The Sky of Menorca: Astronomical Observatory Night

Menorca's skies stay properly dark once you get away from the resorts, and this is the easiest way to make the most of them. The Cercle Artistic's astronomy crew open up Ciutadella's observatory after sunset and let you take turns at the telescopes. The Moon is usually the star of the show, its craters and shadowed ridges far sharper than you'd expect, with a few other targets swung into view as the evening goes on.

There's not much language to wrestle with here, which is why it suits visitors who don't speak Catalan. The guides point, you look, and most of the talking is done by pointing at the sky anyway. Sessions run late and in short slots, so you book a time rather than just turn up. Dates fall across the warmer months, with July, August and September the obvious picks. Bring a jumper.