Menorca Travel Guide

by Jonathan Milligan

One of the lesser known of Spain's Balearic Islands, Menorca is family-orientated, and low-key with good beaches and resorts and a liberal sprinkling of reminders of its rich heritage. You'll find beautiful buildings, charming villages, prehistoric sites and stunning beaches as well as plenty of lively pubs, bars and restaurants in resorts such as Cala'n Forcat.

There's a wide range of modern accommodation, from budget self-catering apartments to big five-star hotels. May-June and September are probably the best times to visit, as you'll find crowds and higher prices in the prime holiday season from July-August.

It's a small island, so it's generally a short transfer of under an hour from the airport in the capital, Mahon, to your resort.

For travel between resorts and beaches, there are local bus services, but they're generally quite unreliable, so your best option is to hire a car.

There are more than 100 beaches, ranging from tiny sheltered coves to wide expanses of sand. Many found along the south coast are absolutely stunning. Hire a mountain bike and cycle along the connecting rocky trails to explore them.

Cala Es Talaier is small and secluded, with white sand and warm turquoise waters, perfect for a dip. Cala Blanca, just south of Ciutadella, is a bit bigger with sunbeds and pedalos for hire as well as beach bars serving food and drink. Cala Tirant, to the west of Fornells Village, is bigger again with all the facilities you'd expect and some great watersports.

In Mahon you can take a boat tour of the huge deep-water harbour before coming ashore for a visit to the Xoriguer Gin distillery. Ciutadella, a beautiful city with an attractive harbour and historic old quarter, is also not to be missed.

The whole island is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and just north of Mao is the Parc Natural de S'Albufera des Grau, a wetlands area, home to many different bird species - and some superb hiking trails too.

Menorca Aquapark, near Ciutadella, has water slides and other thrilling rides, as well as a good restaurant. There are two go-kart tracks, one on the road to San Luis and the other, near Ciutadella. The Secret Garden, near Ferreries, is great for younger children and treasure hunts are organised among the orange groves.

For a totally relaxing day, head off in your hire car to the small village of Binibeca. It looks like the place that time forgot (it was actually built in 1972). Stroll through the narrow, winding roads between the dazzling whitewashed houses that sit almost on top of each other as they cascade down to the harbour.

Stop for a drink among the orange and lemon trees of the village square, kick back on the stunning beach and enjoy a meal at one of the superb open-air restaurants overlooking the azure waters. This is where Menorcans go on holiday.

Those who don't fancy the local cuisine can find plenty of restaurants serving Brit favourites such as fish and chips. You can often even catch your favourite soap opera while dining.

If you're feeling more adventurous, try Spanish tapas, a selection of smaller dishes. Favourites include gambas al ajillo (shrimp with hot garlic), chorizo al vino (spicy sausage in red wine sauce), or pulpo a la plancha (grilled octopus). In Ciutadella, the harbour-side restaurants are the best places to sample the catch of the day.

There's all the usual resort entertainment including cabaret, magicians and karaoke. Mahon's old district has plenty of bars and restaurants, as does Ciutadella, where you'll also find a couple of live music venues. The only casino on the whole island is on the harbour front in Mahon.

Ciutadella has plenty of stylish boutiques where you can snap up the latest Menorcan fashions, or invest in a pair of Menorcan sandals – the soles are made from car tyres.

The Saturday market at Ferreries sells traditional arts and crafts, as well as fresh produce. Pottery and jewellery are also good buys. Remember the Balearic/Spanish love of the siesta, though, as all the shops are shut from 2-5pm. Luckily, they then open until late in the evening.

Costa Dorada, Spain