Es Castell Holidays

Es Castell Holidays – A fantastic base for exploring southern Menorca

With its Georgian houses, English-style red brick town hall and grand Placa de S'Esplanada (once a military parade ground), it’s easy to get a sense of Es Castell’s past as a former British colonial outpost. Nowadays this town makes a great base exploring the south of Menorca.

A small but vibrant resort filled with cafes, tapas bars and tavernas, Es Castell has two charming harbour areas, Cales Corb and Cales Fonts, which form the hub of a unique atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else on the island, except for perhaps in Ciutadella. Mahon is a short distance away for those who fancy a change of scenery, and the impressive golden sands of Punta Prima are only 10 minutes’ drive away.

For those interested in diving Es Castell makes a fantastic base, with the popular S'Algar diving centre and water sports centre just 10 minutes away, where you can explore the underwater caves on the south east coast at Cap D'en Font.

When to go

The peak summer months of June-July are when the town will be at its liveliest and when the weather will be at its best. This is also the most expensive time to visit however. If you visit around July 24th-25th, you will get to see the Feste de Sant Jaume; a weekend of music and dancing in the streets and on stages around the resort, with a musical fireworks display over the harbour on the last night.

Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) are less crowded and still pleasantly hot, plus have the benefit of cheaper hotel and flight rates. Unlike some of the beach resorts such as Binibeca and Cala’n Bosch, the facilities in El Castell are open all year round- so if you’re willing to risk the colder weather even a winter holiday here is possible.

The weather in Es Castell

Holidays in Es Castell will enjoy typically Mediterranean weather, with long hot summers and short, mild winters. Spring temperatures are consistently warm, with averages between 18-21C. The summer months of June-August see up to 11 hours of sun a day and rainfall is virtually unheard of. Maximum average temperatures around this time range between 25-28C. September and October are the autumn months, when temperatures cool to between 22-26C, but the long hours of sun continue way into late October. November sees the onset of showers and strong winds. Between November and March (the winter period), average temperatures hover around 14-18C.

Getting the best deal

To get the cheapest Es Castell holidays you will need to book as early as possible. Particularly if you wish to visit during peak times such as the Easter or half term school holidays, the best Balearic Islands’ deals and offers will sell out quickly. This also applies to the most popular hotels during peak season; the best priced rooms will go fast, so it’s important to get in there quick.

Booking outside of the peak summer months in either April-May or October-September will see much cheaper prices along with fantastic weather. See below for our best deals on package holidays to Es Castell, or click here for our late offers.

Airport and transport need to know

Those staying in Es Castell will benefit from the town’s close proximity to the airport. At just 6km away, Es Castell has one of the shortest transfer times on the island, with the journey taking around 15 minutes by car. Arriving in Menorca, you will land at the island’s sole international airport, the Menorca Mahon (MAH), also known as the International Aeropuerto de Menorca. This is a small, compact airport set across two floors, with just one terminal. There is a modest selection of shops and restaurants here.

You can fly to Menorca from over 15 UK airports, including London Gatwick, Luton and Stansted, as well as regional hubs such as Humberside and Bristol.

Once you’ve arrived, getting to Es Castell is relatively straightforward. Taxis wait outside the Arrivals hall, and operate on a ‘fixed price’ basis. You should expect to pay around €17 for a taxi carrying 4 plus luggage. Taxis can only accommodate up to 4 people and are not generally fitted with child seats. If you require a child seat, you should contact the taxi company in advance and request one.

You can also catch a public bus to Es Castell. Take the Airport-Mahon bus from the airport to Mahon central bus depot. Buses run every 30 minutes at 25 past and five to the hour, cost €1.50 and take 15 minutes to reach Mahon. From there, you can pick up a connecting bus to Es Castell for around €1.60. This bus leaves from the first bay. The entire journey should take around 30 minutes. You can download a PDF of the bus timetable from Mahon here.

Alternatively you can book a shared shuttle bus from one of the coach companies that operate out of the airport. A single fare to Es Castell will cost around €25 from Menorca Airport Transfers.

The best beaches in Es Castell

While there is no beach directly at Es Castell, the town is ideally situated for enjoying some of the best beaches on the island. The southern coast of Menorca is where the largest and most popular beaches are found. Here you’ll find long golden stretches of sand and warm, clear waters. For those interested in diving, the coastal resort of S'Algar is an absolute must; although there is no beach here to speak of, this is the home of the famous S'Algar Diving School, which organises fascinating dives all around the south-east Menorcan coast.

Punta Prima Beach

Punta Prima beach is approximately 10 minutes’ drive from Es Castell, and is also accessible via Mahon by public bus. This is one of the largest and most impressive beaches on Menorca, with fine white sands and a large rocky outcrop at its eastern end. There are a number of beach cafes, bars and restaurants overlooking the golden sands, and the beach is well equipped with parasols, sunbeds and a good selection of watersports. While this beach is very popular families, parents should be aware that the current here can be very strong. A warning flag system is in operation above the Red Cross building; green means safe, yellow means be careful and red means you mustn’t swim.

Binibeca Beach

This is a relatively small cove that is incredibly picturesque. Well equipped with sun loungers, parasols, and pedaloes, Binibeca Beach is popular with families and couples alike.  It is located in the Binibeca Nou/Cala Torret/S'Atalaya area, which is the primarily residential area of the resort. If you fancy a wander, walk for 10 minutes up the coast and you’ll find the pretty white-washed fishing village of Binibeca Vell, complete with charming harbour. If you fancy a bite to eat while lounging on Binibeca beach, the Cala Torret resort area nearby has a supermarket and several excellent restaurants overlooking the sea.

Cala Alcaufar Beach

A small, pretty inlet close to the popular diving resort of S’Algar, Cala Alcaufar is a great beach for families with small children due to its calm shallow waters. The beach here is simply gorgeous; soft white sands and clean, clear waters are sheltered in a little cove that’s overlooked by attractive white-washed villas. Cala Alcaufar is a tiny, secluded village that’s off the beaten track – as such facilities here are limited. There’s one small restaurant, a small bar and that’s pretty much it – ideal for a relaxing break away from the crowds.