Ciutadella, a town on the Spanish Balearic island of Menorca, is the history-laden former capital. It’s a favourite place for visitors looking to unearth the fascinating heritage of the Balearics, and gain a first-hand insight into the past. The town is rich in both culture and personality, with warm, welcoming locals, spectacular scenery, and an authentic ambience that’s impossible to fake. But alongside the high profile architecture, historical monuments, and beautiful churches, the town is home to some more unusual attractions, which also serve an important role in its heritage. So once you’ve ticked off everything else, go find the “cool” in Ciutadella with these off-the-beaten-track gems.
- Ciutadella: a Balearic Gem with Hidden Depths
- To Market, to Market: The Mercat Municipal
- A Secret Garden Courtyard
- Necropolis de Cala Morell
- Where to Stay
- How to Get There
Ciutadella: a Balearic Gem with Hidden Depths
Ciutadella has a lot to love – and a lot of people love it! It’s such a pretty town, with the requisite paved streets lined with effortlessly grand architecture, a palette of dusty, pastel hues, secret back alleys, and an accessible historical centre that’s a joy to explore. That’s before we even mention the buzzy port with its waterfront bars and restaurants.
This is a place to take your time, though. Wander the Old Town, discovering historical highlights at your leisure, stop for a coffee or a glass of wine, and then, once you think you’ve seen it all, think again…
To Market, to Market: Mercat de Peix
The seasoned traveller understands that if you want to know the beating, passionate, local heart of a town, you’ll find it at the market. But not the ones filled with tourist tat, fast food, and fake handbags – the ones filled with colours, aromas and the overwhelming pungency of local life. In Ciutadella, that’s the Mercat des Peix (the fish market).
Set in the heart of the Old Town, on Plaza de la Libertad, it is so charming it almost looks like a film set – and yet, this is simply daily life for the locals. The distinctive green and white tiles of the tiny shops set out under the arches of the nineteenth-century arcade make a striking setting for the traditional butchers, fishmongers, bakers – all shouting, gesticulating, and encouraging passers by to sample their wares.
The atmosphere is impossible to describe, made up of countless conversations, the clink of coffee cups, and the heavy thud of knives on block. You just have to experience it for yourself. Busy from very early morning until long after dark, this place is like seeing into the soul of Spanish life – and it looks pretty great.
A Secret Garden Courtyard
It’s wonderful to find something so lovely so close to a popular attraction (the Cathedral) and, also, completely free! When the island’s capital was transferred to Mahon, Ciutadella still remained the religious centre, hence the presiding bishop continued to live here. Even though the residence itself is not open to the public, you’re free to wander around the gorgeous Bishop’s Palace Courtyard.
Entry is like something out of a fairytale, as you step through a wooden door which is inset into a larger door – like a little mouse house. It’s not exactly “undiscovered”, so you may have to share it with other curious visitors, but if you go early in the morning there’s a good chance you’ll have the enchanting garden courtyard all to yourself. Small, but perfectly formed, and meticulously well-kept, the focal point of the paved courtyard with its neatly planted gardens is the stone staircase that leads up to the elevated levels of the Bishop’s Palace. While you can’t enter the Palace, you’re free to climb the stairs for a very pretty photo opportunity and perhaps some gentle reflection.
Necropolis de Cala Morell
We’re cheating a little here because these fascinating ancient burial caves are set a short way out of town – but only about a 10 minute drive away, and very well worth the trip. Dating back to the pre-Talayotic era, the site comprises 14 separate funerary caves of differing sizes set into the side of the limestone cliffs – some containing multiple chambers and corridors. The concept itself is incredible, to think that Menorca’s early inhabitants carved these caves out of the rock to bury and honour their dead – the skill and engineering required is phenomenal.
The entire island of Menorca is often described as an “open air museum”, and these prehistoric caves are a stunning example of this. Entry to the site is free, and you can walk around at your leisure, soaking up the history and ingenuity, while also taking in some spectacular coastal views. While the caves do have their fair share of visitors, it’s nothing like some of the other more well-known historical sites around the island. Because it’s a lot quieter and calmer than others, it’s a wonderful place to connect with the past and contemplate the future.
These three lesser-known attractions in Ciutadella make a fantastic addition to an itinerary if you’re interested in doing more than just paying lip service to the history and culture of Menorca – and adding a little “cool” to your holiday.
Where to Stay
Hotel Boutique Can Sastre: Set in the perfect location to explore the city, this gorgeous boutique hotel is just 100m from the famous cathedral. Featuring a mix of contemporary and traditional appointments, the beautifully restored property delivers a genuine sense of history, but with all the mod-cons. Rooms are tranquil and tastefully decorated, with private bathrooms and views over the city. A delicious buffet breakfast sets you up for a fantastic day in Ciutadella.
Hotel Artemisia: Less than a kilometre from the beach and on the doorstep of the main highlights of Ciutadella, the Hotel Artemisia offers spacious, comfortable rooms with stylish decor and furnishings. With exceptional onsite facilities, you’ll be able to enjoy the fitness centre, a relaxing lounge, an outdoor seating area, concierge services, and a lovely coffee shop. An ideal location from which to discover the sights, sounds, and ambience of the city.
Cal Bisbe: Minutes from the port, cafes, restaurants and historical highlights, Cal Bisbe is a stylishly decorated, spacious home with balcony, terrace, and plenty of space to spread out and relax. A host of facilities include air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, a fully equipped kitchen, washing machine, three bedrooms and a generous living space. Clean, comfortable and completely welcoming, this is your ideal home away from home in Ciutadella.
How to Get There
To organise your break in Ciutadella you’ll need to fly into Menorca Airport. It’s a very popular route from multiple UK airports, taking around two and a half hours. You can choose from more than a hundred flights every week, operated by numerous airlines including British Airways, Jet2, TUI, easyJet and others.
When you arrive at Menorca, getting the rest of the way to Ciutadella is simple with a pre-booked airport transfer from Shuttle Direct. The trip by road from Menorca Airport to Ciutadella takes around 45 minutes, so you can just sit back and enjoy the scenery.
Overview
UK to MAH Flight Time: 2 hours, 24 mins approx.
MAH to Ciutadella: 49 kilometres
Shuttle Direct Transfer: 45 minutes approx.
Types of Transfer
Because we understand everyone is different, Shuttle Direct offers various different options to get you quickly and conveniently from Menorca Airport to Ciutadella.
Shuttle Bus: For those looking for an affordable, friendly Menorca transfer, you really can’t go past the recommendation of thousands of happy customers! Our shared shuttle buses are clean, modern and comfortable and you’ll be taken to a designated drop-off point that’s as close to your accommodation as possible. The perfect option for those on a budget.
Taxi: For those looking for door-to-door service that won’t break the bank, a pre-booked local taxi with Shuttle Direct offers a great way to get you from Menorca Airport to Ciutadella. When you land, your friendly taxi driver will be waiting to transport you straight to your accommodation without delay. Forget the taxi queue!
Private Transfer: Looking for the ultimate ride to the doorstep? Our luxury Ciutadella transfers offer a top of the range service in a high end modern vehicle with a professional driver. As soon as your flight lands, your driver will meet you in the terminal and escort you to your car. You’ll then head off without delay and get to your accommodation fresh, unflustered and ready to start your holiday in style. It costs a little more, but it’s totally worth it.
Minibus Transfer: If you’re on your break with a large group of friends or extended family, one of our minibus transfers makes the logistics easy. The larger capacity vehicle means you can all travel together, and there’s plenty of room for all the associated luggage. You’ll get all the benefits of a private transfer, with convenient door-to-door drop-off, and if you split the cost among the group, it works out economical for everyone.
Choosing the Right Transfer
Any of our services from Menorca Airport to Ciutadella will help you arrive safely and comfortably, but only you can decide which one is right for your budget and the way you like to travel. The choice will come down to whether you prioritise convenience or cost.
Convenience: If you’re interested in the most convenient and hassle-free way to get from the airport at Menorca to Ciutadella and you don’t mind paying a little bit more for it, one of our private transfers or a pre-booked local taxi will suit your needs perfectly and you won’t be disappointed.
Cost: If you’re looking for something more affordable and don’t mind sharing with other passengers, one of our cost-effective shuttle buses will give you what you need. Because the service is not door-to-door you’ll save on the price, but you won’t have to compromise on comfort and safety and you’ll be taken to a central drop-off as convenient to your accommodation as possible.
About Shuttle Direct
Shuttle Direct is a renowned and respected provider of fast, safe, and convenient airport transfers to and from a vast range of destinations all over the world. We are the market leader for a reason: we offer great communication, friendly drivers, and we know what our customers want and we give it to them. With services ranging from economical shared shuttles to top-of-the-range private luxury transfers, we’ve got something for every budget. Book online with us as soon as you’ve secured your flights and we’ll take care of everything.
