You’ve probably heard of Mallorca. But have you heard of Menorca, its little sister, which is no less beautiful? When I searched for information about this place in a certain group, the answers I got were that I had a spelling error.
Related read: Top Mallorca Attractions & Activities
I admit that until I moved to Spain, I didn’t know about the existence of this place.
And how lucky we were to meet!
A wonderful vacation on an island that’s not particularly big, but packed with amazing beaches, tiny towns with picturesque alleys, and an atmosphere of eternal freedom—is it right for you?
Want to see everything in pictures? Jump to the highlight on Instagram.
Here’s an overview:
Menorca is part of the archipelago of the Balearic Islands, which also includes vibrant Ibiza, elegant Mallorca, and tiny Formentera. In addition to the four main islands, there are others in the Mediterranean Sea, only about 80–90 km from the Iberian Peninsula.
The official languages are Spanish and Catalan.
As of 2025, about 100,000 people live on the island, which is roughly a 10th of the population of Mallorca.
Arrival to Menorca
There might be no direct flights depending on where you’re coming from. I always check Expedia for the latest options, so feel free to do the same!
However, there are flights with a short connection to all sorts of points in Europe.
From Barcelona, there’s a flight that takes about half an hour or a ferry that will take you and your car by sea in about eight hours.
When to Visit?
We were there in early–mid-April. The weather was wonderful: not too hot, not too cold. Just pleasant.
As for swimming in the sea, well, the brave ones among us swam, despite how cold it was. The swimming season officially starts on May 1st and lasts until October 31st.
If you have time, I’d recommend visiting in June, when the water is warm enough and the island is not yet flooded with tourists from northern Europe.
A friend told me that she came with a friend on a motorcycle in August and there were beaches where they had no place to park.
Related read: The Best Beaches in Barcelona (Including the Nude & Gay Beaches)
Car Rental in Menorca
To get around comfortably on the island, even though it’s not very large, I highly recommend renting a car.
There are a variety of vehicle rental companies that operate at Mahón Airport, plus those that are not located at the airport but will come to deliver the car to you there upon landing.
I’ve had good experiences with PAAPM, which is worth checking out.
Public transportation is available—use the below map or Google Maps.
Where To Stay In Menorca?
Like in Mallorca, finding a hotel room for a couple + two children can be no easy task. Luckily, we were traveling with my parents, so we split into a couple + one in each room.
The hotel I stayed in is this one:
Hotel Gran Sagitario
Small, comfortable, and gives fair value for the price.
The food was not exciting, but that was our impression of the food on the island in general. What was convenient was the indoor pool, which we frequented for a few days.
The thing I liked most was the cove, a two-minute walk from the hotel—small and so picturesque. It was my view for my morning run.
The city, which I really liked, Ciutadella, is about a seven-minute drive away. So, everything is close enough, but not crowded.
Other Great Places To Stay In Menorca
As usual, I have lists from the US to the UK of all the places I want to stay.
Here are some of the ones I picked that weren’t available at the time and that I would have loved to stay at in Menorca.
Alcaufar Vell Hotel Rural & Restaurant
The place that I was most disappointed wasn’t available for us. Exactly my taste—rustic with a restaurant. That’s all you need, I think.
Ses Sucreres Small & Slow Hotel
I have a special fondness for slow places, and when they come in an old 19th-century building it’s a real treat. Simple rooms but with a touch of chic and a local breakfast.
Hotel Hevresac Singular & Small
A 4-star hotel and 250m from the capital, it’s small, delightfully decorated, and great value for money. It has a very high rating on the different booking plattforms.
Carema Garden Village
A 3-star hotel we passed by and it just looked really lovely. The area is also beautiful and quiet.
Barceló Nura
A 5-star hotel, very close to Splash Water Park, with an outdoor pool, indoor pool, and spa. It’s great for families.
The Cami de Cavalls, a coastal path that encircles Menorca, allows energetic hikers to explore the island’s rugged coastline and secluded spots. For water-sports enthusiasts, there are plenty of opportunities for kayaking, surfing, and snorkeling.
The Capital City, Mahón
Well, Mahón didn’t leave any significant impression on me. Apart from a cute promenade and a distillery that we’ll talk about soon, I don’t think it’s a must-see on a holiday in Menorca.
Maybe I missed something, but I really didn’t find anything exciting here.
The Distillery Xoringeur Gin Distillery
The distillery has been here since the 17th century (!), when it was founded by the Xoringeur family, whose origins are in Italy. Since then, traditional techniques have been used, passed down from generation to generation.
But wait—gin is British. How did it get here?
Menorca was under British rule (not at all surprising that they were looking for some sunny island and didn’t want to give it back). Sailors from the Royal Navy brought the art of production to the island.
To this day, as mentioned, the distillery proudly continues this tradition, using only the finest ingredients and traditional copper stills.
Take a guided tour here and see all the traditional tools that were used back then. At the end of the tour, you can taste a wide variety of gin flavors, from the classic London Derry to special versions fermented with local plants.
Currently, more than half a million bottles are produced here per year, which are sold not only in Spain but also in the United States, France, Italy, Japan, Australia, Mexico, and New Zealand.
We came here spontaneously and there was no guided tour available at the time. We walked around the place independently, tasted the different types of gin, and bought a few bottles to take home. 😋
To book a guided tour, visit their website.
Address: Moll de Ponent, 91, 07701 Maó, Illes Balears
If you do visit, hop to the other side of the road; maybe you’ll be lucky and a fishing boat will dock and you can observe the sea catch.
The Cardamom Menorca Indian Restaurant
Food that always makes the human heart happy, especially vegetarians.
I highly recommend this restaurant, which convinced even my mother and young son who are not really into Indian food.
Address: Moll de Llevant, 267, 07701 Maó, Illes Balears
Ciutadella
Ciutadella was once the capital and dates back to the 13th century. It has an old town with an impressive cathedral and alleys lined with boutique shops and restaurants.
Today it’s a port city and an important commercial center for the entire island.
Of the beaches, Cala Macarella and Cala Turqueta are two gems with turquoise waters and fine white sand.
Café Central
A heavenly cafe, and something I have not seen anywhere else. It has the atmosphere of a monastery with Jesus on the wall.
The tea was poured with a wooden stick that reminded me of a matcha house in Tokyo.
The dishes were special and beautiful. The thick meaty cookie we ate was bursting with peanuts and flavor. Soft and a little crispy on the edges.
Don’t miss this place!
Address: Carrer de Ca’l Bisbe, 1, 07760 Ciutadella de Menorca, Illes Balears
Gelateria Deliri DeLaCrem
We know DeLaCrem ice cream from Barcelona and couldn’t be happier to find out that they have a Menorcan branch. Same high standard, same excellent service.
It’s one of the best I’ve had in recent years. Actually, in my life.
Nibs Healthy Bar
This is a great place for lunch and is vegetarian-friendly. It’s in a prime location—in a beautiful central square.
Address: Plaça d’Artrutx, 7, 07760 Ciutadella de Menorca, Illes Balears
Self-Sailing From Ciutadella
This was one of our most memorable experiences from our vacation. No license is required—you can rent a small motorboat for self-sail.
In April, we had a hard time finding a place to rent it to us, though, since it was before the season. However, we didn’t give up and found the last guy who miraculously had a boat available for us.
When we arrived, happy and cheerful, with cold drinks we bought on the way, hats, swimsuits, and sunscreen in case the sun broke out, it turned out that the engine was broken.
“I’ll be back in half an hour with a new boat.” Well, well. So it was clear that it wasn’t half an hour. And luckily so. Because we had time to check out the nearby heavenly cafe (there’s no other definition).
After an hour and a half, the guy returned with a new boat in tow. It even managed to start. And so, we set off into the heart of the sea, happy and cheerful still.
Wind in our hair, the roar of the struggling engine, the bounces on the waves, the intoxicating views. The 11-year-old in our group quickly mastered the steering and was happy to be the captain for four hours, while we rested and drank cold drinks.
What a joy. I would venture to say that it doesn’t really matter where you sail, you will definitely find beautiful beaches—plenty of them. We were happy to reach places we already knew from before.
Some of us whose lineage is rooted in Eastern Europe were excited to jump into the water when there were gray clouds and it was 16 degrees outside. An especially worthwhile experience.
Pay attention:
- Don’t go too far from the coast.
- The ferries leave from Ciutadella (and also from Mahón). They are extremely large and make high waves.
Recommended Beaches in Menorca
Cala en Brut
Almost the first beach we visited. How beautiful it is!
Very easy to get to, but there are a few steps to go down. Clear, crystal water. There is no real access to the beach, just concrete with steps to the water.
Cala Mitjana/Mitjaneta
If there’s a place I’d like to stay, it’s here. A piece of paradise, my dear. A beach worth the kilometer walk to get to.
Park in the lot and start walking along the path. After fifteen minutes (or less, if you don’t have children 😊) you’re there.
A hot tip: Continue along the path to Cala Mitjaneta, the tiny bay farther on. It will take you a while to get there, not because the road is long, but because every step is an opportunity for another mesmerizing photo.
There are no beach services here, so bring everything you need with you.
Simply a dream of a place.
North of the Island: Fornells and the Area
One of the most beautiful towns worth a visit is Fornells on the northern end of the island. It has a small port, a few restaurants and cafes and some small, picturesque streets.
In between are white houses with green shutters. It’s simply lovely to wander around here.
From there, drive to the beach of Fornells: Platges de Fornells, park your car there, and walk to Cala Tirant. The view here is simply lovely.
When you get tired, drive to the Cape Cavalleria Lighthouse. When you leave the car park, you’ll see a kiosk. Buy something cold to drink, some ice cream, and walk around the lighthouse area.
Related read: A Week in Spain: From Madrid to Barcelona
South of the Island
Binibeca
The main town here is Binibeca, and it’s super cute. It’s worth hopping onto the Bufador de Binibequer beach and walking there for a while.
Cala en Porter
A beautiful view of a small but impressive bay—Mirador Cala en Porter.
Just park your car and walk 10 meters until you see this beautiful beach, then continue down to the sand.
Cova d’en Xoroi
A place we didn’t get to, unfortunately, because we arrived with tired children and even more so parents, just as it was closing in the afternoon.
I’m also not sure how suitable the place is for children. It’s a music bar-club. Anyway, look at the pictures on Google Maps and you’ll see what a cool little nook it is. It’s a bit reminiscent of Rosh HaNikra.
There’s a fee to enter here—see the place’s website. If you go, tag me on Instagram and tell me how it was.
Related read: The Best Beach Bars in Barcelona
Visiting a Dairy
So not only does Manorca dabble in traditional gin, it’s proud of its cheese, too, called—you guessed it—Mahón cheese.
This dairy, which is right in the center of the island, makes the cheeses on site. You can take a guided tour or order a tasting platter with snacks. We toured independently (how did we miss all the guided tours?) and sat down to eat.
I admit, there are better cheeses than this, mostly in northern Spain. For cheese fans, I recommend you at least try it, though.
In the air-conditioned factory store, you can also purchase other delicacies.
Address: Carretera Alaior a Arenal d’en Castell s/n, 07740, Balearic Islands
