Squella

About Squella

Squella suits travellers who want to stay in Ciutadella itself rather than in a resort on the coast. The old capital's cathedral, palaces and narrow port are a short walk away, and the address on Carrer Cal Bisbe Torres puts you inside the town's street grid. Families with children, couples travelling together and small groups all fit here, because Squella lists family rooms and the self-catering equipment that makes a week in town easy rather than a run of restaurant meals.

Squella is a four-star hotel. It is not beachfront and does not sit on sand; the Migjorn coves are a drive south instead. The shape of the stay is practical and town-based, with free wifi, air conditioning and non-smoking rooms listed, plus a terrace and a patio for sitting outside. Anything that matters to your trip, from a cot to a late arrival, is best confirmed with Squella directly before you travel so the arrangements are clear in writing.

Location: Ciutadella

Squella stands in Ciutadella, the old capital of Menorca, on the western side of the island. The town has a cathedral, palaces and a narrow port that opens west, and the harbour walk draws people out at sunset. The old town at dusk is about 0.3 km from Squella on a straight line and the centre of Ciutadella about 0.4 km, so the historic streets are reached on foot rather than by car.

Beyond the town, a car or taxi makes sense. Cala Turqueta is 9.8 km away in a straight line along the south coast, the Naveta des Tudons 4.7 km and Cala Galdana 12.6 km. Menorca Airport is 36 km off and Maó port 38.5 km, so arrival is a drive rather than a short hop. In July and August Ciutadella is busy in the evenings and the southern coves fill early; in May, June and September the pace drops.

Rooms and facilities

Rooms at Squella come with air conditioning, a fan, a hairdryer, a TV and free wifi, and the setup is aimed at stays of more than a night or two. Kitchen and kitchenette facilities are listed, with a refrigerator, microwave, oven, toaster, dishwasher and washing machine, so families can shop in Ciutadella and eat in. Cots, high chairs and a babysitting service are listed for those travelling with young children.

Non-smoking rooms and family rooms are listed, and a terrace, patio and picnic area give you somewhere to sit outdoors. An iron and board help with packing, and internet access appears alongside the wifi. Late arrivals should agree the arrival time with Squella in advance, since check-in is set by the property, and it is worth confirming which kitchen equipment comes with a particular room before planning meals around it.

Getting there

Menorca Airport (MAH) lies about 4-5 km south-west of Maó, and Squella is 36 km from it in a straight line, on the far western side of the island. A hire car gives the most flexibility and Squella lists a car rental service. Taxis wait at the airport. Buses run to Maó and, in summer, to the resorts; check the island bus operator for the lines that serve Ciutadella and how they connect.

From Maó port, 38.5 km away on a straight line, ferries run to Barcelona and Palma, so an arrival by sea finishes with a drive across Menorca to Ciutadella. Overnight crossings from Barcelona take several hours and land in the morning. Summer brings more flights and sailings, while winter thins both, so check the operators and Squella's own opening dates before fixing a date outside the main season.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

Cala Turqueta, 9.8 km south of Squella, is one of the Migjorn coves: white sand under pine, reached by a minor road and best early in the day. Cala Galdana, 12.6 km away, is a larger bay with easier access. The Naveta des Tudons, 4.7 km from the hotel, is a boat-shaped prehistoric tomb, and Talayotic Menorca has been on the World Heritage list since 2023.

Ciutadella's old town, 0.3 km away, holds the cathedral and the palaces, and the Sant Joan festival around 23-24 June fills the streets with horses and riders. Menorca is known for Mahón-Menorca cheese with its protected designation of origin, for lobster stew on the north coast and for gin, a legacy of 18th-century British rule. Son Bou and Cala en Porter lie further east along the south coast.

A day from Squella

Start in Ciutadella, about 0.4 km from Squella, with breakfast in town and a walk through the old streets to the cathedral before the heat builds. Drive south to Cala Turqueta, 9.8 km away, and swim early, then stop at the Naveta des Tudons, 4.7 km from the hotel, on the way back. Both are short drives; a taxi works if you would rather leave the car parked.

In the afternoon, take the coast road east to Cala Galdana, 12.6 km from Squella, for a longer beach session with simpler access than the smaller coves. Return to the hotel to use the kitchen or the terrace, then walk into Ciutadella for the evening, with the old town 0.3 km away and the port beyond it. Es Mercadal and Monte Toro, 21.8 km off, make a half-day alternative if the sea is rough.

Practical tips

Much of Menorca's tourism business closes roughly from November to April, so confirm Squella's opening dates before booking outside the main season. July and August are the peak, when southern coves and their car parks fill early; May, June and September are quieter. The Balearic sustainable tourism tax, the ecotasa, is charged per person per night by the accommodation, at rates that vary with the season and are reduced in low season and for longer stays; children under 16 are exempt. Check the Govern de les Illes Balears for current rates.

Questions about Squella