The Best Time to Visit Ibiza

The beautiful island of Ibiza is in an enviable position in the Mediterranean Sea. It enjoys sunshine on 300 days every year, meaning those who visit and live in Ibiza can enjoy outdoor activities no matter when you’re visiting.

At the same time, tourism to the island is very seasonal. Ibiza’s summer season starts in April, peaks in July and August, and ends in October. Many hotels and restaurants only open for the summer season, however the island does not close entirely during the winter.

Ibiza is open year-round, but the best time to visit depends on what you’re looking for. For some, that means exploring the island’s natural beauty by land or sea. For others, it’s all about the clubbing. It may simply be sitting on a beach doing very little at all. Or, for many, it’s a mixture of all three.

Our guide for the best time to go to Ibiza will hopefully help you understand more about the climate, what to expect during different parts of the year, and of course how this all fits in with Ibiza’s famous nightlife.

Over 3.7 million people visit Ibiza each year—an incredible number considering the island’s population is just over 100,000. It’s little surprise that just under 85% of its economy is based around tourism.

The busy season for Ibiza takes place especially between June and August. The shoulder months of April, May, September, and October will still see nearly everywhere open on the island, but with fewer people.

You might think summer in the Mediterranean typically spans May to September.

However, in Ibiza, the summer season is often associated with when its nightlife gets underway. Ibiza’s Opening Parties take place over a period of several weeks, with small and big clubs putting on a series of special parties to kickstart the season.

Likewise, Ibiza’s Closing Parties signal the end of the summer season before their winter hibernation takes place.

In years gone by the Opening Parties would take place towards the end of May, and Closing Parties around the middle of September.

Nowadays, however, the Ibiza clubbing season has lengthened, extending the summer season.

Since the end of the pandemic, the International Music Summit (IMS) has taken place at the end of April, and with it, many of Ibiza’s Opening Parties too. Whilst some parties do end in September, it’s common for many Closing Parties to extend into the first couple of weeks of October.

The winter season in Ibiza lasts from November to April. During this time, tourism hot spots such as Playa d’en Bossa become extremely quiet with nearly all hotels and restaurants shut.

However, the entire island is not asleep. If you’re going to Ibiza during the winter season, your best bet for accommodation and places to eat will be Ibiza Town. You’ll find little clubbing (aside from the occasional New Year’s Eve party), but with some research, you can still discover cultural events in Ibiza during the off-season.

Next, let’s take a look at what to expect in Ibiza broken down by month.

The winter months are a fantastic time to witness Ibiza during its most quiet period. We recommend staying in Ibiza Town during the winter to still have enough dining options open at your fingertips.

Cultural events such as Flower Power in San Antonio, Carnival in March, and the Ibiza Light Festival in November are all worth checking out if you happen to be on the island while they’re taking place.

The weather is relatively “cold” compared to the rest of the year, but don’t let that fool you. Ibiza’s average temperature in the winter is 12.6 degrees, which is still very pleasant to be outside. Just don’t expect to be swimming in the sea unless you’re feeling very brave!

It’s no surprise that popular luxury hotels such as The Standard and El Hotel Pacha offer greatly reduced rates during the winter months.

Club nights are few and far between during the winter. However, there are some exceptions. DC10 frequently hosts a New Year’s Day party, while Pacha typically opens on New Year’s Eve too.

Beyond that, if you’re looking for clubbing during these months we recommend checking out Akasha. Located towards the north of the island, it’s a small but exceptionally well put together club that still puts on weekend events during the winter.

April used to be considered off-season, but now it marks the transition into summer.

This is because the final weekend of the month sees IMS take place. It’s a music industry conference which frequently ends with the island’s largest clubs hosting their Opening Parties on the same weekend.

The weather in April is still quite cool, with an average of just under 16 degrees. Don’t expect to be spending a lot of time by the pool while these very early Opening Parties are taking place, however you can still expect some excellent sunny days.

You’ll find great value at many hotels in April, but be aware that not all restaurants in the popular resorts will be open yet.

Ibiza is a fantastic place to visit in May. If you’re looking for good weather, nightlife, and good value, then we recommend considering it for your time to go to Ibiza.

For nightlife, most clubs will have already opened, so you’ll have plenty of options to get your dancing fix. With that said, you should still do your research because some residencies will not truly get underway until a little later in the season (think Calvin Haris, elrow, David Guetta).

At the same time, you can be confident in your favourite restaurants and beach clubs to already be open in May. What’s more, they are easier to book and less crowded. The same can be said of the whole island before the peak of the summer kicks in!

By now we’re approaching the busy season in Ibiza. Average temperatures in June are over 22 degrees, and it sees the whole island in full swing for the summer season.

In terms of nightlife, the vast majority of residencies and clubs will be open 7 days a week at this point.

Hotel deals aren’t as good as May, but you will still find prices better than in July and August.

June is also when the annual Ibiza Gay Pride celebrations take place. Look out for various events throughout June across the whole island.

Here we are – peak season. These months see the highest number of flights, cruise passengers, and everyone in between as they descend on the White Isle for their summer holidays.

Resorts and hotels will be very busy in these months, along with the highest temperatures of the year, with an average of over 25 degrees. Many days will be much hotter.

The clubbing season is alive and kicking. The very biggest names across all genres of dance music will be well into their residencies. If you’ve come to Ibiza for nightlife, you will be spoilt for choice by the sheer number of parties taking place on any given night of the week.

By the way, here’s a quick tip: for a quieter beach experience in July, check out Cala Llentrisca instead of the packed Cala Comte

The busiest weekend of the summer season is arguably in early August, which is typically when BBC Radio 1 host a series of parties across the island.

Be warned: if you don’t book your accommodation in advance you may be in with a nasty surprise!

After the madness of peak season, September is another of our favourite months to enjoy the island. Temperatures drop to a very agreeable 23 degrees, crowds are a little more manageable, and you will absolutely find cheaper accommodation options.

For nightlife, you’ll start to see Closing Parties take place any time during the month. These are arguably the best parties in the entire season, so plan ahead as tickets can sell out for the most popular events.

October is an excellent month to visit Ibiza if you’re happy with the weather being a little more unpredictable. It’s still likely to be around 20 degrees this month, but the sea is cooler, and you’re far less guaranteed to get a full week of uninterrupted sunshine.

If you still want to catch Ibiza’s nightlife in October, you’ll want to visit in the first two weeks of the month. Nearly all residencies will have finished by then, and you’ll need to plan carefully if you’re planning on going clubbing during your visit.

October is one of the best months to find cheap flights and hotels right before the season ends. Be kind to your workers: they are ready for a well deserved rest!

The best time to go to Ibiza to party is between June and September. The Ibiza clubbing season runs between April – October, but for the widest choice of parties you should visit in the peak summer months.

Nearly all clubs shut between October – March, so you should not expect to experience Ibiza’s nightlife if you visit during those winter months.

Clubbing in Ibiza is possible in April and October, but make sure you plan your parties ahead of time – don’t assume every club will be open every night!

Ibiza has a pleasant climate all year around. However, for the hottest weather, you should visit in July or August where the average temperature reaches 27 degrees.

June and September are also excellent months for weather, with an average of 22 degrees. The sea temperature in September is still a very comfortable 26 degrees, perfect for swimming off that hangover after a big night out!

Cheap accommodation in Ibiza can be found at any time during the winter, however there are far fewer hotels open during that time.

In the summer season, the shoulder months of April, May, late September, and October, are all excellent times to find hotel and villa deals.

It’s common to find hotels offering early booking discounts on their websites from the beginning of January. Booking direct is nearly always the cheapest option to go for.

There’s no bad time to go to Ibiza as a family, however if you’re looking for warm weather we recommend visiting between May – October.

If you have very young kids, the peak months of July and August may be too hot to spend at the beach all day.

In our experience, May, September and October are perfect months for kids to enjoy the Mediterranean weather and sea. They’re also a little quieter compared to July and August.

Is there a bad time to go to Ibiza? No! However, we’ll reiterate this: you can pick a bad time to go to Ibiza if you’re expecting certain weather, or a specific level of nightlife activity in any given month.

If you’re looking for great weather as well as clubbing, then the worst time to visit Ibiza is between November – March.

However, there’s always something to explore and experience on the White Isle!

Ibiza is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Spain for a good reason. It’s got everything from luxury hotels, family friendly villas, amazing restaurants, and unbeatable nightlife.

When you choose to go should be based on your budget, and what activities you want to do while you’re on the island.

We hope this guide has given you food for thought before your visit. And if you’re thinking about booking that trip to Ibiza, then do it!