Journey of Exploration

MENORCA TRAVEL GUIDE

Menorca Travel Guide

Menorca (or Minorca ) is the second largest island of the Balearics and the less visited compared to Majorca and Ibiza , but it’s a perfect destination for a more quiet and relaxed holiday with a great number of amazing beaches to choose from.

This guide will tell and also show you with photos everything you need to know about planning your trip to Menorca, the best places to visit and things to do and also provide detailed maps and itinerary .

INTRODUCTION TO MENORCA (MINORCA)

Why shall you visit Menorca ?

Menorca is one of the less touristy islands of the Balearics with stunning beaches and some beautiful coastal scenery.

An ideal destination for a relaxed holiday in the sun , but also for people looking for something more adventurous or cultural, as it combines beach activities with hiking opportunities, archaeological sights , seaside villages and two beautiful main towns (Cuitadela & Mahon or Mao) .

It has a lot of prehistoric structures : the navetas, the defensive towers called talayots and the taulas (T-shaped structures).

It is an appealing green island, designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve , and over forty per cent of it enjoys official protection.

Cala Pregonda, Menorca

BEST TIME TO VISIT MENORCA

The tourist season starts from May to mid-October

For a beach holiday , the best time to visit the island of Menorca is between June and the end of August . It’s dry, sunny and hot. Also, most of the tourist amenities will only be open during these months.

However, I would avoid the very high season: mid-July to late August, as the island tends to get very crowded with most prices tend to be higher. Weather can also get very hot, with temperatures over 25°C. However, due to its refreshing sea breeze, it never gets too hot during the summer. 

May can be a bit cold to swim in the sea and sunbathe, but it is usually dry and sunny. September & October are considerably more cloudy and can be quite wet.

During the “winter season” most of the hotels, attractions, shops and restaurants, especially in the tourist resorts close in October and do not open until April.

For me, the best time to visit is June with more acceptable temperatures, fewer crowds and lower prices but still possible to swim in the sea.

HOW LONG TO STAY IN MENORCA

Menorca is quite a big island (about 690sqkm), so I would recommend staying on the island at least for 5 days to a full week if you would like to explore it and visit most of the sights at a relaxed pace. Despite its size, driving around the island is quite easy as it is mainly flat.

White sandy beach of Cala Mitjana, Menorca

WHERE TO STAY IN MENORCA

There are many resorts on the island of Menorca where you can spend your holidays. Some of the main beach resorts in Menorca are Cala Galdana , Cala ‘n Bosch Cala ‘n Porter , Son Bou, Santo Tomas, Punta Prima , Arenal d’en Castell , Son Park and Cala en Blanes .

Great places to stay are also Ciutadella and Mahon , the two main towns on the island if you are not bothered by having a beach within walking distance and you prefer city life with plenty of choices for restaurants, bars and shopping. If you want to explore the island by public transport, Mahon or Ciutadella are also the best places to stay in Menorca without a car.

My recommendation is to stay in Cala Galdana as it has a beautiful setting within a horseshoe bay and a beautiful beach, a nice little marina and lots of bars and restaurants. There are also a lot of hotels and apartments to rent and it’s the best base to explore the neighbouring beaches on foot if you don’t have a car.

Cala ‘n Porter is a long-established resort on the south coast ideal for families because of the beach with shallow water. The resort is up on the hill overlooking the beach so it is a bit of a steep walk up.

Cala ‘n Bosch is one of the most popular purpose-built resorts close to Ciutadella, with lots of bars, restaurants and things to do for families and close to a nice beach.

Santo Tomas & Son Bou are another two popular resorts on the south coast with a long stretch of white sandy beaches.

Cala ‘n Blanes, north of Ciutadella is another resort popular with mainly British families. The beach is not one of the best.

Punta Prima & Binibeca are two popular resorts close to Mahon.

Son Park & Arena d’ en Castell are two alternative resorts on the north coast of Menorca.

menorca travel guide book

Best hotels in Menorca

  • ARTIEM Audax-Adults Only : This hotel is located at the resort of Cala Galdana, 2min walk from the beach. It offers an outdoor pool overlooking Cala Galdana Bay.
  • Meliá Cala Galdana : This luxurious hotel is located on the beachfront of Cala Galdana Beach offering outdoor swimming pools and rooms with sea views.
  • Hotel Cala Galdana & Apartamentos d’Aljandar : Another great hotel in Cala Galdana with an outdoor pool, only 3min walk from the beach.
  • Hotel Playa Azul : This hotel is located on a cliff above Cala’n Porter Beach. It offers outdoor pools and sun terraces with fantastic sea views.
  • Catalonia Mirador des Port : A great option in Mahon, this hotel offers beautiful views over Mahon Bay, 5min walk to the centre of town.
  • Hotel Port Mahón : Another great hotel in Mahon, a 10min walk from the centre of town offering an outdoor pool and nice views overlooking the harbour.
  • White Sands Beach Club By Diamond Resorts : It is situated in Arenal d’en Castell. Just 200 yards from the beach, this luxurious resort features a restaurant, a swimming pool and spacious apartments with balconies or terraces.
  • Comitas Tramontana Park :  This aparthotel is close to Fornells Beach and has an outdoor swimming pool, a buffet restaurant and a gym. Suitable only if you have a car as Fornells main village is 3.5km away.
  • Hotel Port Ciutadella : This hotel is located close to Platja Gran (a small beach) and 15min walk to the centre of Ciutadella.
  • Barceló Hamilton Menorca Adults Only : A 4-star hotel at the nice seaside village of Es Castell offering great views towards Mahon Bay.
  • Grupotel Tamariscos : This aparthotel is located in the resort of Cala ‘n Bosch, overlooking the beach.

Click here to check and compare prices on accommodation for the whole island.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Entry requirements/visa.

No visas are required for visits up to 90 days for most nationalities. You can check entry requirements on this website .

Menorca is a safe place and you shouldn’t come across any issues during your stay. However, it’s worth being vigilant in crowded places and tourist areas for any pickpockets or scammers.

Travel Insurance

It’s always recommended to get travel insurance before you travel even if a destination like Menorca shouldn’t pose any safety concerns. You never know what might happen; better to be fully covered in case of an accident or flight delays etc. SafetyWing is a great choice for long-term travellers and digital nomads. Alternatively, you can use one of the price comparison websites for cheaper quotes.

The climate in Menorca is Mediterranean , with mild winters and hot, sunny summers.

Summer (June to Sept) : Dry, sunny and hot. Average temperatures between 23 to 35 degrees. July is the hottest and driest month.

Autumn (mid-September to November) : It starts to get cloudier, colder and also rainier as the days progress. Average temperatures between 18 to 25 degrees.

Winter (December to mid-March) : It can get quite cold and windy and also rainy but very rarely snows. Average temperatures between 12 to 16 degrees. February is the coldest month.

Spring (mid-March to May) : It starts getting warmer and sunnier with average temperatures between 15 to 19 degrees.

You can check historical weather data here .

Internet/Mobile Phone

Arrivals from EU countries can enjoy free roaming.

If not part of the EU, you can buy a SIM card in one of the shops of either Orange , Vodafone or Movistar (the three main mobile providers).

Catalan is the main language as well as Menorquin, which is a local dialect of Catalan, but everybody speaks Spanish and various levels of English.

The currency is the euro. It’s worth having some cash with you as a lot of small shops and cafes or restaurants won’t accept cards. The best place to exchange some money is through an ATM that can be found in most villages. More tips about exchanging money can be found here .

Menorca is more expensive than mainland Spain and prices are higher during July and August, especially for accommodation. An average double room will cost 100 euros per night and a meal at a restaurant around 60 euros for 2 people.

The power plugs and sockets are of type C and F (with two round pins). The voltage is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz.

2 round pin plug

Packing List

If you visit in the summertime like most tourists, you won’t need to pack very much, mainly summer clothes & shoes , a hat , sunglasses , flip flops , the essential sunscreen and a swimming suit . However, I will recommend having a light summer jacket , as it can be quite chilly at night, especially in September and May when the wind blows.

For more information on travel gear and what to pack click here .

Port de Ciutadella de Menorca

HOW TO GET THERE

Menorca-Mahon Airport is connected to many cities from mainland Spain all year round and also to the Island of Majorca with regular flights. During the summer season, the airport receives charter flights from many European countries.

For the best website to book your flights, check the link below. Always check prices in advance for the best deals.

Getting from/to the airport

The airport is located about 4km away from Mahon. Upon your arrival, you can rent a car (highly recommended) in one of the rental offices at the airport. The airport is the best place to book if you haven’t done it before you arrive.

There is a metered taxi service outside the terminal building. The journey to Mahon is about 10min and to Ciutadella about 40min.

There is also a daily bus service (15min trip) that connects the airport with Mahon City Center (Mahon Bus Station), every 30min, from 6am to midnight at high season. The bus stop is located at the ground level of the main terminal, outside arrivals. More information about the bus service can be found here .

There are ferries from the port of Barcelona to Ciutadella (10 sailings per week in high season & a 6h journey) and Mahon (7.5h journey).

Menorca is also connected with Majorca with fast and frequent ferries from Alcudia (a 1.5 to 2h journey to Ciutadella ). The ferry tickets can be quite expensive.

For a good website to book your ferry ticket that doesn’t charge admin fees, check the link below.

HOW TO GET AROUND

I would definitely recommend hiring a car if you would like to explore the island .

I always try and rent a car whenever I travel as it just gives you the freedom to plan your trip as you like it and stop wherever you like, as I usually do with too many photo stops along the way.

Car rental for a day is usually 40-60 euros in high season. There are car rental offices at the airport and in the main resorts of the island, but it’s always better to book in advance before your travel for the best deals. Also in high season, there might be low availability and the prices can be much higher if you leave it until you arrive. Check the link below to book and compare car rental prices.

Be aware that during July and August, parking at the most popular beaches can be an issue because of the limited spaces.

By Scooter/Motorbike

A cheaper alternative to the car is renting a scooter or motorbike if you are comfortable with it, but you need to be more cautious on the road. The big advantage of renting a motorbike is that there will be no need to worry about parking.

There are taxi stands in most towns. There are only licensed taxis in Menorca, painted white and use meters; no private taxi companies or Uber. Taxis have fixed rates for longer distances and are considerably more expensive compared with bus service.

Indicative fares of taxi routes :

  • Airport to Mahon €15
  • Airport to Ciutadella €55
  • Airport to Cala Galdana: €45
  • Airport to Fornells: €40

Bus Network in Menorca connects the main towns and villages as well as some of the beach resorts, but only in the summer season. It is run by three different companies operating in different areas of the island (TMSA, Torres & Autos Fornells). Travelling by bus is a cheap alternative and it is quite comfortable but appropriate planning is needed. More information regarding bus routes, timetables and prices can be found on the following websites:

  • Autos Fornells

Es Castell, Menorca

WHAT TO EAT & DRINK

Best places to go for a meal are Ciutadella and Mahon for the best choices in a beautiful setting. For good seafood restaurants by the sea, you can also visit Port de Fornells, the best place to taste caldereta de llagosta. Below you can find a sample list of some of the best restaurants and bars in Menorca. For more information and reviews of restaurants on the island, you can check TripAdvisor .

Nightlife in Menorca is low-key compared with the neighbouring islands of Majorca and Ibiza but there are still some nice bars to enjoy a drink, especially by the sea.

Best restaurants & bars in Menorca

  • Restaurant Cafè Balear : Best seafood restaurant in Ciutadella. Very busy.
  • Ulisses: Located in the centre of Ciutadella for great tapas
  • Restaurante El Rais : One of the best portside restaurants in Mahon
  • Es Moli d’es Raco: Traditional menorcan food in Es Mercadal
  • El Pescador : Seafood seaside restaurant at Fornells
  • Cova d’en Xoroi: Menorca’s most popular bar built in a cave on a cliff overlooking the sea . One of the few nightclubs in Menorca
  • El Mirador in Placa d’Espanya : A nice bar by the walls above the harbour offering views of Mahon bay.
  • Sa Falua: A nice bar on Mahon waterfront for cocktails

You can check the location of these restaurants on this map .

Local Specialities

  • The island’s signature dish: caldereta de llagosta or lobster stew
  • Fish & Seafood
  • Sípia amb fesols (Cuttlefish with peas)
  • Albergínies al forn (stuffed aubergines)
  • Sobrassada (cured sausage)
  • Local gin from the Xoriguer   distillery (produced since the British Occupation)
  • Pomada (gin and cloudy lemonade)
  • More information about the best spanish dishes you can find here

BEST THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN MENORCA

  • Swim and relax on one of the best beaches on the island
  • Explore the two pretty towns of Ciutadella and Mahon
  • Admire the views from Monte Toro
  • Visit some of the traditional fishing villages: Binibeca Vell, Fornells and Es Castell
  • Take a boat trip to Mahon Harbour
  • Visit some of the prehistoric monuments
  • S’Albufera d’es Grau
  • Visit one of the Lighthouses of Menorca
  • Cova d’ en Xoroi
  • Visit one of the military fortresses of Menorca
  • Visit some of the museums of Menorca
  • Líthica, Pedreres de s’Hostal
  • Visit the Xoriguer Gin Distillery

Naveta d'Es Tudons

BEST TOWNS & VILLAGES IN MENORCA

  • CIUTADELLA DE MENORCA
  • MAHON (MAO)
  • FORNELLS PORT
  • BINIBECA VELL
  • ES MERCADAL

Mahon, Menorca

BEST BEACHES IN MENORCA

Menorca has some amazing beaches to choose from. The most popular beaches are on the south coast of the island, mainly small white sandy coves with crystal clear turquoise waters.

I recommend visiting at least the two popular beaches on the south coast Cala Galdana & Cala ‘n Porter and two of the best coves Cala Macarella and Cala Mitjana.

Do not forget to visit some of the equally beautiful beaches on the north coast like Cala Pregonda and Platja de Cavalleria with the amazing red cliffs.

Cavalleria Beach, Menorca

Below is a list of the 30 best beaches on the island.

  • Cala Galdana
  • Cala en Porter
  • Cala Mitjana & Mitjaneta
  • Cala Macarella & Macarelleta
  • Cavalleria Beaches
  • Cala Pregonda
  • Platja de Son Bou
  • Platja Arenal d’en Castell
  • Platjes de Son Saura
  • Cala en Turqueta
  • Playa des Talaier
  • Arenal Son Saura
  • Santo Thomas
  • Cala Trebalúger
  • Platja de Binigaus
  • Cala Escorxada
  • Punta Prima
  • Playas de Fornells
  • Cala del Pillar
  • Platja Sa Mesquida
  • Platja Es Grau
  • Cala Algaiarens
  • Cala Binibeca
  • Cala en Bosc & Platja de Son Xoriguer
  • Cala Presili
  • Cala en Blaines
  • Cala Morell

Cala Galdana, Menorca

MENORCA TOURIST MAP

You can click on the map below for the location of the best sights, restaurants & hotels, as well as the best villages and beaches to visit in Menorca.

Menorca Map

PHOTOGRAPHY

You can check the best photographs and slideshows from the island of Menorca here .

Here is a list of the best viewpoint locations on the island where you enjoy great views .

  • Mirador Cim del Toro
  • Mirador Sa Punta (Cala Galdana)
  • Mirador of Cala Galdana
  • Mirador Cala en Porter
  • Mirador Del Passeig Maratim
  • Mirador puerto Ciutadella
  • Mirador Sa Albufera des Grau
  • Arena d’ en Castel Mirador
  • Mirador Arenal d’en Castell
  • Mirador Cala Trebaluger
  • View of Playas de Fornells
  • Fornelles Tower fortress.

Monte Toro Mirrador

You can check these viewpoints locations and the best photo spots on the island in the following map .

There are lots of centres for watersport s and other activities on the island for the more adventurous.

F ornells is probably the best place as there are two dive centres and a surf centre.

Kayaking is quite popular and kayaks can be rented on the following beaches:

  • Es Grau: From there one can reach Illa d’en Colom, a small island 200 meters from the mainland and its beaches.
  • Cala en Porter: Cales Coves can be reached from there
  • Cala Galdana: Plenty of caves and some of the most famous beaches of Menorca can be reached from there.

menorca travel guide book

Horse riding

Menorca a Cavall is a company that offers horse riding excursions to different beaches and locations around the island. The farm is located near the town of Ferreries.

There are numerous hiking trails but the most famous one is Camí de Cavalls .

This is an ancient path of 185km that encircles the whole island of Menorca. You can also cycle part of the route or even horse ride.

Activities for kids

Lloc de Menorca is a small zoo where you can enjoy a variety of animals between native breeds and exotic species. Open from April to October (10am to 6pm) with a general price for adults of €14 & €9 for kids. It is located between Alaior and Mahon.

Splash Sur Menorca is probably the best water park in Menorca, located in Punta Prima. Price for adults €23.

Aqua Centre is another water park situated in Cala en Blanes, north of Ciutadella. Great for smaller kids, but a bit overpriced for what’s on offer. Price for adults €22.

Wine Tasting

Bodegas Binifadet : The winery is located near Sant Lluis and offers wine-tasting tours. The experience lasts for about an hour and includes strolling through the vineyards, a visit to the winery to see all the stages of production of the wines from harvesting to bottling and finally wine tasting. Price of tour: €12. The restaurant is really nice too where you can enjoy dinner and wine in a beautiful location.

EXCURSIONS & TOURS

  • Boat tour of Mahon Harbour

This is a good 1h tour of the Mahon harbour offering some great views of the surrounding coastline and the town of Mahon.

There are two companies ( Yellow catamarans & Rutas Maritimas de la Cruz ) offering cruises around the harbour at €13.5 per adult.

During the trip, you can listen to a commentary in English on the history and points of interest of the Port of Mahon and Menorca, but there are no stops during the trip.

menorca travel guide book

Boat tour along the coast of Menorca

This is a very good way of seeing the non so easily accessible beaches of the south coast. The best tours on offer are the ones below:

  • Half-Day Boat Tour along the South Coast of Menorca : This tour starts from Cala ‘n Bosch (€35 per adult & 3.5h duration).
  • Half-Day Boat Excursion 6-8 South beaches of Menorca : This tour starts from Cala Galdana (€70 & 3.5h duration)

Ferry trip to Majorca

If you have plenty of time on the island, you can take the ferry from Ciutadella to Alcudia (1.5h to 2h journey) in neighbouring Majorca and enjoy this beautiful coastal resort.

Difficult to be done as a day trip, but it’s definitely worth visiting Majorca as part of a longer trip.

More information about excursions & tours in Menorca can be found here .

SUGGESTED ITINERARY

It is worth staying on the island for at least 5 to 7 days if you want to explore it. The following itinerary includes things to do for 6 days on the island, but if you have more time to spend, you can change this itinerary to allow a more relaxed pace. I have taken Cala Galdana as a base & overnight stay for the duration of the holiday; this itinerary might work slightly differently if you stay in other parts of the island.

  • Hike to Cala Mitjana from Cala Galdana (15min walk) & enjoy a swim in this beautiful cove
  • Optional: Continue to Cala Trebaluger (another 20min walk)
  • A quick visit to Ferreries village
  • Visit Naveta de Tudons
  • Drive to Cala Morell for a photo stop
  • Visit Ciutadella & walk the narrow streets of the old town
  • Evening stroll at beautiful Ciutadella harbour & dinner
  • Back to Cala Galdana
  • Total drive time: 1.5h
  • Quick visit of Es Mercadal
  • Drive up to Monte Toro to enjoy the views
  • Visit Far de Cavalleria for a walk around the lighthouse
  • Swim in the scenic Cavalleria Beach
  • Hike to Cala Pregonda for another swim in this beautiful setting
  • Photo stop at Playa de Fornells
  • Evening stroll and meal at Fornells port
  • Total drive time: 2h
  • Hike to Macarella & Macareletta for a swim
  • Optional: Poblat talaiòtic de Talatí de Dalt
  • Visit Binibeca Vell
  • Optional: Bodegas Binifadet winery
  • Evening walk and meal at Mahon
  • Total drive time: 1h 45min
  • A quick visit to Alaior
  • Visit the historic site of Torre d’en Galmes
  • Swim in Son Bou
  • Optional: Torralba d’en Salort
  • Cala en Porter for another swim or kayaking
  • Cova d’en Xoroi for a drink while enjoying the sunset
  • Go to Arena d’ en Castell or Son Saura for a swim
  • Drive to Far de Favàritx for a walk to the lighthouse
  • Stop to enjoy the view at the Mirador Sa Albufera des Grau
  • Visit Es Grau for some kayaking
  • Drive to Mola Fortress for a visit
  • Evening stroll and meal at Es Castell
  • Total drive time: 2.5h
  • Visit Cala en Bosc & take a boat tour along the south coast of the island (3.5h)
  • OR take a boat tour from Cala Galdana (3.5h)
  • Enjoy your last day relaxing at Cala Galdana

You can find the driving routes for the above itinerary on the flowing clickable map.

menorca travel guide book

VIRTUAL TOUR

Check the following video slideshow to get further inspiration to visit Menorca 🙂

THINGS TO BUY

The best destination for souvenir shopping is either Mahon or Ciutadella with lots of souvenir shops as well as shops with handmade crafts and typical menorcan products.

A unique souvenir to buy is a pair of avarques, a typical sandal from Menorca exported around the world. S’Avarca de Menorca in Mahon has a wide selection and the most unique designs.

Queso de Mahón (Mahon cheese) or sobrassada (cured sausage) can be bought in the markets of Mahon.

FURTHER READING

You can check the following posts :

  • Menorca Beaches & Resorts
  • Town & Villages of Menorca
  • Best things to do in Menorca

Other useful websites for more information about Menorca:

  • Menorca Island : The official tourist website of Menorca
  • MyMenorca : The most detailed independent website about Menorca

Some good travel guides to buy before your visit Menorca:

  • Insight Guides Pocket Menorca : Compact, concise, and packed with essential information about Where to Go and What to Do. The cheapest pocket guide for Menorca.
  • Menorca Marco Polo Pocket Travel Guide : Another affordable option. Explore Menorca with this handy, pocket-sized guide, packed with Insider Tips
  • The Rough Guide to Mallorca & Menorca : This comprehensive guide also includes information about Majorca.

TRAVEL RESOURCES

  • Flights : I always use Skyscanner as my first choice as it’s so easy to use and you can search best deals by month. Momondo is another very good search engine as well as Google Flights .
  • Accommodation : I always use Booking.com as my first choice, as it offers a great choice of accommodation at affordable prices and it’s so easy to use. TripAdvisor and Trivago are the best search engines to check deals from different websites; however not as good for checking the actual properties & rooms. Airbnb is a great alternative to find out homes and apartments to rent by real homeowners.
  • Ferries : Ferryhopper is one of the best websites to check ferry schedules and buy the cheapest ferry tickets.
  • Car Rental : I always check Skyscanner for the cheapest car rental options.
  • Public Transport : There are 3 different companies with their own website for checking public transport in Menorca: TMSA , Autos Fornells & Torres .
  • Day Trips & Tours : Viator provides the most comprehensive list of day trips and you can book directly with them. TripAdvisor is also a great place to search for tours & activities to do.
  • Travel Insurance : SafetyWing is a great choice for long-term travellers and digital nomads. Alternatively, you can use one of the price comparison websites for cheaper quotes.

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Menorca Travel Guide 2023: Your Ultimate Travel Companion for an Unforgettable Journey through the Idyllic Balearic Island - Includes a Comprehensive 7-Day Itinerary and Insider Tips

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Menorca Travel Guide 2023: Your Ultimate Travel Companion for an Unforgettable Journey through the Idyllic Balearic Island - Includes a Comprehensive 7-Day Itinerary and Insider Tips Hardcover – July 22, 2023

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The second largest of the Balearic Islands, boomerang-shaped MENORCA is the least plagued by unsavoury development. An essentially rural island, it features rolling fields, wooded ravines and humpy hills filling out the interior in between its two main – but still notably small – towns of Maó and Ciutadella. Much of this landscape looks pretty much as it did at the turn of the twentieth century, and only around the edges of the island, and then only in parts, have its rocky coves been colonized by sprawling villa complexes. Neither is the development likely to spread: determined to protect their island from the worst excesses of the tourist industry, the Menorcans have clearly demarcated development areas and are also pushing ahead with a variety of environmental schemes – the island was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1993, and over forty percent of it now enjoys official protection.

Menorca is also dotted with prehistoric monuments, weatherworn stone remains that are evidence of a sophisticated culture. Little is known of the island’s prehistory, but the monuments are thought to be linked to those of Sardinia and are classified as examples of the Talayotic culture, which is usually considered to have ended with arrival of the Romans in 123 BC. Talayots are the rock mounds found all over the island – popular belief has it that they functioned as watchtowers, but it’s a theory few experts accept. The megalithic taulas – huge stones topped with another to form a T, around 4m high and unique to Menorca – are even more puzzling. They have no obvious function, and they are almost always found alongside a talayot. Some of the best-preserved talayot and taula remains are on the edge of Maó at the Talatí de Dalt site. The third prehistoric structure of note is the naveta (dating from 1400 to 800 BC), stone-slab constructions shaped like an inverted bread tin.

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MAÓ (Mahón in Castilian), the island capital, is likely to be your first port of call. Perched high above the largest natural harbour in the Mediterranean, the town’s compact centre is no more than ten minutes’ walk from one end to the other. Its architecture consists of an unusual hybrid of classical Georgian townhouses, which reflect a strong British connection, and tall Spanish apartment blocks shading the narrow streets. Port it may be, but there’s no real gritty side to Maó, and the harbour is now home to a string of slick – if rather sedate – restaurants and cafés that attract droves of tourists. Wandering the maze of alleyways and peering into the gateways of the city’s collection of handsome old mansions are its charm, rather than any specific sight, and you can explore the place thoroughly in a day.

From near the ferry terminal, set beneath the cliff that supports the remains of the city wall, a generous stone stairway, the Costa de Ses Voltes, leads up to the series of small squares that comprise the heart of the old town. The first, Plaça Espanya, offers views right across the port and bay, and houses Maó’s bustling fish market, in operation since 1927.

Mayonnaise and food influences from abroad

Maó has a place in culinary history as the eighteenth-century birthplace of mayonnaise (mahonesa). Various legends, all of them involving the French, claim to identify its inventor: take your pick from the chef of the French commander besieging Maó; a peasant woman dressing a salad for another French general; or a housekeeper disguising rancid meat from the taste buds of a French officer. The French also changed the way the Menorcans bake their bread, while the British started the dairy industry and encouraged the roasting of meat.

Like Maó, CIUTADELLA sits high above its harbour, though navigation is far more difficult here, up a narrow channel too slender for anything but the smallest of cargo ships. Despite this nautical inconvenience, Ciutadella has been the island’s capital for most of its history, the narrow, cobbled streets of its compact, fortified centre brimming with fine old palaces, hidden away behind high walls, and a set of Baroque and Gothic churches very much in the Spanish tradition.

The main plazas, accommodation and points of interest are all within a few strides of each other, on and around the main square, Plaça d’es Born, in the middle of which a soaring obelisk commemorates the town’s futile defence against the marauding Turks in 1558. To the northwest, the square is bordered by the steep harbour walls, and in the northeast lies the vast nineteenth-century Palau Torresaura. Like many of the city’s grand aristocratic mansions, it is still privately owned and off limits to visitors.

Allow at least a couple of days, more if you seek out one of the charming cove beaches within easy striking distance of town – Cala Turqueta is the pick of the bunch.

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White rooftop.

Arrive on the sun-bleached shores of Menorca after a spell on Mallorca or Ibiza and notice the drop in volume – here it's more birdsong than Pete Tong. The easternmost Balearic island moves to its own mellow beat. Its twinset of sea-splashed cities, eastern Anglo-Spanish Maó and western maze-like Ciutadella, are delightfully low-key and distinctive, and the white- and golden-sand bays that stud its 216km coastline are among the loveliest in the Mediterranean. Inland, the island remains distinctly rural, with an estimated 70,000km of dry-stone walls criss-crossing fields and rolling hills between whitewashed villages.

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Attractions

Must-see attractions.

View of the lagoon, Parc Natural de s'Albufera des Grau, Menorca, Spain.

Parc Natural S’Albufera des Grau

This freshwater lagoon and its shores form the ‘nucleus zone’ of Menorca’s protected Unesco Biosphere Reserve. It's a haven for wetland birdlife …

Ca n'Oliver

Ca n'Oliver

Built in the early 1800s for the prominent bourgeois Oliver family (who lived here until 1920), this magnificent mansion has been exquisitely restored…

Bodegas Binifadet

Bodegas Binifadet

At Menorca’s top winery, 500m northeast of Sant Lluís, you can amble around vineyards at your own pace, or book in a one-hour guided tour that concludes…

Cala en Turqueta

Cala en Turqueta

One of Menorca's most beautiful and sought-after coves, salt-white Cala en Turqueta gets its name from the turquoise-hued waters that tumble onto its…

Palace in PlaA§a des Born, Ciutadella. Minorca, Barearic Islands, Spain

Plaça des Born

Ciutadella’s main square is a gracious affair, framed by handsome 19th-century buildings like the neoclassical Palau Torre-Saura and fortress-like…

Castle of San Felipe. Los Escullos. Cabo de Gata. Almeria Cliffs and Battery of San Felipe, fortification built in the XVIII century to defend the coast of the attack of the pirates

Castell de Sant Felip

On the north side of Cala de Sant Esteve, 4km southeast of Maó, the Castell de Sant Felip was originally constructed in the 16th century and, under…

Museu de Menorca

Museu de Menorca

This 17th-century former Franciscan monastery has been a nautical school, a library, a high school, a children’s home and, now, Menorca's main museum. Its…

Fort de Marlborough

Fort de Marlborough

Britain occupied Menorca principally to gain possession of Maó’s deep natural harbour, captured by the Royal Navy in 1708, and built Fort Marlborough (5km…

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Cala Macarella - Cala Macarelleta - Menorca - Balearic islands - Spain

Sep 24, 2020 • 6 min read

Menorca, the easternmost of Spain’s Balearic Islands, has a fierce commitment to sustainability. Here's how it has approached low-key, responsible tourism.

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Berlitz Pocket Guide Menorca (Berlitz Pocket Guides) Paperback – 1 April 2015

Berlitz Pocket Guide Menorca is a concise, full-colour travel guide that combines lively text with vivid photography to highlight the very best that this sun-kissed island has to offer. The Where To Go chapter details all the key sights: from picturesque towns like Ciutadella, Fornells and Binibibeca Vells, to graceful churches and a fabulous choice of stunning, family-friendly beaches. To inspire you, the book offers a rundown of the Top 10 Attractions in the island, followed by an itinerary for a Perfect Day in Maó. The What to Do chapter is a snapshot of ways to spend your spare time: the best places to shop for leather abarca sandals, the myriad hiking possibilities as well as the best beaches for watersports. You'll also be armed with background information, including a brief history of the island and an Eating Out chapter covering its delectable cuisine. There are carefully chosen listings of the best hotels and restaurants, and an A-Z to equip you with all the practical information you will need.

  • Print length 144 pages
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  • Publisher Berlitz Travel
  • Publication date 1 April 2015
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  • ISBN-10 1780048270
  • ISBN-13 978-1780048277
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Travelling King

Ultimate Travel Guide to Menorca

Cala Macarelleta Beach with Turquoise Water of Mediterranean Sea. Menorca Island Travel Background.

Menorca is found in the Mediterranean and is one of the Balearic Islands which are located off the east coast of Spain. This sunny, popular island is a favourite for summer vacationers across Europe because Menorca boasts a beautifully rugged coastline and a multitude of white sand beaches.

Compared to the other Balearic Islands, Menorca is a quieter place to visit, and you’ll find that the clubs of Ibiza and the rowdy bars of Mallorca haven’t exactly made their way over here yet.

Instead, you can enjoy a more authentic side of the Balearic Islands, and on Menorca, you can visit prehistoric standing stones, you can explore the historic streets of the capital, Mahon, and you can venture into the countryside in search of the island’s rural charms.

To inspire your Spanish getaway, here’s our ultimate travel guide to Menorca.

This ultimate travel guide to Menorca will show you all the most beautiful places in Menorca, what to expect when visiting, where to stay in Menorca and things to do in Menorca which will help you in planning a trip to Menorca.

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Table of Contents

How to get to Menorca

Menorca has a small airport which is located a few kilometres away from the island’s capital city, Mahon. Menorca is very much a summer destination and the majority of flights to the island are only run seasonally, during the most popular months of the year.

During summer, you can find budget flights from many European cities with airlines such as Ryanair and EasyJet offering multiple routes, from countries such as the UK, France and Germany. Package holiday companies such as TUI and Thomas Cook also offer seasonal charter flights.

There are also domestic flights available from major Spanish cities, as well as the neighbouring islands of Ibiza and Mallorca, which are just a short hop away.

The Spanish airlines Vueling and Iberia offer more consistent flights to Menorca through the year from Spain and are a good bet if you are travelling offseason.

You can also catch a ferry from Mallorca, which is just one hour away, or from Barcelona on the Spanish mainland, which is a journey of around 7 hours.

MENORCA SPAIN - Planes of Neos and Ryanair airlines in the Menorcas airport in Menorca Spain. Neos airline is an Italian company and Ryanair is Irish.

What to expect in Menorca 

Compared to Mallorca and Ibiza, the other major islands in the Balearics, Menorca has a reputation for being a quieter getaway. This doesn’t mean it’s not a busy place in summer of course, but it does mean that it’s still possible to find secluded beaches, while you won’t have as much raucous nightlife in the towns.

Most Menorcans speak several languages, with the local dialect being a form of Catalan similar to that which you find in Barcelona. People will also be fluent in Castilian Spanish, while those working in the tourism industry will certainly speak English.

The main currency in use, as with the rest of Spain, is the Euro , and you can find ATMs and money changers at the airport and in Mahon, the capital.

How to get around Menorca

The main transport hub for the island is Mahon, where you find the airport and the ferry port. If you’re arriving by plane, then you can arrange transfers in advance with local taxi companies, or if you are staying in package accommodation, these may be included.

If travelling independently, you can also catch a public bus outside the arrivals terminal, which can transfer you to the main bus station in Mahon.

From Mahon, you can use the public bus lines to get around much of the island, with most major towns and touristy areas linked to the capital.

Bus schedules are fairly regular, however, for absolute freedom and flexibility, you will want to consider renting a car instead, especially if you want to discover more secluded and hidden spots across the island.

Bicycle in historical Ciutadella stone wall at Balearic islands

The best time to visit Menorca

Menorca is a very seasonal travel destination, however, given the warm Mediterranean climate, it can be a pleasant place to visit all through the year, even out of the summer high season.

The island is most popular between May and September, and the busiest periods are generally July and August when many countries in Europe have school holidays.

This can be a busy time to visit, but given the island’s seasonality, it’s also when you can rest assured that you’ll find regular flights and ferries, and also when businesses are open across the island.

Things start to close down come October, and there are fewer flights to the island and fewer package deals.

Outside of high season is a good time for independent travel, and while the temperatures won’t be as high, Menorca weather is always good, and there’s still lots of sunshine well into winter, and almost no other tourists around.

Beautiful beach with turquoise water in bay Cala Macarelleta on Menorca island in Spain.

Things to do in Menorca 

Mahon is the capital and largest city in Menorca, and even if you don’t stay here you’ll be transiting through to get on and off the island.

Mahon though is well worth a stay, or at the very least a day trip if you are heading off to stay at a resort because this is a truly historic destination.

You can enjoy excellent restaurants and local taverns overlooking the sea, or the ramshackle streets, and Mahon is well known for its wonderful culinary scene.

Explore the harbourfront, and admire the superb blend of architecture, which has influences from Spain, from France, and notably from the 18th century British occupation of Menorca.

Mahon, Spain - ocean liner silver cloud by silversea in sea harbor. Cruise ship in sea port. World round trip tour. Cruising for pleasure. Travelling by water. Summer vacation

Museum of Menorca

For history buffs, one of the Menorca things to do that you can’t miss is a visit to the Museum of Menorca . Located in the capital, Mahon, at the museum you can delve deep into the island’s past.

You’ll find archaeological finds on display in the galleries here, as you’re taken on a journey from prehistoric times, through to the Roman colonisation, the Moorish days and finally to the British and Spanish eras. There’s a lot to learn about Menorca, and this is the place to do it.

Taulas of Menorca

To see first hand just a small piece of Menorca’s long history, then head to the Taulas of Menorca .

Found in the centre of the island, the Taulas are prehistoric monoliths which were raised thousands of years ago by the local inhabitants of Menorca. The Taulas are ancient structures and are often seen as being Menorca’s Stonehenge.

Talaiot y Taula de Trepuco Ruins at Menorca Island, Spain. Ancient Megalithic Village Structures.

On the opposite side of the island to Mahon, you can find the town of Ciutadella, which is the second-largest settlement on Menorca.

Ciutadella has a rich history and you can stroll through the pleasant streets admiring the different influences that are visible, from Arab and Moorish designs to Italian architecture.

The harbour here is beautiful too, while you’ll find plenty of restaurants and bars where you can enjoy the local cuisine.

View on old town Ciutadella sea port on sunny day, Menorca island, Balears, Spain.

The highest point on Menorca is Monte Toro, but don’t expect too much, because it only rises to a height of 342 metres.

Although it’s more of a hill than a mountain, Monte Toro is still high in comparison to the surrounding landscapes, and it rises dramatically on the skyline, close to the town of Es Mercadal.

You can hike to the top of Monte Toro, or there’s a four by four-track leading to the summit if you’re feeling lazy. The views from the top stretch across the island and far out into the Balearic Sea.

Es mercadal town viewed from Monte Toro mountain at Menorca island, Spain.

Beaches and Bays

History, culture, heritage and food aside, the best reason to visit the island is really for the outstanding Menorca beaches.

The coastline is rugged in places, with the north being particularly renowned for its blustery weather and high winds, which together with the surf have carved the cliffs and beaches into a spectacular wilderness over time.

There are also more pristine, white sand beaches across the island too, and plenty of protected and calm turquoise bays glistening in the sun.

In high season, the beaches closest to the towns will always be busy but head further afield and you can always find a quiet spot in Menorca.

Some of the best beaches to visit include Cala Macarelleta and Cala Macarella, both iconic destinations where you can find white sands and clear water.

Calas Mitjana is a lovely, and beautiful cove to visit, but in peak season, it can be one of the busiest spots on the island.

Beautiful beach with turquoise water in bay Cala Macarelleta on Menorca island in Spain.

What to eat in Menorca

Menorca has a great culinary scene, and you can find a wide range of restaurants and cuisines from around the world in the resorts and in the towns and cities.

There’s a rich culinary tradition in Menorca, and it’s even claimed that Mahon is the birthplace of Mayonnaise.

The cuisine is very typical of the Mediterranean, with plenty of olives, fish and cheese to sample. Mahon Cheese is a local speciality, and you’ll recognise it by the distinctive orange peel.

You can find fresh seafood everywhere, but a particular local favourite is seafood meatballs . Lobster Stew, or Caldereta de Langosta , is another must-try dish when you are in Menorca, while you’ll find local cured meats for sale everywhere.

savory delicious hot bisque or thick soup of shredded snow crab meat, prawn, lobster in a stainless metal casserole on black wooden table, authentic french recipe, vertical view from above

Where to stay in Menorca

Budget – Menorca isn’t a big backpacking destination and you won’t find so many hostels on the island. There are some in Mahon and Ciutadella, but budget travellers may find it’s easier to rent out local apartments or rooms on AirBnB.

Mid Range – If you’re wondering where to stay in Menorca, then there’s plenty of mid-range accommodation across the island, and you can find good value resorts complete with pools all along the coast, while you can score excellent deals if you book a package holiday.  

Luxury – Menorca has some lavish luxury offerings, and some of the best on the island include the 16th-century rooms of the Hotel Can Faustino or the boutique, countryside climes of the Hotel Torralbenc .

Mahon/Spain. The port of Mahon in Menorca on a warm summer's day. Port side luxury hotels enjoy prominent harbor views

Tours to do in Menorca

With a beautiful, long coastline to explore, one of the best ways to get around the best of Menorca’s natural sights is to join a boat tour.

From Mahon and other harbours around the island, you can join a variety of boating excursions that take you to both popular beaches, and secluded bays. There are a variety of boats on offer too, from fast, sleek catamarans to rustic sailing vessels.

Try to join a tour that stays out until sunset, so you can enjoy a fiery end to your Menorcan day trip from the water of the Balearic Sea.

Turquoise water in bay Cala Macarella on Menorca island in Spain. Wooden typical fence.

Kayaking Tours

Another great way to explore the coastline is to hire a kayak or canoe for the day or to join an organised kayaking tour of Menorca.

It’s a fantastic way to get some exercise while you are on holiday, and it’s a beautiful way to experience the best of Menorca’s great outdoors at the same time.

Many kayaking tours will take you to hidden spots along the coast, that are otherwise inaccessible, while you’ll also have plenty of opportunities for snorkelling and swimming too.

Two adults paddling with baby on board in the colorful Hawaiian sea of Menorca

Jeep Safaris

Menorca’s rugged interior is another great part of the island to explore, but much of it is off-limits unless you are driving an off-road vehicle.

Popular jeep safaris will whisk you away from your hotel and into the heart of Menorca’s most dramatic countryside, where the roads end and there’s little around you except wilderness and wildlife.

Unsurfaced walkway among green hills with runt plantsin summer sunny day at Menorca island; Balearic islands; Spain.

Day trips from Menorca

North coast marine reserve.

Off the north coast of Menorca, you can find a protected marine reserve that’s well regarded for its high level of biodiversity.

Part of the wider Menorca Biosphere Reserve, which recognises and guards this high level of biodiversity, the North Coast Marine Reserve makes for a fantastic snorkelling or diving destination.

Take a day trip out into the Balearic Sea , and join a boat tour into the marine reserve, where you can find an abundance of underwater life.

Sand beach with Caribbean sea in the north of Menorca island

You don’t necessarily need to pick between Menorca or Mallorca, because you can actually enjoy the best of both worlds.

Stay on peaceful and relaxed Menorca, but take a day trip over to Mallorca to experience the busy beaches and rowdy bars, or to take in the history and architecture of Palma, the island’s largest city.

Mallorca just just a one hour ferry ride away Mahon, and you can easily make a day trip across from Menorca in the morning, and return late afternoon.

View of Parc de la Mar and famous Cathedral of Santa Maria under blues sky in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

Recommended tours in Menorca

  • Private Tour with SUP and Snorkel along the coast of Menorca
  • Around the island of Menorca
  • Jeep Safari
  • Sail Boat Sunset Trip in Menorca
  • Hiking Trail Menorca Transfers Stage 6 Son Bou to Cala Porter/ Es Canutells
  • Jet Ski trip in the North of Menorca
  • Visit and explore Ciutadella
  • Guided Visit to Binnisues Natural Sciences Museum of Menorca with Live Entertainment and Food Tasting

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Ultimate Travel Guide to Menorca

Sam, a seasoned traveler across four continents and 49 countries, is a leading authority in travel planning. Her website, Travelling King, offers tailored itineraries and expert guides for seamless trips. Sam's expertise in luxury travel, fast travel, and destination guides keeps her at the forefront of the travel community.

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The Rough Guide to Mallorca & Menorca

Practical travel guide to Mallorca & Menorca featuring points-of-interest structured lists of all sights and off-the-beaten-track treasures, with detailed colour-coded maps, practical details about what to see and to do in Mallorca & Menorca. The Rough Guide to Mallorca & Menorca also includes details on how to get there and around, pre-departure information, as well as top time-saving tips, like a visual list of things not to miss in Mallorca & Menorca, expert author picks and itineraries to help you plan your trip.

The Rough Guide to  Mallorca & Menorca covers: Palma and around; Western Mallorca; Northern Mallorca; Southern Mallorca; Menorca.

Inside this travel guide you'll find:

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EVERY TYPE OF TRAVELLER

Experiences for every kind of trip to Mallorca & Menorca, from off-the-beaten-track adventures in the Serra de Tramuntana to family activities in child-friendly places, like Jardines d’Alfábia or chilled-out breaks in popular tourist areas, like The Palma Cathedral.

PRACTICAL TRAVEL TIPS

Essential pre-departure information including Mallorca & Menorca entry requirements, getting around, health information, travelling with children, sports and outdoor activities, food and drink, festivals, culture and etiquette, shopping, tips for travellers with disabilities and more.

TIME-SAVING ITINERARIES

Carefully planned routes covering the best of Mallorca & Menorca give a taste of the richness and diversity of the destination, and have been created for different time frames or types of trip.

DETAILED REGIONAL COVERAGE

Clear structure within each sightseeing chapter includes regional highlights, brief history, detailed sights and places ordered geographically, recommended restaurants, hotels, bars, clubs and major shops or entertainment options.

INSIGHTS INTO GETTING AROUND LIKE A LOCAL

Tips on how to beat the crowds, save time and money and find the best local spots for hiking, exploring sandy beaches, quiet villages or prehistoric remains.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THINGS NOT TO MISS

Rough Guides' rundown of Palma, Valldemossa, Soller and Ciutadella's best sights and top experiences helps to make the most of each trip to Mallorca & Menorca, even in a short time.

HONEST AND INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Written by Rough Guides' expert authors with a trademark blend of humour, honesty and expertise, to help to find the best places in Mallorca & Menorca, matching different needs.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Comprehensive 'Contexts' chapter features fascinating insights into Mallorca & Menorca, with coverage of history, religion, ethnic groups, environment, wildlife and books, plus a handy language section and glossary.

FABULOUS FULL COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY

Features inspirational colour photography, including the stunning Port d’Alcúdia and the spectacular Monestir de Lluc.

COLOUR-CODED MAPPING

Practical full-colour maps, with clearly numbered, colour-coded keys for quick orientation in Petra, Maó and many more locations in Mallorca & Menorca, reduce need to go online.

USER-FRIENDLY LAYOUT

With helpful icons, and organised by neighbourhood to help you pick the best spots to spend your time.

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Practical travel guides series covering countries, cities and regions, with detailed factual travel tips, perfect for independent, long-stay, backpacking and budget-conscious travellers seeking comprehensive travel information and off-the-beaten track experiences

Extensive practical travel information including getting there, getting around, climate information, safety tips, accommodation explanations, food & drink advice and shopping essentials 

Curated author picks with destination highlights at the beginning of each guide

Ready-made itineraries covering every corner of the destination

Colour-coded places chapters with detailed coverage of places and sights, presented in a points-of-interest structure 

Extensive recommendations for accommodation, restaurants, shops and leisure activities for all budgets

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Menorca travel guide

When to go, what to do, and why you’ll love it.

Cala Macarella and Macarelleta Ciutadella in Menorca

Y ou’ll feel yourself immediately easing into its slower, more mellow rhythm as you arrive on this resolutely laid-back Mediterranean island. As the most easterly of the Balearic archipelago, away from its more boisterous cousins, Menorca is infused with a blissful sense of remoteness. Little did General Franco know when he deliberately deprived Menorca of funds to develop its tourism industry that his snub would become its blessing. The result is an island whose abundant natural beauty has remained almost completely intact, avoiding the unsightly excesses of tourism seen elsewhere in the Med. And since it has been declared a protected Unesco Biosphere Reserve, Menorca will happily continue to do so.

While much of the island is rolling hills, forest valleys and spectacular coastline, it’s blessed with more than just unspoilt nature. Inland you’ll find sleepy whitewashed villages which explode into a riot of colour and noise on festival days. There’s the enchanting medieval labyrinth of Ciutadella, on its western tip, and the richly colonial capital Maó on the other — two cities that could hardly be more distinct. Hundreds of mysterious neolithic structures pepper the landscape, while thousands of kilometres of dry-stone wall criss-cross the verdant swathes of farmland. But the main reason most fall for this Balearic island? Menorca unquestionably has some of the loveliest white-sand beaches this side of the Caribbean.

This article contains links from which we may earn revenue. More information here .

During the sweltering peak season most visitors are happy to do little beyond the holiday ritual of alternating between sand and sea . The more adventurous might hire a boat — be it a self-propelled kayak or traditional Menorcan llaut — to explore the less accessible beaches. All the main resorts offer water sports too, from snorkelling in the calm south coast’s sheltered bays to kitesurfing on its more blustery north.

During the more temperate months either side of summer Menorca becomes a ramblers’ paradise. It offers hikers a practically endless combination of well-signposted trails meandering through gently undulating woodland and meadows awash with wildflowers. There’s also its famed Camí de Cavalls — an ancient horse trail that circumnavigates the island’s spectacular coastline. Hundreds of kilometres of paved and unpaved bike paths also draw the Lycra-clad to the island, with much of the slopes easy-going enough even for pedalling novices. More hardened two-wheelers can ascend El Toro, Menorca’s highest mountain, set almost dead centre. The panoramas are dizzying.

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Ancient history buffs will love exploring the Talaiotic ruins scattered around the island. Torralba d’en Salord is one of the most impressive, featuring huge megaliths and a near-perfectly preserved Bronze Age village. Those with an interest in more recent history should visit the capital’s various forts, testimony to Maó harbour’s strategic importance as a naval base over the centuries.

Where to stay

For a bijou resort with calm waters and powdery beach, all enclosed by white limestone cliffs, Cala Galdana is unrivalled. Plonked on the beachfront is the upscale Meliá Cala Galdana , whose glistening white bulk manages not to spoil the scene too much, and the views from its rooms are undeniably sublime. Another top seaside town is Cala en Porter, with its low-key holiday vibe and dramatic vistas over a cliff-flanked cove. If you’re looking for your own stretch of sand, Son Bou is the longest beach in Menorca. There are a few hotels and plenty of villa rentals within strolling distance. Be aware, nudity is not uncommon.

Best hotels in Menorca

The island’s (even) less densely populated, more rugged north coast also offers some rather special holiday resorts. The largest is Platja Arenal d’en Castell, where a vast horseshoe bay trimmed by golden sand is popular with families. Another top pick for holidaymakers with children in tow is Platges de Fornells, largely thanks to the water park attached to its Carema Club Resort .

Menorca has a growing number of places to stay inland, mostly old fincas reborn as upscale rural retreats. The luxury-level Torralbenc set the standard for “finca chic” on the island, although it faces increasing competition. While most choose to visit either Maó or Ciutadella on a day trip, they offer plenty of elegantly repurposed townhouse hotels that make excellent bases from which to explore the rest of the island. Whether its family-friendly resort hotels, rustic-luxe fincas or quaint urban bolt holes, there are places to stay on Menorca for every taste and budget.

Best family hotels in Menorca

Food and drink

Over recent years Menorca has been slowly carving out a reputation as a world-class destination for gourmands. While not flush with Michelin-star restaurants, it plays brilliantly to its strengths of cuisine conjured from home-grown and locally caught produce. The island’s signature dish is Caldereta de Langosta, a richly flavourful broth in which lobster plays the starring role. You won’t find it much better than from the seafood restaurants overlooking Ciutadella’s old port — although brace yourself for the price tag. The city’s old town is also dotted with lovely little tapas bars whose tables quickly fill with locals and spill out into narrow, cobbled lanes.

Another Menorca must-try is its Mahón cheese. While you can pick it up at any food market, you can’t beat pulling up and buying direct from cheese-producing farms — they’re usually well signposted. Its distinctive salty flavour comes from the seawater-rich winds that nourish the island’s pastures.

Various foreign occupations have also left a mark on the gastronomy, both in its exports (mayonnaise under French rule, for example) and its imports (gin under the British). There are certainly some decent vins de Menorca too, with lots of wineries offering tours and tastings. Few tipples are more Menorcan, however, than the pomada, a mix of local gin and cloudy lemonade — it’s refreshingly and dangerously moreish.

If you can tear yourself away from those beaches, there are some must-see spots unique to Menorca. One is Lithica, a former limestone quarry artfully repurposed into an enchanting mixture of wild gardens, labyrinths and soaring rock faces. Regular live shows take full advantage of the dramatic setting.

While Menorca is rightly not known for its nightlife, if you want to get your fix the Cova d’en Xoroi is the place to do it. This bar-cum-nightclub is carved out of the cliff and opens to vertiginous terraces with front-row seats to spectacular sunsets. DJs then fuel lively post-twilight parties in the grotto-disco.

Know before you go

The currency on Menorca is the euro. As in the whole of the Balearics, you have to pay a sustainable tourism tax; it adds €1 to €4 per person per night, depending on the type of accommodation. Under-16s are exempt and there are low-season discounts. There’s no train system on Menorca and the bus network is limited, so hiring a car is the most practical way to explore. If you want to include a visit to Mallorca during your trip, ferries also connect directly from Ciutadella and Maó.

Take me there

Inspired to visit Menorca but yet to book your trip? Here are the best Tui holidays and British Airways breaks to the Balearic Island, as well as the best Menorca tours from trusted operators. And if you’re still unsure of where you want to go or what type of holiday to book, get in touch with the Designer Travel experts here and one of the team will be in contact to help you arrange your perfect tailor-made break

Sign up for the Times Travel Newsletter here .

The Ultimate Menorca Travel Guide

Travel Guide to Menorca

Whatever your holiday interests, in this Menorca travel guide you will find everything you need to know for an enjoyable stay on the second largest of the Balearic Islands.

Having noted the tourist development of its busier neighbours of Mallorca and Ibiza, Menorca has taken a different route. All its economic development is based on minimum disturbance t o the island’s environment and nature.

In recognition of this work, in 1993, the island was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve to maintain and safeguard its heritage while developing its tourist economy. A plan it fiercely protects to this day.

Not only that, Menorca is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a true open-air archaeological museum with over 1,500 prehistoric Talayotic Culture sites.

My favourite of the Balearic Islands , Menorca sits basking in the west Mediterranean sunshine, and is an island that attracts all ages and holiday preferences.

Sparkling blue sea s, warm sunshine and child-friendly powder sand beaches draw young families and those looking for relaxing beach holidays. 

In contrast, its lush green interior, sleepy villages, bustling towns, nature reserves, archaeological sites and enticing cuisine, offer culture seekers plenty to see, do and enjoy on their days and evenings out.

Certainly, you can enjoy a late-night pint or a little karaoke in the summer months, but Menorca has deliberately steered away from attracting large groups of 18/30 party people. 

They prefer instead to cater for singles, couples, and young and older families who enjoy a more laid-back atmosphere . Visitors who arrive not just to enjoy the bars, but the beaches, coast, countryside and heritage of this beautiful island.

So, without further ado, welcome to my version of the ultimate Menorca travel guide.

Table of Contents

When is the best time to visit Menorca

When to go to Menorca

Winter – October through April:

  • Menorca is often classified as a ‘seasonal’ holiday island, with many bars, restaurants and attractions in the main resorts closing from mid October to April. Nonetheless, if your holiday preferences aren’t all about suntans and sea, a visit during this period will provide a whole new experience.
  • Accommodation is often cheaper, but the big plus, for me at least, is the relaxing tranquillity – far fewer tourists . I can stroll the towns and villages at my own pace, enjoy scenic walks (in a warm jacket) on the almost deserted beaches, and browse the shops, bars and restaurants at my leisure.
  • Average temperatures from December through February are a mild 50F to 60F (10C to 15C) with eight to ten hours of daylight.

Low season – May through June, and September – October:

  • With accommodation often cheaper than high season, May, June and September and mid October are popular visitor times with older families, senior citizens and short break visitors.
  • In May, many facilities are re-opening, and beaches are getting busy, with average temperatures around 25C.

High season – mid-July and August:

  • Busy, busy. But not as busy as Mallorca or Ibiza. The kids have broken up from school, and university students begin to party away their gap year.
  • Young groups and families enjoy this period, with daily temperatures around the mid to high thirty centigrade.

How much time do you need for your holiday in Menorca

How much time you need will depend very much on your holiday plans. On your first stay you may want to get an idea of what this enchanting island has to offer, with a view to future visits.

In this case, a seven-day break will allow you to combine beautiful beaches with exploring some of the countryside, archeological sites, villages and towns at a reasonably leisurely pace.

Consider hiring a car or using guided tours to make the most of your time.

How to get to Menorca

How to get to Menorca

Several airlines fly direct to Menorca’s Mahon Airpor t from various national and international airports. Mahon Airport is just 4.5km outside the city of Mahon and is the only airport in Menorca.

Ferries to the island are available from Valencia, Barcelona and Mallorca in Spain, and Toulon from France.

How to get to your hotel or resort from the Airport

If there’s one thing I like more than a relaxing, hassle-free flight, it’s a relaxing, hassle-free transfer from the airport to my hotel or resort complex.

Transfer options from Mahon Airport include metered airport taxis, shuttle buses to a limited number of resort complexes, resort shuttles, public buses , hire cars and a range of private hire vehicles.

Public buses

With line L10 Maó-Aeroport, you can reach the bus station in less than 10 minutes. The frequency changes in summer and winter, but, in general, there are 1-2 buses per hour. The ticket costs 2,75 euros.

Once at the bus station, you can take another bus to your destination. The lines and schedules of Menorca’s buses vary depending on the season. 

Check fares and schedules here: https://menorca.tib.org/es/autobus

Airport Taxi

If you’re staying in Mahon City, an airport taxi will do the journey in around 10 minutes, average cost less than €20. To other destinations such as Fornells €40, Cala Galdana €50 and Ciutadella €60.

Resort Shuttle or Private Hire

For transfers to beach resorts and destinations further out, consider pre-booking a resort shuttle or private hire vehicle to meet your requirements (number of people, baggage, etc). You can book online, and, if you choose private hire, an English-speaking driver will meet you at the arrivals exit.

If you intend to tour the island, pre-book your airport hire car online prior to your trip for the best deals, and to ensure you have a vehicle waiting at the airport.

Getting around on your holiday

How to move around Menorca

If you’re staying on one of Menorca’s beach resort complexes and want a day away from the sand and sea, your transport options are.

Metered taxi: You will only find registered taxis in Menorca; no private cabs or Uber operate on the island. Cabs are white, signed and metered and can be flagged down or found on taxi ranks around your resort.

You can also book a taxi by phone or online:   https://www.taxismenorca.com

Public Transport: Buses from the towns and resort areas are a good, cheap and reliable way to get around. Enquire at your resort information office which route number you need to get to where you want to be.

More info: https://menorca.tib.org/es/autobus

Car Rental: All resort complexes and hotels have car hire facilities where they can organise a rental for a day (or longer). Or you can book one online, which may well be cheaper. In the high season try to book it well in advance.

Costs range from around €13/day for economy, €16/day for intermediate and €50+/day for a premium model in low season. In high season prices skyrocket.

For the younger generation or old bikers, motorbikes and scooters are also available for hire if you still enjoy the feeling of wind in your hair.

Where to stay

Cala Galdana

A Menorca travel guide wouldn’t be a travel guide without highlighting places to stay. In this section, I’ve selected different areas where you may prefer to book an apartment, aparthotel, hotel or villa.

Beach resorts:

  • If the sand and sea are your ideal holiday preferences, then you’re spoilt for choice in Menorca. With some of the best beach resorts of the four islands, you can choose from: Cala ‘n Bosch – Cala ‘n Porter – Cala Galdana – Punta Prima – Arenal den Castell – Son Bou – Santo Tomas – Son Park and Cala en Blanes.
  • A few of the most popular: Son Bou has one of the longest beaches on the island. Cala Galdana sits in a picturesque horseshoe bay. 
  • And if you want the best of both worlds (city and beach), Cala den Bosch is close to the city of Ciutadella and Cala en Porter is close to Mahon.

Country and Rural Retreats:

  • Why not enjoy a romantic spring break in the Menorcan countryside? Hotel pool, first-class restaurant, blissfully quiet with country or coastal walks and plenty of hiking and biking trails. If this is you, check out Menorca Rural Hotels to get a real taste of local culture.

Towns and cities:

  • Be close to all the amenities in Mahon or Ciutadella : shops, businesses, markets, attractions, bars and restaurants. Choose from boutique hotels – Airbnb – guest houses – hostels – economy hotels – adult-only hotels – 5-star luxury hotels or sumptuous villas.

Read my guide about accommodation and best areas in Menorca: Where to stay in Menorca

Best beaches in Menorca

There are over 100 beaches spread around Menorca . 

Many are large white or gold sand resort beaches with all facilities. Others have retained much of their natural ruggedness with the barest of essentials, while others are known as virgin beaches. Still as nature intended, and only reachable by boat or a tough walk through the countryside.

The north is more rugged and sparse , with darker cliffs and beaches that tend to have coarser, golden sand rather than the white powder sand of the south . Both coasts have beautiful beaches to enjoy.

Son Bou, Menorca

Along the South Coast:

  • Son Bou – Cala Galdana – Santo Tomás – Cala en Porter – Binibeca – Punta Prima – Cala Macarella – Cala Mitjana – Cala Blanca – Cala Turqueta – Cala Escorxada – Cala Fustam – Cala Trebaluger.

My favourites: Binibeca, white sand beach, clear turquoise waters with a nearby snack bar and restaurant, Cala en Porter , stunning white sand beach with restaurant and a couple of bars encircled by cliffs and pine forest, and Cala Turqueta , on the south-west coast. Close to Ciutadella and easy to reach by car, taxi or bus. Beautiful white sand and clear blue waters.

Cala Pregonda

Along the North Coast:

  • Cala Pregonda – Cala Tortuga – Cala Viola – Cala Mica – Cala Pilar – Arenal d´en Castell – Son Parc – Cavalleria – La Vall

My favourite: Cala Pregonda . Golden sand, azure blue waters and fabulous views. Untouched (almost) by human hand, so be sure to take snacks and drinks.

Read also: Best beaches in Menorca

What to see and do in Menorca

To give you an idea of what life in magical Menorca is like away from the beaches, I have tried to include things to see and do in the towns, villages, and nature parks.

I have included viewpoints for the photographers, and pointed you in the direction of o ld fortresses, lighthouses and prehistoric monuments.

For the foodies , I have mentioned some of my favourite bars, restaurants and local dishes you can enjoy that make up the famous Mediterranean diet.

Pay a visit to Menorca’s capital Mahon

Mahon, Menorca

Who doesn’t like exploring ancient cities in the warm Mediterranean sunshine? Mahon was founded as far back as 200 BC and became the island’s capital in the early 1700s.

Besides its narrow streets, squares, and historical buildings, it has the longest natural harbour in Europe at over five kilometres. 

Along its wide harbour promenade , you will find chandlery stores, businesses, shops and bars, with several of Mahon’s most popular eateries and seafood restaurants open till late evening. You can also enjoy a number of boat trips around the harbour and further afield.

Other places to explore around Mahon include the Trepuco , a prehistoric Talayotic settlement on the city outskirts, La Mola Fortress guarding the harbour, the Museum of Menorca and for the walkers, the Cami de Cavalls, a 116-mile (186km) hiking trail offering stunning views of the island’s coastline.

Read also: Best things to do in Mahon

Menorca’s most beautiful city – Ciutadella

Ciutadella was Menorca’s major port city and capital until the British gave that honour to Mahon in 1722.

Like Mahon, it is a tight, compact city, ideal for leisurely exploring on foot. And like Mahon, it has a picturesque harbour where you can browse the shops and businesses, before picking a table at one of the numerous bars and restaurants, or booking a harbour boat trip.

Other places to enjoy in Ciutadella include Plaza des Born , the city’s main square with its many historical buildings close by, including the Theatre des Born, t he Salort Palace, the Torre Saura Palace and the San Francisco Church.

The Cathedral of Menorca , the Convent of Saint Augustine, the Olive Grove House and the Local Fish Market are all easily reached.

Read also: Best things to do in Ciutadella

Head for Menorca’s favourite fishing villages

Binibeca Vell

While cities have their own historical elegance, there’s a certain something about traditional fishing villages that seems to take you back in time, and Menorca has a number. You just have to find them.

Binibeca Vell:

  • Sitting on the northeast coast, around one kilometre from the beach of the same name, Binibeca Vell is a popular visitor attraction with its traditional fishing boats, small harbour and whitewashed cottages. It also has a few letting apartments for those longer stays.

Fornells Village:

  • Another pretty north-coast village. Pleasant harbour, whitewashed apartments and an island-wide reputation for its seafood restaurants and famous lobster stew.

Es Grau Village:

  • Is situated at the northern end of the east coast with the S’Albufera des Grau nature reserve to the rear. Semi-secluded and unspoilt , it has three bars and a waterfront restaurant.

Visit the Tombs and Prehistoric Monuments of Menorca’s Talayotic Period

Torre d´en Galmes

With over 1500 Talayotic sites dotted across Menorca, professional and amateur archaeologists from across the globe arrive to study these prehistoric sites and artefacts – and you can too.

Most sites comprise Taules, the T shape made by balancing one large stone block across the top of another and are thought to have some spiritual significance, Talayots , defensive towers and look-out points, and Navetas , known to have been communal burial tombs.

Some of the best examples can be found at:

  • The Trepuco Settlement – Two kilometres outside Mahon
  • Biniai Nou, Megalithic Burial Site – five kilometres outside Mahon
  • Taula of Torralba d’en Salord – Talayotic village located between Mahón and Alaior
  • The Settlement of Talatí de Dalt –  close to Mahon
  • The Necropolis of Calescoves – Calascoves Beach
  • The Naveta des Tudons – close to Ciutadella
  • The Taula de Torretrencada – also close to Ciutadella
  • The Torre d’en Galmés – the best-known and largest Talayotic settlement

There are numerous ways to visit the sites, including organised tours, public transport, taxis, or hiring a car.

For the twitchers and nature lovers

Albufera d´es Grau

The Island of Menorca’s biosphere comprises a nature park, five nature reserves, a marine reserve and nineteen nature areas of special interest. With the jewel in the crown being the Albufera des Grau Natural Park.

The Albufera des Grau Natural Park: Covering over 5,000 hectares in the island’s northeast, it contains several fincas run by Menorcan artisans producing traditional products, wetlands, numerous hides for bird watching, forest and a two-kilometre-long lagoon.

Guided tours are available to see megalithic buildings , Roman artefacts, forests, fields and cliffs. And of course the wildlife and birds.

Ornithologists flock here year-round to spot resident and migrating species that arrive to feed and breed in the park, such as cormorants, fish eagles, herons, common coot, whistling duck, royal duck, vultures, peregrine falcons, kite and numerous wading species.

For the Photographers – Some of the Island’s Best Viewpoints

Macarella View Point

Whether standing on the peak of a mountain, clifftop, high hill, minaret or a rooftop terrace, the surrounding views are often breathtaking. Menorca has incredible viewpoints , and I’ve picked out four to give you a taste of what to expect.

Mount Toro:

  • Sitting in the middle of the island and with the 1670 convent and sanctuary dedicated to Nuestra Señora de Monte Toro on its summit, it is one of Menorca’s most important spiritualist structures.
  • It is also the highest point on the island, at 365m above sea level . From the car park, it is a ten-minute hike to the top and provides stunning 360° views of the island.

Cavalleria Lighthouse:

  • Located atop cliffs on the north coast, Menorca’s oldest lighthouse was built in 1857. At over 100m above sea level , it provides striking photo opportunities of the island’s rugged north coast. From the car park it is an easy ten-minute walk to the clifftop.

Macarelleta Viewpoint:

  • Sitting in the district of Ferreries on the south coast, the viewpoint is reached with a therty-minute walk from Cala Galdana. It is a clifftop viewpoint, and the views looking down into the bays are exceptional.

Cala Morell Viewpoint:

  • Located on the west coast close to Ciutadella. This viewpoint is not so much about height but more about sunsets , and is a lovely setting to enjoy a cocktail or cold beer as you get that perfect sunset shot. Access is easy from the car park.

Water sports for the whole family

Kayaking in Menorca

Although the island focuses very much on its marine environment, you can still find plenty of places to enjoy a wide range of water sports , from paddle boarding to kayaking, jet-skiing, scuba diving, and sailing.

Most of the popular resort beaches offer water sports,have pedalos and boards for hire, and a number hire out scuba gear. One of the most popular places to practice water sports is Fornells.

Here, you can practice an extensive range of water sports for adults and kids, including paddle boarding, kayaking, dingy sailing, and windsurfing .

Hike the Cami de Cavalls

Menorca Travel Guide: Cami de Cavalls

The Camí de Cavalls in Menorca is a scenic coastal path stretching 185 kilometers, encircling the entire island. This ancient trail offers a captivating blend of history, nature, and adventure. Originally established for defense purposes by the British in the 18th century, it’s now a beloved hiking route.

Make the kids’ day – with a visit to one of Menorca’s Water Parks

Sometimes, a change is as good as a rest. Menorca has three main water parks, and all are open from May to October.

Aquarock Waterpark Menorca: Located in Cala en Bosch, Ciutadella. Aquarock has a wave pool, slides and flumes to suit all ages, jacuzzi, sunbathing areas, restaurants, snack shacks and much more. Open 10.30 to 18.00. from May 7th to 29th September. Aqua Centre Park Acuatico Menorca: Located at Cala en Blanes , offering numerous slides, kamikaze, black hole, water shuttles, water castle, jacuzzi, bar, snack bar, eatery, sunbathing areas and gardens. Open 10.00 to 18.00 from May 1st to October 15th. Splash Sur Menorca Waterpark: Located i n Urb. Biniancolla, Sant Lluis. Splash Sur Waterpark has an excellent range of slides suitable for the young to adults, a lazy river and a unique water play area for the very young.

Facilities include sunbathing areas with free sun loungers and parasols, toilets, lockers, shops, medical teams, lifeguards, restaurants and buffet. Open 10.00 to 18.00 from May 1st to October 14th.

Take the pressure off, and consider using Organised Tours

Tours in Menorca

Many people prefer to have their days pre-planned, and choosing to book organised tours you can do just that. As you would expect staying on a small island, a lot of Menorca’s organised tours involve boat trips.

But you can also book tours of the towns, villages and cities, book tours to different beaches, and tours to explore the island’s prehistoric Talayotic sites.

To give you an idea of what’s available, I’ve highlighted a few of the most popular trips available.

  • Mahón: Gin Distillery Tour with Tasting & Appetizers
  • Mahón: Explore Mahon harbour on a glass-bottom boat . Duration one hour.
  • From Ciutadella: Natural Coves and Beaches Boat Trip & Paella Lunch . Explore the southern coast of Menorca and enjoy a Mediterranean paella for lunch with sangria.
  • Menorca: Island Discovery Jeep Tour . Enjoy some of the most scenic landscapes of the island. Duration three hours
  • From Fornells. A half-day trip sailing a catamaran through part of the north marine reserve. Maximum ten people. Duration three hours.
  • From Fornells. Sail the north coast , anchor on virgin beaches and enjoy a swim in clear blue waters. Duration three hours.
  • Full day island tour . Visit Ciutadella, Fornells, Monte Toro and Torralba. Hotel pick-up and return. Duration seven hours.
  • Menorca: Kayak and Marine Reserve Snorkeling Adventure .
  • Ciutadella: Wine tasting and guided winery tour . Duration one hour.
  • From Cala Galdana: Hidden Gems of South Coast Cruise . Sail through Cala Macarella and Macarelleta, Turqueta, Mitjana, Mitjaneta, Trebalúger and more. Swim into the blue waters.

This is just a small selection of available trips, and many come with hotel/resort pick-up and drop-off, and English-speaking guides.

Enjoy your downtime in bars with a view and fine-dining restaurants

Wherever you stay in Menorca’s towns, villages or beach resorts, you’re never that far from a bar or restaurant that will become your favourite.

Whether it’s a drink with a view or a little fine dining, here is the Menorca travel guide’s take on a few well worth a visit.

Bar Peri: Located in Migjorn Gran : Varied menu including tapas, fish, calamari, lasagne, crepes, pancakes and sandwiches. They do a good Sangria and the usual beers and spirits. Open 7.00am to 11.00pm

Sunset Beach Bar: Situated in Playa de Son Bou on the south coast. Primarily a bar with a view of Menorca’s longest beach selling all the usual drinks, including cocktails and Sangria. Open 9.30am to 11.45pm.

Cova d´en Xoroi

Cova d’en Xoroi bar and disco: Located at Cala en Porter, it is a unique bar carved out of the rocks. Daytime entrance costs €12.90, and €15 sunset time. In the evening, disco entrance is €30.

Sa Falua Cocktail Bar, Mahon harbour: A great little bar for those after-dinner drinks. There is an indoor terrace and a small outdoor terrace so be quick, and grab a waterside table to watch the harbour light up as the sun goes down.

Es Cranc, Fornells village: A famous, highly popular seafood restaurant alongside the beach specialising in lobster dishes, including the famous caldereta de langosta menorquina (lobster stew).

Café Balear Restaurant, Ciudadela harbour: Café Balear is a popular, well-known seafood restaurant where you can dine al-fresco beside the water. Specialities include tapas starters, lobster with onion, fried crayfish, monkfish, swordfish carpaccio and lobster stew.

Smoix Restaurant, Ciutadella: Smoix is a pleasant, boutique hotel restaurant open to non-residents and highly thought of by local and visiting gastronomes. Only local, seasonal produce is used, with legumes added when products are scarce.

El Rais restaurant, Mahon harbour: Mentioned in the 2023 Michelin Guide, El Rais is a restaurant with a difference, specialising in fusion dishes of rice, seafood and meats. You can enjoy starters, sharing plates, raw seafood or beef dishes, rice dishes, mains, and desserts.

Nightlife in Menorca

Although Menorca is certainly quieter than its louder sisters across the water, it still has enough lively bars and clubs where you can party until the late early hours.

Most of the late bars and clubs can be found around the harbour areas of Mahon and Ciutadella, with a few scattered around the resort areas of Cala en Porter ( the most famous club in Menorca, Cova d´en Xoroi , is located here) and Son Bou.

In the most popular bars and club venues you can expect everything from House and Garage, to the 70s, 80s and 90s classics for the young at heart, to Salsa and Latin beats. One word of warning, these venues don’t start getting busy until eleven or midnight.

Menorca travel guide daily itineraries

If daily organised trips make too big a hole in the holiday finances, you may prefer to hire a car and do things in your own time . The daily hire rate should reduce the longer you hire the vehicle.

Maps of the island will be available from tourist offices, hotels and apartment reception. My advice is, don’t try to cram too much into each day . Keeping the itinerary loose gives you greater flexibility should you decide to spend not one hour at a stop, but two.

Secondly, jot down your travel plans on a daily basis. That way, if rain or inclement weather is forecast for the following day, it’s easy to change your plans. Who wants to be trudging round an archaeological site in a downpour when they could be enjoying a coffee in a village café.

The following are just a couple of examples of daily itineraries, assuming I based myself in Cala Galdana, a popular resort area on the south coast.

Travel Guide to Menorca: Naveta d´es Tudons

Daily Itinerary 1

  • Head for the beautiful beaches of Macarella and Macarelleta and get your feet wet in the shallows
  • Drive to Ferreries town. (Inland, the highest town in Menorca)
  • Pay a visit to the Naveta de Tudons, 3 miles out from Ciutadella
  • Head for Cala Morell beach and its red cliffs
  • Make your way to Ciutadella for a leisurely stroll around the old town
  • Enjoy sunset at Pont d’en Gil
  • Head back to Cala Galdana. Park up the car and jot down tomorrow’s route over a couple of beers.

La Mola Fortress

Daily Itinerary 2

  • Take a drive up to Binibeca Vell, a pretty village by the sea.
  • Visit Mahon.
  • Explore Mahon’s harbour, enjoy an hour’s boat trip around the harbour, and enjoy a meal at a top seafood restaurant.
  • Pay a visit to La Mola Fortress
  • Visit the Poblat Talaiotic de Trepucó, one of the island’s most significant prehistoric settlements.
  • Enjoy the sunset in Cova d´en Xoroi
  • Return to Cala Galdana, and end the evening with a beer in your favourite bar.

Lighthouse Favaritx

Daily Itinerary 3

  • Head up to Monte Toro, the highest mountain on the island and enjoy the view.
  • Drive to Torre d´en Galmés, the most famous and best-preserved prehistoric settlement
  • Head north to see the Faro de Favaritx
  • Enjoy a caldereta de langosta (lobster stew) in Fornells
  • Spend the rest of the day in Cala Pregonda

Getting a hire car with GPS will make the touring much easier, and your supplier should be able to set the language to give instructions in English.

What to buy in Menorca

Finally, wherever you choose to holiday, plenty of souvenir shops will offer pens, lighters and fridge magnets, with the usual ‘product of’ or ‘love from’ logo printed on the product. Or, in the case of Spain and her islands, castanets, little black bulls and fans.

But what about those gifts for the special people in your life. Family, or friend who looks after the pets or keeps an eye on your house while you’re away?

You will find an extensive range of genuine Menorcan products in markets, towns and cities that make unique gifts. Leather goods , bags, shoulder bags and accessories. Pottery, ceramics, Avarques or Abarca sandals , and designer and costume jewellery.

You can browse all these products and more at Menorca’s main craft centre, the Centre Artesanal de Menorca, in Es Mercadal, which has a permanent display and holds temporary exhibitions of new products. The centre also has a small retail shop.

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Transfer Choices - Airport Buses, Taxi or Shuttle?

There are no direct Airport buses to any beach resorts

Daytime Taxis are plentiful outside arrivals - best value for 4 or less to Holiday Resorts within 25km. Airport Taxis do not provide child seats - required by LAW

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Menorca Travel Guide

Welcome to Menorca!

This guide will introduce you to the beautiful Balearic Island of Menorca, including the resorts and accommodation, places to visit and of course, a look at it's stunning coastline.

Your Guide to Menorca

menorca travel guide book

Discover why this jewel of an island in the Mediterranean is much quieter than it’s Balearic neighbours and makes for a perfect holiday destination for families and couples alike. Whether you’re looking for a popular Menorcan resort or something a little quieter and off the radar, our guides to the resorts of Menorca and the accommodation on offer will help you plan your holiday.

There are many resorts in Menorca, all offering something a little bit different for the traveller. Whether you prefer to be catered for throughout your stay or prefer to go it alone, self catering – our guide will help you choose where to book.

We’ll be taking a look at some of Menorca’s beaches in more detail, historic towns and visitor attractions plus we'll be providing information on not only getting to Menorca, but how to get around once you are there.

We hope you enjoy our guide.

Resorts in Menorca

Cala Galdana resort

Cala Galdana

Cala Galdana, ‘the queen of the Calas’, is a popular resort on the southern,central coast of Menorca. Set within the Algendar Gorge, it’s gorgeous horseshoe beach is backed by high, limestone cliffs...

menorca travel guide book

Son Parc is a small resort on the northern coast of Menorca. Famed for being home to the only 18 hole golf course on the island, it’s also got a great beach that’s family friendly and with a limited...

Son Bou resort

Son Bou’s biggest draw is it fabulous beach. Over 3 miles of soft, golden sand that shelves gently into the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean. Holding the award for Menorca’s largest...

Cala en Porter

Cala’n Porter

Cala’n Porter is one of the largest resorts in Menorca and located on the south coast of the island and is just a 15 minute drive from the airport. It is situated on the eastern side of a beautiful...

Places to Stay in Menorca

Cala’n Bosch

Cala’n Bosch (Cala en Bosch) is a large resort on the far south western point of Menorca and built around an attractive marina. Lined with a plethora of restaurants, it a great place to dine out in...

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Cala Blanca

Cala Blanca Cala Blanca is a small resort on the western coast of Menorca. Built in 1990, it is just 3 miles from Ciutadella and is home to some of the best sunsets in Menorca. Catch the evening...

restaurants in cala en bosch

Best Places to Stay in Menorca

Best Resorts for Families Menorca is quite simply a family friendly location, wherever you stay. That’s what makes the island a favourite for many. But, since you’re curious, let’s take a little look...

Punta Prima Beach

Punta Prima

Punta Prima is a medium sized, but still essentially a quiet resort on the far south eastern coast of Menorca. Located in the municpality of Sant Lluis, it’s just a short hop from the capital Mahon...

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  • 100 Beaches ...and more!
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Cala Taialer - Minorque

Menorca Travel Guide: things to see and do on this Balearic island

  • ARTICLES : 4

Welcome to our page dedicated to the beautiful little island of Menorca in the Balearic Islands. We spent 5 weeks on this beautiful island and we share with you here all our advice to visit the island and enjoy the most beautiful beaches.

This page summarizes all the practical information you need to prepare your trip. At the end of the page you will also find all our blog articles, which are more visits-oriented. Feel free to share our information with others, and if you are leaving soon for Menorca , all we have to do is wish you a wonderful holiday!

Menorca Map: all our posts on a map

Menorca: the small pearl of the balearics, menorca climate - the best season to go there, rent a car in menorca - all the information you need to know.

  • Where to stay in Menorca - our advice

Coming to Menorca - cheap flights

Travel budget to menorca, useful resources to prepare your trip to menorca.

  • All our blog posts about Menorca

At the end of the page you will find all our articles written about Menorca in "chronological" order. If you prefer to see all our items on a map then you can open the map below and select the item of your choice according to your destination.

Show the Map

Before I talk to you about the practical aspects, I would like to give you a short presentation of Menorca and especially the reasons why we decided to move there for 5 weeks.

Cala Macarella - Minorque

Menorca (also called Minorca) is a small island in the Balearic Islands that is barely 700 km2. Much less known and popular than its neighbours Mallorca and Ibiza, this island has, over the years, become a favourite destination for lovers of nature and beautiful landscapes. Tourism has grown rapidly in the Balearic Islands since the 1960s, but from the beginning Menorca has always been very careful to preserve its landscapes by not allowing the construction of major roads along the coast.

Then I wouldn't hide from you that for us the choice of Minorca was made a bit "by accident".... At the beginning we wanted to go to Tenerife (edit: we will finally have gone there at the end of 2018 - see our articles ). The problem is that at the time of our research the flights were very expensive. In short, it was while browsing on Skyscanner that we found a good offer for a flight.

Menorca we didn't know much about it. We knew where it was, we knew that Mallorca and Ibiza were too touristic for our taste but nothing more... A couple of Google Image searches later, we we were already booking our flights!

côte nord minorque

There are 4 blog articles about Menorca:

  • An article on the most beautiful beaches in Menorca and hikes along the coast
  • Our favorite hikes on the north coast of the island and our sunset spots
  • An article 100% dedicated to our roadtrip in Menorca with our itineraries and tips
  • A detailed budget article and an assessment of our adventure in the Balearics.

Minorca has so to say 3 main seasons:

  • The low season which extends from November to March : prices are the lowest at this time of the year but on the other hand it should be known that the island is running a little slowly. Less public transport, fewer restaurants/bars open (there are still some) and a cooler climate (12°C to 15°C during the day). In short, it is a very beautiful season for hiking but not so much for swimming.
  • The high season which goes from June to August : the summer holiday period! Not surprisingly, it is the period with the most activities and atmosphere on the island. The sun is almost always shining, the beaches are stormed (even if it is still reasonable compared to the neighbouring islands) and of course this is the period when prices take the elevator for accommodation or car rentals.
  • Between seasons: from April to June and from early September to late October . In our opinion these are the best seasons! The temperatures are mild (20° to 25°), the prices are reasonable and above all there are not too many people. If you come for a swim, aim for September or October because in spring the water is still a little cool!

coucher de soleil minorque

Car rental is probably the easiest and most comfortable way to visit Menorca. And the good news in this regard is that the price of rentals is quite reasonable.

To rent a car we advise you to test Rentalcars.com.

Rentalcars is not a rental agency strictly speaking but a comparator! This means that you have a good chance of finding the best prices online (that's how we found our car) Tip: Always try to vary the departure/return times a little. If an agency closes its doors at say 8pm and you want to return at 8.30pm then the latter does not even appear.... However, by talking to the agency it is often possible to make arrangements!

location de voiture minorque

In Menorca itself, and especially in tourist areas, you will also find many agencies directly on the streets and you can easily rent a car on the spot. In our case, we never did so because the prices found online were systematically lower than those observed on spot. When we rent a car we generally prefer to ignore additional insurance (which is often more expensive than the rental itself) and prefer to pay a deposit. We knock on wood, but for the moment we have never had a problem during a rental.

See on Rentalcars

menorca vanlife

Where to stay in Menorca

Find all our recommandations on hotels in Menorca in our detailed budget blog post . But if you want to save yourself a bit of reading, we suggest you take a look at the hotels in Menorca at Booking (with a small preference for the city of Ciutadella) or just have a look at the map below.

See hotels in Menorca on Booking

Alternatively, you can also take a look at the map below to find your perfect accomodation based on location. Add your dates and use the filters such as price to narrow down your search results.

avion lever de soleil

Regarding flights you have several options. In high season many companies offer direct flights from many cities in France or from Geneva. During the off-season the cheapest option is often to fly with a stopover in Barcelona. To find a cheap flight to Menorca the easiest way is still to compare fares on Skyscanner .

Enter your favorite departure airport and compare!

  • As there are no direct flights or low-cost connections every day it is worth comparing prices over 2-3 days... sometimes adding a holiday can save you some money ;)
  • The offers vary a lot depending on your departure airport and the companies that serve it... so always remember to compare prices with those of local airports. For example, there are often significant differences between Lyon and Geneva (one way or the other) and between the two cities there is just over 2 hours by train and tickets are available from 16€...

Find a flight on Skyscanner

Each budget is of course different, but here is what we spent during our 5 weeks in Menorca 2017. The budgets below are per day and for 2 people, so if you prefer this corresponds to a global budget of 22€ per day and per person.

  • The budget is for 2 people who have "lived" in Menorca for 5 weeks, out of the main season. (we were there between October and November). The figures are averages over our entire stay.
  • This does not include flights. For your information we found a round trip for 130€ on skyscanner from Geneva (with a stopover in Barcelona)
  • The season will have a big impact on your budget! The more you travel in high season, the more expensive flights, accommodations and car rentals will be.
  • Note: we did not rent a car for the entire stay. We rented on the moment to make excursions over 2-3 days.

For more details on our budget, please refer to our special budget article.

See the article

phare de punta nati minorque

  • A Menorca Travel Guide
  • Hiking guide of the Cami de Cavalls (the stunning trail that goes all around the island)
  • Skyscanner to find a cheap flight to Menorca
  • The offical Menorca Website (tourism board)
  • The official Cami de Cavals website

Note: This page contains affiliate links to partner sites. By using our links to make a reservation you don't pay anything more but on the other hand we get a small commission that helps us to make this site live and keep it advertising free.

Menorca: all our blog posts

phare de punta nati minorque

Menorca: Our travel budget and impressions of our stay in the Balearic Islands

We spent a little over 5 weeks on the island of Menorca in the Balearic Islands. Here is our assessment, all the practical information and our budget

couleur mer bleu

Road trip in Menorca: rent a car and go explore the island!

Ideas for itineraries to do a small roadtrip in Menorca. Renting a car is the best way to visit Menorca. More information in the article

coucher de soleil minorque

Menorca: our complete guide to discover the northern Coast and the best sunset spots

Hiking idea on the beautiful island of Menorca in the Balearic Islands: walk from Val Algaierens to Cala Morell on the cavalry truck

Best Beaches in Menorca and stunning hikes in the south

Hiking idea on the beautiful island of Menorca in the Balearic Islands. A hike to discover the most beautiful beaches of the island.

Menorca Guide

menorca travel guide book

Excursions, tours and activities for your holidays in Menorca

This website offers you a wide variety of places to visit and things to do during your holidays in Menorca. Diving, kayak excursions, massages and relax, hotels, car rental, beaches, prehistoric places, guided excursions, boat trips, visits to traditional cheese factories, artisans, shoe factories and much more. All the information you need about Menorca to make your holidays on the island unforgettable.

We are official tour guides in Menorca, and we will be delighted to show you its most spectacular corners and explain you its oldest secrets. On this page you find a selection of tours and activities of all kinds to experience Menorca in very different ways, either with us or with companies that we know and recommend. You can choose one of the available tours or book a private excursion by writing us a message through our form.

menorca travel guide book

Articles that may interest you

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  1. Menorca Travel Guide: Your Ultimate Companion for Unforgettable

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  2. An Insider’s Guide to Menorca

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  3. Mallorca, Menorca & Ibiza : Grzegorz Micula (author) : 9781405393287

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  4. Menorca / Minorca, Balearic Islands, Spain

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  5. Download The Rough Guide to Mallorca & Menorca (Travel Guide eBook

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    1-16 of over 1,000 results for "menorca guide book" Results. Menorca Marco Polo Pocket Travel Guide - with pull out map (Marco Polo Pocket Guides) ... Menorca Travel Guide 2023: Your Ultimate Travel Companion for an Unforgettable Journey through the Idyllic Balearic Island - Includes a Comprehensive 7-Day Itinerary and Insider Tips ...

  8. Berlitz Pocket Guide Menorca (Berlitz Pocket Guides)

    Paperback - 1 April 2015. Berlitz Pocket Guide Menorca is a concise, full-colour travel guide that combines lively text with vivid photography to highlight the very best that this sun-kissed island has to offer. The Where To Go chapter details all the key sights: from picturesque towns like Ciutadella, Fornells and Binibibeca Vells, to ...

  9. Ultimate Travel Guide to Menorca

    The best time to visit Menorca. Menorca is a very seasonal travel destination, however, given the warm Mediterranean climate, it can be a pleasant place to visit all through the year, even out of the summer high season. The island is most popular between May and September, and the busiest periods are generally July and August when many ...

  10. The Rough Guide to Mallorca & Menorca

    Paperback. Ebook. Practical travel guide to Mallorca & Menorca featuring points-of-interest structured lists of all sights and off-the-beaten-track treasures, with detailed colour-coded maps, practical details about what to see and to do in Mallorca & Menorca. The Rough Guide to Mallorca & Menorca also includes details on how to get there and ...

  11. Menorca travel guide

    Know before you go. The currency on Menorca is the euro. As in the whole of the Balearics, you have to pay a sustainable tourism tax; it adds €1 to €4 per person per night, depending on the ...

  12. Menorca

    2024 Our Recommended Guide Books and Maps - Menorca. Maps to take, Plans to make and other background reading about Menorca. We've picked out those paper and Kindle format guides that we think have something more to offer. Whether in great photographs, interesting maps or insights. Kindle and Paper formats.

  13. The Ultimate Menorca Travel Guide

    A Menorca travel guide wouldn't be a travel guide without highlighting places to stay. In this section, I've selected different areas where you may prefer to book an apartment, aparthotel, hotel or villa. Beach resorts: If the sand and sea are your ideal holiday preferences, then you're spoilt for choice in Menorca. With some of the best ...

  14. Menorca Marco Polo Pocket Travel Guide

    The special tips, personal insights and unusual experiences will help you make the most of your trip - just arrive and enjoy. Publisher: Heartwood Publishing. ISBN: 9781914515125. Number of pages: 136. Dimensions: 190 x 110 mm. Buy Menorca Marco Polo Pocket Travel Guide - with pull out map by Marco Polo from Waterstones today!

  15. Menorca Travel Guide

    Best 2024 Travel Guide Menorca - Know before you go. Resort Bars / Restaurants and all Holiday attractions. Planning help from Experts with 30+ years Island 'know how' ... Plan, Book and Experiences - Holiday Guide ALL things Menorca . Menorca Holidays. Know before you go - find your perfect resort, holiday must see and dos. Beaches , Coves .

  16. Menorca Travel Guide

    Punta Prima. Punta Prima is a medium sized, but still essentially a quiet resort on the far south eastern coast of Menorca. Located in the municpality of Sant Lluis, it's just a short hop from the capital Mahon... The Menorca Travel Guide is your guide to knowing 'where to stay' on this beautiful Balearic Island in The Mediterranean.

  17. 23 Things To Know Before You Visit Menorca

    There's Only One Airport. Menorca Airport, also known as Mahon Airport (MAH), is the sole airport on the whole island. It's situated on the southeast of the island, just under 3 miles (4.5 km) from Mahón - the capital city of Menorca.. This makes finding flights and planning your arrival very straightforward, with all the budget European and British airlines serving it.

  18. Menorca Travel Guide: The best things to do and our best travel tips

    An article on the most beautiful beaches in Menorca and hikes along the coast. Our favorite hikes on the north coast of the island and our sunset spots. An article 100% dedicated to our roadtrip in Menorca with our itineraries and tips. A detailed budget article and an assessment of our adventure in the Balearics.

  19. Menorca Travel Guide

    Excursions, tours and activities for your holidays in Menorca. This website offers you a wide variety of places to visit and things to do during your holidays in Menorca. Diving, kayak excursions, massages and relax, hotels, car rental, beaches, prehistoric places, guided excursions, boat trips, visits to traditional cheese factories, artisans ...