Making the most of Ciutadella de Menorca
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Ciudadela port sits in a cove below the city. Ships anchor and use tenders to bring passengers ashore from the anchorage.
Take a printable map with you.
The historic quarter of this attractive port city is Es Born, a network of medieval streets with palaces, churches and fortresses. Beyond it are Minorcan coves, beaches and isolated fishing towns, alongside Minorca's traditional seafood- and fish-based cuisine.
This is both a fishing and leisure port, with many excellent waterside restaurants along the quay. Arrive early to watch fishermen landing the day's local catch as it comes in.
Líthica is a working Sandstone quarry open to the public. Walking its grounds shows both ancient ways of mining the rock and a more imposing modern approach. Gardens and a sandstone maze make it enjoyable to explore, and concerts are held in the quarry during summer. Its gift shop sells cool drinks and decorated sandstone pieces. Allow 3 hours or more; admission is €5/person.
Getting around
The city is highly walkable, and almost everywhere can be reached on foot.
The island's central bus route serves Maó, Alaior, Es Mercadal, Ferreries and Ciutadella. Most departures are hourly and inexpensive, costing around €4 to €5 between Ciutadella and Maó.
Buses from Ciutadella's main Plaza serve most Western beach towns. Ferreries and Alaior also have services at their respective termini; Maó has the island's largest bus stop, serving Sant Lluis and every Eastern beach town. Reach Son Bou from Alaior.
Nearby places
Ciutadella has no beach of its own, but Cala Santandria and Sa Caleta are only 3 kilometers away. Further out lie Cala’n Blanes, Cala’n Forcat, Cala Blanca and Cala’n Bosch.
Food and shopping
Find the covered market at Placa Libertat and bars and cafes at Placa Nova. For good outdoor restaurants, head instead to Placa des Esplanada or Placa dels Pins.
Money
The local currency is the euro.
One euro is divided into 100 cents. • Eight coin denominations are used: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent, plus 1 and 2 Euro. • Seven bank-note values are available: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Euro.
Staying connected
Spanish is official across the national territory, although other languages coexist with it in parts of Spain: Catalan in Catalonia, Galician in Galicia, Euskera/Basque in the Basque Country, Valencian in the Valencia Region, and a distinctive Catalan variety on the Balearic Islands.
For emergencies, dial 112 free of charge throughout Spain. Service is available in Spanish and, in some tourist areas, English, French and German.
Opening Hours and
Each year, Ciutadella's local festival takes place on the 23-24th of June; it is among Menorca's most spectacular celebrations.
Typical shop and business hours are Monday to Saturday, 9.30 h to 13.30 h and 16.30 to 20.00 h.
Large shopping centers and department stores trade continuously from 10.00 h until 21.00 or 22.00 h, and may sometimes open on Sunday.
In high season, shops in coastal cities commonly remain open past 22.00 h.
Pharmacies trade from 9.30 to 13.30 h and 16.30 to 20.00 h. Major cities have pharmacies open 24 hours. A rotating late-hour schedule is printed in newspapers and displayed at every pharmacy.