Menorca travel information and video

Menorca

The island of Menorca has something to offer everyone; one of the quieter Balearic Islands, it’s a wonderful destination for a family holiday, with its many beautiful and unspoilt beaches bring families back time after time.
Magnificent architecture and harbours, particularly at Mahon and Ciutadella, are a must to visit. Plus water parks, water sports, cycling and hiking routes, golf and much more for those seeking a more active holiday.

The island is designated a biosphere thus protecting the environment and providing magnificent countryside. There are an amazing variety of wild flowers and birds to view.

Mahón & Ciudadela
The capital, Mahón, has many buildings dating from the period of British occupation (1713-83) and is best explored on foot. The attractions include the Town Hall (Casa Consistorial), the Church of Santa Maria and the Church of San Francisco. Trips are available around the harbour.

A good highway links Mahón with the older town of Ciudadela (the former capital) on the opposite side of the island. Ciudadela is home to a cathedral, partly dating from the 14th century, and also boasts several elegant palaces and medieval churches.

Beaches
Menorca is blessed with around 46 sandy beaches, plus a few rocky and pebbly beaches, many of which are beautiful small, deserted coves.

There is no doubt that the fine sand on many of the beaches, coupled with glorious scenery and excellent facilities make Menorca one of the Europe’s favourite beach holiday destinations.

The bigger the resort, the more likely you are to find comprehensive sporting activities and playgrounds for children, along with the security of lifeguards and first aiders.

Most beaches have good quality restaurants and bars offering a wide choice of local and international refreshments.

Leisure & Recreation
There is so much to do for those who want a more active holiday, the options are mind-boggling: riding schools, tennis, athletic, and of course golf clubs; water sports such as diving, windsurfing, fishing and sailing are available in many resorts; plus riding schools, tennis clubs, athletics clubs, the list is endless.

If you enjoy fishing, then Menorca is the perfect destination, where surfcasting and rock fishing are very popular; or hire a boat, with or without crew. On land there are a number of companies who offer hunting expeditions and equipment.

Cycling is also a popular sport in Menorca; there are specialist cyclist companies and a fabulous choice of easy to follow routes of varying difficulty. Even the casual cyclist can enjoy a day or two cycle hire and gently meander along the quiet roads, absorbing the scents and scenery and stopping at a roadside inn to savour the ‘menu del día’ at lunchtime.

A ramble in the countryside of Menorca is a year round pleasure, with its many rural locations, ideal bases to intimately enjoy the glorious countryside at a leisurely pace. Again, safe marked routes are to be found in most areas.
In summary, whatever your sport, it is likely to be represented on Menorca, and the local associations welcome visitors.

Culture & Excursions
The local authorities throughout Menorca have produced multilingual guides for those interested in discovering the history and culture of their chosen destination.

Wherever and whenever you visit Menorca, you are likely to stumble upon a local fiesta or event during your stay. Check with your tourist office on arrival for information on local cultural events.

Cuisine
Fresh seafood is in abundance; especially heavenly are squid, mullet, prawns, mussels and sea bass. The island’s signature dish is caldereta de llagosta, a beautiful lobster stew, which was originally prepared by the fisherman on their boats.

The introduction of British Friesian cattle in the 18th century means that Menorca produces some pretty delicious dairy products, including the famous Mahon cheese.

If you enjoy aperitif before dinner, then make sure you ask for a gin, made with Gin Xoriguer. Back in the 18th century Menorca started production of gin on the island to satisfy the demand from the British sailors.

The Xoriguer distillery is the last of its kind, and the gin is still sold in traditional earthenware bottles. Drink it neat, it doesn’t work with tonic, but mixed with lemonade, it becomes a typical Menorcan drink called Pomada, which is drunk at the local fiestas.

Climate
Menorca enjoys a classic Mediterranean climate, a mild all year climate. The summer starts hotting up in May and reaches the heights of 30-35 degree summers in July August. The winters are mild, although can get quite rainy, but the scenery is spectacular during the rainy sessions.