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Car hire in Ibiza - the Best of the Balearics

Affectionately known as the White Isle, Ibiza has been attracting visitors for millennia, starting with the Punics and Phoenicians before the subsequent arrival of the Romans, Byzantines, Visigoths, Moors and Christians. As magical in winter as in summer, the island receives very little rainfall during the low and shoulder seasons, and is blessed with enough warm weather for sunset cocktails on the rooftops followed by al fresco dining in seaside paradises all over the island at any time of the year. Ibiza also excels in a wide range of outdoor pursuits which are easily accessible to anyone with a car hire in Ibiza, including scuba-diving, hiking, kyaking and paddle-boarding along the island's peaceful shoreline .

With more hidden charms than many of the other Mediterranean islands, you can drive for miles and miles on Ibiza's scenic roads, encountering a succession of spectacular sea views along the way. You come across secluded coves hidden away amongst sweeping sandy bays, whilst the island's thickly-wooded interior provides plenty of options for a peaceful and fun-filled picnic with family and friends. Away from the island's famous beaches, Ibiza’s countryside is especially worth exploring, particularly during the spring bloom or as autumn retreats. Lose yourself in a leisurely drive across the island, taking in the scenery and local architecture, with whitewashed churches, rural homes, centuries-old traditions and, above all, the friendliness and warm hospitality of the Ibiza residents themselves.

The island's cosmopolitan capital, Ibiza Town (known as Eivissa by the locals), is popular for its stylish boutiques, upmarkets restaurants and lively bars in the lovely, palm tree-lined Plaza del Parque. First stop is Dalt Vila, the city's Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage and the best-preserved walled fortification in the Mediterranean region. Inside you'll find several magnificent museums, most notably the Museu d'Art Contemporani d'Eivissa and the fascinating Centre d'Interpretació Madina Yabisa portraying Ibiza's Moorish history. Don't miss Ibiza Town's 'Our Lady of the Snows' cathedral, which offers some of the best views of the entire city.

Established over 65 years ago, Auto Europe offers the cheapest car hire deals in Ibiza and elsewhere in Spain with over 24,000 pick-up and drop-off points available in more than 180 destinations worldwide. A strong leader in the international car rental industry, we have established the best possible working relationships with all the top car hire suppliers, including National, Sixt, Avis, Alamo, Europcar, Dollar, Budget and Hertz. Give our rental specialists a call on +44 123 3225 114 and they will be more than happy to help you rent a car in Ibiza and plan your trip to the Balearics at the cheapest possible prices. For general advice on getting around Ibiza and the rest of Spain by car, please consult our Spain driving guide for information on road rules, speed limits, etc. Have a read of what our previous customers have thought of the Auto Europe rental service in Ibiza. You'll find all their comments on our car hire reviews in Ibiza section.

How's the traffic in Ibiza?

Driving a car hire in Ibiza requires a certain amount of care because the local residents can sometimes be a little unpredictable. Due to roadworks and the building of new roads, visitors sometimes have to make diversions on poor quality roads, so be prepared for that when touring the island. Ibiza is a relatively small island and within forty minutes you can drive from north to south, or vice versa, but you'll need to drive carefully because of the sharp bends. But generally speaking, the roads on Ibiza are good with excellent sign posting. You can expect much more traffic during the period of May to October (particularly July and August) as this is considered the peak season with the most favourable weather. Be aware that buses are inexpensive and remain the main mode of transport for many of the islanders, which means that you'll encounter them all over Ibiza, both in the cities and the island's interior. In summer, the island's capital, Ibiza Town, and the main tourist resorts such as Sant Antoni and Santa Eulària are busy with holiday traffic, with many tourists in the streets, so make sure you drive slowly in urban areas. Although the island is small enough to be covered in a couple of hours, it's best to explore one part of the island per day, leaving you time to discover the best bays and beaches. A road-trip on Ibiza is sure to include lots of unexpected adventure no matter which part of the island you visit. Just make sure to plan your route carefully and leave lots of time to enjoy all the local culture has to offer.

Where can I park my car hire in Ibiza?

In Ibiza Town, Sant Antoni, Santa Santa Eulària and the other main tourist areas you'll find designated parking areas. Look for a pay machine and check the times when you have to pay, which can vary according to the season. Pay machines have the parking info in different languages. Note that in some areas you might not have to pay anything at all, but parking time in these zones is sometimes restricted to a couple of hours at the most. Be aware that traffic wardens patrol continuously throughout the day, so make sure you return to your vehicle in time. In Ibiza Town, look for the large parking area in the city centre which stretches from the port to the main shopping precinct. For free parking, head to the parking areas on the outskirts of town, some of which also provide a shuttle service to the centre.

Ibiza Airport

Serving the two islands of Ibiza and Formentera, Ibiza Airport is located just 7.5 km from Ibiza Town with easy access to and from all the main seaside resorts. It first opened as a military facility during the Spanish Civil War but grew significantly in the tourism boom of later years, and by the late 1990s was already handling over 3.6 million passengers a year, with the numbers fast approaching 10 million passengers today. Primarily a holiday destination, Ibiza caters for a lot of seasonal traffic during the warm summer months with a growing list of airlines serving the airport, including Air France, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, easyJet, Finnair, KLM, Lufthansa, Ryanair, TUI Airways and Vueling. The airport's passenger amenities are wide-ranging with plenty of on-site food and beverage options such as sit-down restaurants, tapas bars, cafés and fast food outlets, along with a good range of shops and duty-free stores. Several bus routes connect the airport with Ibiza Town and other destinations, while a taxi ride into the city takes about half an hour. A large car park (P1) is located about a minute's walk from the main terminal building, plus the airport's long-stay car park is just six minutes away by foot.

Ibiza Airport (IBZ)
Telephone: (+34) 91 321 10 00
Address: Ibiza Airport, Ibiza Island, 07800, Spain
Website: http://www.aena.es/en/ibiza-airport/index.html

What to do in Ibiza

Idyllically located set close to the Spanish mainland in the Mediterranean, Ibiza is a multi-faceted destination with a broad range of tourist attractions besides its long sandy coastline. Thanks to its youthful appeal, there are plenty of options for an activity-based itinerary, with lots of sightseeing with your car rental in Ibiza in between.

• Dalt Vila: Categorised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, Dalt Vila (meaning Upper Town) is the unmissable historic centre of the island's capital, Ibiza Town. This centuries-old district is packed with cultural attractions, such as Eivissa Cathedral built in the Catalan Gothic style and the ultra-stylish Museum of Contemporary Art (MACE), home to some of the rarest pieces of modern art.


• Puig des Molins: Located in close proximity to Ibiza Town's old quarter, Puig des Molins (Hill of Windmills) is the site of an original Phoenician settlement dating back to the seventh century BC in an area now classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Visitors can see a large, well-preserved necropolis containing some 3,000 tombs, some of which are open to the public. Subject to ongoing excavation work, the hillside features a tourist path around the burial chambers, with the chance of descending into one before entering an on-site archeological museum portraying the site's chronological history.


• C’an Marça Caves: Once used by smugglers, the C’an Marça Caves on the north side of Ibiza are a refreshing alternative to the summer heat and a welcome break for people touring the island. Filled with stalactites and stalagmites, visitors can enjoy an official tour of the caves and find out about their long and fascinating history, including a light show set very artistically around an artificial waterfall designed to recreate how the caves once looked.


• Cap Blanc Aquarium: Located inside a natural cave once used as a lobster nursery on the west side of the island, the excellent Cap Blanc Aquarium is a top tourist attraction for all the family. There's much to including a vast assortment of colourful fish such as the rainbow wrasse, as well as sea sponges, starfish, shark eggs and other marine life. The high quality of the water and natural environment makes the aquarium suitable for rescuing sea turtles who are well recuperated before being released back into the local waters.


• Hippy Market: Located in the north-eastern corner of the island, the famous Las Dalias Hippy Market is one of the largest flea markets in the Balearics. Taking place every Saturday from 10am onwards, it attracts locals and tourists from all over the world who spend hours visiting the many stalls in search of unique pieces of jewellery, clothing, leather accessories and much more. Food stalls are also in abundance catering for all tastes washed down by freshly-made juices and smoothies.


• Formentera: Ibiza's lesser-known sister island, Formentera, is well worth visiting for its pristine beaches and unspoilt lanscapes. Occupied since prehistoric times, the island is easily accessible from Ibiza Town with regular catamaran ferries leaving the port throughout the day, mostly during the summer months.

Best day trips with my car rental in Ibiza

From driving along Ibiza’s spectacular coast roads to exploring its unspoilt interior, visitors will find dozens of reasons to pull themselves away from the white sandy beaches to discover the island's lesser-known beauty.

Ibiza Wine Tour

Ibiza’s famously temperate weather and fortified landscapes have long provided the perfect conditions for wine-making on the island. Situated close to Sant Antoni on the west side of the island, the Can Rich de Buscastell vineyards merge tradition with modernity and regularly harvest a large variety of wines and Ibicencan liquors. Likewise, visitors are welcome to drop in on the Ibizkus estate situated on the main road between Ibiza Town and Santa Eulària to taste and buy high-quality reds and whites as well as the vineyard's award-winning rosé.

Portinatx

Beach desinations don't get much more relaxing (and children-friendly) than Portinatx in the north-eastern corner of the island. With a choice of three wonderful beaches, namely S’Arenal Gros, S’Arenal Petit and Playa Porto, the area is one of the best places to get away from the crowds during the hot summer months. With the focus on families, Portinatx offersan exhaustive range of both land and sea-based activities which are safe for the kids and also fun for the parents.

Sant Llorenc de Balafia

Tucked into the hills of north Ibiza, Sant Llorenc (otherwise known as San Lorenzo) is a pretty whitewashed vilage situated within easy striking distance of Ibiza Town. Well off the tourist trail, the village and its people are the main draw to Sant Llorenc, offering visitors an authentic taste of country life in the Mediterranean. Like in most Ibizan villages, Sant Llorenc's centrepiece is its beautiful 18th-century church, which is visible from miles around.

Boat trips

One of the best ways to see Ibiza from a different perspective is to take a boat trip around the White Isle, preferably with the chance to do some snorkelling and swimming in its translucent waters. Some of Ibiza's best beaches and surrounding islands are best reached by boat, as well as some of the hard-to-get-to caves and inlets. Younger visitors might prefer to opt for one of the larger boats with a dance floor and sound system to experience the kind of party atmosphere for which Ibiza is well known.

Geographic Information & History

Covering a total area of 572 square-kilometres (221 square-miles), Ibiza is the larger of a group of the western Balearic archipelago called the Pitiusas (Pine Islands) consisting of itself and its smaller sister island, Formentera. Ibiza's highest point is Sa Talaiassa at 475 metres (1,558 feet) and the island boasts a warm Mediterranean climate throughout the year with average temperatures around 18C (65F).

Ibiza's history goes all the way back to 654 BC when Phoenician settlers founded a port on the island. After periods of Roman, Vandal and Byzantine rule, the island was conquered by the Moors in 902 and again by the Aragonese King James I in 1235. Today Ibiza is administratively part of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands, whose capital is Palma on the island of Majorca.

How to get around Ibiza

As there are no trains on Ibiza, visitors will find that the best form of public transport is the local bus network which covers most of the island. Being a very well-established tourist destinations, it's not difficult to find a tour company offering transport to the island's top attractions and best beach resorts in air-conditioned coaches and mini-buses.

Bus

It's easy to travel around Ibiza by bus, with several public buses regularly connecting Sant Antoni on the west side of the island with Ibiza Town in the south-east throughout the year. Visitors can also take the bus from Sant Antoni to Cala Bassa, Cala Conta and Cala Tarida, as well as Ibiza International Airport. From Ibiza Town, it's possible to travel by bus to there are buses to Platja d'en Bossa, Ses Salines, the airport and Santa Eulària

Ferry

Several ferry companies operate between the ports of both Sant Antoni and Ibiza Town and major cities on the mainland, including Barcelona, Majorca, Dénia and Valencia. Visitors planning to go to Formentera can catch a ferry from Sant Antoni, Ibiza Town, Santa Eulària or Figueretes–Platja d'en Bossa.

Useful links

Ibiza Tourist Info