Menorca Holiday Information

The following information will help you plan your holidays to Menorca by giving you an overview of the island.

For far too long, Menorca [sometimes known as Minorca] has lived in the shadow of its Balearic neighbours - Mallorca [the largest of the islands] and Ibiza [the brashest of the islands], but Menorca holidays have their own charm. It actually has more beaches than Mallorca and Ibiza combined but they are often more difficult to find. Not that holidays to Menorca are just about beaches, it boasts a array of ancient sites and monuments, many still lying undisturbed. It also has two major towns in Mahon [also known as Mao] and Ciudadela [also known as Ciutadella], both strikingly different, yet both worth a visit.

Away from the towns and beaches is a rural landscape and a handful of market towns where life is relatively unchanged. It is not difficult to find peace and quiet on a Menorca holiday, in fact sometimes it is difficult to get away from it! You are never more than a short walk away from a peaceful cove, pine wood or tranquil countryside. Go in winter and you will practically have the island to yourself with only 1 tourist in 100 arriving between the months of November and March. However, you might need to wrap up against the north wind.

The paths and minor roads that have criss-crossed Menorca since Roman times provide gentle walking on largely flat land. The biggest challenges are the hills of Monte Toro and Santa Agueda, but even these can be managed by anyone who is reasonably fit. Walking the countryside on your holidays in Menorca, you will encounter an attractive rural landscape of Moorish farmhouses, sheep shelters and drystone walls.

Menorca’s prehistoric sites are among the most peaceful placed on the island. Most are situated in the midst of farmland and reached along minor roads, although they are on private land visitors have free, open access. The most common monuments include burial chambers shaped like an upturned boat, and large circular structures used as both dwellings and watchtowers.

Menorca is a popular staging-post for thousands of migrant birds each spring and autumn, pausing for rest on their way across the Mediterranean. The best sites for bird watching are the S’Albufera marshes, the southern gorges and the wilder coastal areas.

Things to See and Do on your Menorca holidays
Sample and purchase the locally made gin, and take home some famous Mahon cheese. Visit the legend filled Xoroi Cave, or take in the atmosphere at the spiritual centre at Santuario de Toro - there are lots of things to do on the island of Menorca.

Top 10 Requested Hotels in Menorca during February 2010

Marinda Garden Aparthotel	3 Star	Cala'n Bosch, Menorca
San Luis Hotel	4 Star	S'Algar, Menorca
Port Mahon Hotel	4 Star	Mahon, Menorca
Villas Cala'n Bosch	Villa	Cala'n Bosch, Menorca
Sol Gavilanes Hotel	4 Star	Cala Galdana, Menorca
Villas Galdana Palms	Villa	Cala Gadana, Menorca
Paradise Club & Spa	4 Star	Cala'n Bosch, Menorca
Club Hotel Aguamarina	3 Star	Arenal d'en Castell, Menorca
Villas Amarillas	Villa	Cala Blanca, Menorca
Hesperia Patricia Hotel	3 Star	Ciudadela, Menorca

Menorca Weather and Temperature Chart :

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Sunshine	4	4	6	7	8	10	11	10	7	6	4	3
Temp °C	13	12	14	17	21	25	27	28	24	21	17	13
Rainfall	66	57	55	51	37	14	4	26	55	84	77	74

Average daily hours of sunshine | Average daily temperature °C | Average monthly rainfall [mm]

Serving Airports in Menorca:
San Clemente - Mahon [MAH]
Flight time from the UK: Approximately 2 hours

Shopping in Menorca:
There are plenty of opportunities for a little retail therapy on your Menorca holidays. Both quality and selection have vastly improved in the past few years, particularly in Mahon and Ciudadela. Leather goods - especially footwear - are probably better and cheaper than elsewhere in Europe and look out for the sales in late August/September when genuine and what can be significant reductions can be found. Also, you will find cheap [although still high quality] pottery items. Try to stay away from shops around the ports and adjacent to beaches to find the best value.

Menorca’s pottery was once made from the local clay which, once fired, was a reddish hue. Workshops such as the family run LORA on the waterfront in Mahon harbour produced a wide range of true reproductions of the traditional articles. Not only will you be able to buy the finished articles, but you can also watch them being made.

Familiarise yourself with the exchange rate.
Make a mental note of what each note
or coin is worth - it may save you from
making simple mistakes!

Eating Out in Menorca:
Eating out will be a highly enjoyable part of your holidays to Menorca. In Menorca, food is simple and traditional and is influenced by the foods available for that particular season. Fresh seafood is plentiful, and although the introduction of tourism has made mainland Spanish and international food widely available, all visitors should enjoy the “real” flavour of Menorca. Seafood is an unsurprising favourite on any island; prawns, mussels, squid, mullet, sole and sea-bass are all abundant in Menorca. However, the most famous dish is lobster caldereta - Caldereta de Langosta [although you can also get fish and shellfish caldereta] which is a rich seafood stew. This dish has become a true speciality and it is said that King Juan Carlos travels from Mallorca to Fornells just to eat the excellent lobster.

Cheese in Menorca has been produced since very early times. Roman documents already show evidence of its existence and during the numerous British occupations of the island, it was one of the main sources of food for the troops. Today, its prestige has been recognised both in the mainland and abroad and it has received many awards. Since 1985 Mahon cheese has enjoyed the highest recognition. Look for it in supermarkets - you will be able to choose from mature, semi-mature and mild cheeses. A typical example would be Queso de Mercadel, which is very creamy, with a mild and distinctive flavour. The more matured or curado are much stronger and are sometimes an acquired taste for those used to milder cheeses.

Menorceans have a very sweet tooth and produce an array of pastries and desserts. If you have nothing else, be sure to try the almond macaroons - carquinyols - or enjoy morning coffee with an ensaimadas, a fluffy spiral pastry made with lard and sugar. Menorcans also have their own ice cream from Alaior - La Menorquina. Its smooth, creamy taste is highly popular and is now sold throughout Spain. Try some on your Menorca holiday.

Other Balearic Islands Holidays:

Formentera Holidays | Ibiza Holidays | Mallorca Holidays

Telephone us, send an enquiry, or search online for cheap flights to Menorca, cheap holidays in Menorca, discount flights, hotels, apartments and villas for Menorca Holidays in the Balearic Islands

Disclaimer:
By its very nature much of the information in our travel guides is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they are relying with the relevant authorities. Corona Holidays [UK] Limited cannot accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above.