Things To Do In Menorca

Menorca offers a modest selection of attractions and is probably not the best destination to head for if you are looking for a holiday packed with sightseeing activities. However, you want to learn something of the island’s history, revel in a little nature or enjoy thrill-packed man-made activities such as go-karting or riding water slides between bouts of sunbathing, then Menorca is the place to be. The island’s museums are also well worth checking out.

Xoriguer Distillery

Situated at the harbour front of the Moll de Ponent, the Xoriguer Distillery has been part of Menorca’s alcohol industry since the 18th century. Take a tour of the facility and get to see the giant copper stills in which batches of spirit are destined to become Menorca gin.   Visitors who are old enough to drink can sample some of the distillery’s favourite products before being offered the chance to purchase them at the on-site shop.

Cales Coves

Take the public bus seven miles from Mahon to the Cale Coves and you’ll find the island’s ancient caves, which were once used as burial chambers for early the settlers. There are no guided tours or services available at the caves, but visitors armed with a good flashlight are free to do a little exploring of their own.

Es Freginal Park

Located in the heart of Mahon, the island’s capital, Es Freginal Park is one of Menorca’s best places to relax and enjoy nature. The park offers plenty of wide-open green spaces as well as lawns and well-tended flower displays. A stage in the park is regularly the setting for musical performances, especially when the summer jazz festival arrives.

Go-karting

Experience the thrills of go-kart driving at the Menorca Go-karting Club (tel: +34 971 380 424) in Costa Nova. The club is open daily from 10:00 until 20:00.

Los Delfines Aquapark

Located just outside of Ciutadella, Los Delfines Aquapark is a 12,500 square metre facility offering a variety of water-based attractions aimed at the whole family. Among the park’s most popular features are the Giant Toboggan, Adventure River, Hydrotubes and the Black Hole.

S'Albufera des Grau

S'Albufera des Grau is a coastal nature reserve stretching some eight and a half kilometres from Cap de Favàritz. Visitors can explore the reserve’s wetlands and Menorcan scrub as well as getting the chance to check out some ancient ruins dating back to the Talayotic and Roman periods. Ornithologists will find some 100 species of birds living in the reserve.

Museums

Menorca’s long and fascinating history is chronicled in a variety of museums featuring ancient artefacts as well as classic works of art. Visitors interested in learning something about the island’s past can check out a number of facilities located in the heart of the island’s most popular areas. The Museu de Menorca for example can be found in Mahon and is set amid the remains of an old Franciscan monastery. The museum features artefacts dating from Roman, Byzantine, Arabic and Talayotic periods as well as other items from as far back as prehistoric times. Meanwhile, at the Museu de la Natura de Menorca, visitors have the chance to view some of the most fascinating aspects of the island’s indigenous flora and fauna. Finally, take a trip to the Museu Municipal de Ciutadella and find displays featuring artefacts from the Talayotic, Muslim and Roman periods.