Peaceful shores and pine groves
Holidays in Menorca are for couples, families, and nature lovers looking for somewhere quiet. The Spanish Balearic island of Menorca is only 30 miles long and 10 miles wide – large enough to offer lots to do, but keeping everything within reach. Boasting over 100 beaches, many Blue Flag, this is the place to visit coves with white sand and calm, turquoise sea. Some of the best beaches include Cala Macarella with its backdrop of pine trees, beaches of golden sand – including Playa de Cavalleria, or rocky adventure playgrounds like Mitjana.
A haven for those who love to walk, Menorca holidays offer plenty of places inaccessible by car. Meander the unspoilt, gentle hills of the island’s interior, hike up to El Toro, the island’s highest point, walk from beach to beach the entire length of the coast, or explore the UNESCO designated S’Albufera des Grau lagoon and its unfrequented natural park and coastline.
The main towns of the island – Mahon and Ciutadella, provide excellent harbour-facing restaurants, boutiques, costume jewellery, and leather goods shops. And foodies will love the Menorcan diet, which is influenced by Mediterranean tastes, heavy with fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh fish from the fish market, and Spanish tapas.
Sovereign has plenty of luxury to offer in Menorca – fabulous hotels with marble décor, luxury spas, and extensive wine lists, simply a short walk from excellent seafood restaurants, for example, overlooking the marina of Cala n Bosch. On this island of numerous beaches, you can walk to wonderful places to call your own for a day, such as Punta Prima, with its fine white sands and cooling clear water. If you like solitude, take an escorted jeep tour of the island, and learn which virtually unknown spots to revisit.
If you’re looking for family fun in spectacular surroundings on your luxury holidays in Menorca, try the long, sandy beach of Santa Tomas. Alternatively, the busy beach of Cala Galdana has a reputation as the most beautiful on Menorca – and clear, shallow water, silky soft white sand and a range of watersports make this great for families. For something different to do, not too far from Mahon and Punta Prima are the Coras d’en Xoroi caves where you can sip cocktails, watch the sun go down and join the post sunset dancing in the caves.
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Flight time from the UK to Menorca is around 2 hours 15 minutes.
If you're planning a trip to Menorca (MEN) from the UK, the following airports have direct flights:
Belfast International (BFS), Birmingham (BHX), Bournemouth (BOH), Bristol (BRS), Cardiff (CWL), East Midlands (EMA), Edinburgh (EDI), Exeter (EXT), Glasgow (GLA), Leeds Bradford (LBA), Liverpool (LPL), London Gatwick (LGW), London Luton (LTN), London Stansted (STN), Manchester (MAN), Newcastle (NCL) and Norwich (NWI).
Expect reliable beach weather from April all the way through to September, with average temperatures around 25°C or a shade more in August. Summers in Menorca are dry and the sea is lovely and warm, while spring and autumn months stay in the late teens for pleasant hiking weather.
Restaurant bills include a service charge by law in Spain, so whether you choose to tip further is up to you. If you enjoyed the meal and service, it is customary to leave 5-10%. Hotel porters and maids will appreciate a small tip, and while taxi drivers don’t require a tip, it’s common to round up the fare.
The official language of Spain is Spanish. English is widely spoken too, so getting by is easy.
A must while in Menorca is a visit to the gin distillery in Port Mahon. You can see where the gin is produced, try out different flavourings (from aniseed to peppermint schnapps) and buy a bottle or two to bring home.