A holiday in Ibiza away from the clubs
When you hear the mention of Ibiza the first thing that springs to mind is house music and crowded beaches full of youngsters sleeping off their hangovers from the previous night’s partying.
You would, of course, be perfectly right to assume that Ibiza is Europe’s party island given its reputation, but the island also has a quieter side to it that couples and families will love.
Apparently, Ibiza is roughly the size of the Isle of Man, not that anyone actually knows how big that is, unless you live there! To put it in a language we can all understand Ibiza is 45 kilometres long and 25 kilometres wide.
A world away from the party scene of San Antonio and Playa d’en Bossa, the seaside resort of Santa Eulalia del Rio on Ibiza’s south-east coast is a laid back place to chill out and relax.
Boasting an upmarket marina and an entire street devoted to restaurants, Santa Eulalia del Rio is a traditional Spanish seaside resort.
Playa Santa Eulalia
Located bang in the middle of the town with a lovely palm-fringed promenade, Playa Santa Eulalia is a soft sandy beach with a very gentle slope into the sea. Ideally suited for families with young children and people just looking to sunbathe, Playa Santa Eulalia has every amenity you would expect to find on a “Blue Flag” beach. At the far end of the beach near the marina, you will find a water sports centre where you can rent anything from a stand-up paddleboard to a jet ski.
Where to stay in Santa Eulalia del Rio
Santa Eulalia del Rio has a vast array of accommodations to suit all tastes and budgets. From family-run hostels to 5-star boutique hotels, Santa Eulalia del Rio has something for everyone.
Our choice from the bottom, to the middle range of the scale, is the 2-star, 26-room, Hostal Yebisah. Located just a four-minute walk from Santa Eulalia bus station, this family-owned hotel is just 50 metres from the beach. With an outdoor terrace and café/bar, the Hostal Yebisah is a perfect place to start and end your day in Santa Eulalia.
Where to eat in Santa Eulalia del Rio
Considered to be Ibiza’s gastronomic capital, Santa Eulalia has everything from local seafood and paella, to spicy Indian curries and Chinese Dim sum. The real gem of the dining scene is Italian food, with several Italian owned restaurants producing excellent meals. In fact, if you visit Santa Eulalia del Rio in August you can be forgiven for thinking you are in Italy as the entire island is full of Italian’s on Holiday. For authentic Neopolitan pizza, visit San Martino on the beachfront Paseo Marítimo.
Getting to Santa Eulalia del Rio
The seaside resort of Santa Eulalia del Rio is located 21 kilometres from Ibiza’s airport and is easy to get to by bus. The bus journey takes around 25 minutes and costs 5€. Out of season, you have to change buses in Ibiza Town.
Getting to Ibiza
Around 7 million tourists visit Ibiza each year flying into the Islands only airport which is located 7 kilometres southwest of the capital, Ibiza Town. Ibiza is served year-round with domestic flights from mainland Spain and from almost all airports in Europe during the summer. If you happen to already be in Spain or would like to take your car or motorcycle, you can catch a fast-ferry from the port of Dénia on Spain’s Costa Blanca.
