Menorca, the second largest of Spain’s Balearic Islands, is known for its pure white beaches, rocky little coves, culture-filled cities, and amazing fresh food.
Out of all of the Balearic Islands, Menorca is the most idyllic (in my humble opinion). The center of the island is dotted with sleepy stone-built villages, fields of vegetables, and goats and cows wandering wherever you go.
The coast is a little more built up, with family-friendly resorts, larger cities, and some of the best beaches I’ve ever been to.
The beauty and diversity of the island mean you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to things to do in Menorca. Whether you prefer to grab your sunscreen and head to one of the stunning beaches or wander around the narrow streets of one of the island’s beautiful cities, you can easily fill your time enjoying everything Menorca has to offer.
Getting to Menorca
Getting to Menorca is easy if you are coming from within Europe.
There are direct flights to Menorca Airport from several airports around the UK including Stansted, Manchester, East Midlands, Leeds, and Birmingham. You can fly here directly from select airports in France, Germany, Austria, Italy, and the Netherlands.
If you are coming from outside of Europe, the best option would be to get yourself to Madrid Airport or Barcelona Airport. From here you can get a second flight directly to Menorca.
You can also pair this with a trip to nearby Ibiza. There are direct flights from Ibiza Airport (only from April to October) and plenty of fun things to do in Ibiza as well. Have a few days on each island to get an even better understanding of this region of Spain.
How to Get Around Menorca
The best way to explore all of the best things to do in Menorca is to rent a car. Renting a car in Spain is easy and affordable.
We always recommend Discover Cars for hiring a car in Spain. They have the widest selection and the best prices for full coverage. So you can have peace of mind during your trip along these winding island roads!
You can pick it up and drop it off at Menorca Airport so you are never without it on your trip or you can pick one up in town and just have it for the few days that you want it to get around the island. Book a car on Discover Cars here.
There are also buses to get to the major towns around the island if you don’t want to drive. To get to the lesser-visited spots you’ll have to hire a taxi or see if they have any Uber-like services on the island.
Sunsets in Menorca are pretty spectacular.
Where to Stay in Menorca
Fornells, not to be confused with Platges de Fornells, in the north of the island is a wonderful place to use as a base. It’s a fishing town that’s not too crowded and has a lot of great restaurants. It’s good for young couples and families, although you do need to travel a little bit to get to the best beaches.
A few great hotels in Fornells include Can Digus, Hostal La Palma, and any of the apartments from SOM Menorca.
If you want to be around more of the action, Ciutadella is a good base where you’ll have tons of restaurants and a few markets to choose from throughout the day. It’s also where you’ll find the larger supermarkets like Lidl and Mercadona.
Seth Port Ciutadella is a stunning hotel in this part of the island. For a more budget-friendly option, Hotel Madrid is also a fantastic option.
If you want to be closer to the best beaches, consider somewhere like Villa Colors or Villa Le Blanc in the southern part of the island.
16 Things to Do in Menorca
You can easily spend your time in Menorca lazing around in crystal clear water and enjoying amazing pine-covered coves. And, while there are some of the best beaches in Menorca on this list, there are lots of other things you can do as well.
1. Visit Cala Tortuga
Cala Tortuga is located on the north coast of Menorca. It has white sand, pristine turquoise waters, and fewer people than other beaches around Menorca. But there is a reason for all of that – it’s not the easiest beach to get to and certainly not one of the things to do in Menorca with kids.
You need to park in the public parking by Favaritx Lighthouse and walk from there. In summer, there’s a bus that runs to take you closer to the lighthouse, which reduces the walk quite a bit.
Go early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat and bring plenty of water, there are no facilities on the beach, so take everything with you that you might want for the day.
There are so many stunning coves and beaches around Menorca. Some are best reached by boat, others require a little bit of hiking and rock scrambling.
2. Walk Around the Old Town and Port of Ciutadella
Ciutadella de Menorca is a charming town on the west coast of Menorca. There’s so much to do there including marveling at the Catalan Gothic Cathedral, getting lost in the winding streets, and walking around the many beautiful plazas.
One of the best things to do in Ciutadella is to head to the port to see the mix of fishing boats and luxury yachts coming and going. There are lots of great bars and restaurants. Check out Primitiu, Molí des Comte, and Maramao for some of the best food in this region of the island.
3. Try Menorca’s Famous Gin
Xoriguer Gin is distilled on the island and you can visit the tasting room in Mahón to sample all of their different distilled drinks. You can also take a tour of the distillery and learn how it is made. A tasting is included in the tour.
Alternatively, you’ll find it in bars all over the island so you can simply order it when visiting a bar or restaurant. You could order a standard gin and tonic or try a Pomada, a refreshing drink using sparkling lemonade and slices of lemon. It’s a great aperitivo before dinner on a hot summer day.
4. Enjoy Ensaimada
Ensaimada is a delicious flaky yet chewy pastry from the Balearic Islands. Shaped like an elephant ear, it’s made from flour, eggs, sugar, and pork lard, which makes it incredibly rich (and not at all vegetarian-friendly).
You can find them all over Menorca and in many different flavors, but one of the best is at Pastisseria Herbera in Ciutadella. They’re perfect for an afternoon snack or for breakfast with a strong cup of coffee.
The little beach-front restaurants around Menorca are great places to try local seafood dishes or just to have a cold drink with your toes in the sand (or, in this case, warming on the rocks).
5. Discover the Beaches along the South of the Island
The beaches to the north of Menorca tend to be a little wilder than the typical Balearic coves in the south. While a little more crowded, especially in the summer months, it’s still really worth exploring the southern pristine beaches.
Menorca is one of the most popular vacation destinations in Spain and a lot of the more resort-style accommodation is in the south, which is great for families.
But those without kids can still find secluded coves especially if you’re willing to clamber over rocks and through stunning pine forests.
Cala Mitjana is a can’t-miss beach spot in the southern part of Menorca. It’s truly beautiful but the parking lot nearby gets full very quickly, so make sure you go as early as possible.
6. Take One of the World’s Most Beautiful Hiking Trails
If you love being outdoors, then one of the best things to do in Menorca is take the Camí de Cavalls. This is an ancient 114 mile (185km) trail around Menorca.
It’s a route that encircles the entire island and allows you to take in some of the most spectacular views on the island. There are historical lighthouses, tiny coves and beaches, rocky paths, and farmland along the way.
It usually takes around 2 weeks to complete although it’s also possible to walk parts of it during a trip to Menorca as a day activity.
Be sure to get away from the crowds and explore some of the stunning coves around Menorca. There are truly so many hidden gems on this island.
7. Go to The Cliff Cave Bar
One of the best things to do in Menorca for couples is head to Cova d’en Xoroi.
This beautiful bar is nestled in the cliffs close to Cala en Porter. It’s a really popular spot for watching the sunset with a cocktail in hand and enjoying live music.
As one of the best beach clubs in Menorca, it gets very busy in summer in the late afternoon, so you might want to think about going early to get the best view.
You pay a small €12 to enter the beach club. You can prebook tickets ahead of time which allows you to skip the line and walk straight in. Prebook your tickets directly on their website.
8. Take a Boat Tour
Boat tours are a great way to see more of Menorca from the water and many of them visit harder to get to beaches, so they’re a good option for kids too.
There are boat options for every budget from group tours to private yacht hires. You can even rent your own boat (no license needed) to head out an explore the coves with just your group. Book a private boat hire here.
This full day boat tour is group tour that includes stops at Son Saura and Cala Turqueta as well as a paella lunch and plenty of sangria and orange juice to keep you going throughout the day. Book that tour here.
This shorter small group boat tour is all about getting out in the water. It includes snorkel gear and onboard water and sodas. The groups are no larger than 10 and you will navigate around the islands small coves including Cala Macarella, Macarelleta, Cala en Turqueta, and Cala Mitjana to name a few. Book that tour here.
Explore the different UNESCO World Heritage sites around Menorca.
9. Explore Ancient History
OK, not literally. But Menorca is full of some very impressive Iron Age structures from over three millennia ago.
They’re from the Talayotic civilization (sometimes spelled Talaiotic) that used to live on the island and you can find the stone structures in almost every corner. Two of the most impressive and well-preserved sites are Trepuco and Torralba d’en Salort.
10. Take a Day Trip to the Island’s Capital, Mahón
Mahón has the largest natural harbor of anywhere in the Mediterranean. So, as you can imagine, it’s been a popular naval base throughout history and has been ruled by many different countries.
Foreign influence can be seen all over the city, especially in the cobbled lanes and grand buildings.
Have lunch at the fish market, Mercat des Peix. It’s a beautiful building with stands selling freshly caught fish in the morning and serving up seafood tapas at lunch. You can find everything from prawn croquetas to anchovies and tomatoes.
The fish market is also close to the Xoriguer gin distillery and both are indoors, so great options for things to do in Menorca when it rains.
The towns around Menorca have kept their old world charm.
11. Go Up Monte Toro
Monte Toro is the highest point in Menorca. At just over 1148ft (350m), it’s not exactly a mountain, but you do get some amazing views of the island. On a very clear day, you can even see mainland Spain.
It’s easiest to drive up Monte Toro. You can walk, but it’s along a main road with quite a lot of traffic and isn’t exactly one of the most idyllic walks you can do in Menorca.
There is plenty of free parking at the top, but if visiting in the peak summer months, arrive early because it gets very hot in the island’s interior during the summer months.
12. Try Some Local Cheese
Menorca is famous for its cheese production. Mahón cheese (formatge de Maó or queso de Mahón) is made from cow’s milk. You can have it young, semi-cured, or cured. Of course, the different levels of aging affect the flavor and texture of the cheese.
You’ll find it in plenty of restaurants on the island and it’s often served as part of a cheese platter or with bread and fresh tomato. If you’re driving around the center of the island, you’ll find a couple of stalls and farms selling homemade cheese.
If you really want to learn more about it, you can take a cheesemaking class where you learn about the process from start to finish and even make your own Mahòn cheese to sample. Book that experience here.
The color of the water around Menorca is unbelievably beautiful and varied.
13. Learn About Menorcan Wine
The unique position of Menorca makes the weather slightly cooler than the other Balearic islands.
Not only does this offer some slight relief in the summer months (it’s not a lot and it still gets very hot in August), but it also makes it an ideal temperature for growing wine.
One of the most famous wineries in Menorca is Bodegas Binifadet. This family-run vineyard is the perfect place to learn about different grape varieties whilst trying some delicious Menorcan wine.
They also have a restaurant, serving up dishes using fresh local produce. Try the refreshing orange salmorejo or the rice made with Menorcan mushrooms.
14. Splash Around in a Waterpark
One of the best things to do in Menorca with kids is go to a waterpark. There are a few of them dotted all around the coast but the best one is Splash Sur Menorca on the south coast.
It has plenty of large water slides as well as a lazy river, a Jacuzzi, a zone for younger kids, and an adult-friendly area. There are a few restaurants here too if you don’t want to worry about packing a lunch for the day.
Binibeca is a beautiful town and a must-visit when thinking of all of the different things to do in Menorca.
15. Discover Fornells
Fornells is a beautiful old fishing town in the north of the island. It’s the perfect place to walk along the port and watch the traditional Menorquina boats coming and going.
As well as exploring the white-washed alleyways and beautiful houses, you should really go to Fronells to eat. Sa Llangosta is an amazing restaurant right on the seafront that serves traditional Menrocan lobster dishes, rice dishes, and tapas.
Restaurante La Guapa is another great restaurant in Fornells to have local seafood dishes. Succulent lobster, steamed mussels, grilled shrimp, and mixed seafood rice dishes all await you at this popular spot.
16. Walk Around Menorca’s White Village, Binibeca
Binibeca, on Menroca’s south coast, is stunning and one of the best things to do in Menorca for a day out.
The white stone buildings are adorned with bright pink bougainvillea and pale green cacti. Remeniscent of white towns in Andalucia, you’ll be stopping constantly to snap just one more photo of something else that stood out to you.
There’s a little fishing bay and a beautiful beach close by too. There are plenty of restaurants and ice cream parlors as well as some nice beach bars to relax in after an afternoon of walking around. Sa Cova del Sol is the best spot for food if you stay into the evening.