Family Things to Do

You can't simply laze around on the beach every day of your holiday - there's so many interesting things just waiting to be discovered - by car, boat, bus or train!

With Young Children

• The mini-trains which make sightseeing tours of the countryside and, in some resorts, ferry you back and forth between your acommodation and the resort centres.
• The play parks and play areas in most resorts, but especially in Playa d'en Bossa (with carousels and bouncy castles), San Antonio Bay and Cala Llonga (on the beach with a soft sandy floor). The play parks have Trampolines, climbing frames and lots of space to run around in a safe, enclosed area - you are guaranteed happy kids, and that means happy parents too (believe us when we say we know first hand what we are talking about!). They are great fun for older kids too.
• The beach of course! See our Beaches section. Remember to be careful with the sun.

For Older Children

• Ibiza Town's Medieval Castle of Dalt Vila with battlements, winding passageways and tunnels. Spectacular views, interesting craft shops and some excellent restaurants and cafes round off a highly recommended day trip. And if you're lucky enough to be here in May why not visit the annual Medieval Fair?

Boat trips

• Boat trips to and from nearby beaches, towns and Hippy Markets. It's a lovely way to travel and good value too.
• Catch the boat from San Antonio to Cala Bassa, Cala Conta, Cala Tarida and Formentera.
• Ferry from Ibiza Marina to Ibiza Port.
• From Figueretas to Ibiza Port and Formentera.
• From Ibiza to Figueretas, Santa Eulalia and Formentera.
• From Santa Eulalia to Cala Pada, Cala Lleña, Cala Llonga, Ibiza and Formentera.
• The trips from Santa Eulalia and San Antonio to Formentera are quite long.

Hippy markets

The Hippy Markets – you’ll find these all around the island. Girls especially will love the trinkets, clothes and jewellery stalls.

More about the Hippy Markets on Ibiza

• Watersports, including diving, windsurfing, sailing, parasailing, banana-boat and even good old-fashioned pedaloes. Playa d'en Bossa beach, Santa Eulalia beach (Mariners), several of the beaches along the Bay of San Antonio, Es Cana beach, Portinatx, Cala Vadella and many others offer great watersports facilities. See Beaches for more info.
• The Aguamar Water Park in Playa d'en Bossa. Very popular, with all sorts of slides and pools to play in. If you are lucky enough to be staying in the El Greco Apartments in Portinatx, you can use their very own water park and water slides!
• The Bowling Centre in Playa d'en Bossa - tenpin bowling, a rodeo bull, trampolines and crazy golf - good value food and drink too.
• The aforementioned play parks in Playa d'en Bossa and San Antonio Bay are great fun for older kids too - and the parents can rest while having a drink and a snack.

All the Family

• The stalactite caves C'an Marca in the cliffs above Puerto de San Miguel.
• A day trip to Formentera by boat and bike. Boats depart regularly in the Summer months from most resorts. On Formentera, hire a bike (you get them in the harbour) and get out and about discovering the unspoiled countryside and beaches - really, really beautiful. Remember that in July and August it can be very hot, so it might be better to take a taxi from the harbour to the beach, or catch one of the boats from Ibiza which drops you off directly on one of the heavenly beaches.
• A round the island trip by car, or mini-train. The island is only 45 km long and 25 km wide, so you can see a great deal in only a day, leaving plenty of time for refreshing stops on the beach and in one of the typical Spanish bars along the way. See Round the Island Tours and Sightseeing.
• One of the spectacular Fireworks shows and Fiesta processions. Particularly in Ibiza Town on July 15th and August 5th to 8th and in San Antonio on August 24th.

What about Mum and Dad?

Well, writing as a father myself, I think this section should actually be about Mum, who probably deserves a lot more free time than Dad!

Obviously there's a great deal of enjoyment to be had with all the family, but it is lovely to get away, so ask at your accommodation reception for babysitting possibilities.

You take a visit to Ibiza Town for a shopping trip. Wait till the early evening when the day cools down and revel in the delights of the Port area of Ibiza . Meander along the cobbled lanes in Dalt Vila (the Castle); stroll along the harbour past the market stalls and boutiques, all vibrantly lit up at night; soak up the atmosphere over a cocktail or two. Ibiza Town is one of the most romantic and exciting cities you'll ever visit.

Otherwise, try and catch a few hours at one of the beaches in the early morning (10 am will do, let's be realistic). Most beaches start filling up after 11 or 12 am . The mirror-calm waters and absolute peace and quiet will do wonders for your soul.

Dad will probably be having the time of his life on the banana-boats or parasailing. For the well-heeled, there is the Ibiza Golf Course at Roca Llisa (on the road to Cala Llonga from Ibiza Town ). Be warned, Green Fees are expensive.

Remember to take some small change with you for a snack or cooling drink, but remember never to leave bags and belongings unattended. Our holiday tips on Health and Safety will help you.

Where to Now?

Well, we hope we've whetted your appetites with some of the many things you can do on Ibiza as the family. It really is a special destination.

More detailed information on much of the above can be found in our Attractions section; you'll find all the info you need to help you make the right decision on where to stay in our Local Town Guides, with regularly-updated information on each of Ibiza's towns and resorts - recommended restaurants, shopping and things to do and see.

If you haven't yet chosen your accommodation, visit our Hotel Guide where we've listed many recommended family-friendly apartments and family-friendly hotels. With Spotlight you can be confident of making the right choice.

Where am I?  Home Family Holidays Things to Do

Family Holidays

• Where to Stay
• Family Beaches

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