Cala Conta has the clearest water on the island and Ses Salines the longest run of white sand with beach clubs behind it, and both are full by late morning in July and August. The small coves around Portinatx in the north stay calm even in high season, and Cala Tarida and Cala Vadella in the west are the easiest beaches for a family.
The island is about 40 kilometres long, so nothing here is more than 45 minutes from anywhere else. We have grouped the beaches by what you want from the day, so you can pick the one that suits you and skip the rest.
The famous beaches in the south and west
Cala Conta
Where: On the west coast, 15 minutes from San Antonio, with summer ferries from the harbour.
Expect: Two stretches of sand along 800 metres of coast, small islands offshore and the clearest, shallowest water on the island. Sunset Cala Conta sits on the rocks between the two beaches with DJs at sunset, and there are lifeguards and day beds.
Good to know: The car park is a few minutes' walk from the sand and fills by late morning in summer. Our Cala Conta guide has the detail.
Ses Salines
Where: In the far south, inside the Ses Salines Natural Park, about 15 minutes from Ibiza Town.
Expect: Around a kilometre and a half of fine white sand backed by dunes and pines, with beach clubs along the shore. The seagrass meadows offshore are UNESCO-listed and keep the water clear.
Good to know: With Cala Conta, this is the busiest beach on the island. The rocks at the far end lead to Es Cavallet, the quieter naturist beach.
Cala d'Hort
Where: In the south-west, 15 minutes from San Jose, facing the rock island of Es Vedrà.
Expect: A 150-metre beach that is sandy at one end and pebbly at the other, with sunbeds, lifeguards and three fish restaurants including Es Boldado up on the cliff. Sunset is the busiest hour.
Good to know: The car park is a ten-minute walk above the sand, and the restaurants need booking in high season.
Family sand with everything on hand
Cala Tarida
Where: On the west coast, ten minutes from San Jose, with a summer bus and ferry from May to October.
Expect: The longest beach of fine white sand on this side of the island, 900 metres of it, with a rocky plateau in the middle that children climb over. The right-hand side stays shallow a long way out, with restaurants, toilets and lifeguards behind.
Good to know: Its size keeps it comfortable even in August. Parking on a summer weekend takes patience.
Cala Vadella
Where: A sheltered bay in the south-west, ten minutes from San Jose.
Expect: 275 metres of fine sand sloping gently into calm, shallow water, with sunbeds, restaurants and shops right behind it and Can Jaume on the right-hand side.
Good to know: The bay is protected on three sides, so the water stays flat when other beaches have a swell. There is a paid car park behind the sand and free parking at the northern entrance.
Cala Gracioneta, just north of San Antonio, is a very small sandy bay entered through the back of El Chiringuito, with rocks on both sides that children spend the afternoon climbing. The water is too cloudy for snorkelling, and a rock path leads round to the larger Cala Gració.
Quiet coves in the north
The coast around Portinatx holds the calmest beaches on the island, with Benirràs and its Sunday drummers the one exception.
Cala d'en Serra
Where: One of the northernmost beaches, about 1.6 kilometres east of Portinatx.
Expect: A 50-metre strip of sand and pebbles with fishermen's huts on the left, a handful of sunbeds and a small beach shack that opens from roughly June to September.
Good to know: The last stretch is a potholed dirt track, and most people park at the top and walk the 500 metres down.
Cala Xarraca
Where: Five minutes' drive from either Portinatx or San Juan.
Expect: Ninety metres of sand with a rocky, shallow seabed and good snorkelling, a restaurant on the beach and a patch of natural clay on the left that people use as a mud bath.
Good to know: Parking is limited, so it fills early on summer weekends.
Cala Xuclar
Where: Five minutes from Portinatx, ten from San Juan.
Expect: A 35-metre cove of pebbles with a little sand at the back, fishermen's huts, flat stone shelves for sunbathing and very clear water. The small beach restaurant takes bookings in high season.
Good to know: The seabed is rocky, so swimming shoes help. Nearby on the Portinatx road, S'Illot des Renclí is a rock plateau and a little coarse sand below the restaurant of the same name.
Rock, pebbles and fishing huts
Cala Salada and Cala Saladeta
Where: Fifteen minutes north of San Antonio.
Expect: Cala Salada is pebbly and has the sunbeds, restaurant, toilets and lifeguards. Cala Saladeta, over a rocky path on the slope, is soft sand with nothing on it and the better snorkelling.
Good to know: From May to mid-October the access road is closed to cars between 09:30 and 17:00, with a minibus from San Antonio bus station and a water taxi instead. Our Cala Salada guide covers the summer arrangement.
Atlantis (Sa Pedrera de Cala d'Hort)
Where: Below the Torre des Savinar watchtower on the track between Es Cubells and Cala d'Hort.
Expect: Not a beach but the old quarry that supplied the stone for the walls of Dalt Vila, with carved rock and sea pools, no sand and nothing to buy.
Good to know: The path down is steep and loose underfoot, so it suits the morning or late afternoon rather than midday.
Es Pou des Lleó
Where: On the east coast, ten minutes from San Carlos, facing the island of Tagomago.
Expect: A 60-metre cove of grey sand and small pebbles with wooden fishermen's huts, a beach shack and two restaurants. A coastal path leads to the Torre d'en Valls tower.
Good to know: Plenty of signposted parking, and quiet in high season.
Two more for an empty day
Cala Olivera, through the Roca Llisa estate off the Cala Llonga road, is a small cove of coarse sand and rock ledges with no beach bar and very few people. S'Estanyol, down a dirt track from Jesús, has a little sand, a rocky bottom and a coastal walk in either direction.
Quick answers
Which is the best beach in Ibiza? Cala Conta for the water, Ses Salines for the beach clubs, Cala Tarida for a family day and Cala Xuclar for peace.
Which beaches are quiet in August? The coves around Portinatx, Es Pou des Lleó, Cala Olivera and S'Estanyol.
Which beaches are best for children? Cala Tarida and Cala Vadella for shallow water and facilities, Cala Gracioneta for rocks to climb.
Where is the best snorkelling? Cala Saladeta, Cala Xarraca, Cala Xuclar and Es Pou des Lleó, all rocky seabeds with clear water.
Where do you see Es Vedrà? From Cala d'Hort, or from the Atlantis quarry and the Torre des Savinar.
Choosing your week
One famous beach, one family bay and one quiet cove is usually the right mix for a week. Staying in the north puts the Portinatx coves within ten minutes, while the south-west gives you Cala Conta, Cala Tarida and Cala Vadella in a row. If you are choosing between two, ask our team.