A day at the beach in Ibiza often means choosing between lying your towel on the sand or paying for the comfort of a sunbed with an umbrella. Many travellers are surprised by the wide range of prices — from affordable public concessions that charge only a few euros, to luxury beach clubs where a sunbed can cost as much as a full dinner. If you are planning your holiday and want to understand how the system works and when exactly you can find sunbeds, these tricks will help you save money while still enjoying the island’s famous beaches.
Understanding how sunbeds are regulated
The first thing every visitor should know is that all beaches in Ibiza are public. No one can restrict access to the sea or the sand. However, local councils grant licences to companies that provide services on the beaches such as sunbeds, umbrellas and kiosks. These licences come with fixed conditions, including maximum prices, durations and operational periods.
For example:
- In Ibiza Town, the maximum authorised price is 6 euros per day for a sunbed or umbrella. The town hall has even issued fines to companies that tried to charge more than that.
- In Sant Josep, the official price is 10 euros per day, reduced to 5 euros after 3:30 pm.
- In Sant Antoni, which includes Cala Salada and s’Arenal, the maximum is 7 euros per day for both sunbeds and umbrellas.
- In Santa Eulària, the local council publishes an official price list annually. For 2025, daily rates are regulated via the public contract for “temporada de playas.”
- In Sant Joan, which includes Benirràs, Portinatx and Cala d’en Serra, concessions also exist with limits on the number of sunbeds. The exact public rates vary depending on the specific lot.
Trick 1: before paying, check the local council’s official price. If you are in the public part of the beach, you should not be charged more than that.
When can you expect sunbeds to be available?
Knowing when sunbeds are installed and removed is key if you want to plan wisely and avoid paying premium rates in peak windows.
- In Ibiza Town, the municipal government held a meeting with beach concessionaires on 8 May 2025 to prepare the season and enforce conditions. This indicates an early-May start
- In Sant Josep, several beaches begin services on 1 May, including Cala Tarida, Es Cavallet, Port des Torrent, and Jondal.
- That said, some operators in Sant Josep already installed sunbeds and umbrellas as early as 25 March in past seasons, ahead of the official start.
- In Santa Eulària, although the contracts are for the ‘season’, a review revealed that in earlier years some installations were delayed until mid-July in certain beaches, due to administrative delays.
- Regarding the end of season (removal), there is no reliable public information in 2025, but contracts typically cover from spring through autumn, with removal expected around October.
Trick 2: if you visit in early May or late September/October, check locally whether the concession is active — there may be gaps, especially in less central beaches.
Why beach clubs charge more
If all beaches are public, why do some beach clubs charge 50, 100 or even 200 euros for a sunbed? The difference lies in the type of concession and how they frame their service.
In many cases, beach clubs operate on private land or extended licences that allow them to install furniture on sand in front of their premises. They present their sunbeds as part of a package that includes waiter service, towels, drinks, and access to premium facilities. Therefore, their prices are not bound by the council’s public tariffs.
Trick 3: avoid the first line in front of luxury venues if you want to save. Walk a few metres away and you will often find the public concession with much lower rates.
Afternoon discounts
Not everyone spends all day on the beach. Councils like Sant Josep offer a reduced rate after 3:30 pm, usually 5 euros. This is ideal if you arrive later in the day.
Trick 4: make your beach visit in the afternoon and benefit from lower rates.
Bring your own shade
One of the surest ways to avoid paying is to bring your own umbrella or beach tent. The beaches are public, so you can always settle where there is no commercial zone. In quieter coves in the north (e.g. Portinatx), many locals simply bring their own gear.
Trick 5: buy a compact umbrella or tent in Ibiza — in just a few days it pays for itself compared to daily rentals.
Choosing the right beaches
Beaches heavily dominated by clubs (Playa d’en Bossa, Cala Jondal, etc.) will cost more. More natural beaches or those farther from hubs often have large free zones or modest concession facilities.
Trick 7: prioritise less commercialised beaches if your goal is savings over convenience.
What visitors should remember
- All beaches in Ibiza are free to access — you do not have to pay just to enter.
- Public sunbeds have regulated prices.
- Beach clubs’ rates may be much higher and are justified by added services.
- Sunbeds are generally installed from late March / early April to September / October, though delayed setups are possible in some locales.
- Always ask for a receipt and, if possible, cross-check against the official rate.
- Arriving in the afternoon or heading to less developed beaches can yield lower costs.
