How to get to Ibiza

Flying is almost certainly the quickest and most convenient method of travel to the island of Ibiza. There's a wide choice of airlines which offer flights at competitive prices. Have a look at our Flight Finder to help your planning. As always, prices are at a premium during the school holidays and at weekends.

Ibiza has an international airport which serves both the island of Ibiza and the neighbouring smaller island of Formentera. Situated in Sant Jordi, on the southern tip of the island, the airport is just 7.5 kilometres away from Ibiza Town centre (around 7 minutes by car).

Ibiza airport is well connected by both road and sea and, with the island being a mere 571 km², it is also very easy to arrange your onward travel to your accommodation. Most of the popular resorts in Ibiza, like Sant Antoni or Santa Eularia, are no further than a 20-30 minute drive from the airport, while Playa d'en Bossa is only 5 minutes away!

The majority of international flights in and out of the island are seasonal, operating during the main tourist season between May and October. Domestic travel to mainland Spain is available all year round for destinations such as Valencia, Barcelona, Madrid, Menorca, Sevilla and Palma de Mallorca, with flight times between half an hour and an hour.

There are plenty of taxis available at Ibiza airport. To ensure the taxi is legal, you must board it at the designated taxi rank outside the airport (there is a €1.80 airport fee). Car hire is also a widely available option at the airport, allowing you to drive directly to your accommodation and to have more flexibility once on the island.

You can take public buses from the airport straight to Ibiza Town centre and other towns and resorts on the island (read more about buses to and from Ibiza airport, as well as which resorts are connected to the airport by public transport below).

Airport transfers or shuttle services are a convenient option for onward travel to your destination. Companies generally offer two types of service private and shared transfers.

Private transfers are exclusively for you - once you arrive at the airport they will take you directly to your accommodation. Some hotels offer a private airport pick-up service, so don't forget to enquire about this directly before you travel.

Shared transfers are usually more cost-effective, especially for individuals and couples, the trade-off being you may need to wait for other passengers and the possibility of being dropped-off at a more central location.

You should always book transfers in advance.

Public transport from Ibiza airport is available via regular bus lines not only to Ibiza Town, but also some of the most popular resorts on the island such as Playa d'en Bossa, Santa Eulalia or San Antonio.

The only bus route that connects the airport throughout the year is line 10, which runs every 15 minutes (30 minutes in winter), connects the airport with Sant Jordi de Ses Salines, Playa d'en Bossa, Ibiza Town and the port from where ferries to Formentera depart.

In the summer, line 9 runs from the airport to Sant Josep and Sant Antoni every hour from June to September. Line 24, running every hour in summer from late May to mid-October (not available in winter), links the airport with Santa Eulalia and most resorts on the island's eastern coastline, including Punta Arabí, Es Canar or Cala Nova. Finally, line 36 connects the airport with Playa d'en Bossa in July and August.

For a little more flexibility getting around once you are here, then having your own car would be an option. Being able to drive yourself around the area is far more comfortable and convenient, allowing you to take day trips and visit places that are off the beaten track. Nevertheless, roads in Ibiza can sometimes be narrow and rocky, and with car hire in Spain being fairly cheap, this is a good choice when visiting the island. Taxis are also very convenient and available at reasonable prices in Ibiza. These two options are probably the most cost-effective ways for travelling around the island without having to bring your own car.

If you choose to bring your own car to Ibiza, you will have at least one ferry crossing to get to the island, and two if you are planning on driving from the UK. When driving through Spain, you will need to carry a high visibility vest and a warning triangle at all times. There's a 120km/h limit on motorways (to use many of them you will have to pay tolls), 90km/h on normal roads and a maximum of 50km/h in populated areas.

There are a number of companies that offer long-distance coach services throughout Europe. However, coaches will not take you all the way to the island. In order to get to Ibiza, you will have to travel by coach to the nearest port offering a ferry service: Barcelona, Valencia or Dénia. The coach will stop at the main bus station, and then you will have to find your way to the port either via public buses or a taxi, so we definitely recommend you take into consideration flying to the island.

The journey time is longer (nearly 24 hours to travel between Paris and Ibiza via Barcelona), but the trade-off is that you don't have the usual airport hassle of checking in luggage and hanging around in the departures lounge waiting for your flight to board, and you'll get to meet new friends along the way. It's also more eco-friendly and often a bit gentler on the pocket. Some of the main European coach companies include Eurolines and Ouibus, and many routes will run year round.

Any car or coach journey to Ibiza will probably involve a ferry. The two principal ferry companies operating in Ibiza are Baleària and Trasmediterranea. The main Spanish departure points are Barcelona (8.5 hours sailing time), Valencia (between 5 and 6.5 hours sailing time), Dénia (3.5 hours sailing time) and Palma (4 hours sailing time) on the neighbouring Balearic Island of Mallorca. There are also frequent trips to Formentera (1 hour sailing or 30 minutes on fast ferries).

Airlines, trains and transfer companies are all well-versed in catering for customers who travel with their own sports equipment (eg bikes/golf clubs in the summer), but it’s well worth checking the details in advance. Each company will have their own individual policy terms and conditions depending on the type of sporting equipment you are transporting. Here's a snapshot of the different transport options and a guide to their restrictions:

Some airlines charge for taking equipment, and some don’t, and this can also apply to bikes, golf clubs, parachutes, mountaineering equipment - so check before you book. Make sure you pack your gear well, as it’s not unusual for there to be a few bumps and bruises along the way if you don’t! The same applies for your bike, whether that be a mountain bike, road bike or touring bike... pack it well and ensure it falls within the packaging guidelines specified by the carrier. For more information see our Cycling & Mountain Biking guides.

Airport Transfer companies need to know exactly what you’re bringing so that they can ensure having sufficient capacity for bikes/golf clubs etc. An 8-seater minibus is much more cramped if all 8 of you turn up with bikes without having forewarned the driver!