If you’re looking to visit Ibiza in Summer 2024 then you might be aware that there are two main resorts to choose from on opposite sides of the island: San Antonio and Playa d’en Bossa. In which case, you’ll also be wondering, which side of Ibiza is best? These are the two main centres that young partiers flock to in Ibiza for a variety of reasons- heaps of bars, beautiful beaches and a score of clubs hosting the best international DJs to name a few! However, there are also a few differences between these two resorts and we’ve written a handy guide to help you figure out which one is the best for you.
Location/geography
So the first thing that you might want to know is the location of each resort and a little bit of background about them. San Antonio, the larger of the two resorts is located on the West Coast of the island and is also a full-on town that’s existed since Roman times! San Antonio tends to be more popular with younger guests from the UK, Ireland and other parts of Europe looking to fill up every evening moving through the gigantic selection of bars and clubs on offer. Playa d’en Bossa is on the opposite side of the island and is a little bit smaller, being purpose built as a resort. It tends to have a little bit more of an international crowd and there’s not quite as many bars on offer, instead playing host to luxurious beach clubs and some of the island’s biggest megaclubs like Space. To make up for its smaller size though, Playa d’en Bossa is located right next to Ibiza town which has loads to do for those looking to take a day or two out from partying and see some of the beautiful sights and culture that the island has on offer.
Playa d’en Bossa is the home of the biggest single beach on the whole island! It’s over 2km long and borders on beautiful crystal blue waters. The sands are lined by bars and beach lounges with something for everyone no matter what your budget or what vibe you’re after. San Antonio still matches the usual pattern even in terms of its beaches, with a handful of smaller beaches scattered around rather than one huge one. Once again you’ll get a lot of variety with some being quieter and others more lively.
Hotels
When it comes to hotels, Playa d’en Bossa has plenty of options whether you’re looking for something upscale where you can live out those influencer dreams (don’t lie!) or just looking for somewhere to base your adventures out of while you spend your budget elsewhere. Some of the more popular hotels for those with a bit more to spend are the Grand Palladium Plaza and Ushuaia Beach Hotel, which is also home to one of the most famous and popular beach clubs on the whole island! The most popular hotel here for those who are on a slightly tighter budget is the Ryan’s Apartments however they’re still pretty lovely!
WIth San Antonio being the bigger of the two resorts there’s a lot more choice when it comes to hotels although they don’t tend to be quite as upscale. Some of the hotels where you’ll get a good balance of good facilities and nice rooms while still saving some pennies to save for the bar are the San Francisco Apartments and Laura S’atalaya, which are both situated right in the middle of it all. Another good hotel is Ibiza Rocks, which conveniently adjoins the bar and club of the same name.
Clubs
Both the resorts have an amazing selection of clubs and bars- it’s the same deal as with hotels where San Antonio has a bit more selection whereas San Antonio is catering to a bit more of a boujee vibe.
Playa d’en Bossa is home to some of Ibiza’s most iconic clubs, including the homes of daytime clubbing, Bora Bora and Ushuaia Beach Clubs where you can hang out by the pool, cocktail in hand with some of the world’s best DJs spinning top selections, and Hï Ibiza which is just across the street. Another Party Hard favourite is Octan, formerly known as Sankeys, which is a mecca for the best upcoming underground house and techno acts. When it comes to bars, Playa also has a few heaters including Dunes and DC-10- both of these have a lively atmosphere which is perfect to get you hyped up for the club. Once again you also have the option to head into the town of Ibiza proper and find one of the many more chilled out spots if you’re looking for a more relaxed environment.
San Antonio might leave you feeling a bit spoiled for choice when it comes to figuring out your evening plans as there really is a crazy number of places to drink and dance here! Bar-wise there are loads, but some of our favourites are Soul City which always has a good selection of R&B and hip-hop music, and Blackbeard’s which is a British-style pub that’s always busy and when you see the drink prices you’ll understand why! Now, over to the clubs- by now you’ll know that there’s loads including some of the island’s biggest clubs which you may have already heard of, for example Amnesia and Pacha, which are must-do’s for anyone in the area. Also worth noticing is the recently popular Zoo Project, an all day mini-festival in an abandoned zoo close by the strip, with quirky jungle-themed decorations and a variety of DJs.
Overall, although the differences between San Antonio and Playa d’en Bossa are clear, it’s not difficult to have a good time in either- the only real difference is that the latter tends to have a bit more of an international crowd, so naturally it caters for slightly larger budgets but this doesn’t mean you can’t do it on a budget. San Antonio is also a bit more rowdy at all hours due to the younger crowd. At the end of the day Ibiza’s a very small island and you can get a taxi from one resort to the other in 20 minutes! Regardless of which one you pick it’s impossible to have a bad time in this Mediterranean paradise, so pack your bags and make Summer 2024 one to remember! If this has whet your whistle for a summer in Ibiza then check out the rest of our Ibiza News & Guides here!
