San Antonio in Ibiza is a holiday destination known for its vibrant nightlife. The town also has many beaches, each with its unique charm. Cala Gracio and Cala Cracioneta offer a secluded escape from the bustling city, while Playa de San Antonio is known for its party atmosphere and proximity to renowned beach bars. San Antonio is also famed for its sunsets and the town’s nightlife is legendary, with the West End strip bustling with bars and clubs and the Sunset Strip offering a more relaxed vibe.
Beaches
San Antonio has a large variety of beaches to choose from. While walking along the shore to reach any of these can be cumbersome and far, luckily, the taxi boats or local ferries will quickly get you to most of these beaches for just a few euros. The availability and frequency of these services depend on the time of year you visit Ibiza. In August and July, all routes are generally open and very frequent. Some beaches might not have services in the low season or only once daily.
Playa de San Antonio
This is the main centrally located beach. A long white sandy beach in the middle of the resort. This beach is in front of most big hotels and famous beach bars like “O Beach Ibiza” and “Ibiza Rocks bar”. Therefore this is also the noisiest and busiest beach in this area most days. But this party atmosphere is why many people come to San Antonio on holiday.
Playa es Pouet
Playa es Pouet is similar to the Playa de San Antonio but a bit smaller and because of the big road going next to it, in my opinion, not as good. However, this beach is very nice for the excellent restaurants in the evening.
Playa Pinet
Cala Pinet, known to some as Reggae Beach, is a small white sandy beach with several beach bars. For those staying in the Cala de Bou area of San Antonio Bay, it is easy to walk to. For others, it is best to take the boat. If you like a tranquil beach experience, this is generally not the best beach.
Cala Gracio and Cala Cracioneta
These two small and compact beaches are located outside the busy San Antonio area and have a secluded and natural feel, an escape from the busy San Antonio. If you are staying near the “West End” or “The Sunset Strip”, you can walk here in about 15 to 30 minutes. Visiting by boat or taxi is best from anywhere else in San Antonio.
Cala de Bou
The larger beach in the Cala de Bou area of San Antonio Bay is the Playa de Bou. This is a large and family-friendly beach. If you are coming from the other side of the bay of San Antonio, the best way to reach this beach is by boat.
Cala Bassa
These beaches are a bit further away from the San Antonio area but can be easily reached with many local ferries. Cala Bassa is famous for the Cala Bassa beach club. While the beach here is free and can be accessed by anyone, many people rent one of the luxury sunbed options available in or just in front of the Cala Bassa beach club.
Cala Comte
Cala Comte is the beach most popular for watching sunsets in the evening. There are also some excellent restaurants here, so you can dine while enjoying the sunsets. This area can get windy in the evenings, so dress appropriately.
Cala Salada and Cala Saladeta
The most beautiful and natural of the beaches in San Antonio Bay. Getting there by car is a bit of a hassle. Taking a taxi boat is simply the easiest. Make sure to take an early boat and get there early as in high season, both these beaches fill up very fast. They can also get very crowded during these months.
Calo des Moro
This tiny beach in the back of San Antonio town is great for chilling in the evening and enjoying the sunsets.
Where to stay in San Antonio
San Antonio bay is huge, so selecting the right place to stay is very important. This very much decides what you can do, see and experience during your holiday without spending lots of money on taxis every day.
San Antonio Town: Bustling area with small narrow streets in the heart of San Antonio with the famous West End and Sunset Strip with many clubs and bars open all night. Here you often find the most budget-friendly options.
- Ibiza Rocks Hotel: For those who want to party all day and night.
- Hotel Gran Sol: Budget-friendly option in a great location. A short walk away from the West End, Sunset Strip and all the nightlife nearby.
- Hotel Blau Parc: Luxury option with a lovely beach just in front. Ideal for enjoying the sunsets and to be close to a cosy little beach.
Cala de Bou area: A more relaxed and family-friendly location and nightlife.
- Marvell Club: One of the most family-friendly hotels in this area and close to the beach.
- Paradiso Ibiza: Very unique and different hotel. Adults-only.
- Amare Beach Hotel Ibiza: Luxury option next to the beach with great rooftop pools, bars and relaxing areas.
Playa de San Antonio beach: Main promenade right in the middle of San Antonio with the marina and biggest clubs and beach clubs nearby.
- NYX Hotel Ibiza: Unique adults-only hotel with fantastic all-inclusive and beside the beach.
- Palladium Hotel Palmyra: Adults-only, next to the beach, right in the middle of the resort and close to everything.
Cala Gracio and Cala Gracioneta: For a relaxed daytime setting with a short taxi to most clubs and nightlife in busy San Antonio.
- OKU Ibiza: 5 star hotel relaxing hotel with a natural luxurious feel.
Things to do in San Antonio
- Sunsets: This is one of the best places on the island to enjoy the magic sunsets. You can do this in Cafe Mambo and Cafe del Mar on the Sunset Strip but know that these places can get extremely busy during the high season. Some other more original places nearby to see the sunset are Hostal La Torre, Kumharas, a sunset boat or a paddle board trip.
- Beaches: Visit one of the many nearby beaches for a change of scenery.
- Aquarium Cap Blanc: A little aquarium fun for children, ideally combined with a trip to Cala Gracio or Cala Gracioneta beach.
- Slingshot and amusement park: Fun for kids and adventurous adults.
- Watersports: San Antonio has many water sports possibilities like parasailing, jet skis, etc.
- Night market: Near the marina, there is a market where you can buy handmade jewellery, clothing and local crafts every night.
- Go-karting: Just outside of the tourism hub is a nice go-karting track that offers a fun time for families and groups.
- The nightlife and parties: More about that further on this page.
These are things you can do in or close to San Antonio. For a full list of things to see and do in Ibiza, have a look here.
Restaurants
San Antonio has an extensive selection of restaurants throughout the area. Most of these are in the marina area, where you find many large restaurants. But also along the coastline and beaches, you can find many restaurants. If you are looking for a more budget-friendly deal, then the back streets around San Antonio West End are the Cala de Bou are the best place to look for cheaper eats and snacks. San Antonio also has pretty much all major fast food chains for picky eaters.
Nightlife
San Antonio and Playa d’en Bossa in Ibiza are the two most famous areas on the islands for nightlife and clubbing. While Playa d’en Bossa is very much about huge and expensive clubs and beach bars, San Antonio feels a bit more authentic, small scale and in lack for a better word… approachable. San Antonio is much more about the night out and not the place you are going, but where you end up. Plus it feels like there is more variety and more to see and do here.
The West End: A bustling strip with bars and clubs where you can enjoy the cool evenings outside or the air-conditioned insides for dancing.
Sunset Strip: Great for enjoying drinks while the sun sets in places like Cafe del Mar or Cafe Mambo and if you wish to enjoy the late-night DJ sessions.
Nightclubs in San Antonio: Eden Ibiza and Es Paradis are two big nightclubs located right next to each other, centrally in San Antonio. Eden Ibiza mostly does house and techno music with famous DJs, while Es Paradis is renowned for its water and theme parties.
Nightclubs near San Antonio: While there are many places in San Antonio to enjoy the nightlife, there are many more nightclubs nearby. Most of these can easily be reached by organised excursions, and tickets can be bought locally. Some of these will take you to the famous Playa d’en Bossa with many more huge clubs.
Tickets for clubs or parties are best booked way in advance. Popular parties and clubs featuring some world-renowned DJs often sell out way in advance, not only for the price.
Daytime parties
- O Beach Ibiza: This is the biggest “day club” in San Antonio Bay; right next to the beach, it has fantastic parties, pools, shows and much more during the day, and parties last till late evening.
- Ibiza Rocks Hotel: Numerous hotels in San Antonio have daytime pool parties for their party-loving guests. This includes the famous Ibiza Rocks Hotel, which throws some crazy pool parties during the day.
- Boat parties: Most of these boat parties offer scenic cruises along the coast, taking you to stunning sunset spots or hidden beaches. But make no mistake; the real highlight is the DJ and the all-inclusive bar. Tickets can often cost over 100 euros per person, but considering the unlimited free drinks, it’s a pretty affordable deal for Ibiza. Just remember to know your limits!
Tip: Don’t be too quick to jump on the daytime party combo deals with reduced-price evening club entries. While it may appear enticing initially, the reality might not match your expectations. Spending an entire day on a boat with an all-inclusive bar or drinking at a beach bar can make you less eager to use your nighttime club tickets. Moreover, these tickets are often the less popular or leftover ones, or they might be promotional tools for the collaborating clubs. So, be mindful of the whole picture before committing!
Ibiza Airport to San Antonio
- Public transport (4.00 €/pp): Great budget option, but there are many stops before San Antonio, so that it can take a long time. Also, you will be dropped off often at a bus stop far from your hotel. High-season buses on this route can often get full and crowded, and you might struggle to get on them.
- Shuttle bus online (23.75 €/pp): Best and easiest option for solo travellers.
- Taxi (101.59 €) or minibus online (100.78 €): These taxis are best if you need a child safety seat and don’t want to queue at the airport taxis during high season. The minibus option is excellent for those with a lot of luggage or traveling more than 4 people.
- Taxi at the airport (34.00 €): While the price at the airport is mentioned as only 34 euros, know that during weekends and evenings, roadworks, traffic jams or detours, the price will be much higher. Maximum 4 people and no child safety seats available.
You can find more about the public transport options here and here you can book a taxi, shuttle or minibus online.
San Antonio: When to go
San Antonio is very popular for its nightlife. This is the most lively from June till September. May and October are quieter, but even during these months, it is the best place on the island for a clubbing and party holiday. While Playa d’en Bossa is also good during these months for the nightlife, it is much more focussed on the big mega clubs that require large and busy crowds. Because of this, they might be closed during these less busy months as there aren’t that many people. Because of this, during these months, San Antonio is more fun as this area of Ibiza has a large variety and smaller open clubs and venues.
Is San Antonio the best holiday destination for you?
San Antonio is perfect for holidaymakers looking for beaches and nightlife. It’s a haven for party-goers, with numerous clubs and bars, and also offers a range of beaches to suit different moods. Food enthusiasts will appreciate the extensive selection of restaurants, and those looking to indulge in watersports will find plenty of options.
Holidaymakers seeking a quiet, serene beach holiday might find San Antonio too energetic, especially during peak clubbing months. Families with young children might prefer destinations with more child-centric activities and less focus on nightlife.
Not sure if San Antonio is the best holiday destination for you? Then, find out where to stay in Ibiza here.
