Ibiza may be famous for late-night parties, packed clubs and DJs playing until sunrise, but there is another side of the island that is increasingly attracting families.

A recent visit by Canadian travel writer Mark Burgess offered a very different perspective. Returning to Ibiza almost 20 years after his first trip, Burgess travelled with his partner and their seven-month-old son, swapping nightclub mornings for baby naps, family beaches and early dinners.

His experience highlighted something Ibiza has been increasingly keen to promote: the island can be enjoyed well beyond its famous nightlife scene.

Ibiza With a Seven-Month-Old Baby

Burgess stayed at Cala Llenya Resort in the northeast of the island, far from the main nightlife centres of Ibiza Town and Sant Antoni.

The trip took place around Easter, before Ibiza's main summer season was fully underway. Instead of club nights, the family's days revolved around beaches, rural attractions, short excursions and adapting their plans around their baby's sleeping schedule.

The contrast with his first Ibiza trip could hardly have been greater.

Almost two decades earlier, he had arrived specifically for a night at Amnesia. This time, an early-morning wake-up came not from a nightclub but from his seven-month-old son.

A Family Side of Ibiza

One of the biggest surprises for Burgess was how many families he encountered on the island.

At Finca Can Musón, an organic farm near Santa Eulària, children could interact with farm animals including goats and donkeys. The family also visited Es Currals Alpacas Ibiza, where visitors can meet alpacas on a farm near Santa Eulària by appointment.

The trip also included Aquarium Cap Blanc in Sant Antoni, a small aquarium housed inside a natural cave that was historically used as a lobster breeding area.

These experiences offer a very different image of Ibiza from the one normally associated with the island's biggest clubs.

Beaches, Old Town and Slower Days

The family also visited beaches and explored Ibiza Town, including Dalt Vila.

For a family travelling with a stroller, the historic centre presents its own practical challenge. The cobbled streets can be difficult to navigate, although Burgess noted that his son managed to sleep through part of their afternoon visit.

The family also visited the coast around Sant Antoni, while their schedule was built around short windows of free time between naps and meals.

That slower rhythm became one of the defining characteristics of the trip.

You Can Still Find Ibiza's Nightlife

Travelling with a baby did not completely remove Ibiza's famous nightlife atmosphere from the holiday.

The family stayed at a resort where evening entertainment included live music, sunset-style sounds and even a German karaoke night.

They also visited a sunset bar in Sant Antoni, although they left well before sunset so they could return to the resort for their son's bedtime.

For parents hoping to experience Ibiza's nightlife exactly as they did before having children, the reality is obviously different.

But the island does not require a late night to offer an enjoyable experience.

Ibiza Is Promoting Family Tourism

The family experience described in the article fits with Ibiza's wider tourism strategy.

The official Ibiza tourism board actively promotes the island as a destination for families, highlighting its beaches, nature, heritage, outdoor activities and gastronomy. It also promotes the Ibiza Family Moments concept, which focuses on accommodation, experiences and services aimed at families.

The island has numerous beaches with relatively calm, shallow waters and family facilities. Cala Llonga, Cala Nova, Talamanca and Portinatx are among those highlighted by the tourism board for family holidays.

There are also plenty of activities away from the beach, including Dalt Vila, the archaeological site of Sa Caleta, the Necropolis of Puig des Molins, rural walks and visits to the island's natural areas.

The Best Time for a Family Visit

For parents travelling with babies or young children, the hottest part of summer is not necessarily the easiest time to explore the island.

Spring and autumn can offer a more comfortable combination of warm weather and fewer visitors. Ibiza's tourism board specifically highlights spring and autumn as good periods for family travel.

That can also make it easier to explore the island without trying to fit everything around the busiest beach and nightlife periods.

A Different Kind of Ibiza Memory

Perhaps the most interesting part of Burgess's experience is not the list of places he visited, but how differently he experienced the island.

His previous trip was built around clubs, late-night meals and sleeping on the beach after a night out.

This time, the highlights were much smaller: watching his son experience the sea for the first time, visiting animals at a farm and sharing simple meals after putting the baby to bed.

It is a reminder that Ibiza does not have to be experienced in one particular way.

For some visitors, the island means dancing until sunrise. For others, it can mean a quiet beach, a farm visit, an afternoon exploring Dalt Vila or watching a child discover the Mediterranean for the first time.

And for families travelling with a baby, Ibiza can still offer plenty of reasons to make the trip.