Ibiza Gay and Lesbian Scene

(Ibiza, Balearic Islands, Spain)

A sunny Mediterranean climate, beautiful golden beaches and an unrivalled reputation as a party island make the island of Ibiza something of an idyllic gay holiday destination. In fact, in recent years, it's come to attract ever larger numbers of holidaying gays and lesbians, not just from Europe, but from all over the world.

Ibiza Town (Eivissa) is the main focus for the island's gay visitors. In particular, Ibiza's gay hot spots include the harbour, Old Town and Figueretas districts, where a particularly accepting atmosphere rules. By far the best time of the year to visit is during the summer months, when the sun is at its hottest and the party season is in full flow.

Gay Ibiza: General Information

Plenty of gay friendly accommodation is available in Ibiza, ranging from self-catering apartments to stylish five-star hotels. Among them, several can offer exclusively gay accommodation.

For those who prefer to be close to the fun in town, there are several large hotels situated in Ibiza's Old Towns. Most of these boast a full range of facilities. If you value your sea view and little extras, such as a hotel gym, then expect to pay more. For a luxury holiday, top-of-the-range accommodation includes the well-known Hotel Los Molinos.

More moderately priced hotels are also available. Most of these are located a handy distance from the beach and Ibiza Old Town. The two-star Marigna Hotel, situated in Figueretas, is reputed to be Europe's largest exclusively gay hotel. Cenit Appartments also remains a favourite among gay visitors.

When it comes to nightlife, Ibiza boasts dozens of gay friendly clubs, bars and restaurants. Most of Ibiza's gay bars can be found in the Old Town district, along the Calle de la Virgen and Calle Alfonso XII. Most of these hold popular gay club nights or parties once a week. The best way to make sure you don't miss any of the action is to keep an eye open for event posters displayed around the island. Local clubs tend to open from 21:00 to 03:00, with most of the action happening after midnight. However, most gay visitors will want to head straight to Anfora, on Calle de San Carlos. As Ibiza Town's only exclusively gay club, Anfora stays open until 06:00 from May to October and has become something of an icon in the gay world.

For daytime entertainment, Ibiza has two main gay beaches, both of which are located to the south of Ibiza Town. Perhaps the most popular is Playa des Cavallet Beach, situated just a short distance from Ibiza Town. As well as allowing nude sunbathing, the beach also has a bar which offers snacks, drink and music throughout the day. Nearby Playa Salinas is just as gay friendly as Los Molinos, although it is more remotely located and slightly less attractive to some because of its pebbles.