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Local lowdown on San Antonio, Ibiza (Sant Antoni)

San Antonio is one of the most popular and well-known resorts in the Mediterranean. It is 20 minutes drive from Ibiza Town and the airport, has great transport connections to the rest of the island and offers an incredible diversity of entertainment for young and old.

The resort is dominated by the beautiful palm-lined promenade which skirts the harbour, constantly busy with yachts, speedboats and ferryboats. This harbour, called Portus Magnus by the Romans, is one of the most beautiful and famous natural harbours in Europe. It has an ancient and illustrious history.

180º Panorama of San Antonio's Marina

The Beach

The beautiful new wide and sandy beach of San Antonio with its safe and shallow waters was created in Summer 2002. There are excellent watersports further along towards the Bay.

It can be crowded in the high season, so why not catch one of the regular ferries to the nearby beaches on the West coast.

360º Panorama of San Antonio's new beach

A day out on the sea

These ferries, which leave from sign posted points along the promenade, shuttle between the town and the hotels around the Bay. They also go out to the idyllic beaches of Cala Conta, Cala Bassa and Cala Tarida. Larger boats have daylong cruises to nearby Es Palmador and Ibiza's sister island of Formentera.

Sunset Strip

San Antonio today is most famous for its Sunsets - and rightly so. Throughout the Summer, holiday makers and locals alike flock to the 'Sunset Strip' (just West of the town) to admire the spectacular sunsets over a cocktail or two at one of the many cafés and bars.

The 'Sunset Strip' is actually an area called Calo d'es Moro, and is a 10 minute walk from the centre of town. Hotels and apartments near the Sunset Cafés are very popular and should be reserved early!

The famous Café del mar

Fiesta time

In its magnificent setting overlooking the Bay, the main Square with it exotic flowering trees, children's play park and cascading, musical fountains, is the focal point of the resort. It is also the best vantage point for the fabulous Fireworks Display which celebrates the fiesta of Saint Bartholomew on the 24th August.

The centre of town where you will find all the night-time action is just a short stroll away.

San Antonio's nightlife

Downtown San Antonio

There are many cafés and bars lining the central Square, their parasols adding a festive touch to the holiday scene.

Further along the Port opposite the yacht club there are some very good restaurants.

At the heart of the village stands a fine 14th century church. This central area also has a concentration of bars, discos, shops and eateries. Much of the town centre is now pedestrianised.

360º Panorama of San Antonio Promenade

Now, about that Egg in the Centre of Town

This is the egg of Christopher Columbus, the ship represents his ship, the Santa Maria.

We could leave it there. But we know you'll ask 'Why the egg?' and 'What has Christopher Columbus got to do with San Antonio?'.

Firstly, when Columbus was seeking finance for his trip to discover the route to the Far East, he was told it was an impossible task. So, he took an egg, and said something like 'Would you say it was impossible to stand this egg upright?'. Of course, everyone agreed it was impossible. Whereupon clever Christopher lightly cracked the base, so that the egg could stand upright. 'Nothing is impossible', said he, and thus obtained the confidence of his financial backers.

Secondly, according to exhaustive research by Ibicenco author, Nito Verdera and his book 'Colon Ibicenco', Columbus is believed to have been an Ibicenco.

San Antonio's Promenade by night...

Comments...

San Antonio is fine. All the bad reviews are from people that dont know how to enjoy themselfs or tend to get themselves into the wrong situation.

When i stayed in San An, ive allways stayed in a 400 meter radius from the central Point (the white structure in the middle of the roundabout)...most appartments in that area is worth staying in.

Beaches, Bars, mini clubs, restuarants, shops, sunsets, sport activites, water sports, sea diving, takeaways, fastfood (lol).....it has everything.

It might just be me, but i really enjoy the place!

Posted by Matt. on 21 February 2010

San Antonio is a great all round holiday resort with something for pretty much anyone. A lot of people on this site slate San Antonio but I still think its a good place to be. When I first experienced the resort back in late 90's, me and my mate stayed away round in the bay at Playa Bella . My few visits following that were also in the bay as I found the hotels and apartments in the town itself were just to noisy. The place has changed a lot since the but I think for the better espcially with the new promendade that goes all the way from Es Puet beach all the way round to Calo des Moro.

Then I discovered calo des moro after going to Kanya (the old one with the yellow tent) and started staying in that area. The Costa Mar Apartments became a firm favourite and I stayed there about 4 times. Now I usually head even further round the coast at Cala Gracio and stay at El Coto. Its nice and peacfull but not far to walk to get into town.

There are also a lot of good resturants in San Antonio which is what has put me off ever staing in PDB :roll:. Even though I prefer to stay in the part of the island I rarely go to any of the nightclubs in San An purely down to the nights that are on now but I do remember the times when there would be huge ques outside Es Paradis for UFO/Clockwork Orange etc. How times have changed :?

Posted by Fraz on 13 August 2009

A big WHOOP WHOOP from me, I was very lucky to have a great , clean, reasonably priced hotel with aircon ( Gran Sol ) , ideal for the sunset bars but also handy for a short walk to the westend, bus station, Eden etc

I'll be back