Filippi

About Filippi

Filippi suits travellers who want a quiet base on Menorca's north coast with the freedom of an apartment. The building is a three-star hotel in Arenal d'en Castell, and the listed facilities include apartments and a swimming pool, so a couple can keep a simple routine while a family spreads out. Anyone who prefers to cook some meals and eat out on others will find the arrangement practical. The nearest sand, the near-circular bay of Arenal d'en Castell, is 1.8 km away in a straight line.

The stay is straightforward rather than formal: three stars, a garden, a terrace and an outdoor pool, with apartments that come with kitchens. Filippi works well for longer weeks, when a washing machine and a dishwasher matter as much as the setting. Non-smoking rooms are listed, and parking is free. Late arrivals should confirm key collection times with the property before travelling, and anyone needing a cot or a high chair should say so when booking.

Location: Arenal d'en Castell

Arenal d'en Castell is a near-circular bay of pale sand on the north coast, 1.8 km from Filippi in a straight line. The shape of the bay keeps the water calm and the sand shelves gently, which is why families gather there in summer. Low buildings and pines run back from the water. Fornells, a fishing village, sits 4.4 km away, and Es Mercadal, at the foot of Monte Toro, is 7.6 km off.

Walking from Filippi covers the immediate lanes and the way down toward the bay at 1.8 km, but the wider north coast needs wheels. A hire car makes Fornells at 4.4 km and Es Mercadal at 7.6 km easy, and taxis cover evenings. In July and August the bay and its parking fill early, so mornings are calmer. In May, June, September and October the same lanes are quiet, and the sea sits around 18-19 °C in May and 23-25 °C in September.

Rooms and facilities

Filippi is listed with apartments rather than only standard rooms, and the inventory points to self-catering: kitchen, oven, microwave, toaster, refrigerator, dishwasher and washing machine. Air conditioning, a safe, a TV and wifi appear in the list, along with hairdryers, cots, high chairs and an iron and board. Couples can take a smaller unit, while families gain from the kitchen and the laundry service. Ask the property which apartment layout and floor you are booking.

The listed facilities add up to a practical base: air conditioning for August, a terrace and garden for shade, an outdoor pool for afternoons, and free car parking for a hire car. Non-smoking rooms and internet access are noted as well. Confirm with Filippi which apartments carry a washing machine and dishwasher, whether pool towels are supplied, and how cleaning works across a longer stay. Cot and high chair requests are best made at the time of booking.

Getting there

Menorca Airport (MAH) is 18.9 km from Filippi in a straight line, south-west of Maó. The simplest arrival is a taxi from the airport rank, or a hire car collected on landing, which puts you on the road north soon after. There are buses to Maó, and in summer services reach the resorts, though the network thins outside the season. Check the island bus operator for current lines and times before relying on public transport to reach Arenal d'en Castell.

From Maó port, 17.5 km away in a straight line, ferries arrive from Palma and, on overnight crossings, from Barcelona. Filippi sits on the far side of the island from Ciutadella, so the western port is not the natural arrival point for this address. Coming by car, the final approach runs into Arenal d'en Castell, 1.8 km from the hotel. Winter brings thinner flight and ferry schedules, so fix the crossing or the flight before committing to dates.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

The near-circular bay of Arenal d'en Castell is the closest swim, 1.8 km away in a straight line. Fornells at 4.4 km has a sheltered harbour and boat trips in season. Inland, Monte Toro is listed 6.5 km from Filippi, with a sanctuary on top and views across both coasts. The Favàritx lighthouse, 9.2 km off on dark slate inside S'Albufera des Grau Natural Park, makes a half-day out.

Food on Menorca is tied to the coast and the interior. Fornells, 4.4 km from Filippi, is a fishing village known for caldereta de llagosta, a lobster stew served across the village. The local Mahón-Menorca cheese carries a protected designation of origin and turns up on menus all over the island, often with honey. In Maó, 17.5 km away, the gin tradition left by British rule is still part of an evening out.

A day from Filippi

Start early with the walk down to Arenal d'en Castell, 1.8 km from Filippi in a straight line, before the bay fills in high summer. Drive the 4.4 km to Fornells for a coffee by the harbour, then continue to the Favàritx lighthouse, 9.2 km from the hotel, where dark slate and the S'Albufera des Grau lagoon set the afternoon. Carry water, and check access rules with the island council.

Return through Es Mercadal, 7.6 km from Filippi, and drive up Monte Toro at 6.5 km for the sanctuary at about 358 m and the view over both coasts. Kayaking on the north coast, listed 6.2 km away, takes a morning if you book ahead. Evenings are best left simple: back at the apartment, on the terrace, or over dinner in Fornells or Es Mercadal.

Practical tips

Plan around the season. Much of Menorca's tourism business, including many hotels, beach bars and seasonal buses, closes roughly from November to April, so confirm Filippi's opening dates for the year before booking flights. July and August bring the peak, while May, June, September and October stay quieter. The ecotasa, the Balearic sustainable tourism tax, is charged per person per night by the accommodation; rates vary with the season and the category, children under 16 are exempt, and current rules come from the Govern de les Illes Balears.

Questions about Filippi