Ibiza with kids: shallow beaches, short boat trips and what to skip
Updated October 18, 2026 · 6 min read
Ibiza is known for clubs, but the island has quiet corners and plenty for children. For a first outing with kids, the boat trip to the Margaritas Islands with aquarium ticket is the sensible one: 3 hours, €33.15 per person, 4.3 stars from 271 reviews. This page is about what suits children and what does not, and it is clear about where the listings say nothing.
One rule first: ages are not in the summaries
Almost none of the listings give a minimum age. The exception is the scuba try-dive, which names 10 years. For everything else, the operators set their own limits and the booking page states them. We do not give age ranges for quad, jeep or boat tours, because they are not in the listings. If a child is under about school age, look at the booking page before you pick the tour, and ask the operator if it is silent.
Beaches first
For small children the beach is the main thing. Santa Eulària on the east coast has been named a “Child Friendly City” by UNICEF, and its beach has shallow water and white sand with cafes close by. Es Canar, just north of it, is described as long, with calm shallow sea and pedalos, and a hippie market on Wednesdays through the season with a kids’ area. Cala Comte on the west coast has clear water for snorkelling with children who are used to a mask. Check the conditions on the day: the west coast gets more wind and swell than the east.
Trips that suit children
| Trip | Duration | Price | Rating | Why it works |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Margaritas Islands boat trip with aquarium ticket | 3 hours | €33.15 per person | 4.3 ★ · 271 | short, swim stop, aquarium at Cap Blanc, drinks and fruit |
| Family day: treetop course, aquarium and water park | 8 hours | €249 per person | no reviews yet | hotel transport, tickets, safety equipment, lunch and drinks |
| Jeep tour to hidden places and Benirras beach | 5 hours | €115 per person | 4.9 ★ · 1,569 | a swim stop and a baguette; see the Jeep tour article |
| Ferry to Formentera from Playa d’en Bossa | 45 minutes | €45 per person | 4.6 ★ · 1,366 | a short crossing; see the ferry or boat trip article |
The family day is the only listing built as a whole family day, and it has no reviews yet. At €249 per person for a family of four that is close to €1,000, so ask what the price covers for children before you book, because the listing shows one price per person. The aquarium at the Margaritas trip is a good reason to pick it for a first boat outing: it breaks the day up.
Trips that are long or loud
Boat days of six hours or more, such as the beach-hopping cruise at 6 hours, are long for small children on deck. The 9-to-10-hour Formentera days are longer still. The quad and buggy tours are described as suitable for families, but the listing does not say whether a child may ride along; see the quad and buggy comparison. For older children, the try-dive starts at 10 according to the listing.
What not to book
Club passes, pool parties and boat parties are for adults: O Beach, for one, admits only guests aged 18 or over. Skip any pool party in the afternoon if you are with children, even if the listing mentions a pool.
Sun, water and comfort
Plan boat trips for the morning, bring a hat and sunscreen, and take a change of clothes. For seasickness or sun protection in small children, ask a pharmacist or your paediatrician before you travel; we do not recommend any remedy here. The listings do not say whether the boats have shade, toilets or children’s life jackets, so ask when you book.
More options are on the boat trips page and the things to do in Ibiza page.
Our choice
For most families: a morning at Santa Eulària or Es Canar, then the 3-hour Margaritas boat trip with the aquarium on another day. Save the long boat days and the adventure tours for children who have shown they can sit still for hours.
