The quiet municipality of Santa Eulalia del Río, officially Santa Eulària des Riu, occupies the entire northeast coast of the island of Ibiza. This is also the name given to its main population hub, a small coastal town located less than 20 kilometres from Ibiza’s airport. The third-largest town on the island in terms of population, Santa Eulalia del Río inherits its name from two striking facts. “Santa Eulalia” is the original name of the temple which, perched on the top of a hill, has overlooked the city since the 16th century. Likewise, the added “del Río” part refers to the river that flows into the town, which is considered the only one in the Balearic archipelago.
Over the years Santa Eulalia del Río has become a major tourist destination for families with children and lovers of relaxation. So much so that, this town has so often been seen as the quiet alternative to the raucous and excessive Ibiza found in other towns on the island, such as San Antonio or Ibiza town. If you feel like getting lost among coves, visiting typical villages or tasting authentic local cuisine, this is the town for you.
- Santa Eulalia from the sky: climb up to Puig de Missa
- Paseo marítimo y puerto deportivo de Santa Eulalia
- Dónde comer en Santa Eulalia
- Mercadillos hippies en Santa Eulalia: Las Dalias y Punta Arabí
- Beaches of Santa Eulalia del Río
Santa Eulalia from the sky: climb up to Puig de Missa
The best way to start your visit is to go to the very centre of the municipality, that is, to the top of Es Puig de Missa. This green mountain, located in the middle of the town of Santa Eulalia, has been home to the church of Santa Eulària since the 16th century, a beautiful temple-fortress with an adjoining watchtower and walls that gleam white with limestone. This monument, accessible via a road that winds its way upwards, presides over the town and offers impressive views of the east coast of Ibiza.
Nearby you can also visit the Ethnographic Museum, a space dedicated to the exhibition of clothing, jewellery, domestic objects, and other utensils related to the history of the municipality. The fact that it’s located inside an old farmhouse makes it an even more interesting place to visit.
Santa Eulalia seafront promenade and marina
If you go down the mountain and head towards the old town of Santa Eulalia, sooner or later you’ll come across the Paseo Marítimo de la Alameda, a stunning promenade several kilometres long that stretches from the marina to the mouth of the river. Dotted with lots of palm trees and small gardens, the promenade is lined with shops, bars, and restaurants.
At the eastern end, where the docks of the Santa Eulalia marina are located, you can rent kayaks and private boats to explore the northeastern coast of Ibiza. There are also companies here that specialise in diving and surfing courses.
At the western end of the promenade, just where the Santa Eulalia river flows into the sea, there’s a pedestrian walkway that allows us to reach the small beach of Caló de S’Alga. And a few hundred metres up the course of the river, we’ll soon catch a glimpse of the Roman bridge of Pont Vell.
Where to eat in Santa Eulalia
When it comes to eating, you’ll be interested to know that there are two main streets where most of the restaurants can be found. Both are located in the old town of Santa Eulalia, one is Calle de San Jaime and the other Calle de San Vicente, also known as “Calle de los Restaurantes”, or Restaurant Street. In the first street you can find, for example, Royalti, one of the oldest restaurants in the area. As it also has a café, it’s a good spot to visit at any time of day.
In the immediate vicinity, there are also two highly rated restaurants: Ca Na Ribes and El Naranjo. The first one dates back to 1926 and invites us to try recipes purely from Ibiza in a lovely indoor garden. The latter, which opened more recently, offers a daily Mediterranean menu with a touch of signature cuisine. It also regularly exhibits art collections, making it an ideal place for romantic dinners.
The surrounding area of the city is also home to some very interesting culinary offerings. For example, restaurants with a rustic atmosphere such as Can Muson de sa Vila, specialising in cuts of meat brought directly from Argentina and located just eight minutes by car from Santa Eulalia. In terms of exotic restaurants, we have Nagai Ibiza, which serves Japanese fusion cuisine in surroundings full of live music, fashion, and urban art.
Hippy markets in Santa Eulalia: Las Dalias and Punta Arabí
Now we come to one of the most popular attractions in Santa Eulalia del Río: its hippie markets. Although the town centre of Santa Eulalia is home to many fashion boutiques and those selling other decorative items, the real heart of shopping in this municipality is to be found in the street markets of Las Dalias and Punta Arabí. Both were established in the 70s, when Ibiza was still a destination far removed from the tourist crowds and when the first hippies began to settle here in search of an pared-back and simple lifestyle.
Now we come to one of the most popular attractions in Santa Eulalia del Río: its hippie markets. Although the town centre of Santa Eulalia is home to many fashion boutiques and those selling other decorative items, the real heart of shopping in this municipality is to be found in the street markets of Las Dalias and Punta Arabí. Both were established in the 70s, when Ibiza was still a destination far removed from the tourist crowds and when the first hippies began to settle here in search of an pared-back and simple lifestyle.
The Punta Arabí Market is located in the coastal town of Es Canar, just a few kilometres from Santa Eulalia. With around 500 stalls, this is one of the largest markets on the island. It’s held every Wednesday between April and October.
Beaches of Santa Eulalia del Río
If one thing is for certain, Santa Eulalia del Río would be nothing without its beaches. Its coastline, with 22 coves spread over 46 kilometres, hides some of the most popular swimming spots in Ibiza.
First of all, Santa Eulària beach stands out, a lovely beach that runs parallel to the city’s promenade. Easy to access, this 300-metre-long stretch of sand offers the opportunity to enjoy many water activities, such as dinghy sailing, canoeing, paddle surfing, and pedal boating. It’s also home to some interesting beach bars, such as Chiringuito Blue, a restaurant with quality dishes open all day long.
Just a few metres from said beach, crossing the footbridge that joins the two banks of the Santa Eulalia river, we can also visit the small Es Caló de S’Algar, a tiny sandy area that perfectly combines the easy access of an urban beach with the genuine charm of a cove.
And if we leave the city and go to the north of the municipality, near San Carlos, we’ll find many other charming beaches. Cala Mastella, for example, is a small cove with an old fishing port on its side. Nearby is also Cala Boix, the only black sandy beach in Ibiza. Lastly, the beach of Aigües Blanques is worth mentioning, designated a nudist area that has spectacular views of the nearby islet of Tagomago.
