Menorca, Spain: Best Beaches, Coastal Towns & Hidden Coves

While its neighbors Mallorca and Ibiza suffer from the ill effects of overtourism, Menorca exists in relaxed juxtaposition, offering visitors a Mediterranean island experience with similar natural and cultural beauty but at a much more pleasant, calm pace. The island was home to prehistoric human populations dating back to the Bronze Age (1600 BC), and today it is replete with enormous natural beauty and a tangible cultural heritage.

Read on for a guide to help you explore this fabulous island.

Maó

Known in Catalan as Maó and in Castilian Spanish as Mahón, this city, located on the island’s east coast, is Menorca’s capital. Maó has a charming, small town feel but with plenty of restaurants and amenities, making it a great place to stay during your visit.

The city is home to one of the largest natural harbors in the world, three miles (5 km) long and 3,000 feet (900 m) wide. In the middle of the harbor, on a small island known as Illa del Rei, the Swiss contemporary art gallery Hauser & Wirth has a museum that is one of the city’s main attractions.

Built on the site of an old hospital run by the British, who controlled Menorca for much of the 18th century, the museum has a large exhibition space as well as a nice cantina with good food and great views of the water.

Back in town, notable sites include the 18th century Església del Carme as well as the adjacent Mercat des Peix from the 1920s. For restaurants, be sure to check out Amano as well as Moritz & Señorita C.

I also recommend heading south of the city to Bodegas Binifadet for a meal or a wine tasting at the vineyard.

Parc Natural de s’Albufera d’Es Grau

The whole island of Menorca is designated as UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, but one of the best places to appreciate this untouched nature is at this wetland preserve in the island’s northeast. A haven for birds as well as lizards and tortoises, you can scratch the surface of this area with a car, but it is best explored by kayak, allowing you to weave in and out of the intricate maze of inlets.

You can rent one in the nice little town of Es Grau, which is also a great place to watch the sun setting over the lagoon at the end of the day.

For a cool spot reachable by car, drive out to the lighthouse known as Far de Favàritx, which juts out on a cape with sweeping views of the rocky coast in every direction.

Binibèquer Vell

Designed in the 1960s by the Catalan architect Francisco Juan Barba Corsini, Binibèquer Vell is a sort of living museum: it is a life-size model of a traditional Mediterranean fishing village, bathed in white on the island’s southeastern coast.

The houses are mostly vacation rentals or small boutique shops, but the village is well worth a visit for a quaint window into Menorca’s past.

Alcaufar

This attractive little town, not far from Binibèquer, is a great place for a relaxing dip in the island’s southeast. Check out the lovely swimming cove known as Cala Alcaufar.

Es Mercadal

Located almost exactly in the center of the island, Es Mercadal has been an important market town since the 14th century. Visit on the weekend to see its streets bustling with locals doing their shopping, and be sure to try some delicious baked goods at Forn de sa Plaça, like the traditional ensaïmada or rubiol. 

Fornells

Located on a large bay on the island’s northern coast, Fornells originally developed in the 17th century as a defensive outpost to protect against Barbary pirates. Today, the town is a perfect place to spend a sunny afternoon by the water, enjoying a lengthy lunch at one of its many restaurants.

If you fancy a swim, head west of the center of town to Cala Tirant, a nice, wide stretch of sand along a protected inlet. 

Southern Beaches

Many of Menorca’s best beaches can be found on the south side of the island. Near the town of Sant Tomàs, you have the lovely Platja Binigaus; if you get hungry, walk back towards town and grab a bite to eat at Chiringuito Es Bruc, with fresh seafood and lovely views of the sea.

West of here, the famous Platja de Cala Galdana beckons with its C-shaped cove and deep blue waters.

For a fantastic overlook, head up to Mirador La Punta as you dry off. But the island’s best beach is arguably the secluded Cala Mitjana. Around a twenty minute walk through the pine trees from the road leading out of Cala Galdana, the blue waters of this cove enclosed by cliffs are simply unforgettable.

Ciutadella

Menorca’s other main city is on the far western side of the island. Take a stroll through the winding cobblestone streets of the old town, centered around the 14th-century Catedral de Santa Maria that was built after the Christian conquest of the island from the Muslims, part of the reconquista happening across Iberia.

For lunch, head to Mon, a wonderful restaurant in a boutique hotel in the center of town. Particular highlights here are the traditional Catalan canelons and the rolling cheese cart, with a delicious selection of Spanish cheeses—be sure to try the queso de Mahón, locally-produced and out-of-this-world.

After lunch, head west of town to enjoy some beautiful views of the coast. You can also check out Torre del Ram, a Bronze Age tomb.

Léthica, Pedreres de s’Hostal

Just east of Ciutadella, Líthica is an amazing, living work of art. Carved into the site of an old quarry, which provided stones for houses and buildings all over the island, this space was completely reimagined with intricate carvings on the tall, steep stone walls as well as a large maze in the pit at its center. In addition, the area is lined with walking paths and gardens full of native plants and fruit trees.

Naveta d’Es Tudons

A little farther east of Lithica, this archaeological site is the most famous of the many Bronze Age monuments found on the island. This megalithic structure built of limestone blocks was used as a tomb for burying the dead. Today, thousands of years later, it stands as a testament to the prehistoric peoples who inhabited the island.

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