Tour of Minorca, Island of Spain

Minorca is a popular small island in the sun popular with British tourists looking for quiet relaxing holidays.

The capital is Mahon situated about 3 miles north of the Airport with the Beach Resorts situated around the island such as:

S'Algar about 7 miles east of the Airport.

Punta Prima about 8 miles southeast of the Airport.

Binibeca about 5 miles south of the Airport.

Cala'n Porter about 7 miles west of the Airport.

Son Bou about 12 miles west of the Airport.

Santo Tomas about 17 miles west of the Airport.

Cala Galdana about 22 miles west of the Airport.

West Coast Resorts are about 30 miles west of the Airport.

North Coast Resorts are about 16 miles northwest of the Airport.

Spain Map . Google Minorca Map.

More Information . Late Rooms . Booking.com.

Mao [Mahon] has been the capital of Menorca, since the British moved it from Ciutadella in 1721. The reason being, the harbour at 5 km long, over 1 km at its widest point and 15-30m deep, is one of the largest natural harbours in the world. This coupled with its location in the Mediterranean, has made it a strategic stronghold for many nations throughout history.

The port itself is relaxing by day and buzzing by night. The bars and restaurants along the portside come alive at night. Shopping is the best on the island.

Es Castell at the mouth of the Port Mahon is a very Georgian English looking town, except for the day long sunshine. It is a lively resort with wide ranging facilities and benefits from its closeness to Mahon. The town has a good selection of Hotels and Villas.

S'Algar is a small purpose built resort 7 miles east of the Airport that consists of little more than a couple of fairly large hotels, a handful of self catering apartments, and a somewhat larger number of privately owned villas and holiday homes, which even by Menorcan standards can only be described as being quiet. However, where the resort has made a name for itself is for its sports facilities, which are widely regarded as being possibly the best on the island.

Quite unusual for a family holiday destination, S'Algar actually lacks a proper beach. The nearest thing here is a narrow strip of imported sand in front of the Hotel S'Algar, other than that it's a 15 minute stroll to the cove at Cala Alcaufar, and although very picturesque, it has to be said that this is not one of the best beaches on Menorca.

More Information & Photos . Booking.com .
Visitor Reviews.

Punta Prima, 8 miles southeast of the Airport, even by Menorcan standards, has to be described as being quiet. However, if all you are looking for is a beach, a couple of hotels and a shop, this may be the very place for you. In its defence the resort does have two very well stocked supermarkets selling the everyday holiday essentials along with a good selection of UK recognisable branded goods.

Punta Prima has a large sandy beach of fine white sand that can become very busy at weekends due to its close proximity to Mahon.

The sea although very alluring, can also be quite dangerous, and caution is needed when swimming due to strong offshore currents and rocks hidden under the waves. A system of warning flags operates from above the Red Cross building, and as with all beaches, green means safe, yellow warns you to be careful and red you mustn’t swim at all. Ignore them at your own peril!

Binibeca, about 5 miles south of the Airport, also has to be described as being quiet, and for many perhaps a little too quiet. However, if all you are looking for is a beach and somewhere to relax, this may be the very place for you.

In its defence, and in recognition of the high numbers of visitors on self catering breaks, the resort does have a number of very well stocked supermarkets selling the everyday holiday essentials along with a good selection of UK recognisable branded goods, albeit at slightly higher prices than you would normally expect to pay back home in the UK.

The final development of Binibeca is that of Binibequer Vell which has been carefully designed to recreate a traditional Mediterranean style fishing village. A visit to Binibeca Vell, with its narrow cobbled streets and picturesque harbour, is often included as part of the major tour operators.

More Information & Photos . Booking.com.

Cala'n Porter, about 7 miles west of the Airport, is recognised as being one of the largest developments on the south coast, and is often described by the major tour operators being "lively". By Menorcan standards it probably is, however, don't go expecting to find another Magaluf or Playa de las Americas here.

Menorca just isn't like that, which for most people who holiday here is attraction enough. As with most resorts on the island, evening entertainment here is mainly hotel based, however, during the summer months at least, Cala'n Porter does have a small number of lively bars, and at least one late night disco at the Cova d'en Xoroi.

More Information & Photos . Booking.com.
.

Son Bou, about 12 miles west of the Airport, has the longest, but not necessarily the widest, beach on the island, with almost 2 miles of fine white sand backed in the most part by a protected area of sand dunes and freshwater marshes.

Despite its size, the beach does get very busy at weekends when many of the locals from nearby Alaior descend on the town with their picnic baskets.

Although not officially allowed in Menorca, the western end of the Son Bou beach, going towards Santo Tomas, is also widely recognised as being a nudist beach.

More Information & Photos . Booking.com.

Santo Tomas, about 17 miles west of the Airport, is a modern purpose built holiday resort, that during the summer months, is hugely popular with British families.

The beach area in Santo Thomas offers popular busier stretches and quaint hideaways. At 3 km long, it's never overcrowded and offers protection with its surrounding sand dunes.

The most popular hotel in the area is the mpressive Hotel Victoria Playa at the eastern end of the town.

More Information & Photos . Booking.com.

Cala Galdana, about 22 miles west of the Airport, is a near perfect horse shoe bay which is surrounded by almost vertical pine clad cliffs.

Without a doubt, this resort is considered to be the most beautiful and picturesque on the entire island, frequently featured on the cover of many of the major tour operators summer sun brochures.

More Information & Photos . Booking.com . Visitor Reviews.

Cala'n Bosch is a modern resort that lies on the extreme south west coast of Menorca, approximately 10km south of the former capital of the island Ciutadella, and some 56km, or 35 miles, west of Mahon and the International Airport.

With the exception of a couple of fair sized hotels, accommodation here is mainly self catering apartments and privately owned villas.

Cala'n Bosch has two fair sized sandy beaches. Both of these beaches have good facilities, and offer a good selection of water sports equipment for hire.

More Information & Photos . Booking.com . Visitor Reviews.

Cala Blanca is a modern resort that lies on the extreme west coast of Menorca, approximately 5km south of the former capital of the island Ciutadella, and some 50km, or 30 miles, west of Mahon and the International Airport.

The resort has two small beaches, both of which are very clean with fine gently shelving sands that are protected by rocky sides, but be aware that due to the close proximity of Ciutadella, they can become very busy in high season. Both beaches also offer a fair variety of water sports facilities and equipment for hire.

More Information & Photos . Booking.com.

Cala'n Blanes is a popular resort that lies on the extreme west coast of Menorca, approximately 5km west of the former capital of the island Ciutadella, and some 50km, or 30 miles, west of Mahon and the International Airport.

Cala'n Blanes and the surrounding area, is very popular with British visitors. Much of the west coast of Menorca is very rugged. Cala'n Blanes has probably the best beach in the area, but it can become very crowded during the peak summer weekends.

More Information & Photos . Booking.com . Visitor Reviews.

Cala'n Forcat lies on the extreme west coast of Menorca, approximately 5km west of the former capital of the island Ciutadella, and some 50km, or 30 miles, west of Mahon and the International Airport.

Cala'n Forcat beaches are all very small coves with the two at the north of the resort requiring you to climb down steps.

There are Lots of restaurants, bars, shops & supermarkets. There is also a water park situated on the main road.

More Information & Photos . Booking.com.

Cala Morell , about 30 miles northwest of the Airport, is a very small, quiet and picturesque hamlet built around a very steep sided george with many caves on the north of the island.

Mainly private villas but has two or three apartment blocks. A small sandy beach and just a couple of bar/restaurants.

Cala Morell is ideal for a "Off the beaten track" holiday. Note if your staying here, a car is a must.

More Information & Photos . Booking.com.

Playas de Fornells is a smart, exclusive resort on the north coast of the island, approximately 30km, or 20 miles north west of the capital Mahon and the International Airport.

Apart from its two safe and sandy beaches now joined by a causeway, the resort has numerous little rocky bays from where you can swim or snorkel and enjoy the amazing variety of marine life living just beneath you.

The picturesque fishing village of Fornells, famed for its connections with the Spanish royal family and its large selection of acclaimed restaurants is a short distance away.

More Information & Photos . Booking.com.

Son Parc is a secluded resort on the rugged northern coast of Menorca, approximately 20km, or 12 miles north west of the capital Mahon and the Iinternational Airport.

The warm shallow waters at Son Parc make this resort very popular with families with young children. But as with all beaches, do watch out for the safety flags, green means safe, yellow warns you to be careful and red you mustn’t swim at all. The beach is without doubt a major attraction of this resort with fine, clean sand and a good variety of water sports and other facilities available to suit all tastes.

More Information & Photos . Booking.com.

Arenal d'en Castell is situated on the rugged northern coast of Menorca, approximately 20km, or 12 miles north west of the capital Mahon and the International Airport.

The bay at Arenal d'en Castell is a near perfect horse shoe, often pictured on the front covers of the major tour operators summer sun brochures.

The warm shallow waters of the bay make this resort very popular with families with young children.

More Information & Photos . Booking.com.

For more information on Minorca, visit: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minorca.

Minorca Golf Information * Sea Fishing.