Menorca is one of the pearls of the Mediterranean. It is part of the Balearic Islands along with Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera, located in the Balearic archipelago, in the Mediterranean Sea. Considered by many to be the most beautiful island in Spain and present in many top 10 of the most beautiful islands in the world, its short extension makes up a true natural paradise, in which there is no lack of historical and cultural attractions.
Converted into one of the favourite tourist destinations for the inhabitants of northern European countries, it has plans for all tastes, complemented by a spectacular range of tourist services.
But if there is one thing that distinguishes this beautiful spot, it is its coves and beaches. White sand, turquoise waters and surroundings full of wild flora. Menorca is the best example of the fact that it is not necessary to travel to the Caribbean to relax on a paradisiacal beach. Not in vain, its coves occupy a predominant place in our list of the best places to visit in Menorca.
Cala Turqueta
Its name comes from the intense turquoise blue color that the sea takes near its shores. Located in the south of the island, it is situated between Na Forada and Tambors, surrounded by pine forests and rocky landscape.
Although it is a wild beach, it does have toilets and a picnic area where you can take a snack and spend the day on its soft sands.
Although it is difficult to choose a cove among all those on the south coast of Menorca, Cala Turqueta is our favorite, both for its environment and for its contrasting colors. Both aspects compose a truly spectacular postcard.
To enjoy its wild beauty you will have to walk for about a quarter of an hour from the nearest parking area. In addition, in the summer months, a bus that leaves from Ciutadella leaves you close to its vicinity.
Cala Pregonda
We jump from the south to the north of the island to focus on another cove, which once again has a wild and unspoilt appearance.
Once again, the most peculiar feature of this cove is its colour, but in this case, we are not referring to the blue of the sea, but to the reddish tones of its sand, a product of the presence of vermilion stone.
To access the charms of this natural paradise, you will have to walk a little over half an hour from the Binimel-là car park along the Camí de Cavalls. The route alone is worth the effort, with simply spectacular views of the Mediterranean.
This cove, totally isolated, is part of a protected environment and is made up of different areas of sand and stone. The rocky areas will delight snorkellers with hundreds of fish of different species swimming close to the shore.
Cavallería Beach
Let’s go with a slightly wider option than the previous proposals and that, in addition, has little to envy them in terms of beauty.
Once again, we are on the north coast of the island to discover one of the largest beaches in all of Menorca, which does not lose the wild character so characteristic of Menorcan beaches.
Watched over day and night by the Cavallería Lighthouse, it is surrounded by the island’s nature and its sands, like those of Cala Pregonda, have very characteristic reddish tones. They form a kind of clay right next to the shore, which has turned it into a real attraction for mud bath enthusiasts, said to be beneficial for the skin.
Moreover, the marine life of its surroundings makes it an attraction for diving and snorkelling lovers.
However, its virgin and wild character, together with the conservation of the environment, means that it lacks the services you would expect from a tourist beach.
Cala Morell
To access this picturesque cove of crystalline waters, you will have to cross the urbanisation with which it shares its name.
Located in the northwest of the island, just 10 kilometres from Ciutadella, it stands out for its spectacular surroundings with large rock cliffs that rise up next to the sand.
In this case, the composition of its seabed causes the water on its banks to turn emerald green, which increase its natural beauty even if possible.
It is a small cove, approximately 50 metres long, but the rocks around it also offer spaces where you can relax and sunbathe.
In addition, the seabed near its cliffs makes up one of the areas with the most marine life on the entire northwest coast. So if you like snorkelling, we assure you that you are going to be amazed.
To get to Cala Morell it is just a short 100-metre walk from the car park of the urbanisation. It is also connected by bus to Ciutadella.
Mahón
We take a break from our review of the best coves on the island to focus on another of the best places to see in Menorca, but this time with a very different character.
We suggest a bit of urban tourism in the island’s capital, the town of Mahón, a city that combines tradition, good gastronomy, marvellous natural surroundings and a very special atmosphere.
The most recommended visit, without a doubt, is its port, which is 5.5 kilometres long, making it the second largest natural harbour on the planet. This size, in addition to its strategic location, were the reasons why the English chose Mahón as the capital of the island of Menorca.
The historic quarter of the town is also very attractive, full of stately houses with colourful façades and guillotine-style windows. If we had to choose among its most representative buildings, we could not miss the Casa Soler, the Pescadería, the Casa Mir and the Teatro Principal, the oldest opera house in the country.
Mahón is also a temple for lovers of Menorcan cuisine, with a multitude of restaurants where it is possible to taste the best local gastronomy and, of course, lots of very good fresh fish.
Son Bou
We continue our review of places to see in Menorca with the largest beach on the island.
It is time to travel to the southern coast, next to the town of Alaior, to discover what is surely the best beach in Menorca to enjoy a family holiday.
Its natural surroundings, together with a varied list of services, with beach bars, bars and sun loungers, make up the perfect setting for a day of sun and beach if you are travelling with children.
Its shores, with turquoise water, are shallow and easy to access.
It also has free parking and when evening falls, you can take the opportunity to visit the town of Son Bou, where monuments such as the Torre d’en Galmés or the Paleochristian Basilica await you.
Ciutadella
Ciutadella is the most beautiful and special town on the island. Its historic quarter contains the best of Menorca’s cultural heritage and its streets, full of craft shops, are a journey back to medieval times.
It is a small town, so you can easily get around on foot. The best thing to do is to leave your car in one of the car parks in the surrounding area and stroll through its narrow streets.
We recommend that you do not miss its port, the Plaza des Born with its Obelisk, the Town Hall, the Castle of San Nicolás and, of course, the Cathedral of Santa María, a jewel of 13th-century Catalan Gothic architecture.
To finish the visit, you can sit on one of the terraces of its medieval quay and enjoy the views of the port while you recharge your batteries.
Ciutadella is also one of the best places to eat in Menorca. Some of its most renowned restaurants are Café Belar, S’Amarador or Tast de na Silvia. You cannot leave its streets without trying the exquisite lobster stew, one of the island’s most iconic dishes.
Cales Coves
Once again we choose a stop with the Mediterranean as the protagonist. Cales Coves are a natural cove located in the south of the island, which we recommend you access by boat. This is undoubtedly one of the best excursions to do in Menorca.
If you prefer, you can also get there by car, parking in the Carles Coves urbanization and completing the rest of the route on foot.
The caves that surround this natural bay were used as tombs in the Bronze Age. The water, completely transparent, lets you see the bottom of the bay from the deck of the boats, inviting the crew to swim. Jumping into the water from the deck and swimming in the middle of this maritime paradise is a swim that quickly becomes an unforgettable experience. We are sure that when you look back and remember those wonderful holidays in Menorca, this swim will be one of the first things that comes to mind.
Cala Mitjana
Without leaving the south of the island, we find a new cove that has all the presumable characteristics of a wild Balearic beach: pine trees in its surroundings, white sand and crystalline waters. It is best to visit it outside the high season, when all these qualities are combined with a complete silence that is only interrupted by the timid sound of the waves and the squawk of the occasional seagull.
To access this magical spot, park your car in the Cala Galdana area, where you will find a free car park, and continue on foot to the shore.
If you have to plan more than one stop during the day, we recommend that you choose to go there first thing in the morning, to enjoy more hours of sunshine, as the sun sets earlier in the afternoon.
Do not forget that we are talking about a wild, unspoilt cove, so you should bring everything you need to enjoy the day yourself. There are no restaurants or similar services. Although to tell the truth, with such surroundings around you, we doubt you will be missing anything.
Binibeca
We go from a cove where nature is at its wildest, to a small village where the classic architectural style of the island reigns supreme.
Binibeca is a small fishing village, made up of dozens of little white houses, where tranquillity can be felt around every corner.
For years it has been a place of refuge for intellectuals and artists who sought to hide among the homogeneity of its small houses and retreat from the hustle and bustle of the urban centres to pursue their particular muses.
It is located just 10 kilometres from Mahón, and in addition to its main square, its promenade and its church stand out. But if there is one thing that characterises Binibeca, it is undoubtedly its very particular style, in which the colour white is only interrupted by the wood of the balconies.
If you have the opportunity to visit it, we recommend that you do not leave without taking a photo of yourself on its beautiful jetty.
And for lunch, its restaurant El Faro is a must, especially if you love rice dishes.
Cala Galdana
We warned you at the beginning that Menorca’s paradisiacal coves are possibly its most characteristic hallmark.
Cala Galdana is another of those examples that looks like something out of a Caribbean travel catalogue. Perfect for a sunny day with the family, it has all the necessary services, as well as a bus stop nearby.
It is located next to the town of Ferrerías and in the surrounding area you will find several restaurants where you can enjoy fresh fish and typical Menorcan food.
Furthermore, if you are a water sports lover, you will have the possibility of kayaking or paddle surfing in the calm waters of the Mediterranean. Even the most daring will be able to practice paragliding in its vicinity.
If you are travelling with your children and are looking for a good option to spend a family day by the sea, Cala Galdana will not disappoint you.
Cala Macarella
Not far from Cala Turqueta, you will find this beautiful cove formed by the erosion that time has caused on the rocks of the cliffs.
It is a practically virgin beach, with the only exception of a small beach bar where you can have a cool drink next to the sea and under the Menorcan sun.
It is a more or less extensive cove, with several more intimate corners that are intended for nudists.
You can get to its shores either by car or by bus, but as is usually the case in these cases, the best thing to do is to take a boat trip and sail there. Afterwards, you can go for a swim jumping from the deck on its turquoise waters and, finally, have a drink in its beach bar watching the sunset. Can you think of a better plan?
El Pont d’en Gil
We end our list of recommendations of places to visit in Menorca with what is probably the most curious stop of all.
When you read the title you probably thought of a bridge in Ciutadella or Mahón, with many years of history and some distinguishing architectural features. Well, yes, it is a bridge and it is many years old, but remember that we are in Menorca and here nature dictates the rules.
The Pont d’en Gin is a rock bridge, which rises above the sea as part of an overhang of the coast.
This sort of stone window is one of the most characteristic postcards of the island and from one of the surrounding cliffs, it is one of those photographs that cannot be missed as a souvenir of your holidays.
If you are looking for a good place to take a selfie before returning to your routine, the Pont d’en Gil is a choice that never fails.
Frequently Asked Questions Menorca
What places are not to be missed in Menorca?
The places you should not miss in Menorca are, without a doubt, its coves, which you can visit by organising a route. In addition, we especially recommend that you visit the town of Ciutadella, undoubtedly the most beautiful on the island.
Where to eat in Menorca?
The towns of Mahón, Ciutadella and Binibeca are three places where you will find a multitude of options for eating typical Balearic food in Menorca.
If you opt for a restaurant offering fresh fish and seafood, we especially recommend the caldereta de langosta (lobster stew), a classic among the island’s restaurants.
How many days are necessary to visit Menorca?
We recommend that if you can, you should dedicate at least six or seven days to discovering all its charms. Although it is a small island, which you can cross by car in less than an hour, Menorca has a wide variety of natural attractions to visit during your holiday.
How to get around Menorca?
The best way to get around Menorca is, without a doubt, by renting a car for the days of your holiday. This way, you can plan your own itineraries and create your own routes to make the most of your time.
But if, for example, you don’t have a driving licence or you prefer to opt for another means of transport, you can also rent a bicycle or use public transport. There are many bus lines operating on the island.
Is it worth visiting Ciutadella?
Even if you have planned your holiday as a few days of relaxation, sun and beach, we recommend that you make time to visit the town of Ciutadella. It is undoubtedly the most beautiful town on the island and, dare we say it, on all the Balearic Islands.
When is the best time to visit Menorca?
The best time to travel to the island are the months surrounding its high season, corresponding to late spring and the first months of autumn. We are referring specifically to April, May and October, when you can still enjoy the good weather that usually reigns on the island, swim in the sea, as the Mediterranean usually has pleasant temperatures and at the same time, avoid the crowds more typical of the summer months and enjoy all the places on our list of recommendations.
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