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Ciutadella
Ciutadella is a city on the west coast of Menorca. It's the former capital of the island and has a pleasant old town centre studded with medieval Gothic architecture.
Ciutadella in 2023 had a population of 23,400. It's the chief city of a municipality with another 10,000 residents in a series of resort villages a few km away: these are also briefly described on this page.
Understand
[edit]Ciutadella means citadel, and this one is specifically Ciutadella de Menorca. It has a harbour and was the only town of any size on the island during Muslim rule from 903 AD. It remained the capital and chief port until 1708, when Britain with Holland captured Menorca during the War of Spanish Succession. By then ships were growing larger, and Britain wanted more bases for its sea power in the Mediterranean, so they moved the capital to the better natural harbour at Maó / Mahón. Later French then Spanish rulers saw no reason to reverse this. Ciutadella however remained the religious capital, with the cathedral.
The city has hotels and other visitor amenities, but most hotels are a few km out in smaller resorts. The old town centre has therefore been spared unsightly modern developments.
Get in
[edit]
By plane
[edit]Menorca Airport (MAH IATA) is 7 km southeast of the capital Maó - it's usually shown as "Mahon" on departure boards. It has car hire and the usual facilities. Package tourists are bussed straight to their accommodation, otherwise take the public bus into Maó then Bus 1 or 14 across the island.
By boat
[edit]1 Ciutadella Port is the landing point for ferries from Alcúdia on Mallorca and from Barcelona on the mainland.
Balearia sail three times a day from Alcúdia, taking 90 min. Foot passengers (as of 2025) are wildly overcharged at €100 each way. This is more expensive than their daily ferry from Barcelona, which makes a 45 min stop at Alcúdia, taking 5 hr 30 min in all to Ciutadella. Trasmediterranea no longer sail these routes, so there's no price competition.
In summer Corsica Ferries sail here from Toulon, 12 hr 30 min.
By bus
[edit]
TMSA buses 1 and 14 run from Maó every 30 min, taking an hour via Alaior, Es Mercadel and Ferreries. Some start from Punta Prima or Sant Lluís.
Bus 72 runs six times a day from Sant Tomàs, taking an hour via Migjorn, Es Mercadel and Ferreries.
Bus 52 runs five times a day from Cala Galdana, taking 30 min via Ferreries.
2 Estació d'autobusos is on Plaça de la Pau.
Torres buses serve nearby resort villages. Their routes are:
- Bus 61 every 30 min from Calas Picas, Cale en Forcat, Los Delfines and Cala en Blanes.
- Bus 62 four times a day from La Vall and Cala Morell.
- Bus 64 hourly from Santandria, Cala Blanca, Blanc Sa Caleta and Port Son.
- Bus 65 hourly from Son Xoriguer, Cala en Bosch and Sa Caleta.
- Bus 66 four times a day from Son Saura and Son Catlar.
- Bus 68 M-Sa hourly from Cala en Turqueta.
- Bus 69 every 20 min from Macarella.
These buses run to Placa des Pins, the main plaza in Ciutadella.
By road
[edit]ME-1 is the island's spine route from Maó to Ciutadella.
Best choice for parking is Plaça de la Pau, just north of the bus station.
Plaça des Born parking is by Town Hall, 100 m west of the cathedral. It's larger than Plaça de la Pau but fills up early.
Get around
[edit]Walking will get you most places.
Bike hire is available from Velos Joan at Vila Juaneda Industrial 23 (Su-F 08:30-13:30, 17:00-20:00, Sa 10:00-16:00) and from Tot Velo at Eivissa 59 (M-F 09:30-13:30, 17:00-20:00, Sa 10:00-13:30).
See
[edit]
- 1 Ciutadella Cathedral, Plaça de Catedral 1, ☏ +34 971 380739. Daily 10:30-13:30, 16:00-19:00. This majestic Roman Catholic cathedral was built 1301-62 in Gothic style. It was twice wrecked and rebuilt, then the neoclassical facade was added in 1813. It was again wrecked in 1936 in the Spanish Civil War but restored as before. Within, the stain-glass windows are a highlight. The ticket includes the Diocesan Museum, below. Adult €6.
- Casa Olivar, Plaça de Catedral 8 (facing cathedral), ☏ +34 647 634487. May-Oct M-F 10:30-17:30, Sa 10:30-14:30. Sumptuous merchant mansion, the building is 17th century but the furnishings are 18th / 19th. Adult €5, child free.
- 2 Diocesan Museum, Seminari 7, ☏ +34 971 481297. M-Sa 10:00-14:30. This is within the former Convent and seminary of Sant Agusti, and its peaceful cloisters and gardens are the main appeal. Combi ticket with cathedral.
- 3 Plaça d'Alfons III is lined by old buildings. Several have been converted into bars and restaurants, including the windmill.
- 4 Placa des Pins is the city's main square. Torres local buses run from here.
- 5 Castell de Sant Nicolau, Passeig Marítim. Tu-Sa 16:00-20:00. Dinky 17th century coastal turret, with a teensy-weensy moat and drawbridge. A nice place to watch the sunset.
- 6 Montefí is a talaoit, a Bronze Age village. The site is free 24 hours and you'll probably have it to yourself.
- 7 Líthica (Pedreres de s'Hostal), Camí Vell, ☏ +34 971 48 15 78. Apr-Oct M-Sa 9:30-sunset, Su 09:00-13:00, Nov Dec Jan F daily 09:00-14:00. Sandstone quarry converted into gardens, with a stone maze and display of quarrying methods. Adult €9.
- 8 , km 40 on Me-1, ☏ +34 971 157800. Daily 09:00-15:00. Megalithic ossuary built around 1200 - 750 BC - the name is from its resemblance to an upturned boat, and "tudons" are pigeons. Over 100 skeletons were found within. You can peer into the passageway but can't enter. Adult €2, child free.
Do
[edit]
- Theatre: Teatre des Born is 100 m west of the cathedral.
- Teatre de Ciutadella is a live arts venue at Maria Auxiliadora 38, northeast corner of old town.
- Beach: the coastline is rocky and the few crowded sandy patches will remind you of nature programmes about elephant seals. The closest are 3 km west in the resort of Los Delfines.
- Cinema: Moix Negre Cinema shows films in their original languages. It's east side of the city on Sant Antoni María Claret.
- Biosport is a gym and indoor swimming pool at Camí Vell de Maó, east edge of the city.
- Scuba diving: west in Los Delfines are Dive Center Menorca and Scubaplus. South are Poseidon in Cala Santandria and Cala Blanca.
- Horse racing: Hipòdrom Torre Del Ram 2 km north of Los Delfines has trotting races, usually Sunday evenings.
- Horse riding: Club Hipic have two centres a few km out.
- Festival de Música d'Estiu (Summer Music Festival) is held over July and August in Ciutadella.
- Tres Tocs ("three knocks") on January 17th is a holiday throughout Menorca, commemorating its capture by King Alfonso III in 1287. There's a mass in the cathedral then parade to the port where he came ashore.
- Festes de Sant Joan or Fiesta of St John the Baptist is in the week around 23 / 24 June. It kicks off a season of smaller fiestas in the other towns on the island.
Buy
[edit]
- Mercat Municipal is an indoor food market at Plaça de la Llibertat, east side of Diocesan Museum. It's open Tu-F 07:30-13:30, 17:00-20:00, Sa 07:30-14:00.
- Supermarket: some 20 dotted about the city. Nou Mercat are the main chain, typically open M-Sa 08:00-14:00, 17:00-21:00.
Eat
[edit]Lots of restaurants in the streets around the cathedral.
Drink
[edit]Several cafe-bars in city centre, which may serve tapas.
Menorca makes red and white wine. The closest vineyard is Binitord 5 km south.
Sleep
[edit]
- 1 Alfons Hotel, Camí de Maó 53, ☏ +34 971 380150. Friendly clean place 500 m from centre, free parking available. B&B double €100.
- 2 Faustino, Muradeta 22, ☏ +34 971 489191. Grand old hotel in a converted palace, part of the Gran Relais & Chateaux group. But for these prices they need to be on point in every way, and too many guests experience lapses in comfort, catering and service. B&B double €400.
- 3 Hotel Patricia, Passeig de Sant Nicolau 90, ☏ +34 971 385511. Solid reliable mid-range hotel. B&B double €150.
- 4 Ferrer Skyline, Passeig de Sant Nicolau 171, ☏ +34 971 483563. Spacious aparthotel 1 km west of centre. B&B double €90.
- 5 Los Delfines is a resort area 5 km west of the city. It's not marketed under that name but for its three coves: Cala en Blanes to the east, Cala en Brut central and Cala en Forcat west.
- 6 Cala Santandria is a resort area 3 km south, which includes Cala Blanca.
Connect
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As of July 2025, Ciutadella and its approach roads have 4G from Vodafone, and 5G from MasMovil, Movistar and Orange.
Go next
[edit]- Maó the island's capital is 45 km east. It's ringed by fortresses from the many battles fought over Menorca.
- Alcúdia is a port at the east end of Mallorca, a short ferry ride from Ciutadella.
- Palma de Mallorca is capital of that island, a historic city that needs a couple of days to explore.
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