Guide to Menorca

With its warm Mediterranean sunshine, picturesque whitewashed villages and hidden sandy coves, Menorca is the perfect place for a relaxing villa holiday.

The island is famous for its spectacular beaches. Long sandy stretches with water sports are found along the south coast and secret rocky inlets on the rugged pine-clad headlands reside in the north. Cobbled old town Ciudadella and lively capital Mahon sit beside an unspoilt green landscape with rolling hills, pre-historic ruins and ancient caverns.

Tranquil and family orientated, the smallest Balearic island has everything you need for a villa holiday in the sun.

Great Features of Menorca

A varied and beautiful coastline

Unspoilt natural beauty

Prehistoric caves and mysterious ruins

Manageable walking trails through mountains, forests and natural parks

A vibrant harbour capital brimming with restaurants, bars and cafes

Go… to the beach

All our holiday villas in Menorca are near fabulous beaches. Whether you need a place for children where white sand shelves gently into the sea or a romantic horseshoe bay set in rustic scenery, your perfect beach is never far away. The popular, more developed resorts hug the pretty south coast, and have excellent facilities for families. Or take pleasure in finding a more secluded spot amongst the spectacular scenery of the north – a romantic cove or rocky inlet off the beaten track to enjoy the quiet…

Go… active

As the island is small, touring from your villa is easy. The coastal cliffs and headlands are honeycombed with the remains of prehistoric villages and ancient caves to explore. Cales Coves, near Mahon is a labyrinth of caverns once the site of pagan rituals. A walk through the coastal nature reserve of S'Albufera des Grau will give you a taste of the Menorcan countryside. Closer to the villa, the clear blue water is perfect for water sports: sailing, yaching, and scuba diving. For those who love the outdoors: tennis, golf and horse-riding are also popular and plentiful.

Go… shopping

The Balearics offer excellent shopping and Menorca is no exception. Discover the vast array of high quality, good value leather goods on offer – bags, shoes and jackets – or browse through traditional Menorcan jewellery. The towns and resorts have the widest range of shops, but the markets are good places to find local produce, including spicy sausages, olives and cheeses. The Xorigeur in Mahon is also worth a visit: this old distillery has 100 different types of gin to try.

Go… for culture

The wealth of history on the island can’t fail to make your villa holiday interesting. Visit ancient Ciudadela, an attractive seaside town famous for its cake shops and ship-like Gothic cathedral. Or take a tour of the island’s bronze-age ruins: the taulas (massive t-shaped rock monoliths) and the navetas (boat-shaped prehistoric burial chambers) Or visit Mahon where the Georgian houses hark back to its British colonial past and the impressive natural harbour is the second deepest in the world.

Take time to go…

and visit the Xorigeur Distillery to witness the production of the distinctive Menorcan gin. Sample one of the many types available and take a bottle home.

and stroll along the waterfront in Mahon and observe unique Balearic fishing boats still constructed to an ancient Arab design. Explore the historic harbour in a glass bottomed boat and admire the houses on the cliffs, or choose a quayside restaurant and enjoy a lazy lunch.

and discover the mysterious monuments of the bronze age. Visit the naveta of Es Tudons, a short distance from Ciudadela, and view one Europe’s oldest buildings.

and stop at the northern fishing village of Fornells and try Caldereta a fish stew made with local lobster.

and relax in Es Freginal Park in Mahon and enjoy the gardens, flower displays and shaved lawns.

and admire the 14th century gothic cathedral at Ciutedella, or Placa Alfons III, the old town’s famous square complete with the old windmill which now houses the tourist office.

Getting there

Menorca is easy to get to and most low cost airlines fly into Mahon. Search our flight database for the easiest way to book, or call us to arrange all your travel needs.

Most people hire a car for their villa holiday and leading car rental companies have branches at the airport. We recommend that you book a car in advance, and we can easily do this for you online.

If you don’t want to hire a car, we can arrange transfers for you, or metered taxis are readily available at the airport.

Climate

Menorca is the first place in Spain to see the sun rise. Month Average Temperatures Typical Weather
January - February 15° Cloudy
March 17° Wet
April 19° Cloudy
May 22° Sunny
June - August 27° Sunny
September - October 25° Showers / Sunny
November - December 16° Wet / Cold

Language

Catalan is the national language of Menorca although mainland Spanish is understood and most people have excellent English.

Currency

Euro.

Time Difference

Like the whole of Spain, Menorca is one hour ahead of Britain.

Holidays and Festivals

Most towns have their own local festivals – you can find details at your local tourist office and via our website.

In addition, there are the following national holidays in Menorca:

January 1st - New Years Day
January 6th - Epiphany
19th March - St Joseph’s Day
March/April - Maundy Thursday
March/April - Good Friday/Easter Monday
May 1st - Labour Day
August 15th - Assumption of the Virgin
October 12th - National Day
November 1 All Saints Day
December 6 Constitution Day
December 8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception
December 25 Christmas Day