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Island Towns
Overview
Being small the Island only has two cities Mahon (Mao), Ciutadella and a few widely dispersed towns. A good place to stay in too? yes, because the island is so small being based in one of the towns rather than a beach side resort you can have the best of both worlds! - a beach is never far away!
Alaior
This is a great town for wandering early mornings or late evenings when the heat of sun is not around. The "third" capital of the island and a cultural centre. The old town is very pretty and makes a great change to the beach, with a good mix of little shops to browse, Cafes, Bars and Restaurants. And, some great home made ice cream parlours! Childrens playground on the pretty town square (next to ice cream cafes!). Alaior has a weekly market plus an evening artisans market with jewellry and other handicrafts and clothing.
Menorca Tips
Ladies Alaior is home to the Pons Quintana shoe factory shop. An name relatively unknown in the UK because most of its high quality leather shoes are exported to France and Germany. At the factory shop you will get heavily reduced prices on beautiful high quality shoes.
Arenal den Castell, Son Parc, Son Bou, & Cala en Porter selfcaterers - Visit the larger supermarkets here at the Poligno ( commercial area ) for a much better food and price selection.
Alaior
Ciutadella
An taste of former elegant times with fine old spanish palaces, moorish influences, a wonderful old centre and a charming little harbour. Ciutadella was the original capital of the island lying at the western edge of the island looking out to its bigger neighbour Mallorca. A superb contrast to the beach and holiday resort. Great atmosphere and shopping and a place to wander the pedestrianised old city and its many narrow streets with hidden shops and Cafe treats. Also competes with Mahon for the title of the best music bars and venues on the island. The scene for the spectacular Sant Joan festival in June, when stunning native black horses parade through the streets and the brave try to "touch the horses' heart" as it rears in front of them.
Ciutadella
Es Castell
Es Castell - is a delightful harbour town with a great mix of little shops, cafes, bars, Restaurants and clubs to suit all tastes, price ranges and styles. Not just the extensive harbour areas but also in the many side streets. In the main Cala Fons harbour the old fishermans caves have been adapted by various Bars and Restaurants. Es Castell is a very popular eating place for lunchtime Menu del Dias and a great place to while away the summer evenings.
Es Castell
Es Grau
Es Grau is a typical Menorcan fishing village, unspoilt and inside one of the islands most famous nature reserves (S 'Albufera Parc Natural). Set in a horsehore bay with a beautiful natural safe beach and several small virgin beaches close by. A small place but there are still three bars, one waterside restaurant, and corner shop supermarket. Clean clear warm waters make the area ideal for snorkelling with good local facilities for wind surfing, sea kayaking and other water sports. From Es Grau you can ask local fisherman to ferry you to the nearby island 'Illa Den Colom' where you can lie undisturbed on the virgin beach dreaming of the water bottle you left behind...
Menorca Holiday Tips
Kayak hire from beach , paddle around left handside headland and enjoy the tiny hidden beaches there opposite the Illa Den Colom ( Kayaks for 3 Pers 12 Euro an hour )
Es Grau
Ferreries
Is a traditional island town occupying a beautiful location and providing a dramatic moment for all drivers as the main island road ME-1 meanders through a very picturesque and narrow gap in the hills. Ferreries is surrounded by beautiful hills and countryside and spectacular valleys and history. A great start point for scenic walks,cycling and horse riding.
Menorca Holiday Tips
Every Saturday 9-1pm there is an attractive farmers and craft market in Placa Espanya ( main town square ) with fresh farm produce, fruit and handicrafts including ceramics. At the Poligno there is a Jaime Mascaro factory outlet offering high quality leathers goods at reduced prices. Jaime is sold mostly in French, Italien and German boutiques.
Ferreries
Fornells
Fornells a watersports and seafood restaurant eldorado. The village with it's speciality seafood restaurants is located at the entrance to a huge enclosed natural bay whose protected waters make it perfect for all manner of sail based 'messing about'. More like a large salt water lake the wind conditions here are great for beginners of anything that floats on water. Very pleasant for lunch time and evening drinks and meals alongside the harbour quay.
Fornells
Es Mercadal
Es Mercadal is a small town in the centre of the island, with rustic whitewashed houses lining pretty narrow streets. It lies at the base to Monte Toro, Menorcas' highest 'mountain' (357 m). On top there are viewing areas and a small pleasant cafeteria with small outside terrace. From up here there are excellent views of the whole island - upto the bay at Fornells ,the northern coast and the rolling hills of the island's centre.
Menorca Tips
Es Mercadal is also a Gastronomy and Restaurant oasis, with a range from simple to fine dining but the quality in every price range is very good. "Centre Artesanal de Menorca" is located here too and is the crafts center of Menorca showcasing traditional and comtemporary crafts.
Es Mercadal
Es Migjorn Gran
Es Migjorn Gran is authentic Menorca and the town with the least tourism influence. Surrounded by grand and beautiful country side, with many rural paths and single track roads ( Camis ) to explore. It is the starting point for drives or walks in to wonderful woods and valleys ( Binigaus ) and direct south of the town is perhaps one of the nicest virgin beaches on the island at Binigaus. It has three authentic restaurants ( Ca Na Pilar, S'Engolidor and Can Toni ) for a special evening meal. It is typically spanish, where the old men gather to shake their heads at the new things passing in the world!
Es Migjorn Gran
Mahon ( Mao Maó )
Mahon has a great mediterranean charm around the centre and harbour. Busy pavement Cafes and Bars, superb fruit and fish markets and all enclosed in a maze of narrow streets with architecture and many reminders of its Georgian past. In addition to the traditional the town offers a myriad of stylish shops and bars. Along the whole length of the harbour quayside (Moll de Llevant) there is an electic collection of Cafes, Bars and Restaurants for all pockets and styles. A spectacular setting above the huge natural harbour with ships and boats of every shape and sizes.
Mahon
San Climent
Located on the main road (ME-12) from Mahon to Cala en Porter is well worth a visit if you are in the area. "Famous" for Casino Bar-Restaurant (some of the best tasting/value) Menu del Dias on the island. Great Music nights: Tuesday evening improv Jazz in backrooms of the Casino Bar-Restaurant. Lovely converted Farmhouse Musupta Cusi for drinks. Both places are next to each other. Last shop on the right is a traditional bakers. Experience real bread made in real wood fired ovens in front of your eyes. Home to one of the best restaurants on the island Es Moli Foc in Carrer Sant Lorenc.
San Climent
Menorca Tips
If you are an independent traveller and waiting to catch a flight then come here for for final drinks and meals in a more personal environment. Airport is just 5 mins drive away. 6 am cafes too!
Sant Lluis
Is a mostly residential town with a good mix of little shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. Its most well known sights are Moli de Dalt the island's only functioning windmill (open am for visits) and "La Rueda" a popular Tapas Bar & Restauant. In pretty neighbouring S'Uestra and Torret there are some excellent high class restaurants. Mahons trotting and karting track are also near by.
TIP Visit the large Euroski SYP Supermarket here at the Poligno ( commercial area) for a good food selection (english / german food items stocked) and keen prices. The Supermarket's (independent ) Cafeteria Bar offers a great menu del Dia/take away hot food in air conditioned surroundings.
Sant Lluis
Menorca Holiday Tips
If you have a hire car here are some villages worth a visit.
Llucmacanes
If you are mobile, this little village ( 2km from west Mahon ) is a stop off point along attractive, stone walled country lanes to and from the coast. A residential village, many of the former farmhouses have been turned into homes and holiday homes. A little supermarket, plus two tiny atmospheric (open evenings only) restaurants. Es Nit in 300 year old farmhouse (international) and Sa Vinya (Menorcan) . A third larger restaurant, Halliseys has recently opened up here relocating fom the Son Parc Golf Club. All offer a very different experience to any beach resort restaurants for something more special. There are walks into the nearby attractive countryside.
Torret
A village straight out of the picture books. Torret oozes traditional menorcan architecture, with lots of bougainvillea draped over the old white washed houses. Best to leave the car at the entrance roads and just wander respectfully or as part of a cycle tour. Home to highly regarded restaurants for food lovers (Sa Pedrera des Pujol, Sa Parereta d'en Doro, Pan y Vino ). From behind the unmissable watchtower you can wander down to the coast at Torret de Baix.
