The best beaches in Ibiza for a lazy day are not always the ones on the posters, and the best beaches in Ibiza for sunset are mostly on this side of the island. This stretch of the west coast, from Cala Gració just north of Sant Antoni down to Cala Tarida, packs five very different coves into about twenty minutes of driving. The table above compares them on the things that decide a beach day: the sand, which way the beach faces at sunset, how sheltered it is, and how you get there.
Use the buttons to filter. Pick “Sunset view” and the list drops to the coves that look straight out at the setting sun. Pick “Families” and you get the ones with a sandy bottom and a gentle slope.
How the west-coast coves compare
Each cove has its own character:
- Port des Torrent is the small, deep inlet at the end of Sant Antoni Bay: calm water, a bus stop by the sand and a west-facing sunset.
- Cala Bassa is the long sandy bay under centuries-old junipers. It is the easiest swim on the coast and the busiest in August.
- Cala Comte is a chain of small coves between rock platforms, with islets offshore. It has the best snorkelling and the most famous sunset.
- Cala Tarida is the widest bay, with soft sand, two islets in the middle and the most space on a busy day.
- Cala Gració is the closest to Sant Antoni, with a tiny sister cove, Gracioneta, and an official snorkelling route.
Best beaches in Ibiza for sunset
Three of the five coves face the sun as it sets, which is why the list of the best beaches in Ibiza for sunset leans so heavily on this coast. Cala Comte’s western beach looks across open water to the islets. Port des Torrent looks out of the mouth of Sant Antoni Bay. Cala Gració has Sa Conillera directly in front, and the sun drops behind it around the equinoxes. Cala Bassa faces north, so its sunset crowd gathers on the rocks towards the old watchtower.
The sunset calculator works out the time, compass bearing and afterglow for any date.
Best beaches for families and easy swimming
Cala Tarida and Cala Bassa win here. Both have a sandy bottom that shelves very slowly, ramps, amphibious wheelchairs and a lifeguard in high season. Port des Torrent is a good smaller alternative, especially if you are coming from Sant Antoni by bus.
Snorkelling on the west coast
The rock platforms at Cala Comte and the marked route from Cala Gracioneta are the two best options. Posidonia seagrass grows close to shore at all five coves. The rules page explains why boats may not anchor on it, and what the beach flags mean.
Before you choose
The facts in the table come from the Sant Josep and Sant Antoni council beach pages, the Balearic government’s tourism site and Spain’s national tourism portal. Where they disagree, mostly about beach lengths, the figures are rounded and marked as approximate. Bus lines are the summer 2026 network, the first season under the new operator. Drive times come from OpenStreetMap routing without traffic, so add a margin in July and August.
The sea decides more than any table does. The 7-day forecast compares waves, wind and sea temperature at all five coves, and it is worth a look the evening before.
Questions people ask
Which is the best beach in Ibiza's west coast for sunset?
Cala Comte has the most famous sunset, over open sea and islets. Port des Torrent and Cala Gració also face the setting sun and are far less crowded at that hour. Cala Bassa faces north, so walk out on the rocks for the view.
Which west-coast beach in Ibiza is best for families?
Cala Tarida and Cala Bassa: both have sandy bottoms, very gentle slopes and lifeguards in high season. Port des Torrent is a calm, smaller alternative with a bus stop next to the sand.
Which are the best beaches in Ibiza for snorkelling on the west coast?
Cala Comte's rock platforms and Cala Gracioneta, where Sant Antoni council marks an official snorkelling route. The rocky ends of Port des Torrent and Cala Bassa are good for a shorter swim.
Can I visit several west-coast beaches in one day without a car?
Yes. In summer 2026 the new A14 bus links Cala Bassa, Platges de Comte, Cala Tarida and Sant Josep, and Cruceros Portmany boats run from Sant Antoni to Cala Bassa and Cala Comte.
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