Minorca, Spain-an elite Balearic resort, famous for its excellent service and a large selection of attractions. It has everything you need not to feel like a desert island, but it is deserted and sparsely populated enough to feel like a pioneer.
General information
Minorca is a small Spanish island located in the Mediterranean Sea and part of the Balearic Archipelago. The total area is 694.72 km2, the population is about 100 thousand people. The capital is Mahon City.
Holiday in Menorca promises to be calm and respectable, so it is perfect for couples with children and people of the older age category. Although young people will also like it here – with the onset of evening, night clubs, discos and other night establishments open on the coast.
Conventionally, the island is divided into 2 parts-south and north. The first one is decorated with picturesque rural landscapes with beautiful wooden houses, cultivated fields and cow pastures. Next to them stretches pristine landscapes with beautiful bays and bays. But on the north side of Minorca, high cliffs surround the coast, protecting it from the wind and giving shelter to numerous birds.
In addition to many beaches and a huge number of attractions, the island has all the necessary infrastructure-cafes, restaurants, bars, shops, hypermarkets, amusement parks, zoos, etc. Interestingly, all these objects are located in one -, two-and three-story buildings. Yes, looking at the photo of Menorca, you will not see a single high-rise building! The fact is that the entire territory of the island is a large biosphere reserve, which is under the protection of UNESCO. In order not to upset the balance and not harm nature, the world-famous organization did not come up with anything else, how to ban the construction of high-rises.
This is not done in vain – the nature on the island is really very beautiful. Here you can see rare species of animals and plants, and special ornithological routes have been developed for bird lovers. Another important feature of Menorca is the well-developed horse riding. Many islanders are engaged in horse breeding and are quite good riders. Numerous festivals and festivals are also held on horseback.
Attractions and entertainment
The list of attractions of Menorca, which is often called the living embodiment of history, includes more than 100 different tourist sites. Among them there are both picturesque natural monuments and stone structures dating back to the beginning of the Bronze Age. Of course, getting to know them will take more than one week, so today we will get acquainted only with the most popular corners of this island.
Ciutadella Port
Port Ciutadella is an ancient harbor built in the time of Aragon, an ancient state that existed in the territory of modern Spain from 1035 to 1707. Despite the long history of its existence, the importance of this port increased only by the middle of the 19th century. Since then, it has become a major transport hub, providing ferry connections between Minorca and other islands and the Balearic Archipelago.
The port’s production capacity is designed for 147 parking lots. Currently, recreational, fishing and commercial vessels are served here. Next to the harbour, there is a picturesque promenade, which is one of the most visited attractions on the island.
Mahon Port
Port Mahon, located in the city center, can be called without exaggeration the largest harbor in Europe: the total area is more than 5 thousand m2, the length is almost 6 km, the width is 1.5 m. The port, which receives mainly cruise ships, is built at the end of a natural Mediterranean bay, which makes its view extremely picturesque.
On the territory of the harbor there is all the necessary infrastructure-cafes, public telephones, car parks, bus stops and taxi services. You can get here not only on foot, but also by regular bus or small train (runs from 11: 00 to 15: 00 and from 18: 00 to 23: 00 with an interval of 1 hour, the ticket costs 5€).
Old Binibeka
Among the best attractions of Menorca in Spain is the tourist town of Binibecu, located in the south-eastern part of the island and considered one of the most beautiful resorts in the Balearic archipelago. The settlement, built in the early 70s of the last century, is made in the Arab-Mediterranean style, which can be recognized by the abundance of white color, famously twisted turrets and tiled roofs with textured chimneys.
The appearance of the town is more like an ordinary fishing village. The cobbled streets of Binibeki are so narrow that only 1 person can walk through them. Nearby is a beach with soft golden sand and dense pine forest, as well as a river pier.
Mount Monte Toro
Monte Toro, which rises more than 300 m above sea level, is the highest point on the island. In addition to the spacious observation deck, from which you can see almost the whole of Menorca, there are two more interesting objects here. The first of them is a statue of Jesus Christ. The second is the medieval monastery of Santuario de la Virgen del Toro, which houses a sculpture of Our Lady, a unique shrine that attracts pilgrims from all over the world. Next to the church, you can see a defensive tower, a monument to local soldiers who died during the war, and a small cafe.
Ciutadella Cathedral
The Catedral de Santa Maria, located in the Plaza de la Catedral in the historic center of Ciutadella, is also an equally significant landmark of Menorca. The monumental structure, made in the Gothic style, was built on the site of a Muslim mosque in the middle of the 14th century. Only the arches and minaret, which became the basis for the Christian bell tower, have been preserved from the former “owners”.
Initially, the walls of the cathedral contained a huge number of paintings, statues and other examples of medieval art. Unfortunately, most of them were destroyed during the attacks of the Turkish army and the civil war that broke out in Spain at the beginning of the last century.
In 1953, the Catedral de Santa Maria received the title of basilica. Today it is not only a popular tourist destination, but also a functioning church.
Elizabeth II Fortress
La Mola or, as it is also called, the fortress of Elizabeth II, is one of the largest defensive structures in Menorca. Its construction began in 1848 and lasted 30 years. The result of this work was a powerful fortification complex, which includes at least 10 fortifications. At the same time, only some of them are located on land – the rest are included in the sea.
To this day, the fortress has been preserved in excellent condition. It clearly shows a deep moat, underground galleries and ancient firearms hung on the walls. The high walls offer a beautiful view of the surrounding area. La Mola now hosts exhibitions and concerts of chamber music. You can get here not only with a tour group, but also independently. Each exhibit is supplemented with explanatory inscriptions, and audio guides are issued at the entrance. Bike rentals, a bookstore, cafes and picnic areas are also available.
Beaches and attractions of Formentera in the Balearics
Best beaches
There are about 120 beaches on Menorca, but due to certain geographical features characteristic of this island, only half of them are accessible. 60 – also quite a lot, besides, among them you can easily find quiet and secluded corners that allow you to be alone with nature.
Despite the small differences in climate, you can swim here both in the south and in the north. True, the northern coast is less visited, but this does not detract from its beauty. And to make a final choice, check out a quick overview of the best beaches in Menorca.
Cala Pregonda
A small sandy beach, the length of which barely reaches 200 m. Located near Es-Mercadal, it is famous for its pale red sand, which gives it a truly unearthly landscape. Due to the lack of hotels and poor transport accessibility, it is very sparsely populated. The entrance to the sea is quite steep, and the water is so clear and transparent that you can see the stones on the bottom. The depth comes after 1.5-2 m, there are many jellyfish on it.
There is no special infrastructure in Pregonda Bay. All amenities are limited to local parking and a small restaurant, so snacks and water equipment are best brought with you.
Cala d’Algaiarens
The list of the best beaches in Menorca also includes Cala Dalgaerens, another wild beach located in the south. From the rest of the coast, it is protected by high sand dunes, which serve as a natural protection from the wind. The coastline is covered with fine light yellow sand. The entrance to the water is smooth, the water is clean and calm. The shallow water line is quite warm and wide. As for the amenities, unfortunately, they are not here. In addition, on the entire coast you will not find a single tree that can shelter you from the scorching sun.
Cala Macarelleta
A scenic spot located 14 km from Ciutadella. The length of the coastline, surrounded by high cliffs and coniferous forest, is no more than 140 m. The surface is light sand. The entrance to the water is gentle, the sea is clear, warm and calm. What is most interesting, even sitting on the shore, you can safely observe the life of marine life.
The infrastructure of Macareletta includes a shower, toilet, beach bar, restaurant and 2 parking spaces (paid and free). The descent to the beach is equipped with wooden steps. But there are no hotels and rental points at all, so you should grab everything you need from home.
Cala Turqueta
Looking at the photo of Minorca (Spain) in the tourist avenues, you will probably see another fairly famous place. We are talking about Turketa Bay, located in the south-western part of the island. The beach here is almost wild, covered with white sand, the length is about 100 m. The entrance to the water is smooth, the sea is clear and calm. The shallow water line is quite wide – you can swim with children. When you set the depth at the bottom there are stones.
Turketa is protected from the winds by high rocks that surround it literally from all sides. By the way, it is because of them that the darkness here comes unexpectedly sharply, so it is better not to linger. However, the safety of tourists is monitored by rescuers, so you will definitely not be left without help. There is almost no infrastructure on Cala Turqueta. Nearby there is only a parking lot, a bus stop and a cafe (10 minutes from the shore).
Cala del Pilar
Pilar Bay is a good place for lovers of wild and uncivilized holidays. The length of the coastline, covered with fine golden sand, is about 250 m, width – 45 m. Due to poor transport accessibility, there are not many tourists here – not everyone can decide to overcome the hiking trail, which stretches for almost 2 km.
The water in the bay is clear and clear, the bottom is shallow and can be seen quite well. But the sea is choppy – on windy days, large waves roll up on the coast. Because of this, families with small children practically do not come here. But this place is very popular with surfers and divers. There are no amenities in Cala Pilar.
Playa de Son Bou
The island of Minorca in Spain is famous for another unusual place. This is the Playa de Son Bou, located near the village of the same name. Being one of the longest beaches on the island (length-2.5 km, width-120 m), it has the greatest number of entertainment (including night). However, most of them are concentrated in the eastern part of the beach, while the western part remains wild and calm.
The entrance to the sea is smooth, and the water is warm and crystal clear-great for diving and spearfishing. Close to Playa de Son Bou is Torre Esfondrada, the main local attraction. Hotels and campsites can be found in nearby localities.
Cala Mitjana
A small beautiful beach located in the bay between two large cliffs. Very clean and peaceful, covered with white sand, surrounded by pine forest. The entrance to the water is not very convenient – there are boulders on the way every now and then. The sea is warm and clear, but the depth comes very quickly and ranges from 5 to 9 m. Kala Mityana is in demand among diving enthusiasts – there is a rich and quite interesting underwater world.
There is no infrastructure on the beach. The only exceptions are the shower and toilet. However, you can buy watermelons, coconuts and pineapples from local residents. Trash cans are located outside the recreation area, but it is not recommended to leave behind bags of leftovers. The territory of Cala Mitjana is a protected area and is protected by the state. Signs with all prohibitions and restrictions can be found at the entrance.
Weather and climate – when is the best time to arrive?
Despite the fact that the island of Menorca is located in the Mediterranean climate zone, it is slightly cooler than in neighboring regions. The main reason for this phenomenon is considered to be the northern geographical location, which distinguishes it among the resorts of the Balearic Archipelago.
The high season lasts from May to October. The air temperature at this time is kept at +26…+28°C, and the water warms up to +25-26°C. The highest amount of precipitation falls in August. With the onset of winter, the thermometer drops to +14°C, and a very strong wind blows on the northern coast.
The weather in different areas of Minorca can vary markedly: in one place it rains, in another-the sun shines brightly. And summer in the northern part of the island comes a little later than in the south. Because of this, many travelers go for a little trick – at the height of the beach season, they run from the heat to the north, and with the arrival of September they return to the south.
How to get there?
If you don’t know how to get to Minorca, take advantage of these tips. To begin with, there are no direct flights between the island and most European cities, so vacationers have to fly either to Barcelona or to the island of Mallorca. Let’s look at each of these options.
From Barcelona
There are two ways to get from Barcelona to Menorca: by domestic plane or by sea ferry. The local airport is located in the immediate vicinity of the island capital. The flight takes no more than 40 minutes.
The Barcelona-Minorca ferry, owned by the Balearia transport company, departs from Barcelona station and goes to the port of Ciutadella. The journey will take at least 7.5 hours. Ticket prices range from 45 to 180€.
From Majorca
Ferries “Mallorca-Minorca” depart from Palma (carrier “Trasmediterranea”, arrival point-Mahon) and Alcudia (“Balearia”, Ciutadella). The journey time is about 2 hours. The cost of travel is from 16 to 180€.
Important! For more information and ticket purchases, please visit the official website of “Balearia” — www.balearia.com.
Useful tips
When going to the island of Menorca (Spain), take note of some useful tips:
- When choosing souvenirs, pay attention to avarques, traditional Spanish sandals made by hand from high-end leather.
- Local residents are very careful about the environment, so any broken twig or garbage thrown in the wrong place can be fined.
- If you have a lot of free time, go for a walk in the rest of the Balearic Archipelago. Boats between the islands run daily. The cost of the trip is not more than 30€.
- It is better to pay for purchases in the national currency. You can exchange money either in banks (they work from Mon. to Fri. from 09: 00 to 14: 00), or in private exchange offices (they work seven days a week, but the exchange rate is less favorable, and a considerable commission is charged for services).
- The most convenient way to travel around the island is by rented car. To complete the transaction, you must have an international passport and driver’s license. The service can only be refused to persons under the age of 21 and those with less than 12 months of driving experience.
- Smoking is strictly prohibited in public areas in Menorca, so pay close attention to the information signs and choose only those areas that are specifically designed for this purpose.
