Menorca: 5 reasons why you need to be here

1. Unique nature

Menorca is probably the only island whose entire territory is considered protected. The island is home to some of the rarest fauna, and the flora is a delight to the eye with an abundance of lush greenery and flowering plants.

The island's landscape is a play of contrasts: there are plains, deep ravines and bays, and wide meadows neighboring with the real stony desert. For tourists even develop special routes to get acquainted with the unique nature of the island.

2. Beaches

Here the traveler will discover another pleasant feature of the island: on the beaches of Menorca, even in high season, you will not see crowds of holidaymakers from all over the world. Perhaps the reason is the proximity of the busier Mallorca and Ibiza, but it is the low crowds that make Menorca an ideal place for a relaxing vacation.

With around 120 beaches (that's more than the above-mentioned islands combined!), you can choose your vacation of choice: you can retreat among the sand dunes in the south of the island (in Son Bou, for example), or you can go to the more "populated" beaches in the north, such as Kaya Anna and Kaya Galdana. If you want peace and quiet, the island has a lot of wild beaches, hidden from outsiders in secluded bays. However, you will have to get there by sea, but your efforts will be repaid by the magnificent scenery and complete solitude in the lap of nature.

It is also worth mentioning such beaches of Menorca as Es Grau (located near the Albufera Ornithological Park), Cavalleria and Cala Pilar (you will have to get here on foot, but on a picturesque road through oak groves and dunes).

3. Rich history

Menorca is called an open-air museum for a reason: there are so many sights and antiquities on the island that you'll feel like Indiana Jones on a treasure hunt.

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Mysterious stone pyramids (so-called "ships of the dead"), which - just think about it! - The mysterious stone pyramids (so-called "ships of the dead"), the Castle of Santa Àgueda, whose chapel offers stunning views, lighthouses, caves with rock paintings near the village of Callez Coves and the tomb of Naveta de los Tudones, now a museum of antiquities, are just a small part of what the island has to offer.

Stroll the ancient streets of Maon, the former capital of the island, admire the palaces and picturesque white houses shaded by palm and fig trees and feel history come alive at every turn.

4. Traditions

The locals are big horse lovers and excellent riders. That's probably why there are so many festivals dedicated to the noble animals. One of them is Equine Fiesta, which is celebrated at the end of August. Locals dressed in black and white costumes, riding horses decorated with ribbons and flowers, compete in horsemanship and organize whole performances to determine the best rider. The spectacle is very colorful and lively!

Another "horse" day is Fiesta de San Joan, which is celebrated for a week in June. On this day, the island's horsemen take to the streets of the city to demonstrate their skills, and horse races are organized. It is also a chance to see ancient ritual horseback riding exercises, which have existed since the Middle Ages.

Also in August, you can visit the St. Louis Horse Festival, where you can not only visit the horse show and fair, but also get a riding lesson.

Other holidays worth mentioning are Carmen, a festival and at the same time a holiday dedicated to sailors and all those who work at sea. It is more often celebrated in seaside towns and villages, but the center of the Carmen Festival is considered to be the town of Mahón.

5. Taste of Menorca

The island's culinary traditions are as diverse as the island itself. Although the cuisine of Menorca is considered Mediterranean, it has Greek, Italian, English and African influences!

Here you should definitely try seafood dishes (for example, spicy lobster stew, Caldera soup with lobsters or Arros de Peix, sea devil soup with rice and tomatoes), and also try the cheese "Mahón", brackish with a slight spicy note, and fig bread (pan de higo), which is often eaten together with cheese and washed down with delicious sherry. As for desserts, you should pay attention to local pies: "cocarrois" with meat, fish or vegetable filling and spicy "format-hades" with cheese and cinnamon.

The most convenient way to get to the island of Menorca is to fly to Mallorca and from there by ferry or domestic flight.