Es Castell Holidays

Enjoy our lowest-priced travel months!

Perched at the mouth of Mahon's spectacular natural harbour, Es Castell is Menorca's most delightfully British corner – and Spain's easternmost town, so you'll catch the sunrise before anyone else in the country. Founded by the Brits in 1771 as Georgetown, this charming spot swapped parade grounds for harbourside dining, with restaurants built into caves, craft markets on summer evenings, and enough military history to keep any history buff happy. It's not your typical beach resort – but that's exactly the point.

🧳 Good to Know

☀️ Summer highs of 27°C with over 300 days of sunshine – plus the bragging rights of seeing Spain's first sunrise each morning
💶 Harbourside meals run around €15-25 per head, and a glass of Menorcan gin (pomada) will set you back about €4 – proper good value
🏛️ Es Castell is steeped in British Georgian history – the grid-pattern streets and military architecture are unlike anywhere else on the island

✨ Es Castell Highlights

🌅 Spain's first sunrise – Es Castell is the easternmost point in the country, making it the perfect spot to greet the day
⚓ Cales Fonts harbour is a stunner – restaurants carved into old boat caves, waterside terraces and a genuinely local atmosphere
🏰 Fort Marlborough dates back to 1726 and offers guided tours with dramatic re-enactments and cracking views over the harbour
🎨 The summer artisan market runs from June to September, transforming the harbour steps with jewellery, crafts and evening strolls
🍷 Cave-front dining is a proper Es Castell experience – restaurants like Trebol and Es Cau serve fresh seafood with live music on summer nights

🏨 Es Castell Hotels

Es Castell is a small harbour town rather than a big beach resort, so our hotel options here are limited – but what's available is proper good quality. If you're after more choice or family-friendly resorts with kids' clubs and splash pools, have a look at nearby Punta Prima, Mahon or Cala Galdana.

For Families

🏨 Hotel Agamenon Es Castell's only option for families is a pleasant 4-star set in Mediterranean gardens with sea views from every room, outdoor pool and a relaxed atmosphere. It's not a splash-pool-and-kids-club resort, but it's a solid base for families who want to explore Menorca from the quieter east coast

For Couples

🏨 Barceló Hamilton Menorca - Adults Only 4-star waterfront elegance with outdoor pool, seafood restaurant and picnic excursions – the views over Mahon harbour are absolutely stunning

🏨 Artiem Carlos III - Adults Only Boutique 4-star with a wellness focus, sea-view terrace and a peaceful pool – highly rated for couples wanting a proper grown-up getaway

🎯 What to Do in Es Castell

Families

🏊 Cala Pedera has sunbathing platforms and calm, clear water for swimming – just a 5-minute walk from Cales Fonts harbour
🚢 Take the water taxi from Cales Fonts to Mahon and back – kids love the boat ride past enormous yachts and the impressive La Mola fortress
🏛️ The Military Museum on the main esplanade has uniforms, weapons and displays that bring Menorca's fascinating past to life
🎪 During the Festes de Sant Jaume in July, there are parades of giants (gegants) and big-headed figures that kids absolutely love

Couples

🍽️ Dine in a cave – the restaurants carved into the cliffs at Cales Fonts offer fresh seafood, local wines and proper romantic atmosphere
🌅 Watch Spain's first sunrise from the harbour – grab a coffee at one of the early-opening cafés and feel insufferably smug about it
⛵ Book a sunset boat trip from the harbour – sail past Illa del Rei (the King's Island) and the old British hospital ruins
🍸 Sample pomada (Menorcan gin with lemonade) at Es Cau bar in Cala Corb – live music, cave setting, magical summer vibes

Groups

🏰 Fort Marlborough runs guided tours with re-enactments of the 18th-century siege – dramatic, educational and brilliant for photos
🚴 Hire bikes and cycle to Mahon along the harbour road – flat, scenic and about 25 minutes each way
🎶 Bar hop along Cales Fonts on a summer evening – the restaurants and bars stay lively late into the night
🍺 Join the locals at one of the cave bars in Cala Corb – Es Cau often has impromptu guitar sessions and a properly Menorcan atmosphere

Culture Vultures

🏛️ The main square (L'Esplanada) was once the British army parade ground – surrounded by Georgian barracks and the Military Museum
🏰 Castle of San Felipe guarded the harbour entrance for centuries – partly demolished in 1782 but the ruins are open for guided tours
📚 The Thalassa Museum explores Menorca's maritime heritage with ship models, navigation tools and artefacts from local shipwrecks
🎨 Wander the side streets off Carrer Gran for independent galleries and craft shops – Es Castell has a quietly arty side

📅 When to Visit Es Castell

☀️ Summer (June–August)

Peak season with temperatures around 27°C. The artisan market runs nightly from June to September, restaurants buzz until late, and the Festes de Sant Jaume bring horses, parades and fireworks in July. Book early – the hotels fill up fast.

🌸 Spring (April–May)

Warm and pleasant (20-24°C) with fewer crowds. Perfect for exploring the forts, cycling to Mahon and enjoying harbourside lunches without the peak-season prices.

🍂 Autumn (September–October)

Still lovely and warm (22-26°C) with the Festes de la Mare de Déu de Gràcia in Mahon bringing the fiesta season to a close in September. Great for couples seeking a quieter escape.

❄️ Winter (November–March)

Mild but quiet – many restaurants and hotels close for the season. Good for walkers and history buffs, but not ideal if you're after nightlife.

🎉 What's On

🐴 Festes de Sant Jaume (Every July 24-25) Es Castell's annual fiesta in honour of Saint James is two days of proper Menorcan celebration. The highlight is the Jaleo – black Menorcan horses rear up on their hind legs while crowds try to touch their chests for good luck. There are parades of gegants (giant puppets), live music in the main square, religious ceremonies in the Parroquial de Roser church, and a fireworks finale over the harbour. The whole town transforms, and it's absolutely worth timing your trip around.
🛍️ Artisan Market (Every evening, June–September) From 8pm to midnight, the harbour steps at Cales Fonts come alive with local craftspeople selling jewellery, ceramics, leather goods and Menorcan souvenirs. A brilliant excuse for an evening stroll before dinner.
🎭 Festes de la Mare de Déu de Gràcia (Every September) Mahon's big fiesta is just 3km away – expect more horse parades, fireworks over the harbour, and the grand finale to Menorca's summer festival season.

🗺️ Nearby Resorts

Es Castell is perfectly placed for exploring eastern Menorca. These popular destinations are all within easy reach:

📍 Mahon – The island capital is just 3km away with shops, restaurants, the Xoriguer Gin Distillery and one of the world's largest natural harbours
📍 Punta Prima – Family-friendly beach resort 12km south with golden sands and shallow waters – perfect for a beach day
📍 Ciutadella – The historic former capital on the west coast, about 45 minutes by car, with cobbled streets and the famous Sant Joan horse festival
📍 Cala Galdana – Horseshoe bay with turquoise waters and clifftop views – around 35 minutes drive

Popular Es Castell hotels

More Es Castell hotels

Weather in Es Castell

JAN

13^°C

FEB

15^°C

MAR

16^°C

APR

18^°C

MAY

21^°C

JUN

24^°C

JUL

27^°C

AUG

27^°C

SEP

25^°C

OCT

20^°C

NOV

16^°C

DEC

13^°C

FAQs

Not a traditional sandy beach, no – Es Castell is more about harbour charm than buckets and spades. But there are lovely swimming spots at Cala Pedera and Cala Corb, both just a short walk from town, with sunbathing platforms and calm, clear water. For proper beaches, Punta Prima is about 15 minutes by car.

Menorca Airport is just 10km from Es Castell – about 15 minutes by taxi or transfer. It's one of the closest resorts to the airport, which makes it brilliant for short breaks or late arrivals.

Es Castell was founded by the British in 1771 as Georgetown (after King George III) during their occupation of Menorca. The grid-pattern streets, Georgian architecture and military buildings like Fort Marlborough are all legacies of that era. The town changed hands several times before returning to Spain in 1802, but the British influence is still visible everywhere – including the famous bow windows on many buildings.

Absolutely – it's arguably one of Menorca's most romantic spots. Two of the three hotels are adults-only, the harbourside restaurants are made for sunset dinners, and the atmosphere is peaceful without being boring. If you want nightclubs and crowds, look elsewhere. If you want wine, views and grown-up conversation, you've found it.

Yes! It's about 3km along the harbour road – roughly 35 minutes on foot, or you can take the water taxi from Cales Fonts harbour for about €10. Buses run every 30 minutes too if your legs need a rest.

The Jaleo is the heart of every Menorcan fiesta – a spectacular display where riders guide beautiful black Menorcan horses to rear up on their hind legs while crowds surge around them. Touching the horse's chest is said to bring good luck. Es Castell's Jaleo happens during the Festes de Sant Jaume on July 24-25 in the main square. It's exhilarating, chaotic and utterly unforgettable.

Fresh seafood is the star – try caldereta de langosta (lobster stew) if you're feeling flush, or grilled fish at any of the harbourside restaurants. Don't miss the local cheese (queso de Mahón), sobrassada (spicy cured sausage) and ensaimadas for breakfast. Wash it all down with pomada – local gin mixed with cloudy lemonade.