Villa Alicia

About Villa Alicia

Villa Alicia suits families and couples who want a base of their own above one of Menorca's best known south coast bays. The address is on Carrer La Ermita in Cala Galdana, 0.7 km from the bay itself, so the sand is a short walk or a very short drive rather than the doorstep. Self-catering travellers get a kitchen, and the pool, garden and terrace give a place to spend a slow afternoon without going anywhere.

Villa Alicia is listed as a three-star apartment or villa, which in practice means practical self-catering space rather than hotel service. The star rating is a guide to the level of comfort on offer, so confirm the finer points with the property before booking. A kitchen, lounge and terrace point to longer stays, and the pool and garden make the place work for a week rather than a night or two, especially for families travelling with children.

Location: Ciutadella de Menorca

Cala Galdana sits at the head of a horseshoe bay on Menorca's south coast, where the limestone gives way to white sand and pine. Villa Alicia is 0.7 km from the bay, close enough to walk down in the morning and back up in the heat of the afternoon. The village around the bay is small and seasonal in feel, so plan on the car for anything beyond the immediate cove.

On foot, the bay at 0.7 km is the obvious outing from Villa Alicia. Everything else needs wheels: Cala Macarella is 2.1 km away and Ciutadella 12.1 km, with Son Bou at 11 km. Buses serve the south coast in summer on routes that change, so ask the hotel or the Consell de Menorca what runs while you are there. In July and August the coves fill and parking at the popular calas goes early, while May, June and September are calmer.

Rooms and facilities

Inside, the listed facilities point to a straightforward self-catering setup: a kitchen, a lounge, air conditioning, non-smoking rooms and wifi. Families can ask about the family rooms before booking, since layouts vary between units and the sleeping arrangements matter more than anything else on a week-long stay. Outside, the garden, terrace and picnic area give children somewhere to run, and the table tennis table and outdoor pool cover the afternoons when the car stays parked.

Late arrivals should sort out the practical details in advance with Villa Alicia: what time someone can hand over keys, where to park on Carrer La Ermita and whether the air conditioning and wifi cover every room. Free car parking on site simplifies a hire car picked up at the airport. Confirm pool hours and any seasonal limits on the garden and terrace, and ask whether cots or extra beds are available for the family rooms if you need them.

Getting there

Menorca Airport (MAH) is 23.7 km from Villa Alicia in a straight line, on the far side of Maó, so the drive crosses the south-east corner of the island. Hiring a car at the terminal gives the most flexibility for the last stretch to Cala Galdana, and the free parking at Villa Alicia means the vehicle has a home once you arrive. Taxis wait at the airport; check the current fare before setting off.

Maó port is 26.5 km from Villa Alicia by the straight line, the arrival point for overnight ferries from Barcelona, with Ciutadella itself 12.1 km away to the west. Ciutadella is the nearest city for supplies and an evening out, and Son Bou lies 11 km along the coast. Summer buses run to the south coast resorts, thinning outside the season; flights and ferries are fewer in winter, so check the operators and ask Villa Alicia about the best arrival time.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

The nearest sand is the bay at Cala Galdana, 0.7 km from Villa Alicia. Beyond it, Cala Macarella is 2.1 km away and Cala Turqueta 4.3 km, two of the pine-backed coves that make this stretch of the Migjorn coast so popular; both get busy, and the car parks fill early in high summer. Son Bou, the longest beach on the island with dunes and wetland behind it, is 11 km from the property.

Ciutadella, the old capital, is 12.1 km from Villa Alicia, with its cathedral, narrow port and the Sant Joan festival around 23-24 June. A boat-shaped prehistoric tomb, the Naveta des Tudons, stands 8.5 km away and belongs to the Talayotic Menorca World Heritage listing added in 2023. On the plate, look for Mahón-Menorca cheese with its protected designation of origin, caldereta de llagosta in the fishing village of Fornells, and simple grilled fish along the south coast.

A day from Villa Alicia

Start early at Villa Alicia and drive the 2.1 km to Cala Macarella before the car park fills, swimming while the water is calm and the pines still shade the sand. Walk or drive on to Cala Turqueta, 4.3 km from the property, for a second cove and a picnic from the listed picnic area back at the villa. Return for the pool and table tennis in the afternoon, when the sun is at its strongest on the south coast.

Late afternoon suits the 8.5 km run to the Naveta des Tudons, where the tomb sits beside the Maó to Ciutadella road and needs only a short stop. Continue the 12.1 km into Ciutadella for the evening: the cathedral, the palaces and a walk along the narrow port as the light goes. Dinner in town before the drive back to Villa Alicia, or something simple cooked in the kitchen and eaten on the terrace.

Practical tips

Outside the main season, from roughly November to April, many beach bars, boat trips and restaurants on Menorca close, so check Villa Alicia's own opening dates before booking a winter week. July and August bring the crowds and the fullest car parks around Cala Galdana. Villa Alicia charges the Balearic sustainable tourism tax, the ecotasa, per person per night; the rate depends on the type of accommodation and the season, drops in low season and for longer stays, and children under 16 are exempt. Check the Govern de les Illes Balears for current rates.

Questions about Villa Alicia