Have you booked a flight to the Balearic Islands, Spain? Here’s where to stay in Menorca!
Minorca – Menorca in Castilian and Catalan – is the easternmost island in the archipelago of the four inhabited Balearic islands. Located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, it takes its name from its smaller size to Mallorca.
Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Biosphere Reserve since 1993, the island has a population of just over 93,000 and attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists each year. Many megalithic monuments are scattered on its soil, due to the island being populated since ancient times. It is also the island most protected from mass tourism in the Balearic Islands: this destination will, therefore, delight nature lovers and accommodation in the two main cities to stay in Menorca is cheaper than both Mallorca or Ibiza.
The island’s major interest lies in its coastline and its contrasts: turquoise waters and deserted coves in the north, white sandy beaches reminiscent of Corsica in the south, a true natural paradise from Ciutadella to Mahon. Here is a presentation of the cities to stay in Menorca.
Ciutadella and the West
The former capital of Menorca and now the second largest city on the island, Ciutadella is a wealthy city where the Catholicism exerts a strong influence. Many palaces dot the city’s territory, which has a population of 29,629. Countless small shaded squares adjoin a labyrinth of intertwined alleys with facades multicolored with ochre, yellow and red. It is on this western part of the island that you will find most of the accommodation available to stay in Menorca: luxury hotels, modest hotels, private rooms or boarding houses, there is something for everyone’s taste and budget.
The old town, around Es Born – the former military square in medieval times – is full of medieval streets and palaces, fortresses and churches. The port and pier are very lively in the evening, and there is a high concentration of bars, clubs, restaurants, and terraces. The coastline stretching from north to south is dotted with gorgeous coves and magnificent beaches: Cala Blanca, Cala en Bosc, Cales Piques, Cala Corbetar (to see the superb view of Pont d’en Gil), Cala Morell and Cala Algaiarens (where you can enjoy excellent swimming in crystal clear waters).
Don’t miss out on hiking in the northwest of Ciutadella by visiting the Punta Nati Lighthouse. In the south, we must admit that Cala Es Talaier, Cala En Turqueta, Cala Galdana, Cala Mitjana are much more frequented but still very charming coves.
Find a hotel in Ciutadella
Find an Airbnb in Ciutadella
Port Mahon and the East
Port Mahon, in the east of the island, is the capital of Menorca. The port is the largest natural port in the Mediterranean Sea, open in a five-kilometer bay around which the city stretches to the escarpment. Port Mahon has many museums, palaces, churches, and historic buildings to visit.
Choosing to stay in Port Mahon offers an excellent starting point for hiking in the Parque Natural de s’Albufera des Grau, a vast, protected wetland of 5100 hectares sheltering up to 8 000 migratory birds in winter and 2 000 in summer. You can reach it via the Camí de Cavalls hiking trail, an unspoiled walk between coves, beaches, dunes, pine forests, wild olive trees, fields covered with flowers, lakes, and ponds.
The south-eastern coast is an excellent option to stay in Menorca if you are looking for sublime beaches to rest: Cala en Porter, Es Canutells, Punta Prima, S’algar and Alcaufar, Cala de Sant Esteve, Sa Mesquida: something to sunbathe and relax in the middle of breathtaking nature.
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