Our 3 Day Ibiza with Kids Itinerary

If you're planning a family holiday to Ibiza, you might be wondering how to make the most of your time on the island. I recently visited Ibiza with my three youngest (aged 1, 6 and 8 years old) and my sister and this is our itinerary;

We caught an evening flight to Ibiza and went straight to our hotel in Sant Antonio to sleep. We were travelling on a small budget so we stayed in the Hostal Anibal which was a basic 2 star hotel with clean rooms, a pool and a bar that served food and drink. It was £120 in total for three nights in a room and I would stay again. There are plenty of other options in this family friendly area if you have a bigger budget.

Day 1 : Sant Antonio

We were eager to start exploring the beautiful island of Ibiza. Our first day was spent in the charming area of Sant Antonio and the seafront was only a few minutes walk from our hotel. We decided to take a stroll along the front and discovered many parks that were perfect for the children to play in. It was around 21 degrees which felt so warm after the English weather, so we couldn't resist having a paddle in the sea and collecting shells along the beach.

For lunch, we chose a local restaurant where we could dine outdoors and enjoy the sunshine. There were playgrounds next to many of the restaurants so the children could play whilst they waited -something we really appreciated! We then browsed the shops and bought some souvenirs before heading back to our hotel for a swim in the pool and some quiet time.

In the evening, we made our way on foot to the sunset strip to watch the sun set. As most of the clubs and bars weren't open yet, there was plenty of space to sit with a picnic and watch the sun going down and the kids loved climbing in the rocks. I think in the height of the season this is an area you need to pay to enjoy as the decking is all used by the bars but over the Easter holidays you can bring your own food and drink and enjoy the views for free.

Day 2: Abandoned Festival Club and Ibiza Old Town

The next day, we decided to explore some of the historical and cultural aspects of the island. We drove to the abandoned festival club and were blown away by the graffiti art that covered the walls. The children were fascinated by the vibrant colours and designs. This wasn't the most toddler friendly area as the ground is uneven and there is lots of rubble, but the 6 and 8 year old just loved exploring. We took plenty of photos to remember this unique experience. It isn't easy to reach unless you have a hire car but is well worth the trip. We only saw one other family the whole time we were there.

Afterwards, we drove to Ibiza old town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We admired the beautiful white streets that I always associate with Spain, and went up to the castle to take in the stunning views and see the canons. For lunch, we decided to try some tapas at a local restaurant but we headed further down from the castle as the prices got cheaper the further you went. There was a playground next to the place we chose so the children were happy to play and make new friends while we enjoyed our meal.

After returning to our hotel for a swim and rest again, we went to Sant Antonio beach with a picnic to watch the sunset and play football on the sand. The beach was pretty much deserted and the colours of the sky were incredible. This was possibly my favourite memory from our trip, the children were so happy, the views so beautiful and I felt really grateful for the experience.

Day 3: Hippy Market and Playa Den Bossa beach

On our last day in Ibiza, we knew we had to visit the famous Hippy market. It's full of vendors selling handmade goods, jewellery, clothing, and other unique items. It was a great place to buy souvenirs and soak up the atmosphere. We spent a couple of hours wandering around and browsing the stalls. The market only runs on a Wednesday so make sure you time it right and bring cash.

Afterwards, we headed to Playa den Bossa to swim in the Mediterranean sea and play on the beach. The kids loved building sandcastles and playing in the water. We did find it harder to get food in this area as many of the local hotels and bars aren't open yet but there were still some open restaurants and we pretty much had the beach to ourselves. The sea is quite cold still in April, but we all had a swim.

We drove back to the airport in the early evening ready for a late flight back to the UK.

Overall, our holiday in Ibiza was an unforgettable experience. I feel like our itinerary gave us a great overview of the island, it suited all our ages and we managed to do it on a very low budget (other than flights, accommodation and food our only expenses were car hire and souvenirs. We ate out once per day but bought the rest of our food from the supermarkets and made picnics). Would you visit Ibiza with children?

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Travelling with a toddler

We have travelled lots as a family and I travelled alone before I had children but this was the first time I had taken just a toddler overseas on my own and I would definitely do it again.  At nearly two and a half Cora has the language to tell me what she wants and to talk a bit about what we can see, but she also still has a nap in the middle of the day sometimes (especially if we go for a walk with the buggy) and she made a lovely travel companion.

We flew to Budapest in Hungary on the Monday night and due to RyanAir's strict new cabin bag policy and my stubbornness, we had a child's backpack and a handbag between us with all our luggage.  She isn't allowed the tablet at home but I had loaded it with some games I thought she might like and I was hoping that it would keep her occupied.  That and a magazine we bought at the airport provided enough entertainment for the 2.5 hour flight and we got a cab the other side to find our hostel.

We booked into a hostel as we are used to bed sharing (although she sleeps in her own room now) and we had a private double room for our stay which was perfect.  She amazed me with her ability to take it all in.  Budapest was a great city to explore on foot and she loved running around as well as taking it all in from the buggy.

Travelling with a two year old, I was aware that we had very different ideas of enjoyable so I made sure we spent an hour or so at a playground every morning as that is her favourite place.  We found some fantastic ones and generally had them all to ourselves! It was dry whilst we were there but I think it must have rained the day before we arrived as she found the best puddles to jump in!

Only having one child meant I could do everything at her pace and as we had nothing booked, it didn't matter if we walked the long way because she wanted to balance along a wall as we walked.  We found a pond on the way to the baths and spent ages talking to the ducks and watching them waddling around, at the Christmas market she was allowed to choose a toy to take home (she picked an adorable handmade unicorn soft toy) and we made sure to both try a selection of Hungarian treats.

I wasn't worried about flying with her or being in another country, but I am used to other adults and her to other children.  In fact, it wasn't until we were leaving that I realised how little time we spent together just the two of us as we are nearly always with friends or at playgroups during the school hours.  It turned out to be just what we both needed though, and I heard her language progress as she communicated with me.

Our hostel was small and our room was right near the shared kitchen which meant I could put her to bed in the evenings and then sit in the common area and chat to some of the other travellers which helped keep me sane.  The fact that it costs no extra to use your data abroad too meant I was always connected to the outside world if I needed a break from a toddler.

Having just Cora with me meant not needing to tell her off and no tantrums or upset other than the time I told her not to eat the fairy lights.  It was lovely to just be together, to enjoy each other and to share the experiences.

I do think it would have been quite different if she was much younger as it was lovely to chat to her and listen to her thoughts on the world and what we see.  She was able to tell me what she wanted and needed and it made everything easier.  I would love to travel more with her, or to take one of the boys on a similar trip and I am so glad we found the time to get away.

If you want to read more about our trip to Budapest, then check out what we got up to on our 72 hours in Budapest with a toddler.  Of course I have lots of photos of my little explorer that I wanted to share . . .

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72 hours in Budapest with a Toddler

Technically, we weren't in Budapest for 72 hours, but it made a better title with a round number and if you have a little longer there then I would suggest scheduling in a bit more rest because we came home exhausted! Last week Cora and I hopped on a plane though and flew to Budapest in Hungary arriving into the airport at 9pm on the Monday night

I had decided that we would stay in a hostel and it was a great choice for us.  I chose a small one in a great location and we had a private room.  They were really helpful with answering all my questions and our room was clean and comfortable.  It meant we had more money for enjoying the city and a kitchen to prepare our own food if we wanted to.

There is something magical and majestic about Budapest and I think it comes down to the Danube river which flows through the centre seperating Buda and Pest.  Being able to take in the architecture as a whole, the reflections in the water and the stunning warmth as the city lights up in the evenings make the city one of the most beautiful I have been in.

During our visit the day time temperature ranged from 2 to 10 degrees and nights were colder.  It was dry and the morning sunshine was so bright it created a hazy mist across the river that made everything look even more magical.  Everything I had read about Budapest spoke of it's beauty in the summer but I found it the perfect city to explore in the winter.  I was initially drawn in by the Christmas markets but I think my favourite thing about our visit was just wandering and enjoying the vibe, the life and the architecture.

I didn't see many tourists with toddlers but other that occasional stair issues, it was easy to navigate with a toddler.  Everything was in walking distance (if you have a buggy or sling for little legs) and the public transport system was vast and accessible with a Metro, busses and trams (they are pretty hot on ticket checks so make sure you buy before you board!)

On my first day in a new city, I like to get my bearings so we mostly just walked.  We headed down to the main hub of the city to discover the Christmas markets.  One half was situated in front of a majestic basilica and the other half in a central square and the smells and sights were beautiful.  Cora and I browsed the festive goods, tried a few Hungarian meals and snacks (be warned, being vegetarian is very limiting over there) and stopped for coffee. If you are sensible, it is much cheaper in Hungary than the UK but if you visit an international chain like Starbucks or Costa then you will be charged UK prices. We stuck to independent coffee shops and found it was closer to £1.20 for a cappucino.  As we had the buggy, we walked over one of the main bridges as the sun was setting and walked home on the other side of the river (crossing again further down).  The houses of Parliament are probably the most imposing building and rightly so. Not only were they spectacular by day but stunning at night.

Travelling with a toddler meant compromising on the day and in exchange for Cora staying in the buggy whilst I walked, I made sure we visited at least one park every day and we were so impressed with them.  On the first day we came across Olimpia park which was so well looked after and had clean toilets too! She loved running along the seafront, spotting the lights and we both loved finding Tram 2 which is lit up with fairy lights over December.  Unfortunately we didn't manage to get on it as it was so busy but I was recommended that at 4pm it is much quieter!

On the second day, we decided to head to Margaret Island, a small island in the middle of the Danube only a few minutes walk from our hostel.  It was quiet and probably much better in the summer but it was a lovely place to wander, taking in the sites and they had a couple of playgrounds.  After lunch and a little break at the hostel, we decided to try out one of Budapest's famous thermal baths in the afternoon and we chose the biggest, most tourist-y one as the location was easy for us and there was lots nearby to look at.

Szechenyi baths is a huge yellow building and we spent a while admiring the ceilings.  After paying our entry (it worked out about £14 as Cora was free but be aware that children are only allowed in if they are already potty trained and swim nappies are not allowed).  We went in about 12 different pools inside that were all different temperatures ranging from 28 to 38 degrees and it was so much fun looking around as the pools are all dotted around through different side rooms and corridors.  The main feature however was the big outdoor pool.  It was about 4.30 by the time we got out there and the temperature was about 4 degrees but the water was a warm 34 and it felt like a bath! The outdoor pool is lit with underwater lights that change colour and there is a swim circle with a current as well as lots of little nooks.  It felt like such a treat to be enjoying the views and the atmosphere whilst snuggly warm and we loved watching the steam rising off the water.  Cora thought it was the best swimming pool ever and as the only child we saw, she got a lot of attention!  

We spent about 1.5 hours in the baths, flitting between the pools and it was amazing, definitely something not to miss if you find yourself in Budapest! Next door is Heroes Square which is beautiful and a huge outdoor skating rink in the winter.  We decided not to attempt skating but we did watch for a little while.

Near our hostel was a huge mall with a food court where we went for dinner as I did struggle in restaurants as a vegetarian.  Many places didn't do a single vegetarian item other than chips.

On our last day we were due to fly home at 3.50pm but as we only had hand luggage, there was no rush to get to the hospital.  I had read about a place called Fisherman's Bastion on the Buda side of the river and loved the idea of walking over there to watch the sunrise, but it turns out when my alarm goes off at 6am I am much better at turning it off and going back to sleep than I am at getting up!  We made it over there for about 10 am though and as it was low season, it wasn't nearly as busy as I was expecting.  Fisherman's Bastion has views out over the whole city and they were absolutely breathtaking.  Cora declared it her princess castle and I can see why! The turrets and windows were all made with instagram in mind it seemed and we found a little cafe at the top of one turret that was completely empty and perfect for a coffee and some juice!

Cora found a man playing jingle bells on the accordian and did a little dance show for all the tourists and she got so much attention (possibly as yet again she was the only child around).  I was really surprised at the lack of children everywhere as I found it a brilliant city to explore with a toddler.  The Bastion was free to enter and there were small parts that you needed to pay for but we didn't enter those.  You do have to pay for the toilets in most public places but it is usually around 70pence which we didn't mind as most things we did were completely free.

We absolutely loved exploring Budapest on a mini winter break.  The christmas market was wonderful, the city is stunning and full of interesting buildings and exploring on foot meant we saw so much more of it.  If you have a little longer then other things we would have loved to have done are

Another thermal bath (there are a few around the city)
Buda Castle
Ride the No.2 tram around the city
The Market Hall

PIN ME!

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