Santa Eulália del Rio, or Santa Eulària des Riu in the Catalan language, is Ibiza’s third-largest municipality. The blue waters in its marina reflect the town’s stacked whitewashed buildings and trees in all hues of green. Santa Eulália del Rio is a cosmopolitan and cultural town with a range of historical and family attractions. Dine at some of the island’s best restaurants, most of which are open year-round.
The town is close enough to Ibiza Town to be able to travel back and forth by taxi or scooter. Santa Eulália del Rio does have its own bars and resorts, but generally the atmosphere there is far more laid-back than the famous clubs in the south. Go for a swim at one of the town’s well-maintained beaches: Playa de Santa Eulália and Playa des Riu.
The palm tree-lined promenade in the marina has an original bridge that was built by the Romans. See the old town hall and sit by the fountain on the plaza and explore the fortified 16th-century church atop Puig de Missa hill. For some more cultural discovery, browse art galleries and history museums.
The promontory of Punta Arabi, at the east end of the bay, is home to the all-inclusive Club Punta Arabi. Every Wednesday from April until October it hosts the Hippy Market, one of the area’s biggest attractions since the 1970s. Hundreds of stalls set up shop on the paved areas on the club’s grounds. Buy hand-crafted jewellery or Italian leather goods and see traditional regional dance shows.
Located 15 kilometres (9 miles) northeast of Ibiza Town and 21 kilometres (13 miles) away from the island’s international airport, Santa Eulália del Rio is easy to reach. The peak summer months are when you can expect the town’s bars, promenade and beaches to be in full swing. To fully enjoy the town’s cultural charms in a quieter setting, visit between November to April.