Sant Antoni de Portmany sits on the western shore of Ibiza. People know this wide bay for massive clubs and packed sunset bars. That reputation is completely accurate. But the town itself has changed a lot since its days as a quiet fishing village in the 1960s. The local government put serious money into the public spaces recently. You can actually walk or bike the entire renovated seafront promenade now, going straight from the busy main port all the way out to quieter coves without fighting traffic.
Watching the Sky
Walk down the western promenade in the late afternoon and you’ll see the crowds starting to form. This stretch is famously called the Sunset Strip. The daily routine here involves grabbing a drink and facing the water. Café del Mar started doing this back in 1980. They still play a very specific style of chilled-out electronic music as the sun goes down. Next door is Café Mambo. That is where the major international DJs play their pre-party warm-up sets right on the open terrace. Tons of smaller bars fill the gaps between these famous spots.
Around the Bay
Right in the middle of the bay sits a massive floating sculpture of an egg. Locals call it S’Ou des Colomí. It marks a local legend claiming Christopher Columbus was actually from Ibiza. The main boulevard behind the water is packed with casual tapas joints and higher-end dining rooms.
Getting to the Water
You can reach the best swimming spots by car or scooter. A regular water taxi also runs straight from the main port if you prefer to skip the parking situation.
Cala Comte has ridiculously clear water and a bunch of smooth rock formations splitting up the sandy inlets. Locals usually just write it as Cala Conta. There are chiringuitos serving fresh seafood right on the sand. You absolutely need to arrive early if you come in July or August. The sand disappears fast under the towels.
Then there is Cala Bassa. Pine trees back the entire beach so you can actually sit in the shade if you bring a picnic. The water stays shallow for a long time. It gets loud around the Cala Bassa Beach Club with the music and rented sunbeds, but families still prefer this spot for the calm water.
Sometimes you just want to walk straight into the ocean from town. Playa de Sant Antoni is the main beach right on the bay. It offers a long stretch of soft sand and plenty of waterfront cafes.
Base Camp Logistics
Staying here puts you in a great position to hit the west coast. The local bus service runs directly to Ibiza Town and it costs very little. That saves a lot of money on cabs. Summer is predictably packed. Late September is a massive improvement for crowds. And May or early October work perfectly well too.