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Minorca
Cala Turqueta, Minorca © Turespaña
Despite its popularity as a holiday Mecca, the Balearic island of Minorca remains one of the loveliest, most unspoilt islands in the Mediterranean. The local population support the control of resort development and the woodlands and fields of its hilly rural interior remain largely untouched. This is the result of a thriving local industry that is less dependent on tourism for its survival than the other islands are.

Minorca is only nine miles (15km) wide and about 32 miles (52km) long, and boasts stretches of varied beaches, from silver-sanded gently curving bays to rocky inlets. Aside from beaches and resorts the island also has plenty of interest for history buffs and culture vultures, with several attractions to experience, including a world famous pipe organ and several mysterious prehistoric archaeological sites related to the second millennium BC Talayot culture.

The more recent history of the island is a saga of British, French and Spanish attempts at control and colonisation, each of which have left their influence on the local culture and architecture.



Resorts

See our separate guides to the following Minorca holiday resorts: Arenal d'en Castell


Attractions

Aquarock © Aquarock Menorca

Aquarock Water Park

Featuring water slides, pools and even a go-karting track, a trip to Aquarock Water Park is a must for families travelling in Minorca with kids. The famous kamikaze slide is a must, little ones can splash in the pools and parents can simply...  see full details



Ciutadella © Prichardson

Ciutadella de Menorca

Minorca’s second town, the compact port of Ciutadella, is west of the capital and linked to it by the main island road. Ciutadella is very different in character to Mahon, sporting a distinct Moorish and Spanish influence in its Gothic and Baroque grand mansions...  see full details



San Jaime slide © Yogi

Club San Jaime

Rated as one of the top kids attractions in Minorca, Club San Jaime, located in the beach resort of Son Bou, this water park and play area features slides, pools, waterchutes, and a restaurant. A great day out for the whole family, the...  see full details



Cova d'en Xoroi © eb0la

Cova d’en Xoroi

Visitors to Minorca cannot leave without making the short trip to the beautiful Cala n' Porter to enjoy the Cova d'en Xoroi (commonly referred to as 'The Caves'), a bar/restaurant perched on the side of a very steep cliff overlooking the sugary white...  see full details



Mahon © Claire Allison

Mahón

Minorca's capital town, Mahón, is an unavoidable port of call for visitors arriving on the island, and most head for the string of restaurants and cafes that line the harbour frontage. The town itself is sedate and conservative, featuring classic Georgian townhouses (bearing testimony...  see full details



Binibequer Bay © Claire Allison

Minorca Beaches

Minorca has a variety of beaches and resorts. Fornells, an attractive fishing village on the north coast, is on a spectacular bay ideal for windsurfing and watersports. Close by is the beach Cala Tirant. Cala Galdana is one of the most popular beaches,...  see full details



Naveta dels Tudons © Zen Trowel

Naveta des Tudons

Regarded as the 'cathedral of prehistoric monuments' the Naveta des Tudons is the best-known sight on Minorca. One of numerous navetas on the island, it is situated just outside Ciutadella on the road from Mahon and stands two stories high, shaped like the upturned...  see full details



Yellow Catamaran © Yellow Catamarans

Yellow Catamaran Glass-bottom boat

Children will love taking a ride on a glass-bottom boat through Mahon's natural harbour, the largest of its kind in the Mediterranean, and out towards open waters where kids can go down below to look through the boat's glass bottom. The tour features...  see full details



Excursions


Cala ‘n Porter

One of the largest coastal developments along the central south coast of Minorca, Cala 'n Porter's picturesque and breathtaking cove and beach keep tourists flocking here throughout the summer season. Famed for its Cova d'en Xoroi, Cala 'n Porter is located on the edge...  see full details

Ferreries

Surrounded by rolling green hills, the 13th century town of Ferreries lies nestled in the centre of the Minorca next to the island's second highest mountain. With orange tiled roofs and pokey, narrow streets, this little town may not be an obvious attraction, but...  see full details

Fornells

Located in the north, which is known for its unspoilt and very often, deserted beaches, Fornells is a sleepy resort and fishing town. Originally founded to serve the 16th century castle as a defence against the Barbary pirates, all that remains of the military...  see full details
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