I went to Ibiza to rave with my toddler — you should, too

With the Balearic sun setting on the ocean behind the DJ, I close my eyes and feel the electronic thud of the bassline in my chest. Suddenly, I am brought back to reality by my three-year-old tugging at the hem of my dress.

‘Mummy? Where’s my glow stick?’

Ok, so it’s not quite the Ibiza I remember from my early 20’s, but this set up is a fun alternative. We have officially entered our ‘family rave’ era, and it would seem we are not the only ones.

Research conducted by TUI found that 60% of parents miss their child-free clubbing days and relive them at ‘kitchen discos’ with their kids.

Our first night on the White Isle really went off with a bang at the TUI Holiday Villages Seaview’s Ibiza Family Opening Weekender. A night dedicated to family raving and entertainment.

Face painting, glow sticks, bubble machines and music the whole family can dance to, plus the fact that you can be tucked up in bed at a reasonable hour is a bonus.

An unlikely location

When telling family and friends we were off on a family summer holiday to Ibiza, I got more than a couple of raised eyebrows in response. 

Them: ‘But you’re staying in the quiet, north of the island aren’t you?’

Me: ‘No, actually we’re staying in San Antonio Bay’

*Stunned silence*

Granted, Ibiza isn’t exactly the first destination that springs to mind when you think ‘family-friendly’.

The party towns of San Antonio and Playa d’en Bossa have long been home to some of the world’s most famous nightclubs, including Es Paradis, Ushuaïa and Café Del Mar. 

Rather than try to ignore the island’s clubbing history, Holiday Villages Seaview Ibiza in Port des Torrent embraces it, creating a space for both kids and their grown-ups to dance their flip flops off at their Ibiza Sunsets events.

Less than a five-minute walk from the hotel is the Port d’es Torrent beach, a small child-friendly cove with beach beds, pedalos and SUP boards for hire and a handful of restaurants.

If you fancy a day trip further afield, we found there were always metered taxis parked near the hotel entrance.

Below is a round-up of places to visit, all within a 20-minute drive.

For the kids

The convenience of having every activity you can think of right on your doorstep in the resort is invaluable to parents.

There is a lot for them to take part in and burn off some of that never-ending energy supply.

From treetop walks and a creche to football swimming academies and even its own stage school, there was something for every personality.

Attached to the resort is a water park, just in case the other three pools aren’t enough for you.

If you want to escape the hotel for a few hours, I highly recommend the family boat trip run by Meet The Sea.

A local family-run business that educates children about the sea and helping families build positive relationships with the ocean.

After we were picked up from the jetty at Port d’es Torrent beach, owner Greg took us on a little snorkeling tour around a bay at Illa de sa Conillera, or Rabbit Island, 6 kilometers off the coast. 

The island is uninhabited and part of a protected nature reserve so finding a spot to drop anchor is a precision exercise.

The Neptune grass growing on the seabed takes 100 years to regenerate so it’s important that anchors don’t rip their roots. This particular Neptune grass meadow stretches round the coast to Formentera and is over 100,000 years old.

Greg explained that he often sees many families on board where a parent has reservations when it comes to jumping into the open water (myself included). 

But after being put at ease with his informative talk about the innocent creatures lurking among the seaweed and encouraging parents to use this snorkelling time, where no WhatsApps or emails can reach you, as a ‘zen moment’ they manage to overcome their fears and show their children how to dive straight in.

‘That’s what it’s all about,’ Greg says.

Where to watch the sunset

What’s a trip to Ibiza without catching the world famous sunset in all its glory.

San Antonio bay is located on the west side of the island and therefore home to a number of beautiful spots to enjoy the moment.

The aptly named ‘sunset strip’ in San Antonio town is where millions have gathered at bars including Cafe del Mar and Cafe Mambo to soak in the last rays of the day to a backdrop of live DJ sets since the 1980’s. 

Long before Ibiza became synonymous with partying and hedonism, the island was a retreat for artists, poets and musicians.

Since the 1930s and throughout General Franco’s dictatorship people have travelled here in search of the island’s healing energy and community emphasis on peace and love. 

It’s not surprising then that these factors combined with the island’s spiritual history and tales of ley-lines, sun deities and magnetic forces that the Ibizan sunset has become an attraction in its own right. 

We managed to go to a few different family friendly sunset viewing points nearby and found chilled Ibiza vibes at Khumaras. The atmosphere was relaxed with live music playing while children ran along the rocks and the crowds clapped as the sun dipped into the sea. 

But you don’t have to go that far to enjoy the sunset, you can watch from the comfort of the hotel’s Sunset Bar located next to the infinity pool overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. 

Or even walk down to the beach for a post-dinner sunset swim, which we did almost every evening during our stay. 

Making our way back through the hotel post sunset watching, we are greeted with the sound of Shalamar reverberating around the main pool.

Parents and kids of all ages fill the dancefloor, and I can see that it really is going to be another Night to Remember.

Rosy Shearman was a guest of TUI, but don’t expect us to sugarcoat anything – our reviews are 100% independent.

TUI offers a five-night holiday to Ibiza, Spain staying at the 4T Holiday Village Seaview Ibiza on an all inclusive basis from £1345 per person for 2 adults and one free child’s place.

Price is based on 2 adults and 1 child sharing a Family Room with Sliding Doors and Balcony or Terrace from London Stansted Airport on 8^th July 2026 with transfers included.

To find out more about this holiday or to book, go to tui.co.uk, visit your local TUI holiday store or download our app.  

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