along the promenade, while DJs from different countries work their sets on the beach. With plenty of water-sports to try, and organised beach and boat parties to attend, you can play hard all day and well into the night.
If you prefer a little more laid-back and up-market, to recover from the night before, book a set of sumptuous beach beds available from the many lounge bars along the front.
Order a cool cocktail or bottle of local beer, and sample the varied menus, all supplied by waiter/waitress service to your beach bed.
At night the whole area comes alive, with large nightclubs opening up along the front and in Ibiza Town, offering music sets from some of Europe’s most famous DJs.
4. Ses Salines beach, a little more relaxed than its big sister
Just a ten-minute drive from Playa d’en Bossa, Ses Salines beach could be called a spill-over beach to its bigger sister, although in fairness it has plenty to attract visitors in its own right.
Half the size of Playa d’en Bossa at 1.5- kilometres long, it attracts both the younger party groups and families, with a full range of beach facilities and water sports.
A big plus for families with disabled members is easier accessibility to both the beach and sea, with amphibious wheelchairs and walker-rollators available under lifeguard supervision.
The north-west end of the beach is the most popular with families, while many of the younger set head toward the south-east with its more bohemian/hippie/chic outlook. The south-east also provides an area of beach popular with visiting naturists.
For those who enjoy alternating beach time with a little exploring, the pretty rural town of the same name is just a gentle stroll away, and great for a quieter or more romantic lunch break, or a little souvenir hunting.
The coastal walking and cycling trails will help you find those little hidden coves, while inland the working salt flats, and Ibiza’s Wildlife Conservation Area, are popular with many naturalists and birdwatchers.
Read also: Where to stay in Ibiza: Best Areas
5. S’Argamassa beach, for those who like small and secluded
At 50m long, and located on the north-east coast of Ibiza, this tiny beach has a big reputation.
Just two-kilometres from Santa Eulalia or Es Caná, and nestling between the resorts of Cala Martina and Cala Pada, it is one of the best beaches in Ibiza to enjoy all the facilities you would expect from a large resort, while being able to soak up the benefits of complete relaxation.
Not only do you have a good selection of beach facilities such as sunbeds and bars along the front, and Cesar’s Water-sport centre on the beach, but for the energetic, an assault course and climbing park are also close by.
If luxury is the name of the game when choosing your holiday destination, you can find that here as well.
When upmarket beach clubs such as Nikki Beach Clubs, with venues in the likes of San Tropez and Marbella choose to set-up in S’Argamassa, you can be sure they found something special.
You can spend the day round the pool, and lunch, dine, and drink in the club’s bar and gourmet restaurant, but be prepared to pay a premium.
6. Cala Gracio and Cala Gracioneta, two beautiful beaches in Ibiza
Within a short, pleasant, 15-minute stroll of San Antonio, on the south-west coast of Ibiza, you will find the beautifully scenic beaches of Cala Gració and Cala Gracioneta.
At just 80m long and 40m deep, Cala Gracio has all the usual amenities of sunbeds and parasols, beach shacks and restaurant, plus lifeguards, showers, and access for disabled visitors.
With cypress that grow to the waters edge, it’s natural breakwater and a beach that shelves gently out to sea, this picturesque cove is ideal for younger children.
Just next door, and half the size, Cala Gracioneta is an equally pretty and safe little cove for all the family to enjoy. If you like personal service, the Cala Gracioneta’s open-air restaurant is happy to serve you meals and drinks direct to your sunbed.
If your idea of the most beautiful beaches in Ibiza are small relaxing coves such as these, early arrival is suggested if you want to grab your favourite spot. Due to their size, and those in the know, they can fill up quickly in high season.
7. Ses Figueretes, one of the busiest beaches in Ibiza
At 100m long and 50m wide to the waterline, Ses Figueretes beach is central to Figueretes Town, and on the outskirts of Ibiza Town.
Popular with families, the man-made groynes along the beach area provide calm water for the youngsters to safely splash about in.
Being just a 15-minute stroll from the island’s capital, the beach gets busy with both local visitors, and those exploring further afield from nearby resorts.
The palm-lined promenade stretches along the beach, where you can stroll past hotels and apartment complexes, do a little window shopping, enjoy a little retail therapy, and stop off for a leisurely breakfast, brunch or lunch in the warm Mediterranean sunshine.
With plenty of sunbeds, parasols, bars, restaurants, and shops along the beach-front and the resort’s beach road, water-sports on the beach, a local ferry service, boat trips around the island and further afield, and plenty to do in the evenings, this delightful beach resort has everything you need for an enjoyable and varied holiday.
8. Punta Galera beach, not suitable for children or those with mobility issues
On the north-west coast, a few kilometres from San Antonio and close to Salada Creek lies the rocky bay of Punta Galera.
Once, in the dim and distant past, a working stone quarry, the magnificent shoreline is now one of smooth, flat, tan and terracotta rocky outcrops, which drop terrace style to the crystal clear Mediterranean Sea.
There is no beach area at Punta Galera, and swimmers enter the water, often two-metres deep, directly from the rocks.
Being a natural sun trap, it tempts sun worshippers back year after year, and is very popular with nudists. Its natural rugged beauty and seclusion also attracts yoga enthusiasts, hippies, and those into Zen and other forms of meditation.
It is also popular with divers and scuba divers who enjoy exploring around the base of the cliffs.
The area has no facilities of any kind, so a cool box with snacks, drinks, and sunblock is a must if you’re visiting for more than a couple of hours.
9. Cala Salada beach, a beautiful sandy cove for the whole family
If the rocks of Punta Galera are not your thing, don’t turn off, but head straight into Cala Salada. Just a 15-minute drive from San Antonio, this attractive rock and sand beach is 200m long, and surrounded by forests of pine and rugged rocky cliffs.
With shallow inshore waters, the swimming area marked out with buoys, and a lifeguard on duty, it is one of the safest beaches in Ibiza for the children to play.
It is also a popular cove with local private yachts that anchor in the bay, while the crews enjoy the sun and swimming from the decks.
Sunbeds and parasols are available for hire, and there is a popular fish restaurant, beach shack for ice cream and drinks, and toilet facilities.
Cala Salada is also popular with naturalists seeking the history of the White Isle in the close-by Caves of Ses Fontanelles, and their Bronze Age cave paintings.
If you fancy a little time off the sunbed, there are plenty of well worn trails through the forests, or you can leave the children with mum, and clamber over the rocky shore to the equally pretty next door beach of Cala Saladita.
Read also: Best things to do in Ibiza
10. Cala Tarida, one of the best beaches in Ibiza for families
Cala Tarida lies on the south-west coast of the island a ten minute drive from San José, and is the main beach of a number of close-by resorts.
At nearly one-kilometre long, with fine white sand and a turquoise sea, it is the longest beach on the west coast.
With its shallow water and lifeguards on duty, it is one of the best beaches in Ibiza for families with young children to enjoy the perfect sun, sea, and beach holiday.
Along the front you will find local and international restaurants, shops, toilets, showers, and bars.
On the beach you can rent sunbeds and parasols, take your pick from a variety of water-sports, learn how to dive with the Diving School, or get warmed up with a game of beach volleyball.
The upmarket Cotton Beach Club always attracts a selection of the rich and famous, so a little people watching from the terrace of a beach bar is always worth the effort.
For a change of scenery, San Antonio and San José are just a 10 minute drive away, or of course you can stroll along the promenade and coastal paths, seeking out those little hidden coves and inlets that others seem to miss.
11. Cala Moli beach, a great little getaway from the larger busier beaches
Another of Ibiza’s west coast hideaways, Cala Moli is a pretty, natural cove with a predominantly pebble/rocky beach surrounded by pine and cypress clad hillsides.
Although the swimming area is cordoned off from the comings and goings of private yachts and launches, the rocky bottom continues out into the bay, making it unsuitable for young children.
For safety’s sake, flip-flops, crocs, or beach shoes are recommended for all ages.
Nestling between the resorts of Cala Vadella and Cala Tarida, with high tree covered hillsides rising on each side, the tiny beach seems to have been squeezed into the back of the bay.
The only give-way to tourism are the sunbeds and sunshades available on the beach, and an exclusive beach club where visitors can purchase a day pass to use the facilities of cabana beds, bar, restaurant, massage facilities, and pool.
The only way you can get to this little gem is by car, (unless you like long walks), and it takes around 15-minutes from San Antonio on the Cala Tarida road.
12. Cala Conta beach, sunshine days for the whole family
If it’s your intention to explore the best beaches in Ibiza during your stay, then Cala Conta should be near the top of the list. The beach is a short drive from San Antonio, but can also be reached on the regular bus service, or by ferry, also from San Antonio.
At 800m long and varying from 15m to 30m wide, the family orientated beach is a mix of fine white sand and large smooth waterworn rocks. Lifeguards are on duty throughout the summer, and disabled access is good.
The usual sunbeds and parasols are available, and the beach front has a good selection of shops, bars, restaurants, and toilets.
In the shallows the sea is a beautiful turquoise green, changing to a deep blue as the depth increases.
With a number of small, tree clad islands dotted around the bay, the view out to the Mediterranean Sea is magical, and the beach and surrounding areas are said to provide some of the best sunsets on the island.
Evenings can be as quiet or busy as you like, with a choice of fine-dining as you watch the sun set, to bars with live music and DJs.
Read also: The best restaurants in Ibiza
13. Es Cavallet, Ibiza’s official nudist beach, but you can still keep your shorts on
If going au-natural is not your thing, don’t worry. This pristine white sand beach is big enough for everyone.
At over 1.5km long and with a backdrop of thick shrubbery and low, cypress and pine covered hillsides, it is one of the most popular beaches in Ibiza with visitors of all ages and persuasions from across Europe.
Although the usual beach facilities are available, there are no high rise hotels and apartment complexes blotting out the skyline here.
Being preserved in part by the Unesco protected salt flats area, Es Cavallet has managed to maintain an aura of unspoilt natural beauty, and is definitely one of the prettiest beaches in Ibiza.
Choose from standard sunbeds and parasols to sumptuous beach beds, sunshades, and personal service offered by some of the restaurants and bars along the front. And enjoy a cocktail on the sand at one of the beach bars that seem to blend so well with the surroundings.
Take a little time away from the sunbed to explore the interior and coastal footpaths.
If you’re concerned about the naturists, most of them, and members of the gay community, tend to congregate at the southern end of the beach.
Those preferring to keep their clothes on, or at least shorts and bikini bottoms, tend to lay their towels on the sand from the middle to the north of the beach, but there are no official demarcation lines.
14. San Vicente beach, on of the best beaches in Ibiza
If you like your Mediterranean holiday beaches in Ibiza to have that tropical feel, San Vicente beach could be just the place.
On the north-east coast of Ibiza, and a 15-minute drive from San Carlos, this 400m long, golden-sand beach has a beautiful palm-lined promenade, to provide that tropical vibe.
Booking an apartment or hotel room in the sky, from one of the high-rise hotels or apartment complexes that run along the back of the resort, will provide fabulous views across the beach and out into the bay, as you sip your morning fresh orange juice on the balcony.
Popular with all ages and nationalities, San Vicente beach offers sunbeds and parasols, lifeguards, a variety of water-sports including diving, and is disabled friendly.
Along the promenade are some shops, beach-boutiques, bars, international eateries, and a couple of excellent fish restaurants, to cater for your every need.
The wooded hillsides at both the ends and rear of the resort provide the feeling of blessed isolation, yet a little exploring along the well worn coastal and interior paths, will soon show how close you really are to the rest of civilization.
15. Talamanca, a family friendly beach in Ibiza close to the capital
One of the best beaches in Ibiza for being close to the action, but far enough away to relax.
Surprisingly, for a beach just a couple of kilometres outside of buzzing Ibiza Town, Talamanca always seems to be pleasantly un-crowded, even in the height of the season.
It is a favoured beach of older couples and families. The golden sand stretches for just under one-kilometre round the coast, and with the shallow inshore waters, and lifeguards on duty through the season, it is a safe beach for all ages.
Sunbeds and parasols, toilets, showers, and amphibious wheelchairs are available on the beach, as are a selection of water-sports. The wooden promenade has a good selection of shops, bars, fast-food eateries, and gourmet restaurants to suit all palates.
Evening entertainment ranges from pleasant meals in gourmet restaurants to quizzes, karaoke and DJs in some of the bars, but don’t expect the party atmosphere, or the crowds, of Ibiza Town.
So, there you have it. Our take on the best beaches in Ibiza. We hope you get to enjoy at least some of them on your visit to the island.