Villa Elizabet

About Villa Elizabet

Villa Elizabet suits families and small groups who want their own base near Ciutadella rather than a room on a resort strip. It sits on Plaça Sant Domingo beside Cala en Blanes, and the apartment or villa format comes with a kitchen, a washing machine and a dishwasher, which makes self-catering straightforward for a week or a fortnight. Couples who prefer space and quiet to a busy hotel also fit here.

The stay is a three-star villa and apartment, so the practical side matters more than a lobby scene. The listed facilities include an indoor pool, an outdoor pool and a kids pool, along with a terrace and a balcony, air conditioning and free wifi. Free car parking is listed too, which helps if you plan to tour the island. Confirm with Villa Elizabet which unit and which pool come with your booking.

Location: Ciutadella de Menorca

Cala en Blanes is the nearest village, a small bay on Menorca's west coast within easy reach of the old capital. The address is Plaça Sant Domingo, and the setting is away from the long southern resort line, which suits anyone who wants Ciutadella's narrow streets rather than a strip of bars. Ciutadella old town, with its cathedral and palaces, is 3.5 km away, so the evening run into town is short.

A car makes the most of the position. Cala Galdana is 15.1 km from Villa Elizabet and Es Mercadal, under Monte Toro, is 25 km, so the centre and the south coast are day trips rather than walks. Ciutadella at 3.5 km can be a taxi or a bus ride, and the island bus network adds lines in summer. High summer fills the old town early; May, June, September and October are calmer.

Rooms and facilities

Inside, the listed facilities cover the practical basics: air conditioning, a TV, internet access and free wifi, plus a kitchen with an oven, a microwave, a refrigerator and a dishwasher. A washing machine is listed as well, which matters on a two-week stay. Outside there is a terrace and a balcony, and the pools, indoor, outdoor and a kids pool, give children somewhere to burn energy between outings. Non-smoking rooms and a smoke detector are listed.

Because the property lets units rather than hotel rooms, ask Villa Elizabet which apartment or villa you are booking and whether the pool is shared with other guests. A cot is listed, so families with a baby can request one in advance. Confirm key collection, arrival times and any changeover day before travelling. Parking is listed as free, useful if you hire a car for the Cala Turqueta and Cala Galdana runs.

Getting there

Menorca Airport (MAH) lies 38.8 km from Villa Elizabet in a straight line, south-west of Maó at the far eastern end of the island. The usual choices are a taxi, a hire car collected on arrival, or a bus into Maó and then a connection west towards Ciutadella, with more lines in summer. Check the island bus operator for current times, and tell Villa Elizabet if you expect to arrive late.

Ferries from Barcelona dock at Maó, 41.4 km from Villa Elizabet, or at Ciutadella, the western port 3.5 km from the door, with crossings to Alcúdia on Mallorca. Maó port is a long transfer across the island, so Ciutadella is shorter when the sailing suits. Flights and ferries thin out in winter, so check operators before booking and match the crossing to the dates Villa Elizabet is open.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

Cala en Blanes is the closest village, and the sand coves of the south coast lie a short drive away: Cala Turqueta is 12 km from Villa Elizabet and Cala Galdana is 15.1 km, both reached by road with car parks that fill early in summer. The prehistoric tomb of the Naveta des Tudons is 7.8 km away, and Ciutadella old town at dusk is 3.5 km from the door.

Eating on this coast means seafood and island staples: caldereta de llagosta, the lobster stew associated with Fornells in the north, and Mahón-Menorca cheese, which has a protected designation of origin. Menorca's British period left a gin tradition in Maó, and the Sant Joan festival in Ciutadella around 23-24 June brings horses and riders through streets 3.5 km from Villa Elizabet.

A day from Villa Elizabet

Start with an early drive to Cala Turqueta, 12 km from Villa Elizabet, where parking is limited and busy in high summer; Cala Galdana at 15.1 km is the alternative if the first is full. On the way back, stop at the prehistoric tomb of the Naveta des Tudons, 7.8 km from the door, before the heat builds and the light hardens over the stones.

In the afternoon, drive to Es Mercadal, 25 km away, and up Monte Toro at about 358 m for views of both coasts. Return to Ciutadella, 3.5 km from Villa Elizabet, for the old town at dusk: the cathedral, the palaces and the narrow port. Eat in town, then take a taxi or drive the short run back, with the pools at the property saved for the morning.

Practical tips

Much of Menorca's tourism business closes roughly from November to April, so check Villa Elizabet's opening dates before booking flights, and expect fewer flights and ferries in winter. May, June, September and October are quieter than high summer, when Ciutadella and the southern coves are at their busiest. Your stay carries the Balearic sustainable tourism tax, collected per person per night by the accommodation; rates vary by season and category, under-16s are exempt, and the Govern de les Illes Balears publishes the current rules.

Questions about Villa Elizabet