Santa Eulalia (Santa Eulària in Catalan) is the third largest town in Ibiza. It is a popular location with island residents and a much sought-after resort for those desiring a quieter or family-focused holiday on the island.
Small and easy to navigate, the town is made up of pretty streets filled with independent boutiques, great restaurants, and breezy open spaces.
Santa Eulalia is a town that offers a huge amount to visitors, whilst still maintaining a quaint and quiet feel. Despite all that's going on, it really feels like a typical Spanish town, where tourism is well catered for, but island life continues on around it.
Promenades and beaches
A lovely long promenade links the sparkling marina to the island's very own river, running along two wide, sandy beaches.
The rambla (Paseo S'Alamera) is also a beautiful central point for the town, running from the large fountain in front of the town hall all the way down to the seafront promenade. Don’t forget to look out for the Podenco sculptures (a native breed of hunting dog to Ibiza) that laze at this meeting point of the rambla and promenade.
Here you can walk alongside lovely, flowing water features under the dappled shade of pretty green trees. On most days of the week, market stalls are set up, selling souvenirs of all sorts, and adding to the pleasant atmosphere.
The pretty seafront promenade is the most prominent feature of the town. Spanning all the way from the marina, it then leads along the length of the wide, smoking-free main beach and rocky front that segments the sandy coves.
Its crystal-clear waters are held by the sparkling marina at one end and a lush green hillside dotted with white houses and hotels at the other. It’s a wide bay, where you’ll spot small boats bobbing, ferries passing by, and children's yacht schools out on adventures.
The promenade is elevated from the beach and is adorned with tall palm trees, miniature gardens, and sprinkling water features, along with many public benches where you can sit and enjoy these beautiful surroundings.
It then trails even further to the Playa del Rio beach, a slightly wider mouth of pretty sands that's also dotted with sunbeds from the promenade-facing restaurants and hotels.
At the end, you’ll reach the Santa Eulalia river, which in fact is the only one on the Balearic Islands. A lovely river promenade runs all along it up to an 18th-century stone bridge. With flowering bushes and quacking ducks, this beautiful spot is well worth the visit.
At the mouth of the river, a footbridge brings you to the neighbouring small resort of Siesta, with the cute beach of Calo de S'Alga a bit further along the coast.
Shopping and markets
Santa Eulalia is a shopper's paradise. Throughout its quaint streets, you’ll find many small boutiques, selling independent fashion brands, footwear, beachwear, and health food shops. You’ll likely grab a bargain, as prices are often lower than in the capital, Ibiza Town.
In the centre of the town, upon the pretty little rambla, an open-air market takes place on most days, except for Wednesday and Sunday. Families and locals mingle here under the flowering oleanders and hibiscus trees, as handicraft street vendors sell everything from clothes to jewellery and children's toys.
Each Thursday during the summer season, an organic produce market takes place at the Can Planetes River Interpretation Centre, near the old stone bridge spanning the river. An afternoon or evening market, depending on the time of sunset, here you can buy healthy, organic produce directly from local suppliers.
In nearby villages, you’ll find a selection of fantastic hippie markets where you can spend the day not only shopping but also listening to live music and enjoying great food.
Every Wednesday, Punta Arabi Hippy Market takes place in nearby Es Caná. The oldest and largest hippie market on the island, it’s a fantastic way to spend the day and spend your holiday money well.
Las Dalias Hippy Market, near the village of San Carlos, is the second largest on the island and is also steeped in tradition, having run for more than 40 years. It’s open year-round on Saturdays and Sundays.
From June to September, Las Dalias Night Market takes over Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights. It's a lovely place to enjoy shopping on balmy summer evenings, under the starry sky.
Las Dalias is a beautiful multi-purpose venue that truly feels like a hippie haven and attracts the island's most spiritual folk.
The marina
The marina sits just on the edge of the town - its sparkling vessels easy to spot from the promenade. A stylish area, it's beautiful to walk around and gaze at all the yachts in their many different sizes and statures.
In summer, especially, the area is bustling as the boats move in and out of port and are tended to. Here you’ll find many great bars and restaurants to relax in, both day and night, and enjoy a wide selection of cuisine. With pretty terraces that gaze out to the marina, it's a lovely place to sit and people-watch while enjoying a delicious meal.
The warm summer evenings in the marina have a special welcoming atmosphere, with twinkling lights and small market stands selling jewellery to people strolling by.
From the south end of the marina, you can catch small ferries to other east coast resorts and beaches, including Es Caná, Cala Pada, Santa Eulalia, and Cala Llonga.
You can also catch a boat to the famous Punta Arabí Hippy Market in Es Caná every Wednesday, to the island capital Ibiza Town, or even take a day trip to the beautiful sister island of Formentera.
Of course, if you’d prefer a day out at sea on your own schedule, then there is always the option to charter a boat yourself.
Santa Eulalia video
Restaurants
Lining the small streets, rambla, and beachfront promenade, Santa Euliaia offers many wonderful restaurants.
Here, all tastes are catered to through a huge variety of worldwide cuisine, and that's done so at a fantastic standard. You can often find the town bustling with residents and holidaymakers enjoying the selection of offerings.
During the day, the small eateries that line either side of the central ramblas are popular with diners, who can enjoy a café con leche and tostada and lazily people-watch all day.
You’ll also find the tree-lined main street of Calle San Jaime, which runs through the middle of the whole town, a favoured meeting place for coffee and conversation.
In the early evening, Calle San Vicente, also known as "Restaurant Street", which backs onto Calle San Jaime, is transformed into the living, breathing picture of an ideal Mediterranean scene. Chairs and tables, laughing flaneurs and diners, light, music, and musicians appear, giving this picturesque street a vibrant and warm atmosphere.
Of course, the pretty seafront promenade, from the marina to the riverside, hosts a wonderful array of restaurants. Small independent cafes and larger restaurants sit beside each other, along with hotels, where non-guests are welcome to visit.
Day or night, there’s a view to suit every dining experience, and a beautiful atmosphere that always makes it something quite special.
Nightlife
The nightlife in Santa Eulalia is much more laid-back than in Ibiza Town or in the clubbing resorts Playa d'en Bossa and San Antonio.
Here, people tend to go out for a nice evening meal, then stroll along the seafront promenade, enjoying drinks on restaurant terraces or in one of the many bars within the town. It can be a lovely vibe in the town after dark, with people meandering by as others chatter on the open patios that lead onto the streets.
You’ll also find hotels within the area offering great evening events, with live music and DJs until late evening on their beautiful roof terraces.
If people are craving a late night out, they will often venture to nearby San Carlos and the fantastic day-to-night venue of Las Dalias and Akasha. Perfect for families, the open-air dancefloor of Las Dalias garden can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
For adults who wish to continue the party, its on-site club Akasha offers a buzzing dancefloor that’s regularly hosted by internationally recognised DJs until late into the night. One of the island's smaller clubs, it's incredibly popular with island residents and those seeking a more intimate clubbing experience.
If you want an even bigger night that takes you to the early hours, then our Ibiza island guide for clubbers will show you the best clubs in all resorts for your night out.
Activities
There is a very good choice of interesting activities within the resort and the surrounding area to keep you busy.
Depending on the adrenaline rush you are looking for, and if you’d prefer to be on or off land, you can enjoy a wide choice of excursions, all led by professional guides.
For adults, there is a stunning golf course in nearby Cala Llonga to practice your game, while children may enjoy the Santa Eulalia tourist train. Departing from both the town and neighbouring Es Caná and Cala Llonga, it offers a whistle-stop tour of the stunning surrounding landscape.
Cultural adventures
When driving into the town, you will notice a beautiful church towering over the town, on the Puig de Missa hill. It's a lovely walk to explore and experience the stunning vantage point and see the pretty village church, which was built at the end of the 15th Century.
For a little adventurous fun, children and adults will enjoy exploring the Santa Eulalia River Route, which highlights the town's natural beauty and cultural heritage. Informative panels along the way provide interesting information.
At the Santa Eulalia tourism office, you can obtain a map with the route. Starting from the town centre, and trailing along the promenade and river into the pretty countryside, you can finish with stunning views from the church on the Puig de Missa hilltop.
On Puig de Missa, you’ll also find a small and interesting Ethnography Museum, which displays objects belonging to the island's cultural heritage and development.
Whilst you are exploring, make sure to look out for members of the Fameliar. These small, impish gnomes are part of Ibicenco mythology, and you can find them hidden in the streets of the town.
One of the mythical creatures you’ll find right in the centre of the town, casually sitting on the fountain edge at the seaside end of the rambla.
According to legend, they are only interested in two things: work and food. They complete every task assigned to them quickly and precisely – but they also get bored when they have nothing to do. If you don't give them a task, they will quickly eat everything in your house.
At the upper end of the rambla, on the square in front of the town hall, you can visit the entire family of goblins in an interesting exhibition in an old air raid shelter below the fountain, open in the mornings on weekdays.
Nearby, at the top end of the rambla, you can find the Santa Eulalia tourist information office, which can give you all the information you might need.
Staying in and near Santa Eulalia
The quieter nature of Santa Eulalia makes it a popular choice for families and couples. Here, there is a great choice of hotels and apartments to suit all budgets and accommodation needs.
Within the town and beach area, there is a great variety of options, many lining the beachfront promenade and with incredible views out to sea from their balconies.
Within the larger resort and surrounding area, you’ll find many boutique hotels and larger five-star accommodations.
A great alternative is renting your own private villa, so you have all the privacy you need. There is a fantastic choice of holiday villas near Santa Eulalia, catering for all group sizes and budgets.
Getting around
Santa Eulalia bus station is very central to the town and offers a good bus service to the capital of Ibiza Town, the surrounding area, and nearby resorts.
There is much to explore across the island, so renting a car or a moped and planning your own time schedule may be more suitable. The town offers a mixture of free and paid car parks, along with street paid parking spots. If your accommodation is within town, the hotel may have available spaces on-site that you can reserve.
