San Antonio sunset
The Beatles or The Rolling Stones.
Barcelona or Real Madrid.
San Antonio or Playa D'en Bossa.
Ok, so maybe we're going overboard a little, but judging by the amount of times this has been asked in our forums (latest thread here) we're justified in highlighting this as one of the major questions to be answered for people looking for their accommodation in Ibiza.
Firstly, we'd like to, of course, highlight that San Antonio or Playa D'en Bossa aren't the only options for hotels and apartments in Ibiza. There are several other and quite likely more favourable options across the island. Read our resort guide for more info.
San An and Bossa are typically singled out due to their popularity as the main centres for the younger end of Ibiza's diverse visitors. In a nutshell, they are the biggest resorts and offer the largest spread of bars, activities, restaurants and general entertainment. (We're excluding Ibiza Town from this, as whilst you can find great places to stay there, it is very much a fully functioning town and not so much a beaches and bars resort. Although the nightlife there is unique.)
The answer to the perennial question is quite simple really. It totally depends on who you are and what you want. Both resorts have undergone, and are in the process of, extensive regeneration in terms of improving facilities, accommodations and the preserving of the natural beauty of the island.
San Antonio is also a proper town, but is transformed in summer to become a hub of chiefly British and Irish holidaymakers. It has a large 18-30 style quota, although this is by no means a majority and is typically the first place experienced by new younger visitors to the island. It is notorious for the West End, a strip of bars in the heart of the resort offering cheap and cheerful drinks and entertainment, but that is really just the tip of the iceberg. The sunset strip of bars is world famous and across the town and resort, away from the West End, there is a plethora of cool bars and top notch restaurants, all of which contribute to it being considered one of Europe's liveliest resorts.
Playa D'en Bossa Beach
Playa D'en Bossa is a resort and not a town and by definition is exclusviely geared up for summer visitors. It is smaller than San Antonio but has the biggest beach on the island, which is rapidly becoming the home to numerous en vogue beach bars, such as Sands and Ushuaia, not to mention the legendary Bora Bora. The crowd here is certainly more international than San An and the world famous Space nightclub is in walking distance from all parts of the resort. It also has a strip, of sorts, but doesn't have the quantity of bars and resturants of San Antonio. That said, Ibiza Town is a long walk or short ride away. It is also much closer to the airport.
Still stuck? Check out the accommodation on offer in both resorts, compare prices and think about whether you prefer the idea of being right in the centre of the action with nightlife galore, with many small size beaches (San Antonio) or you're happy to mix equally interesting nightlife with proximity to Ibiza Town and the spectacular main beach, as well as a more international vibe (Playa D'en Bossa).
Finally, remember how tiny Ibiza is, whichever destination you choose, you can reach the other resort in 20-25 mins by car or a bit longer by bus. Moreover, don't make the mistake many do and never leave the resor. The island of Ibiza is a magical and inspiring myriad of never-ending coves, corners and villages that only need discovering once in order to change your life. Come Visit!
Playa D'en Bossa Accommodation |
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San An Accommodation |
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