Here's your essential guide to getting the best out of a holiday in Menorca.
Location nickname: The Windy Island
Don't miss: Monte Toro
Best avoid: Cala'n Forcat
Don't miss: Caldereta de Langosta (lobster stew)
Best avoid: Raw clams
Cala Pregonda: Near Es Mercadal on the less-visited northern coast, you really have to want to visit Pregonda. However, a sweaty 45-minute hike is rewarded by a long sweeping stretch of pristine bronze sand and a protected bay. The calm, clear blue sea is ideal for snorkelling and swimming. No cafes, no bars, no drinking water. Come prepared.
Cami de Cavalls: This ancient 186km path originally linked a string of watchtowers, allowing troops on horseback to more easily defend the island. Today, part of the GR network of hiking routes, it's divided into 20 accessible sections, each a tempting invitation to explore wild coastline and splendidly isolated beaches.
Ciutadella: Heading west, the name of the island's former capital emphasises a turbulent history of siege, conquest and retribution by both Christian and Muslim powers - the Turkish invasion of 1558 is still commemorated. Architectural influences dating from the Moorish conquest of Spain are apparent in the Town Hall, the former residence of an Arab governor.
Cova d'en Xoroi: Each day ends with the setting of the sun but few places offer such a vantage point. Fashionable bar, chic evening club and a unique late night subterranean disco, Cova d'en Xoroi sure-footedly claims the best views from Menorca's southern sea cliffs. Sunset entrance to 'ambient' chillout sessions starts at €12.
Horseback hack: Relatively gentle landscapes permeated by quiet tracks and lanes with few vehicles lend themselves easily to horseriding excursions. Whether you're after a sedate amble in the saddle or a gallop through the surf on a sandy beach, Menorcan stables cater for all riders, from novice to expert.
Megalithic Menorca: Prehistoric stone structures dating from 2300BC are scattered across the island, many are defensive dwellings, some burial chambers, others are assumed to be places of worship. Unique to Menorca and most distinctive are 'taules', circular arrangements of stones with a distinctive T-shaped structure, a 'taula' (table) at the centre.
Monte Toro: At 342m scaling Menorca's highest peak isn't going to break any records. However, if you can ignore the mobile phone and TV masts, 360 degree views across the island are breathtaking. The Black Madonna enshrined within the summit's 17th century Sanctuary of the Virgin of El Toro is revered by Catholic Menorcans.
Museu de Menorca: Recording local history whilst at the same time engaging a holiday audience might be a thankless task. However, Maó's (Mahón's) small museum does a creditable job of adding context and alerting visitors to the island's rich past, emphasising that there's more to Menorca than sandy beaches.
On the water: Embrace being a tourist and take a glass bottom boat trip from Port de Mahón. Several vessels ply the route, taking an hour to navigate a circular course around the large natural harbour, passing Isla del Rey and the San Filipe Fort, returning via dramatic coastal cliffs and the old town of Mahón.
Parc Natural de S'Albufera des Grau: At over 4,000 acres this is wild Menorca. The most important wetlands in the Balearics and the heart of Menorca's UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, visitors explore a network of trails and wildlife hides on foot or by bicycle seeking out a rich and diverse ecosystem of plants, mammals, reptiles, insects and birds.
Cala Pregonda: Near Es Mercadal on the less-visited northern coast, you really have to want to visit Pregonda. However, a sweaty 45-minute hike is rewarded by a long sweeping stretch of pristine bronze sand and a protected bay. The calm, clear blue sea is ideal for snorkelling and swimming. No cafes, no bars, no drinking water. Come prepared.
Cami de Cavalls: This ancient 186km path originally linked a string of watchtowers, allowing troops on horseback to more easily defend the island. Today, part of the GR network of hiking routes, it's divided into 20 accessible sections, each a tempting invitation to explore wild coastline and splendidly isolated beaches.
Ciutadella: Heading west, the name of the island's former capital emphasises a turbulent history of siege, conquest and retribution by both Christian and Muslim powers - the Turkish invasion of 1558 is still commemorated. Architectural influences dating from the Moorish conquest of Spain are apparent in the Town Hall, the former residence of an Arab governor.
Cova d'en Xoroi: Each day ends with the setting of the sun but few places offer such a vantage point. Fashionable bar, chic evening club and a unique late night subterranean disco, Cova d'en Xoroi sure-footedly claims the best views from Menorca's southern sea cliffs. Sunset entrance to 'ambient' chillout sessions starts at €12.
Horseback hack: Relatively gentle landscapes permeated by quiet tracks and lanes with few vehicles lend themselves easily to horseriding excursions. Whether you're after a sedate amble in the saddle or a gallop through the surf on a sandy beach, Menorcan stables cater for all riders, from novice to expert.
Megalithic Menorca: Prehistoric stone structures dating from 2300BC are scattered across the island, many are defensive dwellings, some burial chambers, others are assumed to be places of worship. Unique to Menorca and most distinctive are 'taules', circular arrangements of stones with a distinctive T-shaped structure, a 'taula' (table) at the centre.
Monte Toro: At 342m scaling Menorca's highest peak isn't going to break any records. However, if you can ignore the mobile phone and TV masts, 360 degree views across the island are breathtaking. The Black Madonna enshrined within the summit's 17th century Sanctuary of the Virgin of El Toro is revered by Catholic Menorcans.
Museu de Menorca: Recording local history whilst at the same time engaging a holiday audience might be a thankless task. However, Maó's (Mahón's) small museum does a creditable job of adding context and alerting visitors to the island's rich past, emphasising that there's more to Menorca than sandy beaches.
On the water: Embrace being a tourist and take a glass bottom boat trip from Port de Mahón. Several vessels ply the route, taking an hour to navigate a circular course around the large natural harbour, passing Isla del Rey and the San Filipe Fort, returning via dramatic coastal cliffs and the old town of Mahón.
Parc Natural de S'Albufera des Grau: At over 4,000 acres this is wild Menorca. The most important wetlands in the Balearics and the heart of Menorca's UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, visitors explore a network of trails and wildlife hides on foot or by bicycle seeking out a rich and diverse ecosystem of plants, mammals, reptiles, insects and birds.
This article has been produced in association with www.talkholiday.com
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