Hostal Menurka

About Hostal Menurka

Hostal Menurka is a two-star hostal at Domingo Savio 6 in Ciutadella, on Menorca's western side. It suits travellers who want a simple, well-placed base rather than a resort: the old town is 0.3 km away, so dinner, the cathedral and the port are a short walk. Couples and small families book it for the position and the modest scale of a guesthouse, and walkers use it as a stop before heading out towards the Camí de Cavalls or the southern coves.

The building is a hostal rather than a hotel, rated two stars, and it works as a straightforward base rather than a destination in itself: rooms, a bar and snack service, a lounge, a terrace and parking. Breakfast can be taken in the room. That suits travellers who plan to spend the day out in Ciutadella or on the coast and want somewhere central to come back to in the evening.

Location: Ciutadella

Domingo Savio 6 sits in Ciutadella, the old capital of Menorca, in the west of the island, 0.3 km from the old town. The centre has a cathedral, palaces and a narrow port that faces the sunset, and it keeps going through the year rather than closing with the season. In July and August the streets and the harbour fill in the evening and the southern coves are busy early; in May, June, September and October the same walk is quieter and the light is softer, which suits people who prefer the town to the beach crowd.

Ciutadella's centre is walkable from Hostal Menurka, with the old town at 0.3 km. Beyond the town you need a car, a bus or a taxi: Cala Turqueta is 9.6 km away in a straight line, the Naveta des Tudons 4.3 km, Cala Galdana 12.3 km and Es Mercadal, under Monte Toro, 21.4 km. A car rental service is listed among the facilities. Parking at the popular southern coves fills early in summer, and some have seasonal limits, so an early start helps.

Rooms and facilities

Rooms at Hostal Menurka are listed with air conditioning, a desk, a safe, a minibar and a refrigerator, a television and a telephone, plus a balcony and a hairdryer; bathrobes are listed too. Non-smoking rooms are available and there is a smoking area. For couples the layout is straightforward, and for families a cot is listed. Late arrivals should confirm arrival arrangements with the property before travelling, since check-in and check-out times are set by the hostal.

Breakfast can be served in the room, and housekeeping, laundry service and luggage storage are listed for longer stays. An iron and board, internet access and free wifi cover the practical side. Ask the property directly about which rooms have the balcony, whether the minibar and safe come as standard in every room, and how the shuttle service works and where it runs, since these arrangements vary by booking.

Getting there

Menorca Airport (MAH) is 35.7 km from Hostal Menurka in a straight line, on the far side of the island from Ciutadella. The usual options are a taxi or a hire car; buses run from the airport to Maó and, in summer, towards the resorts, so a change in Maó is part of the trip if you travel by bus. Allow for that with luggage and check the current island bus timetable before setting out.

From Maó port, 38.1 km away in a straight line, the crossing to Barcelona is an overnight one, and Ciutadella has links to Alcúdia on Mallorca. Guests arriving by sea at Ciutadella are close to the door. Flights and ferries are fewer in winter, so a shoulder-season trip needs a little planning and a check with the operators, and Hostal Menurka's shuttle service is worth asking about for the last stretch.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

Cala Turqueta is 9.6 km from Hostal Menurka in a straight line, a white sand cove under pine on the Migjorn coast, and Cala Galdana is 12.3 km. Both get busy, so arrive early or take the bus. Further along the same southern coast are Cala Macarella and Son Bou. Closer to the door, the old town is 0.3 km and the Naveta des Tudons 4.3 km.

Menorcan cooking runs on lobster stew from Fornells in the north, rice dishes and fish, and the island's cheese, which has a protected designation of origin and turns up on most menus. Ciutadella's market and back streets are where to eat, and the town keeps serving through the year, unlike the seasonal beach bars. A gin, a legacy of 18th-century British rule, makes a reasonable end to the evening near Hostal Menurka.

A day from Hostal Menurka

Start with coffee in Ciutadella and walk the old town, 0.3 km from Hostal Menurka, before the heat builds: the cathedral, the palaces and the port take an hour or two. Then drive south, 9.6 km to Cala Turqueta or 12.3 km to Cala Galdana, arriving early because parking fills. On the way back, stop at the Naveta des Tudons, the boat-shaped prehistoric tomb that lies 4.3 km from the hostal.

Return to town in the late afternoon, rinse off the salt and use the terrace or the lounge at Hostal Menurka before heading out again. The port faces west, so the sunset walk is the natural end to the day, and dinner in the old town is a few minutes from the door. In the shoulder months the evening is cooler and the streets emptier; in August the promenade is crowded and the pace slower.

Practical tips

Outside the main season, roughly November to April, many Menorca hotels, beach bars and seasonal buses shut, so confirm Hostal Menurka's own opening dates before booking a winter stay; Ciutadella itself keeps going. July and August bring the crowds. Expect the Balearic ecotasa, the sustainable tourism tax, to be added per person per night by the hostal; the rate depends on the type of accommodation and the season, is reduced in low season and for longer stays, and children under 16 are exempt, so check the Govern de les Illes Balears for the current rules.

Questions about Hostal Menurka