Partying in Ibiza Town (Eivissa) and Its Beach Resorts

Ibiza Town (Eivissa) Resort Guide

The capital of the Balearic island of Ibiza is Ibiza Town which is also known as Eivissa in the local Catalan language. It is a charming destination with a vibrant old quarter overlooking a busy harbour. Ibiza Town offers visitors some of the island’s best nightlife and certainly the best selection of restaurants and cafés. It tends to attract more cosmopolitan travellers than the coastal resorts and there’s quite a considerable gay scene in the town.

Getting There: Ibiza Town lies just 7km north-east of the island’s airport. New arrivals can take the ‘Aeroport Express’ bus (L10) to the main bus station in Ibiza Town (Eivissa). There are also plenty taxis available outside the arrivals area which charge around 15-20 Euros to Ibiza town.

Getting Around: Renting a car isn’t recommended if you’re planning on visiting a number of the island’s clubs as drink driving in Ibiza is a very serious offence. Instead you should use the Discobus service which provides transport between the clubs of Ibiza Town, Playa d’en Bossa, San Rafael and San Antonio throughout the night. This is much safer than driving and a lot cheaper than taxis.

Ibiza Town Overlooking the Marina
Ibiza Town Overlooking the Marina

Tourist Attractions Visitors who wish to to explore the historic attractions of Eivissa need to wander up to the Dalt Vila which is recognised as a World Heritage City by UNESCO. This charming neighbourhood stands on top of a hill with breathtaking views over the harbour. At the summit you can visit the Museu Arqueologic d’Eivissa i Formentera which will give you a great deal of insight into the history of the island. Keep an eye out for Ibiza Castle at the top of the hill and the Cathedral of Santa Maria which dates back to the Catalan conquest of the island in 1235. For stylish restaurants in this old quarter head for Placa de la Vila.

Beaches: The closest beach is Playa de Talamanca which lies just beyond the marina and has effectively become a residential suburb of the city. The next closest beach is Playa de Figueretas which is just to the south of Ibiza Town. Both of these can be reached can be reached in around 20 minutes on foot. A little further along the coast to the south is Playa d’en Bossa which is home to what is probably the island’s most popular beach. A further 6km leads to Ses Salines where there are more beautiful beaches. All of these beaches can be reached by buses, taxis or ferries from the port.

Catedral de Santa María in Ibiza Town
Catedral de Santa María in Ibiza Town

Shopping: Overlooking the harbour, the districts of Sa Penya and La Marina and are home to many smart restaurants and trendy boutiques in what is one of Ibiza’s most popular shopping areas. The New Town and Vara de Ray boulevard do boast some good shops but are quieter areas with much less on offer. The streets around Carrer d’Enmig are where you’ll find the well known ‘hippy markets’ where many stalls sell all kinds of art and craft products.

Nightlife: Ibiza Town has a vibrant nightlife centred on the Sa Penya and La Marina districts near the port and is home to some of the island’s best nightclubs as well as many great bars and restaurants. For many visitors and locals the evening in Eivissa begins around the many copas bars of around Carrer de Barcelona in the Sa Penya district which are open from early evening to around 3am.

Clients then head off to nearby nightclubs such as Lío and Pacha or a little further afield to Ushuaia and Hï Ibiza in Playa d’en Bossa. Revellers can also get on the Discobus and head inland to the Privilege superclub in San Rafael as well as the Eden and Es Paradis nightclubs in San Antonio.

Day Trips: Eivissa can also serve as a great base from which to explore the island. Just a short drive or bus ride to the south leads to some of the island’s finest beaches such as Platja de Ses Salines and Platja d’es Cavallet. A visit to the weekly Hippy Market in Es Canar is another popular excursion.

Ibiza Map
Location Map of Ibiza Town and Its Beach Resorts

Best Places to Stay near Ibiza Town

There are three attractive tourist destinations very close to Ibiza Town which have the advantage of being right on the beach but within a short distance of the capital’s nightlife. Playa D’en Bossa is the largest and has a great nightlife of its own whilst Figueretas and Playa De Talamanca are smaller but also very popular.

Playa d’en Bossa

Playa d’en Bossa lies just 3km south of Ibiza Town and is well connected by bus and taxi services. The resort is best known to partygoers as home to the Ushuaïa outdoor club and the Hï Ibiza nightclub which replaced Space in 2017. There are plenty other Ibiza party scene venues including the Hard Rock Hotel, the Octan and Swag Ibiza nightclubs.

As well as being a lively resort in its own right, Playa d’en Bossa can also boast the island’s longest sandy with plenty attractive beach bars along its length. There are also great watersport facilities available for the more energetic. The beach at Ses Salines just to the south is where the ‘beautiful people’ like to be seen whilst the beach at Figueretas to the north is more family orientated and hosts some fine restaurants that you might like to stroll to in the evening.

Playa d’en Bossa is a great place to base yourself when visiting Ibiza thanks to its close proximity to the airport, its excellent beaches and its superb nightlife (and daylife!). And being only a short bus ride into Ibiza Town where some of Ibiza’s top clubs are located you really do have the best of both worlds when staying there.

Ibiza Nightclub

Playa de Figueretas (Platja de Ses Figueretes)

Lying just a few minutes’ walk from Ibiza Town, Figueretas is the closest beach to the capital. Today it serves as a residential suburb of Eivissa with a thriving beach community. Its pleasant promenade is the resort’s main artery which runs the length of the beach continuing along to the lively resort of Playa d’en Bossa which is only a 20 minute stroll to the south. This is a particularly pleasant walk in the evenings when all the temporary market stalls selling handicrafts are set up. You can easily walk to Ibiza Town as well.

As a place to stay Figueretas attracts all age groups. Families are attracted by its fine beach, seafront restaurants and close proximity to the attractions of Ibiza Town. Younger crowds find the resort well located for leisurely days at the beach combined with a lively nightlife in nearby Playa d’en Bossa and the capital itself.

Boat services depart from in front of the Los Molinos hotel will take you across to the nearby island of Formentera for the day or head north on the Wednesday cruise up to Es Canar where the weekly ‘hippy market’ is held. Children will love the waterpark near Playa d’en Bossa and there’s enough there to keep the adults entertained as well. For clubbers the Discobus serves Playa d’en Bossa and Ibiza Town providing transport between the main clubs on the island including those in San Antonio.

Playa de Talamanca

The relatively quiet Playa de Talamanca is one of the Ibiza resorts which is popular with couples and families who can enjoy its sandy beach by day and its fine bars and restaurants by night. It is located just beyond the Ibiza Marina, some 4km to the north-east of Ibiza Town.

Playa de Talamanca Near Ibiza Town
Playa de Talamanca Beach Near Ibiza Old Town

Whilst this marina is transformed into the resort’s main entertainment centre every evening, Playa de Talamanca’s nightlife as a whole is fairly laid-back. Anyone looking for something livelier can easily get to Playa d’en Bossa and Ibiza Town where some of Ibiza’s top nightclubs are found.

Getting around is very straightforward as visitors can easily stroll in and out of Eivissa or take one of the frequent ferries across the bay. Highly recommended are the boat excursions out of the marina which go to some of the better known beaches to the south of Ibiza Town including Figueretas, Playa d’en Bossa and Ses Salines.

Frequently Asked Questions About Clubbing in Ibiza

Where Is The Best Nightlife In Ibiza?

Popular venues in Ibiza Town include the Pacha Ibiza and Lío Ibiza nightclubs whilst the nearby resort of Playa d’en Bossa hosts the world famous superclubs of Ushuaïa and Hï Ibiza. San Antonio on the west coast is home to the Es Paradis and Eden superclubs whilst San Rafael in the centre of the island is where you’ll find the Amnesia and Privilege superclubs. The Discobus service is the way to visit numerous venues.

What Time Do People Go Out In Ibiza?

Clubs open their doors around midnight but don’t start to get many clients before 1am and tend to be busy after 2am until after sunrise.

Are Ibiza Clubs Open All Year Round?

Most clubs in Ibiza only open for the summer months with opening parties in mid-May and closing parties in late September. In the post-Covid era some of the smaller clubs have extended their calendars to run from April until mid-October.

Is Ibiza Nightlife Expensive?

The simple answer is yes. Pre-booked entrance tickets cost in the range of 30-75 Euros depending on the events with prices on the door costing significantly more. And if you think that’s expensive then you’re going to be shocked at the extortionate price of drinks. A small bottle of water typically costs around €10, a beer €12 and a cocktail as much as €20.