Menorca Holidays

Balearic chill

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Tranquil beaches and terrific Neolithic sites

Menorca is significantly more sedate than its noisier neighbours. It’s home to some of the best white-sand beaches this side of the Caribbean, plus thousands of years of history and prime hiking to boot, while the entire island is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Inland you’ll find sleepy whitewashed villages which burst into a riot of colour and noise on festival days and around 45,000 miles of dry-stone walls criss-crossing the countryside. Its two main cities, colonial Mahon and maze-like Ciutadella, could not be more distinct from each other, and then there’s a 134-mile-long coast that’s studded with some 200 spectacular coves and bays to tempt you.

Menorca is well placed for adventurers. Hire a traditional Menorcan llaut boat to access the most remote beaches, go snorkelling in the south coast’s serene waters or try kitesurfing off the more blustery north coast. Outside of high summer the island is a hiker’s paradise with a great range of well signposted walking trails weaving through gently rolling woodland and meadows alive with wildflowers. History buffs can discover a series of fascinating Talaiotic ruins dotted across the island, including Torralba d’en Salort that’s home to a well-preserved Bronze Age village. Don’t miss a concert at Lithica, a former limestone quarry repurposed into a beguiling network of wild gardens, labyrinths and sheer rock faces. While the island is not known for its nightlife, it does offer a unique venue for it in the shape of Cova d’en Xoroi, a nightspot carved out of the cliffs with dizzying terraces affording prime sunset views and DJs pumping out feelgood tunes in its grotto-like bar. Book your flights to Menorca today and discover all this and more.

Menorca holiday FAQs

Make the most of your Menorca holiday

Menorca’s signature dish is Caldereta de Langosta, a flavourful lobster broth. Try it in one of the upscale seafood restaurants overlooking Cuitadella’s charming old port, such as Cafe Balear. You should also try Mahon cheese – its distinctive briny taste is enriched by seawater-rich winds – and some local gin, preferably in a pomada, the classic Menorcan cocktail where it’s mixed with cloudy lemonade.

What are the best things to do in Menorca?

Splash Sur Menorca is Menorca’s largest water park. Located at the island’s most southernly edge in the small resort of Biniancolla the park has a wide array of aquatic thrills for all age groups. Small children have a splash area with buckets, fountains, a water-jet maze and a shallow pool with gentle slides, while older kids will enjoy the pirate ship with water cannons. The big draw though are the main slides with racers, a black hole and the high-speed Kamikaze for true dare devils.
Cala en Turqueta is one of Menorca’s most prized beaches. It’s a natural cove with pristine turquoise waters, pure white sands and shady pines in the south between Macarella and Es Talaier. It’s flanked by beautiful pine-clad cliffs, the perfect height for diving, and is popular with swimmers who claim their patch early in high season. The beach actually comprises two small beaches.
Located in the north east of Menorca, S’Albufera des Grau Natural Park is an idyllic nature reserve spread over 19 square miles of forest, marshland, cliffs and dunes, including five small islands. It provides a habitat for a wide range of wildlife, including some 90 species of birds and countless varieties of wildflowers and shrubs. You can take a guided tour of the park and learn more about its assets in the visitor centre.
Mount Toro is Menorca’s highest peak, standing proud at 358 metres tall, making it a relatively easy hour-long hike for all the family. Climb to the summit for unparalleled views of neighbouring green slopes and the island’s coast, from the Bay of Fornells to Son Bou, to Mahon and even Ciutadella. The mountain holds its share of mystery and legends, such as the one that claims that the peak owes its name to a bull which once guarded the summit. A pair of monks are said to have encountered the bull, which then led them to a cave where they discovered an image of the Virgin of the Bull, the island’s patron saint.
Menorca offers a surprisingly good choice of surfing spots. As it’s off the radar for many, you can surf away from the crowds and there are suitably strong winds year-round, plus the island’s compact size means you can travel from beach to beach with ease. On the south coast swing by Punta Prima, Binigaus, Son Bou or Cala’n Bosch, while surfing beaches on the north coast include Cala Tortuga, Calders, Cala Tirant, Cavalleria, El Pico, Cala Pilar, Cala Carbo and La Vall.

Where to visit in Menorca

Mahon, also known locally as Mao, is the island’s capital and biggest city. The port is the largest natural harbour in the Mediterranean and is lined with upmarket boutiques, pavement cafes and restaurants. The city centre has an enchanting maze of narrow streets packed with many handsome buildings replete with Georgian heritage and elaborate balconies. Explore its old churches, markets and shops, and discover the birthplace of mayonnaise.

Cala en Bosch is a peaceful, purpose-built, family-friendly holiday resort located on the south west tip of Menorca with a stunning, fine white-sand beach with calm waters and good snorkelling, tonnes of restaurants, independent shops and bars, plus an attractive and buzzy marina that sweeps inland. It’s a popular spot for water sports – you can try jet-powered flyboarding, sea kayaking and boat trips here. Nightlife is low key. Nearby explore the prehistoric settlement at Son Catlar and the Cap d’Artrutx lighthouse.

Cala Galdana is a quiet resort on the south coast with great amenities. The resort is found at the end of the Algendar Gorge with a dramatic landscape of high cliffs clad with aromatic pine trees offering spectacular views. There’s a small marina and a beach which may just be the island’s prettiest – set in a shell-shaped cove, it has white sands and shallow turquoise waters, and you can hire kayaks, paddle boats and stand-up paddleboards. There are scenic walking routes to various other beaches too, such as Cala Mitjana, Cala Trebaluger, Cala Macarella, Macarelleta and Cala en Turqueta.

Es Grau is a charming small, sleepy fishing village set within a protected nature reserve on the north east coast. The reserve is Menorca’s largest wetland with a vast variety of birdlife. It has a beautifully unspoilt natural beach on a horseshoe-shaped bay with very shallow waters and a clutch of tempting restaurants serving authentic fish tapas. Nearby you can kayak or take a water taxi to explore Colom Island, which is home to an early Christian basilica from the 4th Century AD.

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