Be dazzled...
Gastronomic delight
Awarded the title of European Region of Gastronomy 2022, Menorca’s unique culinary scene – one of the Med’s best kept secrets – has now been revealed.
The sea is a rich source of traditional staples, such as the classic caldereta de langosta (lobster stew) and sèpia al forn (baked cuttlefish).
The sweet-toothed will find the ensaimada (an icing sugar-covered spiral-shaped bun) hits the spot, while cheese-lovers should try Mahón, a piquant cow’s-milk cheese.
With a history of winemaking dating back to the 13th century, the island’s vineyards produce some cracking wines.
At winery Bodegas Binifadet in Sant Lluís, you can take a guided tour that includes wine-tasting opportunities (binifadet.com).
Gin is the island’s spirit of choice, thanks to the Brits who introduced gin-making to Mahon in the 18th century. The harbour is where you’ll find Xoriguer, Menorca’s only
remaining traditional distillery (xoriguer. co.uk). Gin is also the crucial ingredient for the island’s popular cocktail, the pomada, mixed with lemonade, ice and a slice.
IBIZA Europe’s clubbing capital
Hailed as the party capital of Europe, summer on the White Isle is a firm fixture on the serious clubber’s calendar. The hedonistic paradise has been a magnet for A-listers, including Beyoncé, Leonardo Dicaprio and Katy Perry, with superstar DJS – among them, Eric Prydz and David Guetta – hitting the decks right up to the traditional October closing parties. And buzzing at the heart of the action will be Playa d’en Bossa. Lying south of the old town, the two-mile stretch of golden sand is
Ibiza’s longest beach – home to some of the island’s uber-cool clubs. Hot tickets include world-famous Ushuaïa, the legendary Bora Bora Beach Club and, new to the party in 2017, glitzy Hï Ibiza.
Old town charm
Culture vultures can get their fix in the atmospheric Dalt Vila (High Town). Steeped in history, the 16th-century walled acropolis, first settled in by the Phoenicans, is the oldest area on the island and a UNESCO world heritage site.
Climb up the cobbled ramp from Ibiza Town’s market square to Portal de Ses Taules – the gateway and main entrance to Dalt Vila – and you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views over the port and across the water to sister island Formentera.
Perched majestically at the summit of Dalt Vila, Ibiza’s picturesque 14th-century Catalan Gothic Cathedral is well worth a visit. And art lovers can enjoy the display of local artists’ work at the Museu d’art Contemporani d’evissa for free.
FORMENTERA Pocket-sized Balearic beauty
Lying four miles from the southern tip of Ibiza, Formentera may be the smallest of the Balearics, but this 12-mile long island boasts some of the best beaches in the world.
It’s just an hour by ferry from Ibiza Town, but visitors would be forgiven for thinking they’ve landed in the Caribbean – dazzled as they will be by the powdery white sands and vivid turquoise waters of beaches such as Playa de Ses Illetes. The colour of the water is due to the presence of the biggest area of the ancient seagrass Posidonia in the Mediterranean.
Birdwatchers should head to the Unesco-listed Ses Salines Natural Park in Can Marroig – a haven for seabirds, attracting storks, gulls and even the occasional pink flamingo.
Hedonistic Ibiza is a magnet for A-listers including Beyoncé