Is Sa Mesquida a good Holiday Beach Resort for you?
A place for you?
for families
A day out for beach and walks
for couples
looking to escape hectic
Submerge in some authentic Menorca
(updated Jan 2024)
Sa Mesquida - Location
is located on the North East Coast. Approximatley 20 mins., from the Airport.
Getting the most from this Guide :
Use the Interactive Maps to take a detailed visual tour, with ariel views complete with additional photos and useful holiday information.
Overview
An authentic working fishing village in dramatic settings that most people only see when driving to the magnificent virgin beach Cala Mesquida and cove which forms part of this dramatic coastline. Fortified towers and defences reminds you that this was a popular place to invade the island!
A place for those looking to escape hectic and enjoy a magnificent beach combined with walks and dramatic coast line. The village itself is beautifully authentic without a care for tourism ( besides a few private lodgings ) and long shall it remain so.
You drive (slowly! ) through the village and follow the road around climbing a hill where on the left you will find free parking bays. Spend a few euros at the micro supermarket or bar for picnic items. There is a van on the beach selling homemade Italian ice cream. The prices are very reasonable given the captive audience and the ice cream is very good - also sells cold drinks and basic snack items. The right hand side nearest the cliffs is often used by nudists. Used by the locals from Mahon at the weekends.
Mahon will mostly be written on timetables, front of busus and signposts as Mao, it's correct local name. Also posted in the local papers eg Ultima Hora Menorca, Menorca towards the back pages are most of the island's bus timetables. You will nearly always find a copy of this in a cafe bar ( any day in season will do ) - make notes, please don't take paper as its there for all to read. If you are staying longer than a week take a trip on this good network and see some of the other resorts/towns first hand.
You will need a hire car. There is a bus with times suited to residents.
Sa Mesquida - Mahon :
Mahon - Sa Mesquida :
Daytime Activities
Walks
A good place for walking off a good lunch and where the children can enjoy rambling.
Cycling
There are various locations that hire out mountain bikes at Sa mesquida is a populr desination.
Sa Mesquida- Near By
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 that 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.
A watersports and restaurant favourite. 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. Lot's of boat excursions and activities are based here. Perfect for a quiet authentic Menorca stay. Mountain Bike Hire. Watersports include Jetski,Waterskiing,Windsurfing, Dinghy,Kayaks and Diving.
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.
S'Albufera Parc Natural - is a wonderful place for an early morning or evening walk (avoiding the summer heat). Footpaths lead, through pleasant lakelandscapes and woodlands to the sand dunes behind the beautiful beach at Es Grau. Walk on further to the fishing village of Es Grau to enjoy beachside sunsets at the waterside Cafe Bars.
Is a very large 19th century fort at the entrance to Mahon harbour. The fortress of Isabel II or 'la Mola' , built between 1850 and 1875 is one of the best examples of military architecture. Built to protect the strategic harbour from the English and French, the fortress was never attacked, therefore it is in relatively good state of preservation.
Menorca Holiday Tip
Even if you are not into history the location is scenically great, and children will love the myriad of underground tunnels/rooms to let our energy( perfectly safe ). Great place to visit after 6p.m to enjoy atmospheric light and watch the evenings sunset over the harbour. There is a little bathing bay just before entrance and you will be see an attractive part of Menorca seldom seen by visitors.
You can get the Water Taxi from Es Castell for a special trip across harbour. ( 12 Eur pp ) you just agree a pick up time.
Opening times: July and August: from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. June to September 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. May and October, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. From November to April, Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. closed Mondays. The approximate duration of the visit is 2 hours. Admission: 7 Euro but children under 12 FREE. Guided tours are available for individuals and groups. Individual audio-guides are available in different languages.
Bus Network Map with Sa Mesquida Bus stops to download
TIP:Mahon will mostly be written on timetables, front of buses and signposts as Maó, it's local name. If you are staying longer than a week take a trip on this good network and see some of the other sights, resorts/towns and attractions.
Menorca has no private Cab firms , Uber or ....'Dodgy Touts!'
Taxis are licensed for a MAX. of 4 Passengers. (any Age child counts as 1 passenger)
Summer peak In recent years Taxis have been in short supply due to not enough drivers for licensed areas. Consider a private transfer to reach Airport in good time for flight home.
Menorca beach resorts have no/few local residents so you will need to goto to local towns for anything beyond summer beach wear,tourist items and beach toys/inflatables and souvenir items.
Sa Mesquida has a mediterranean climate characterised by hot dry summers. Menorca has pleasant cooling Summer breeze. The sea temperatures at Sa Mesquida will be around 22-26 degrees in Summer. In October the water is still warm. Spring time ( early March to April ) will have sunny days with temperatures around 20 and above , ideal for sightseeing, walking, cycling and horseriding activities.
There are no Public shuttles , no direct Airport buses to Sa Mesquida - connections only via Mahon with potential long waits
Taxi or pre-booked Shuttle ?
Daytime Taxis are plentiful outside arrivals - best value for 4 or less to Holiday Resorts within 20km. Airport Taxis do not provide child seats - required by LAW
Sa Mesquida Airport Transfer times
0 Hrs.15 mins.
Menorca Airport
11 k.m
Shared Transfers Waits,restricted drop off/pickup addresses
Transfer Time: variable
from 13 Eur PP
Private Transfers Door to Door,no wait, drop off/pickup any addresses
Private Transfers from 24 Eur upto 3 to Sa Mesquida ideal for families and groups , as no waiting for other passengers ( delayed) arrival. Door to Door and child seats can be pre-booked.
VIP Transfers from 24 Eur upto 6 to Sa Mesquida No wait. Travel in style in premium vehicles