Ibiza. The ultimate paradise for party go-ers and beach bums alike. After visiting for the first time, it’s really not hard to see why people from all over the world flock to this small island for its dazzling nightlife and miles of glorious beaches. It really is the best of both worlds. While you can easily spend a week or even a month exploring the island and living your best life bouncing between beach clubs and secluded coves, not everyone has all the time and money (it can get expensive $$ here) to thrive in Ibiza. Luckily, you can still see many of the highlights of the island in just a few shorts days. Trust me, I was able to do it with just 48 hours on my watch! 2 days is not an ideal time frame as I would recommend a minimum of 3-4 days, but it was just enough to get a taste of why Ibiza is KING when it comes to the perfect summer holiday. Enjoy brunch at a beach front restaurant, sunbathe on the crystal-clear beaches in the north, then take a power nap before heading out to see your favorite DJs play at one of the many famous beach clubs around town. Dance the night away, and if you make it to sun rise in the morning, well you’ve come full circle and I’d call it a win. Here’s my take on 48 hours in Ibiza!
WHERE TO STAY
Hotels in Ibiza can be very expensive depending on your taste, and there are limited options during the peak of summer unless you book far in advance. Location is very important around the island and will mainly depend on the kind of vibe you want during your visit and the transportation options you have at your disposal. For those of you without a car and want to be able to walk to a variety of great restaurants a few steps from home, consider staying in Ibiza Town (Dalt Vila) or Talamanca. They are both very close to the airport and also within walking distance to each other, so you can get the best of the old city views and beach lounging in Talamanca without needing to rely on any public transportation at all. Similarly, the area of San Antonio in the north part of the island is a very popular place to stay because many of the excursions, boat tours and adventure sports start from there. There are also plenty of delicious food options and local bars within walking distance too.
If you have a car or don't mind constantly calling and waiting for taxis, consider a more secluded hotel or resort scattered around the coasts of the island. Those coming to party until the sun rises - plan to stay in Sant Jordi de ses Salines, where you will find a stretch of some of Europe's most famous nightclubs and beach bars. Rooms and suites will not be cheap, but it's a holiday, so treat yourself! If you don't mind the noise at night, getting a hotel in this prime area for nightlife will let you truly experience Ibiza at dusk and you can literally roll home when the party is over. Here you will find massive venues like Bora Bora Ibiza, Hï Ibiza, and Ushuaïa Ibiza. Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza. These beach clubs, from my observation, looked to be a popular hotel choice for many bachelor parties.
I highly recommend our pick, One Ibiza Suites, a boutique hotel situated right between Dalt Vila and Sant Jordi de ses Salines. While you need to take a short 10-15 minute taxi to both the old city and major clubs, this hotel is a gorgeous and peaceful beach-front property. It's away from the hustle and bustle which was great, but just close enough where we could reach anywhere via taxi quickly and cheaply. I will also mention that this rooftop was one of the most beautiful I have ever seen and you can reserve your own cabana to relax in and order drinks for some mid-afternoon relaxation.
HOW TO GET AROUND
Renting a car is perhaps the best way to explore the island on your own time. We found that beach hopping is most convenient with your own vehicle because there are usually parking lots nearby and waiting for a taxi or shuttle is not always the most effective use of time. Unfortunately, there is no Uber in Ibiza, but there is an Ibiza Taxi App that allows you to call a cab wherever you are on the island. If you are not near a taxi stand or have easy access to cabs on the street, using the app is a great way to get around. However, be prepared for a little bit of a wait in more remote places.
For going out at night, grabbing a taxi is the easiest and (obviously) safest option to get back home to your hotel or accommodation. Taxi lines outside the club to get home can be very, very long due to high demand so plan some extra waiting time into your game plan. Luckily, the lines move fairly quickly!
BEST CLUBS IN IBIZA
People flock from all over the world to experience the insane nightlife in Ibiza, so expectations definitely run high. During the peak summer months, millions visit the island to party all day and night at the island's most famous beach and night clubs. All summer long, you can catch some of the finest DJs in the biz playing shows and doing their residencies in elite clubs like Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel, Pacha, Amnesia and more. You're guaranteed to see some big names including David Guetta, Martin Garrix, Calvin Harris, etc. Even though our two nights in Ibiza happened to be Friday and Saturday, every night is equally as packed and wild during the summer madness.
Check out the 2019 Party Calendar for a day-by-day updated listings of all clubs and DJs and tickets for all the major clubs.
Ushuaïa Ibiza.
Essentially, my friends and I planned a mini trip to Ibiza to see Calvin Harris before heading to Mallorca! Even though I'm not really into EDM music, I grew up listening to a lot of his music over the years and had such a great time. Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel is famous for outdoor daytime clubbing, its beautiful pool, and light show. With the exception of the opening and closing parties, Ushuaïa opens from around 15:00 to 17:00 in the afternoon and closes at 23:00. The show started at 5pm and ended at 11pm, which was perfect since we had landed earlier that afternoon and didn't want to stay up all night to recover from jetlag.
Since Ushuaïa is also a hotel, I saw many people partying from their balconies during the concert, which looked like a fun VIP experience. I would definitely look into the cost of a suite for a bachelor/bachelorette party or to celebrate a special occasion!
Prices: Parties cost anywhere from €25 to €,60 depending on the party and time of the year. Prices for drinks are also quite steep, as a beer is €12, water €9, and long drinks around €18.
Outfit Details: Dress - Aqua; Tote Bag - Topshop (Similar- Amazon)
I wish I had a few more nights to check out other famous clubs around the island. On our 2nd night, we headed to Pacha to see Martin Solveig's set. We arrived at 2:30am and totally danced the night away!
Check out these other must-visit clubs --> Pacha. Amnesia. Hï Ibiza. Eden. Privilege.
EATS
La Taperia. Great selection of traditional tapas and perfect for a late night dinner after the beach club. Portions are generous and food came out quickly even at midnight. I really loved the patatas bravas because of the delicious aioli and you can't go wrong with classic bread and tomato spread topped with fresh ham.
Oli Beach Restaurant. The seafood paella we had at Oli was hands down the best paella of my entire trip to Ibiza, Mallorca and Barcelona. Because it was also the first one we had, it really set the bar very high that all the subsequent ones were always compared to this. It was not only incredibly fresh, but the texture of the rice had the perfect bite with just enough crunch from the rice scraped from the bottom of the pan. I'm still dreaming about it. Oli Beach Restaurant (as the name insinuates) is a beach front restaurant, so grab a seat on the terrace for a beautiful, breezy dinner or happy hour by the sea.
Pinchos are typical bar snack foods originating from northern Spain. They are simple, versatile, and handheld, which makes for endless flavor combinations and easy finger foods. Pinchos are similar to tapas, except they are usually spiked with a skewer/toothpick and usually have toppings on a small piece of bread or toast. Traditionally, they are made with pork or chicken. At Can Terra Ibiza, the concept is simple and genius. You take a plate and fill it up with whatever you want from the pinchos bar, which has dozen of varieties ranging from proscuitto and goat cheese to smoked salmon and egg skewers. After you eat while enjoying a fruity glass of sangria (or two), the waiter will simply count the number of sticks left on your plate to calculate your bill. This is such a great concept for groups because sometimes sharing tapas as a table can be difficult without a full consensus around the table. With a pinchos bar, everyone can choose how ever much they want to eat based on their appetite and you can pay for yourself at the end!
The food at Can Terra was fresh, plentiful and delicious. I wish I was hungrier to try more, but I was able to down 4 pinchos in a matter of a few minutes. There is also a Can Terra in Mallorca for those who are island hopping!
Haddock Ibiza Bar-Restaurante.
Long beach days should always start off with a yummy, filling breakfast for fuel. We stopped by Haddock Ibiza, a cute beach front Bar/Restaurant because it was close to our hotel and was right on the beach for optimal morning views. They have dozens of options for fresh fruit juices and coffees, and also serve up a delicious acai bowl loaded with colorful fruit. One of my new favorite breakfasts in Spain is a simple ham and cheese croissant sandwich. I don't often eat breakfast when I'm back at home, but breakfast on vacation always seems like a welcome treat.
DALT VILA
Ibiza's fortified old town is something not to be missed on the island. Located on the Southeast Coast, Dalt Vila is the capital of Ibiza and is divided into two main parts: The old town is called Dalt Vila ("Upper Town") and is located on a small mountain by the sea, and the modern part is called Eixample ("Extension"). Spend an afternoon leisurely strolling the cobblestone streets and checking out of of the many restaurants in town. Don't miss the fabulous view from Castell de Eivissa. You need to climb up a few flights of stairs, but trust me it's worth it to see Dalt VIla from a bird's eye view.
BEACHES
Sa Caleta.
Narrowing down the list of beaches to visit in such a short trip to Ibiza was not an easy feat. We ended up choosing Sa Caleta (also called Es Bol Nou) due to its convenient location on the Southern coast. It's very close to the airport, about a 25 minute drive from old town, and only 10 minutes from Playa d'en Bossa. Though this beach is quite small, it is simply jawdropping, with crystal clear water and a dramatic red cliff backdrop. Sa Caleta is great for families and children and a great spot for snorkeling.
There is quite a large parking lot for those who are driving here. I recommend getting to the beach early as it is very popular with both locals and tourists and gets fairly crowded by late morning. We got here around 9am and had the entire beach to ourselves before it started filling up! There is also a nautical-themed restaurant at the entrance of the beach called Sa Caleta. They serve fresh seafood and are open all year round. Basically, you can spend all day entertaining yourself on this beach without even having to leave to find food!
Sunset Boat Cruise: Cala Bassa & Cala Conta.
Cruising in the warm blue waters of Ibiza, whether it be on a large boat tour, private yacht, or jet ski is an absolute must-do. We chose to do a boat tour because it was easiest and most convenient for our schedule since we didn't have to worry about any of the logistics and activities ourselves.
We did a 5-hour beach hopping sunset cruise with Captain Nemo Ibiza, which started from San Antonio harbor on the North end of the island. The boat made 1-hour stops at both Cala Bassa and Cala Conta, both exceptional (but crowded) beaches. If I had more time, I would definitely visit both beaches again on my own time but earlier in the morning to avoid the hoards of people by late afternoon. Nonetheless, it was a great experience to visit both beaches and soak in the sun with my friends as we hopped between some of the most beautiful beaches in Ibiza. After the beach stops, we did a 1 hour swim stop where we had time to swim, paddle board, and snorkel in the ocean. This part was so much fun, though we had to be wary of the jellyfish beneath our feet.
For just a few dollars more than the normal cruise ticket, you can select the Open Bar option which includes beer, sangria, cava, soft drinks and water through the cruise. After the swim, snacks are also served on board. We really enjoyed the large assortment of fresh cut fruit, prawns, meet and cheese to hold us over until our late dinner.
The highlight of this boat cruise was definitely the magnificent sunset we witnessed onboard. The skies were clear all day and there was not a cloud in the sky, making for. a balmy and golden sunset for the books. It was pure magic.
Tickets Prices: 39 Euro for Daytime/Sunset Cruise; 49 Euro for Open Bar Option
My watch is called the Beverly Marble from MVMT and I wore it throughout my entire trip! I am obsessed with marble accessories but love how wearable this piece is since it goes well with so many of my outfits. Use the code PENNYANDDASH15 for 15% off your total purchase :)
Thank you Ibiza for a magnificent weekend in the sun and at the club. I will surely be back one day to soak up some more rays!
