The second-biggest yet least populated island in the Spanish Balearics, Menorca is a relaxed and beautiful destination to explore. In Mahon, impressive fortresses and a romantic harbor front coalesce into the perfect location for a luxury hotel. Menorca’s many gorgeous bays (known as calas) glitter with turquoise water and sun-bleached beaches. Rich pine forests and mountains roll over the island’s interior and its cities hum with life.
Whether you visit for its British-inspired Georgian architecture, a tour of the pretty harbor or to sample its famous cheese, a stay in the Mahon should be on everyone’s vacation itinerary. Luxury hotels in Mahon locate you close to palm-lined streets packed with traditional tapas bars and elegant buildings. Located in a Franciscan monastery, the Museum of Menorca will give you an insight into the history of the island; specifically, the Iron Age Talayotic culture that once inhabited Menorca. The British captured and docked their fleet in Mahon, moving the capital from Cuitadella during the 18th century, which influenced a lot of the island’s architecture. Locations like the Governor’s Residence hint at the island‘s turbulent past. Before you leave Mahon, make sure you sample some of the famous cheese produced here – it’s traditionally eaten thinly sliced with a little organic olive oil. Due to its manageable size, hotels in Menorca offer access to all the island’s best hotspots. A 45-minute drive west takes you to the island‘s historic capital; Ciutadella de Menorca. A pedestrianized historic center and typical Spanish architecture gives the island‘s second city an entirely different atmosphere to Mahon, and is therefore another exceptional place to look for hotels on Menorca. Characterized by medieval fortresses and a gorgeous port, Ciutadella de Menorca is the ultimate destination for a peaceful escape in the Balearic Islands.
With 300 days of sunshine a year, beach hotels on Menorca provide the perfect seaside escape. Despite being smaller than neighboring Mallorca, Menorca has more beaches so there is plenty of space to find your little slice of paradise – especially when you consider that it’s the least visited of the Balearic Islands. If you have based yourself in a Ciutadella hotel then the stunning Cala Turqueta can be found only 10 kilometers south. The beach is small, beautiful and there are bathrooms and lifeguards which makes it perfect for families. To the north, the large orange sand of Cala Pregonda and Cala Cavallería lie in protected coves with calm waters, while the rural Cala Tortuga is home to a variety of birdlife, gentle turquoise water and lush flora and fauna. If you feel like exploring Menorca’s blissful coast from a different perspective, consider hiring a yacht or charter from one of several ports located around the island. Cruise the coastline and admire the limestone cliffs and deserted calas which characterize Menorca’s idyllic coast and discover a world beneath the waves by snorkeling from your private rental. Hotels in Menorca can provide you with all the information you need to get the most out of your stay.
While hotels in Menorca are the perfect fit for anyone seeking peace and quiet, the neighboring islands in the Spanish archipelago offer further adventures and activities to enjoy on a vacation in the Balearic Islands. In Mallorca, the rugged Sierra de Tramuntana meets the cosmopolitan cities of Palma and Magaluf, and the sleepy coastlines of Pollença and Alcúdia. Hotels in Palma de Mallorca situate you among the capital of the islands, with sites including the Gothic Palma cathedral and Bellver Castle. Hike the Tramuntana and discover picturesque towns and stunning vistas. If you’re looking to party, few places in Europe are as famous as Ibiza. Around Ibiza town, nightclubs like Pacha and Amnesia illuminate the coast on a nightly basis. Having said this, the rest of the island is enchanting; characterized by pine forests, sleepy hamlets and secluded coves that are a world away from the electronic music that made the island famous. Hotels on Menorca, however, are the perfect romantic escape if you want to experience the Balearic Islands at their most authentic.