Minorca - Best North Coast Holiday Resorts

Menorca's Best North Coast Holiday Resorts.

North Coast Menorca is quieter, more rugged and has fewer resorts compared to the more populated West Coast and livelier Southern Coastal regions. For this article, we look into two closely located resorts - Arenal d’en Castell and Son Parc. Both resorts offer good facilities for families and couples.

The north coast is the least crowded in terms of tourism development and features large natural inlets and craggy headlands with calm pebble or sandy bays. The two resorts reviewed both provide excellent facilities, with calm and shallow waters, plus a good mix of activities for youngsters.

1. Arenal d’en Castell

Arenal d'en Castell is one of the most popular and busiest destinations in Menorca, it's located on the northeastern side of the island, just 17km (10mls) north of Mahon. This area of the coast contains a system of large natural inlets and craggy headlands that form calm and attractive bays. Picturesque Arenal has an attractive turquoise-watered bay surrounded by a necklace of high-rise hotels and apartment complexes.

Arenal's crescent-shaped beach contains soft golden-white sands with warm shallow waters (ideal for families), especially those with young children. You'll find plenty of sun loungers and sunshades for hire, plus numerous watersport facilities to keep you energised. Waterfront cafes, bars and restaurants provide daytime refreshments and a lively low-key buzz in the evenings.

Arenal d’en Castell has a perfect beachfront location and makes a great base in which to explore Minorca's north and eastern coastlines. You'll find the island's only 18-hole golf course nearby, plus the quaint fishing village of Fornells with its whitewashed buildings, picturesque harbour and fantastic collection of seafood (marina-view) restaurants. You also have plenty of spectacular coastal walks to explore, plus the exciting capital Mahon is just a 20-minute drive away.

2. Son Parc

Son ParcSon Parc is a relaxed resort, ideally suited to older couples or families with small children. The resort has a delightful beach called Arenal Son Saura or Son Parc Beach - which is well-protected inside a bay. The beach has gentle, clear warm waters, ideal for young families and swimmers. The beach offers the usual facilities with sun loungers, sun umbrellas and a selection of watersport options available, plus basic shower and toilet facilities.

The resort is centred around one main street known as The Strip - which is home to bars and restaurants, including a pizzeria and an English-style pub. The strip is also where you'll find the resort Spar-type supermarkets, selling everyday holiday essentials that supply a large number of self-catering properties and private villas in the area. There's a reasonable selection of accommodation on offer, from budget-grade properties to mid-range hotels and self-catering apartments, most of which provide good facilities for families with young children.

There's plenty on offer to keep you occupied in Son Parc, within easy reach is the S’Albufera Nature Reserve, with three sign-posted walking trails. There's also a first-class 18-hole Golf Course with scenic lakes and professional-level greens, plus a driving range if you just fancy a little practice.

• Catalan is the spoken language of Menorca. During your stay, try to speak a few words of Catalan. Bon dia is Good Morning, bones tardes is Good Afternoon, Bona nit is Good night. Catalan is a descendant of Latin, mixed with Castilian and French.
• Visit the newly refurbished building housing the Museu de Menorca in Mahon. The museum holds a collection of over 200,000 artefacts tracing the Minorca's history. The building was once part of a Franciscan monastery and dates from the 15th century and is well worth a visit.
• Visit the highest point on Minorca at El Toro (350m above sea level). Centrally located, El Toro has spectacular 360-degree views from its summit - you can drive or walk to the top.
• The best way to discover Menorca's north coast is to hire a car, especially if you plan on visiting the island's two capitals, beautiful Mahon and the historic city of Ciutadella.

My favourite Minorca North Coast resort.

Both featured resorts are equally appealing. Son Parc and Arenal d'en Castell are part of the municipal district of es Mercadal. Both resorts are similar and share the same north coast headland. Although close to each other, the road connecting the two (the Me9) is not a straight route, it heads inland for some way extending the distance between resorts to 12km or a 20-minute drive by car. There's a bus service that takes around 1hr 15mins, taxis take around 20mins with a cost of approx 15 euro. There's a scenic coastal walking route between the resorts that takes approximately 30-40 mins.

Top Tip: If you plan to spend more than a week on the north coast, consider hiring a car, as many of Menorca's main resorts and sights are to the south and west of the island. Both resorts are fine if you're happy relaxing by the beach; however, if you like to explore using public transport you are limited, so either hire a car or consider an alternative resort on a different coastline.