This list of the best things to do in Menorca, Spain, will help you fill up your Menorca bucket list and make sure you don’t miss any of the beautiful places on the island.
Menorca, Spain, is a beach lover’s dream come true. With white-sand beaches and rocky coves framing the sparkling blue waters, you’ll find yourself falling in love with the beautiful scenery.
While Menorca doesn’t have the party scene of some of the other Balearic Islands like Ibiza and Mallorca, you’ll still find there is plenty to keep you busy. In fact, we loved the small island so much that we extended our week long stay to become a two week stay.
From charming restaurants serving local fare to white-walled towns with terracotta roofs and bright pink bougainvillaea, Menorca doesn’t just serve up some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. We wanted to find a quieter island where we could relax in the clear turquoise waters and dine on local Spanish foods, and the beautiful island of Menorca was exactly what we needed.
After two weeks in Menorca, here is our list of the best things to do in Menorca.
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For more Menorca travel tips, don’t miss our guide to where to stay in Menorca and our Menorca travel guide!
Top Things to Do in Menorca
Visit the Best Beaches in Menorca
The top thing to do in Menorca is to sample the gorgeous beaches. From the tiny rocky coves (calas) to the open white sand beaches (playas), there are over one hundred spots to swim and bake in the sun.
The most popular beaches are on the south coast of Menorca – Son Saura, Cala Turqueta, Playa Mitjana, Cala Macarelleta and Cala Macarella. And with good reason. The crystal-clear waters and the white sand add to the vibrance of the sea. These are the postcard beaches of Menorca.
By far the most popular beaches are the neighbouring Cala Macarelleta and Cala Macarella. These beaches can be reached on foot, a dusty hiking path providing the way from Cala Galdana (where you can park your car).
It took us around 40 minutes to walk to Cala Macarella, with Calla Macarelleta just another 5 minutes or so further. Note that we walked in sturdy sandals, though you’ll want to wear walking shoes if you aren’t comfortable in sandals.
In my opinion, Macarelleta is the more beautiful of the two beaches. It’s smaller with a cleaner sandy bottom that makes the water tones more idyllic. However be aware that this beach is quite small and the most popular on the island, so it’s also the most busy.
TIP – If visiting Macaraletta and Macarella in the high season summer months, arrive early or later in the day at Cala Galdana to get a parking spot and enjoy the beach with fewer crowds. In fact, this applies to most beaches on Menorca during peak season.
If you are looking for quieter and more unspoiled beaches, you can try plenty of the smaller ‘calas’. Some of our favourites were Cala en Brut (with concrete platforms built into the rock face for tanning and rock jumping), Calo Blanc (a tiny inlet with crystal clear waters), Cala de ses Olles (find a rocky perch and watch people jumping into the sea) and Cala Binidali (with a cute little boat shed).
Our last recommendation for a very different beach is Cala Pregonda. This is a very unique beach. Park at Playa de Binimel-la, then head West on the path that takes you from a yellow sand beach to red ‘Mars-like’ landscape. As you come over a crest, you’ll set your sights on Cala Pregonda.
This Menorca beach features a beautiful bay for swimming with rocks jutting out of the water in pastel tones of red, yellow and brown. Explore a little and take regular dips in the delightful sea. Bring plenty of water for this beach too as there’s nothing really around!
Visit Cova d’en Xoroi in Menorca
Cova d’en Xoroi is one of the must-see spots when compiling your Menorca bucket list. This extremely unique bar is literally built into the side of the vertical cliff face. The aesthetic is amazing too, and it’s a one of the best places to watch the sunset with a few cocktails (there is no food available here).
There are different opening times depending on the time of year, so check their website to choose your preferred time slot (and you may need to pre-book a ticket). Make sure to arrive before the scheduled opening as it’s so nice to see the venue before it fills up. If you arrive early there will probably be a line with people wanting to do the same thing!
Take a Boat Trip in Menorca
Being an island with over 200km of coastline, there’s a lot to see and plenty of places to take a boat trip. And depending on the wind conditions you can choose to go North or South for your boat trip. We tried both options!
The Northern coastline is very rocky, with hardly any human development. This means you feel very close to nature as you explore tiny coves and swim in the clear blue sea.
We chose to book a boat trip with Menorca en Llaut on their beautiful traditional wooden boat! Sipping wine and eating lunch with friends aboard this cute vessel was a very memorable way to spend a hot day in Menorca.
The Southern Coastline is known for the famous beaches of Son Saura, Cala Turqueta, Playa Mitjana, Cala Macarelleta and Cala Macarella. We’d already visited some of these by the walking trails, however we figured a great way to see them all without the hiking would be by renting a boat.
We chose Iguana Boats in Ciutadella. They were amazing in providing a day where we could explore at our own pace. We packed a lunch and a bottle of Sangria and spent a lot of time swimming from our little boat in the perfect bay where you’ll find Cala Macarelleta and Cala Macarella.
Looking for a tour to book? Consider these options:
Stay in a Luxury Hotel In Menorca
During our two weeks in Menorca, we stayed in a guest house, a mid-range hotel, and an Airbnb to get the full experience. However, it was so nice to splurge for a few nights and stay in a luxury hotel.
We chose Villa Le Blanc Gran Melia, and this was such a stunning hotel to relax for a few days, while also being close to some of the premier beaches on their island. Gran Melia has the most beautiful design, with white walls and natural timbers complementing views of the crystalline blue sea.
The main reason we visited though was because of Gran Melia’s sustainability initiatives. This property is a carbon-neutral hotel, achieved through meticulous architectural design and seawater exchange air conditioning systems. There are plenty of amazing technologies that save energy behind the scenes, though the luxurious feeling of the hotel would have you none the wiser.
Visit Binibecca in Menorca
Binibecca is such a unique little town that it is worth a visit. Its tiny pathways and narrow streets take you between white-walled buildings with a little maze of archways and staircases.
Visit in the afternoon to avoid the heat and walk around as the light softens the abstract angles and lines of this tiny neighbourhood. It’s a great place to get lost as you go wherever the pathways lead you.
Enjoy a Boutique Farm Stay
If you are looking for something different to the waterfront accommodation options, I’d highly recommend booking a few nights at a farm stay. We spent 2 nights at Morvedra Nou, and it was the perfect place to escape the crowds at a tranquil and secluded boutique farmhouse.
Fresh local produce, intimate dining, and charming grounds are the highlights here. And with a perfect pool on the property, you won’t leave the hotel during your stay.
Eat Local Food
As I’ve mentioned, the food is very much farm-to-table in Menorca. This is a place to really explore their local cuisine. From fresh seafood and potato smothered in olive oil to sangria and paella, it’s everything you’d want during your summer island escape.
Some of our favourite places to eat are below:
- Nonna Bazaar – amazing fresh food sourced locally. Mediterranean cuisine and set in the most aesthetic farmhouse. Come early evening for sunset colours, or stay late for the DJs.
- Es Cranc Petit – cute little seafood restaurant in the harbour of Fornells.
- Enricana – a stunning white-washed restaurant built into the cliffside. Serving Japanese dishes and seafood, don’t miss the sunset here.
- Nib’s Healthy Bar – good restaurant for great healthy food and coffee options for breakfast.
As you can see, we managed to fit a lot into our two-week stay. It was with the help of local travel guide The Slow Voyage, that we found the best tips! Reach out if you are looking for any bespoke travel guidance in the Mediterranean!
For more Menorca travel tips, don’t miss our guide to where to stay in Menorca and our Menorca travel guide!
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