Tourist Guide

Below you'll find some great information about accommodation, beaches, and nightlife in Menorca…

Menorca’s Accommodation

Menorca has escaped the concrete development which now characterizes so much of Spain's coastline. You'll find a few hotels and apartment complexes dotted around the most popular bays, particularly along the south coast and at Arenal d'en Castell in the north east corner.

The standard of hotel accommodation ranges from five-star luxury to cheap and cheerful B&B style hostals. Menorca has everything from holiday villages and beach clubs to beautiful private villas with pools to rent and country farmhouses.

Environmentally friendly rural tourism is strongly encouraged on the island and whichever type of accommodation you choose, be prepared to pay the local "eco-tax".

You pay per night at a rate dependent on the style of holiday accommodation. Five star hotels attract the top rate of two Euros per night and accommodation classed as "agrotourism" has the lowest rate of 25 cents. Children under 12 are exempt.

One of the island's most luxurious hotels is the five-star La Quinta at La Xoriguer on the south coast (and if you can afford to stay there you won't be unduly concerned by the €2 tax). We're talking fluffy bathrobes and sumptuous suites with private jacuzzis here. The hotel has a beautiful crescent shaped swimming pool and a spa centre with solaria, a Turkish bath, jacuzzi, massage rooms, beauty treatments and an indoor heated pool.

The majority of holidaymakers stay in mid-range family orientated hotels and apartment complexes, most of which have a good range of sports and leisure activities and an in-house entertainment program.

Check whether your chosen venue is child-friendly with kids' clubs, early evening entertainment, children's meals etc. These facilities can make all the difference if you're a harassed parent - but if you're a couple seeking peace and relaxation you might want to steer well clear of such a venue.

The best family centers have kindergartens, different clubs for youngsters of all ages and day-long activities such as water polo, aerobics, shooting, bowls etc. In the evening they provide mini-discos for the kids and varied entertainment - karaoke, quiz nights, live music etc - for adults.

Many of the resorts have very limited tourist facilities, so if you're looking for a holiday with plenty of leisure activities it's important to check that these will be laid on at your hotel.

The Family Club Marina Parc at Arenal d'en Castell is an example of a well equipped holiday village with three sweet water swimming pools, children's clubs, plenty of sports and a packed entertainment program. The complex consists of 187 self-catering apartments, none of which is more than 700 metres from the resort's main sandy beach.

For those wanting something a bit different there are charming converted farmhouses, elegant Menorcan mansions and lovely rural fincas where you'll receive a very personal service in the environment of a country home.

Morvedra Nou, for example, is an attractive rural hotel seven kilometers from Ciutadella. The original building dates back to 1650 but this small hotel's 17 rooms are equipped with all mod cons including satellite TV, air conditioning, central heating and mini bar. The hotel has views of the sea and unspoilt countryside and is famed for its excellent Menorcan cuisine.

Or try Lloc de Santo Tomas, a typical Menorquinian house, lovingly renovated to provide four guest bedrooms. You'll feel more like a guest of the family than a tourist. The hotel, located five kilometers from Ciutadella, organizes excursions to the island's prehistoric sites and monuments.

For campers, there's a well-equipped site at Son Bou, on the south coast. Mobile homes and tent-style bungalows are available for rent at the site which is three kilometers from Son Bou beach and five kilometers from the town of Alaior. The site has a huge swimming pool, a supermarket, barbecue areas, a cinema, games room, various sports and a full entertainment program.

Budget-conscious visitors looking for something a little more Spanish than the modern hotels will enjoy the small family-run hostals where you get clean and comfortable accommodation at an exceptionally good price. There are several in Ciutadella, Mahon, Fornells and Sant Luis.

Menorca's beaches

Menorca's beaches are undoubtedly its greatest attraction for the majority of visitors to the island. There are more than 100 to choose from - long, sandy beaches with pedaloes for the kids and delightful hidden coves, fringed by virgin pinewoods and lapped by azure waters.

In the busier resort areas you'll find windsurfing, water ski-ing, sailing and boat trips together with a good sprinkling of seafront bars and restaurants.

Nature lovers will appreciate the more inaccessible beaches, reached on foot, where the scenery is breathtaking and not a tourist facility in sight.

Before you set off for the seafront it's worth checking the wind direction because the strong winds here can spoil your day at the beach if you pick the wrong location. A useful tip is to head for the southern beaches when a strong wind's blowing in from the north and vice-versa.

The most popular beaches are concentrated on the island's southern coast. Cala Santandria and the nearby picturesque resort of Cala Blanca are on the south west side of the island and are both well served with sun beds and shades, water sports, leisure activities, bars and restaurants.

Son Saura, further south along the coast is a beautiful sheltered bay with a gently shelving shoreline of fine white sand (ideal for little ones). The beach is popular with the Spanish and tends to get busy in high season even though there are no tourist facilties here. Be warned that the local landowner will charge you to park your car down the seafront.

Cala Galdana, east along the coast from Son Saura, is known as the Queen of the Calas. Rightly so because this is an outstandingly beautiful pine clad bay. Here you can enjoy the wonderful scenery combined with the convenience of tourist facilities, water sports, hotels, bars and restaurants. The quieter far eastern end of the beach remains in the shade almost until midday.handy for lily white skins and toddlers.

Cala en Porter is one of the liveliest beach resorts on the southern coast. It's packed with bars and tourist facilities - but take note that you have to go down a lot of steps to reach the beach from the centre of the resort.

Nearby Cala, Coves is reached by a track down a steep limestone gorge, the sides of which are peppered with numerous caves. Great for exploring.

In the south east corner there's a long sandy beach at Punta Prima, with plenty of bars and shops nearby, and a small sandy cove at Binibeca.

Es Grau, on the east coast, is part of a protected national park. It has a long, sandy beach backed by dunes, pinewoods and tamarisk trees which lead to a fresh water lake. From here you can take a boat ride out to the island of Colom.

On the northern coast there's the bustling family beach resort of Arenal d'en Castell and the beautiful beach of Son Parc. Both these resorts have plenty of sports and tourist facilities.

Arguably, the most beautiful of all the islands beaches is to be found at Cala Pregonda, to the west of Fornells. It's a walk of about 20 minutes from Binimella but well worth the effort. You'll be rewarded with a totally unspoilt sandy beach tucked away among pinewoods, tamarisk trees and some weird and wonderful rock formations.

Menorca Nightlife

You don't come to Menorca for the world's wildest foam parties or fetish theme nights. The night time entertainment here is low key and centred on the hotels, bars and restaurants.
There are live music bars, a few discos, and traditional Spanish fiestas during the summer months and in-house entertainment laid on by the tour operators.

Some of the quieter resort areas of the island shut down before midnight. So be warned: if it's all-night partying you're after, you'll be much happier in Ibiza! Most of the island's nightlife takes place in and around the two main towns of Mahon (Mao) and Ciutadella. So if you're staying in other areas of Menorca, check with your tour operator before traveling to see what in-house entertainment is on offer.

Some of the bigger hotels offer excellent night time entertainment with early evening games for youngsters, mini-discos for young teens, karaoke, cabaret shows and dancing.
Even if you're holidaying on an all-inclusive package deal, try to eat out at least a couple of times during your visit because Menorca boasts some excellent tapas bars and fine restaurants.

Watch the sun go down from a bougainvillea-clad terrace overlooking the sea while you sip your sangria. Try some of the traditional Menorcan fare - local cheeses, roast baby goat, crème Catalan and some of the finest fresh fish you've ever tasted. The menus here have delicacies such as snails in garlic, squid, fresh anchovies and paella with black octopus ink. You'll find delicious home-cooked dishes in inexpensive restaurants where you can enjoy a set menu with a bottle of wine for less than the price of a gin and tonic in Covent Garden. Try the griddled country bread - rub it with cloves of garlic, sprinkle it with olive oil and a little salt and top it with pureed fresh tomatoes. Definitely the best garlic bread you've ever tasted!

If your stomach's tied up in knots by this time, worry not! There are British and Irish bars, pizza joints and Chinese restaurants for the culinary cowards amongst you.

Undoubtedly the most dramatic nightspot on the island is Cova d'en Xoroi at Cala en Porter. This has to rate as one of the world's most unusual discos. Set high in the rocks, it's a cave bar with fantastic sea views by day. At night it's transformed into an ultra-modern disco with sophisticated light and sound systems and views of the sea and sunset via a hole in the rock. Psychedelic or what?!

There's a jazz club in San Clement, near Mahon, where you can hear local musicians every Tuesday evening (and Thursdays in high season). During the summer season, professional jazz musicians holidaying on the island give the club an extra boost.

Pedro's in Cala Santandria, near Ciutadella on the west coast, is a popular tourist nightspot from June to October. If Menorca's getting too quiet for your liking, pop along to Pedro's for entertainment which ranges from flamenco and foam parties to karaoke and laser shows.
Traditional Spanish fiestas take place in Menorca's towns and villages throughout the summer. Most consist of colourful parades, fireworks and much merrymaking the streets. Ask for details at the tourist information office in Mahon's main square and the Plaza de Borne in Ciutadella.