Talking about Ibiza means talking about “the Party” (capital letter intended), about excess, podium dancers, drag queens, the world’s best DJs, legendary nightclubs that are temples to dance with 12,000 partygoers in total ecstasy celebrating youth, hedonism and the endless summer in unison.
Ibiza is synonymous with inhibition and has been the international epicentre for nightlife for decades. Every year young (and not so young) visitors from around the world, particularly Germans, British, Spanish and Italians, crowd the busy streets of the island’s capital in search of fun. They’re joined by the world’s youngest and most fashionable jet setters including top sports stars, TV celebrities and film stars.
We’re sharing the top places to party in Ibiza, an essential itinerary for any nocturnal libertine looking for their baptism of fire on the island.
- The best nightclubs in Ibiza
- Ibiza port, where the night kicks off
- Playa d’en Bossa
- Partying in San Antonio
- Boat parties in Ibiza
- Beach parties in Ibiza
The best nightclubs in Ibiza
Ibizan nightclubs are so powerful they set the beginning and end of the island’s tourism season with their long-awaited opening parties, normally held in the middle of May, and sad closing sessions at the end of September or beginning of October. Many are world-famous and explain why Ibiza is seen as the heart of the international clubbing scene.
Pachá Ibiza, queen of Ibizan nightlife for five decades
Pachá Ibiza (Avenida 8 d’Agost, Ibiza) has been the queen of Ibizan nightlife since it opened its doors in 1967. It’s partly responsible for making Ibiza the party island it is today and establishing its reputation around the world. Only open in summer, the enormous complex attracts the most outlandish characters and most sought-after celebrities hunted by the paparazzi. Having said that, it’s unlikely you’ll mingle with any VIPs because they’re usually hidden in one of the exclusive areas at their own private party.
Pachá opens from 11 pm to 7 am and hits its stride between 3 am and 7 am. The world’s best DJs have spun the decks here and one of the club’s most famous nights is run by London club Ministry of Sound.
Privilege, a sophisticated outdoor club with a pool
Privilege is in the San Rafael urban development, around 6 km from Ibiza Town on the road to San Antonio. This elegant nightclub is on the site of legendary club Ku. The complex has open-air areas, gardens, a pool and even a restaurant.
Privilege opens in the summer from 12 am to 7 am. Its crowning moment is usually between 5 am and closing time.
Amnesia, a favourite among the younger crowd
You’ll find this famous club a kilometre before Privilege on the same road to San Antonio from Ibiza Town. Its success is down to having a more casual vibe than the previous two clubs and more reasonably priced drinks. These two factors have made it a hit among young foreign clubbers.
Amnesia opens from midnight to 8 am in the summer. Its foam parties are legendary and are normally held early on Sunday mornings. Four huge cannons fire foam at an enraptured crowd of up to 6,000 people.
Ibiza port, where the night kicks off
The moment night falls around Ibiza port, young people of every nationality start crowding the streets in search of the best place to start the evening’s fun. Calle de la Verge and Mare de Deu in picturesque La Marina neighbourhood have countless bars. The gay scene also has its heart here and it’s a mecca for international gay tourism; bars proudly fly the rainbow flags in their doorways. La Marina is usually buzzing between dinner time and midnight, when everyone heads off to the Ibizan capital’s clubs.
Leisure complex Lío Ibiza (Paseo Juan Carlos I, 1) is on the other side of the port where El Divino used to be. It was recently bought by its competitor, Pachá, and now has a restaurant, cabaret and, naturally, a thumping dance floor.
Playa d’en Bossa
The Playa d’en Bossa area, to the south of Ibiza Town, has traditionally been a magnet for young people looking to party on the island. Some of the best clubs were built here, such as the now-closed Kiss and Space.
Today new hotspot Hï Ibiza stands on the beach road; it opened its doors in 2017 and is already an essential destination on the Ibizan nightlife hit list.
Partying in San Antonio
San Antonio, on the other side of the island, rivals Ibiza Town for its party-going atmosphere. It’s home to legendary Café del Mar (Calle Vara del Rey 27, San Antonio de Portmany), an international benchmark for ambient and chill out music, and a more relaxed venue that becomes a vital stop after several days of clubbing on the trot.
San Antonio is also home to Eden Ibiza, one of the islands most famous clubs that can count Lady Gaga among its guest DJs.
Boat parties in Ibiza
One of the most well-established ways to party in Ibiza is to enjoy cool vibes, DJ sessions and a free bar on the sea. It’s a way of carrying on the fun in full daylight while you enjoy the Ibizan coastline with the chance to take a refreshing dip whenever you want.
Lots of companies across the island offer this service but some of the best include: Float Your Boat, Oceanbeat Boat Party, Cirque de la Nuit Boat Party, Only Ibiza Boat Party, The IBZ Boat Party, Beautiful People Ibiza, Ibiza Sea Party, Magic Boat Party Ibiza and Boat Party Ibiza.
Services usually include a free bar and trips normally last 3 to 4 hours. The best time for a boat party is sunset, between 5.30 and 9.30 pm. Boats normally have space for around 200 people.
Beach parties in Ibiza
The beautiful coves of Ibiza have always been an attraction that goes beyond simply enjoying sun, sand and turquoise waters: they also have legendary parties. At first they were held in secret, and the island actually still has a problem with illegal raves because they’re a public health issue and damage the environment.
However, ‘legal’ parties are also thrown on several beaches and the most famous ones for carrying on the fun are Caló des Moro, right on the seafront promenade in San Antonio, Cala Benirràs (internal link), in the north of the island, Cala Jondal, Salinas and Es Cavallet, in San José. This final spot is part of the gay scene.
