The four main islands, Majorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera, attract tens of thousands of families, couples and singles every year.  Ibiza has a reputation as a ‘party island’ and Majorca is top choice for families and golfers.

Menorca is not as commercially developed and is smaller, but it does have plenty to offer and because of its reputation for being unspoilt, many consider the island of Menorca to be far and away the best of the Balearics.

Son Xoriguer, Menorca, Spain by Freebird

6 Great Reasons to Visit Menorca This Year

Relaxation

Unlike its sister island, Ibiza, a week spent in Menorca will not involve falling out of thumping bars and clubs as the sun rises, rather worse for wear after sinking twenty-five shots of Jaeger bomb.  Although not quite as unspoilt as Formentera, Menorca still has a reputation for being the quieter island, which makes it perfect for anyone who prefers chilling out as opposed to dancing the night away and unlike Formentera, there are still plenty of other things to do if the mood takes you.

Beaches

Menorca is blessed with more than its fair share of beaches and with more than two hundred beaches dotted around the coast to choose from, sun-seekers come to the island for the opportunity to lie in the hot Mediterranean sun, far from the madding crowds typically found on the crowded sands of Majorca and Ibiza.  All of the beaches on Menorca are worth visiting, but one of the best beaches on the island is Cala Pregonda.  A stunning stretch of sand in the protected north of the island, Cala Pregonda is easily accessible by foot and although the beach lacks any modern facilities such as cafes and restaurants, it more than makes up for this with its idyllic location.  It does however attract nudists, so be warned: clothing is entirely optional!

Menorca coastline, Spain by Freebird

Dramatic Coastline

Menorca is famous for its rugged coastline and the towering limestone cliffs bordered by spectacular sandy beaches are stunningly beautiful.  The northern half of the island is the most dramatic and the section of coast between Punta Nati and Cala Carbó is particularly beautiful; the limestone cliffs loom over small coves and red sandy beaches, creating an idyllic setting.  To the east, the famous lighthouse of Cavalleria sits atop the highest cliffs on the island, which afford some spectacular views.

Culture

Menorca has a lot more to offer than fabulous beaches and perfect weather and keen historians will be able to spend their entire holiday exploring ancient stone monuments dating back to 2000 BC.  Many of the ancient settlements on the island are highly accessible.  Talatí del Dalt is only 4 km from the capital of Menorca, Maó and is well worth a visit; as is the capital, Maó, which has some fine examples of Georgian architecture dating back to the 18th century.

Talatí del Dalt, Menorca, Spain by David Font Mampel

Explore the Island on Foot

Menorca is relatively small compared to Majorca and Ibiza and thanks to the completion of a coastal pathway, known as the Camí de Cavalls, it is possible to circumnavigate a large part of the island on foot if you are feeling energetic.

The Camí de Cavalls is divided up into handy sections, each of which are about 10km long and of varying terrain.  The path is well signposted and is also suitable for mountain bikers and horse riders.  There are also a large number of other scenic footpaths along old bridleways and tracks snaking through the countryside, and even during the height of summer, it is possible to head out for a peaceful walk without seeing meeting any traffic or other people.

Back to Nature

Thanks to its plethora of important flowers, plants and animals, Menorca is a UNESCO classified biosphere reserve.

The island is great for bird watching and if you are lucky you could catch a glimpse of red kites, booted eagles, Egyptian vultures, peregrines, warblers and even osprey. The best place for watching birds is the S’Albufera des Grau Park, which is a short trip from Maó; there are several walking trails meandering through the wetlands, plus a few bird watching hides interspersed around.

If you have been looking for somewhere amazing to spend your holidays Menorca is a fantastic choice!

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A tiny island off the coast of Sicily, Favignana is the largest one of Aegadian Islands, which also include Marettimo and Levanzo. Whilst Favignana was once prominently involved with tuna fishing and packing, it is now focussed on tourism. But you won’t find scores of people flocking to the white sand beaches with cool boxes in hand, like some other European holiday destinations; the island is relatively untouched by the cruel hands of mass tourism and remains a safe haven for those looking for some peace and quiet.

Cala Rossa, Favignana, Italy by rivaalessandro

Places to Stay

There are a variety of different hotels to stay in around the island and you can be sure a beautiful view of the azure sea is never far away. My two favourites are the Hotel Tempo di Mare and the Hotel Cave Bianche.

The Hotel Tempo di Mare is a four star, stunning white-walled hotel whose entranceway beautifully frames the crystalline waters. It is not a huge hotel and has around 45 rooms, each designed in a simple but chic way with white linens and hints of pale blue. There is a restaurant within the hotel which serves delicious Italian and Sicilian fusion food, using the mouth-wateringly plentiful frutti-di-mare.

The Cave Bianche is a little further away from the island’s main city, only around a 10-15 minute drive, and is set in an old mining quarry. This is a striking hotel unlike anything else in the world; submerged within a quarry with huge vaulted ceilings and characteristic pale sandstone walls. There is also a large pool and Jacuzzi’s not to mention plenty of sunbeds, so you can take advantage of the warming Mediterranean sun.

All in all both hotels are stunning and a real design feat, certainly eons better than what you would find on the Costa del Sol!

Church in Favignana, Sicily, Italy by giovanni.gambaro

Beaches

There are a number of beaches scattered throughout the island, the best has to be the gorgeous Lido Burrone and Cala Azzurra. Both of these beaches are around the south of the island and easily accessible by car or moped. The real thing that makes them special is the fact that the sea is so clear, and the sea beds are covered with luminous white sand stretching out from the coastline. This makes it easy to see all of the amazing sea-life around the area, including octopi, moray eels, crabs and jellyfish, although the majority of these will be found in deeper waters so you don’t have to worry about getting stung!

Sunset at Favignana, Sicily, Italy by payhere

How to get there?

I am from London and so one way I found to get there was flying from Heathrow to Palermo in Sicily which is only a short flight, then hire a car from Palermo to Trapani and then hop on a hydrofoil for around 20 minutes to then get to Favignana’s main port. If all this may seem a little too much, why not try a cruise and stay Caribbean cruise? They are run regularly by many operators and stop right alongside Sicily making it much easier for you to get to Favignana.

However you find it, Favignana is a real hidden gem, so why not discover it now before everybody else does?

The post Top 5 reasons why Favignana is the perfect place for your next holiday appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by phileole

Nice

The capital of the French Riviera Nice is the fifth largest city in France and one of the most exciting places to spend a summer on the Riviera. The city became a popular tourist destination in the 19th century thanks largely to an influx of British traveller’s seeking the warm Mediterranean sun. The beach may be largely pebbled but the city is beautiful. The Promenade des Anglais is one of the most famous sights and provides a beautiful beach side walk. The Orthodox Cathedral is well worth a visit and the medieval town centre is the perfect place for a leisurely afternoon stroll. Here you can find the remnants of the old Chateau and a rambling collection of narrow alleys and beautiful ochre houses. In terms of places to stay apartments in Nice provide you with a real sense of luxury but the many five star hotels are equally impressive and elegant.

Cannes

Cannes is famous as a millionaires playground and is one of the most outwardly extravagant destinations on the Med. The May international film festival is perhaps the most famous draw for the rich and famous and tourists more generally but the town has a rich warm atmosphere throughout the year. The seafront promenade and La Croisette and the Vieux Porte around the bay are a fantastic place to while away your afternoon’s while Le Suquet which forms the central part of the old town is a fantastic series of rambling streets and medieval buildings as well as the impressive 11th century castle. Nearby you can access the popular Iles des Lerins via a brief ferry ride and enjoy some fantastic beaches. In terms of staying here in France, villas are at their most luxurious and hotels aren’t far behind. Further inland you can find cheaper accommodation and numerous camping grounds.

St. Tropez

St. Tropez is one of the most laid back and stunning parts of the South French coast. It manages to retain village like charms despite being an incredibly popular destination. The port and surrounding streets are messy in an ever endearing way and the beautiful buildings and very traditional French culture mean that St. Tropez is one of the best destinations in France all year round. The 11th century citadel with its museum is perhaps the most interesting sight but the views are the most impressive thing about it. The town hall is fairly impressive but really the culture is the most interesting and exciting thing about visiting this town. The real pleasures for many though are the beaches with St. Tropez being in close proximity to some of the region’s most beautiful and popular beaches. In particular Les Graniers and the beaches on Baie des Canoubiers are particularly impressive.

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