Holidays to Son Bou let you make the most of Menorca's longest beach, and give you a great base for getting around the island to places like Mahon and Ciutadella.

Set in nature

Sitting on the south coast of Menorca in the Balearic Islands, Son Bou starts on a wooded hillside and sweeps down to a nature reserve that lines the longest beach on the island. It’s a family-friendly place with shops, bars and restaurants all conveniently placed together in a couple of commercial centres. And from Son Bou, you’re in a great position for visiting Ciutadella and the capital, Mahon.

A beach that goes on

Son Bou is blessed with a two-kilometre stretch of sand. It’s edged by dunes so there’s no hustle and bustle behind you, and the away-from-it-all vibe continues with just a few beach bars. Unsurprisingly, the sunloungers soon fill up here, though further westwards there’s a quieter stretch – just so long as you don’t mind sharing with nudists.

Geared to families

Families will certainly feel at home in Son Bou. Most restaurants have children’s menus, and there are activities, too. There’s a mini-train here as well, which runs every 45 minutes around the place.

Easy daytrips

A 15-minute drive takes you inland to Alaior. The historic old town was founded in 1304 and you still get a sense of its Medieval past in the maze of narrow streets. The Church of Santa Eualalia looks down over the whitewashed houses and relaxing squares, where people linger at the cafés and ice-cream places. En route to Alaoir, just outside Son Bou, you’ll pass Torre d’en Gaumes, a pre-historic village that’s worth a look for its Flintstones-style ruins.