Sa Lluna

About Sa Lluna

Sa Lluna suits travellers who want a base in the middle of Menorca rather than a resort on the coast. The hotel stands in Es Mercadal, the inland market town at the foot of Monte Toro, so both coasts are within a short drive and the island's quiet centre is on the doorstep. Couples touring by car, walkers and families who prefer a village to a strip of bars all fit here.

Sa Lluna is a four-star hotel with apartments among its accommodation, which changes the rhythm of a stay: a kitchen, a washing machine and a dishwasher make longer visits practical. Guests looking for a conventional full-service resort should note that the emphasis sits on independent days out and self-catering rather than on organised entertainment. The listed facilities point to a calm, practical base for a week or more on the island.

Location: Es Mercadal and Monte Toro

Es Mercadal is the inland market town at the foot of Monte Toro, the highest point on Menorca at about 358 m. Sa Lluna stands at Baix 1, with the town's lanes, shops and cafés on foot from the door and the sanctuary and viewpoints of Monte Toro about 1.7 km away in a straight line. The centre of Es Mercadal itself is given as 0.1 km from the hotel.

A car is the practical way to reach the coasts from Sa Lluna. Fornells, the fishing village on the north shore, is 8.2 km away in a straight line, and Arenal d'en Castell, the near-circular bay, is 8.3 km. Buses run from Es Mercadal to Maó and to the beaches, with more lines in summer, so it is worth checking the island bus operator. In July and August the town is busy in the evenings but calm by day; in May, June and September it feels unhurried.

Rooms and facilities

Accommodation at Sa Lluna includes apartments, and the listed facilities cover the practical side of a self-catering stay: a kitchen with oven, microwave, refrigerator and toaster, plus a dishwasher and washing machine, air conditioning, a balcony, a bath and a hairdryer. Cleaning and a laundry service are listed, as are toiletries, an iron and board, a TV and free WiFi. A cot and first aid provision are noted, which helps families with young children.

Confirm with Sa Lluna which apartment or room type you are booking, whether the balcony faces the street or the back, and how cleaning and laundry are scheduled across your dates. Late arrivals should ask the hotel in advance about reception cover and the latest check-in time, and about room service, which is listed. Non smoking rooms are available, and parking is free.

Getting there

Menorca Airport (MAH) lies 17.7 km from Sa Lluna in a straight line, south-west of Maó. The simplest arrival is a taxi or a hire car collected at the airport, which also gives you the car you will want for the coasts. Buses run to Maó and, in summer, to the resorts, so a connection through the capital towards Es Mercadal is possible; check the island bus operator for current lines before relying on it.

From Maó port, 18.3 km away in a straight line, the drive to Sa Lluna crosses the middle of the island. Ferries from Maó run to Barcelona and Palma, and from Ciutadella to Alcúdia on Mallorca; sailings are fewer in winter. Travelling from Ibiza or Formentera means connecting through Mallorca or flying, and flights to Menorca thin out outside the season.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

Monte Toro is the closest sight, about 1.7 km from Sa Lluna in a straight line, with a sanctuary at the top and views across both coasts. Kayaking on the north coast is 6.8 km away and a talayotic village about 11.9 km, part of the Talayotic Menorca World Heritage listing added in 2023. Fornells, 8.2 km away, is the north-coast village known for caldereta de llagosta, its lobster stew.

Arenal d'en Castell, 8.3 km from Sa Lluna, is a near-circular bay on the north shore, while the limestone coves of the south coast lie further off and need a car or a bus. Menorcan food is worth planning around: Mahón-Menorca cheese carries a protected designation of origin, and the lobster stew of the north coast is a local marker. Bakeries and the market in Es Mercadal supply the rest for apartment cooking.

A day from Sa Lluna

Start early with the walk or short drive up Monte Toro, 1.7 km from Sa Lluna, while the air is still cool and the views to both coasts are clear. Come back through Es Mercadal for bread and cheese, then head north to the water: kayaking routes begin around 6.8 km away. Lunch in Fornells, 8.2 km off, keeps the lobster stew and the harbour in one stop.

Spend the afternoon on the north shore. Arenal d'en Castell, 8.3 km from Sa Lluna, is a sheltered near-circular bay for a swim, and Fornells is 8.2 km away for a walk round the harbour. A talayotic village about 11.9 km off fills a late-afternoon hour with Menorca's prehistoric stonework. Return to Es Mercadal, eat in town and leave the car parked for the evening.

Practical tips

Much of Menorca's tourism business closes roughly from November to April, so confirm Sa Lluna's own opening dates before booking a winter or early-spring trip; the main towns stay open all year and flights and ferries are fewer outside the season. July and August are peak. The Balearic sustainable tourism tax is charged per person per night by the accommodation at Sa Lluna, with rates set by the type of accommodation and the season, reductions in low season and for longer stays, and exemption for children under 16; check the Govern de les Illes Balears for the current rules.

Questions about Sa Lluna