Why Menorca should be your next summer escape
Here’s why you need to visit Menorca for your next summer holiday.
Enjoy an island where perfect beaches exist, where time slows down, and where amazing food is waiting to be eaten.
We spent the afternoon relaxing on the golden sands of Cala Mitjana, the gentle crash of waves sending us into an unexpected nap.
We’d made the most of our week on Menorca, the second largest (and least populous) of Spain’s iconic Balearic Islands, but the constant exploration had us weary.
Morning walks along the rugged coast, long lunches in hidden cafes, afternoons spent on golden beaches, hikes through national parks, balmy evening meals under the moonlight; all had taken their toll. This nap, it turns out, was much needed.
A gentle breeze roused us in time for one last quick dip in the achingly beautiful turquoise waters, before setting off for the last dinner of our Menorcan escape.
It was going to be hard to leave our new island paradise.
During our week on Menorca, we discovered an understated island packed full of surprises. It offers a combination of interesting history, natural beauty, varied outdoor pursuits, quality food and wine, and most importantly, over 100 stunning beaches.
Here are a few reasons why Menorca should be your next summer escape.
WHY THE ISLAND OF MENORCA SHOULD BE YOUR NEXT SUMMER ESCAPE
THE ISLAND OF MENORCA IS ACTUALLY STUNNING
Yep, the whole damn island. We visited almost every single corner, and everywhere we went was exceedingly pretty.
The main towns of Mahon and Ciutadella are lifted straight from the ‘pretty old European town’ playbook, with pastel-coloured laneways, gothic churches, medieval architecture, Moorish-style buildings, large Piazzas, pretty harbours, and a huge variety of restaurants (see our guide to Menorca here).
Step outside the main centres and you’re met with rolling fields of gold, pretty white houses dotted across the landscape, winding country lanes enclosed by ancient stone walls, and farm stores selling local produce.
Menorca was declared a UNESCO Biosphere reserve in 1993, 42% of which encompasses this small island. As a result, the island is full of natural beauty, both on land and sea.
S'Albufera des Grau is the largest nature reserve on the island, and it's possible to hike, bike, kayak, and swim in the reserve.
RELATED | The best things to do on Menorca
MENORCA HAS SOME OF THE BEST BEACHES, EVER
Menorca’s beaches should be added to your Spain bucket list, as they’re some of the best we’ve ever seen.
Seriously.
To the south of the island lay the many amazing unspoilt coves of Mitjana, Macarella, Macarelleta, Turqueta, Binidali and Binigaus.
Our pick/s, if we HAD to choose, would be Mitjana, and Macarelleta; both are dreamlike in their composition: pure white sand, turquoise blue waters, dense pine groves, enclosed by sandstone cliffs.
To the north, the beaches differ greatly. The sand is darker, the cliffs more pronounced, vegetation sparse, yet the water equally clear.
Menorca’s northern beaches are quieter (although maybe not in August - the island's peak tourism season), which in many ways makes them more appealing.
Our pick of the bunch is Cavallaria - 500m long, with incredibly clear water.
In many ways, the beaches are reason enough to visit Menorca, yet that would be a shame, because...
RELATED | Our complete guide to Menorca’s best beaches
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THE PACE OF LIFE ON MENORCA IS WONDERFULLY SLOW
With a permanent population of just over 76,000, Menorca thankfully doesn’t have the infrastructure in place for mass tourism. Menorca is a ‘slow’ destination, and it’s great.
In Menorca, we walked down city streets without feeling like we were on the London tube, we had our own slice of brilliant sand, we never once had to make a dinner reservation, and had miles of hiking paths to ourselves.
Locals stopped to chat, a foreign experience for any Londoner, often leading to delightful conversations.
Things are just slower in Menorca; it’s an island that ebbs and flows to a different tempo, with locals working in unison to maintain this enjoyable, slower pace.
As a tourist, you can feel your heart rate relaxing as you exit the airport.
MENORCA IS A NATURE LOVER’S PARADISE
Being a UNESCO biosphere reserve is kind of a big deal, and Menorca is one of them.
It means the environment is prioritised over socio-economic development, which has led to the preservation of many areas of the island. Skyscrapers are banned too, so there's no risk of having your view impeded by a wall of glass and steel!
If you’re like us and into your natural activities, there’s a heap of things to do on Menorca.
The famous Cami de Cavalls hike circles the island, and at 180 km in length, isn’t for the faint-hearted. Alternatively, mountain-biking, horse riding and golfing are all possible on the island.
In the surrounding crystal clear waters, sailing, kayaking, paddleboarding, windsurfing, and even surfing, is possible.
Our favourite activity was definitely swimming - how could we resist those crystal clear waters?
MENORCA IS SMALL ENOUGH TO TRAVEL IN A DAY
Menorca is quite small, 47 kms in length, and 17 kms at its widest, and it’s possible to traverse the island in one day. Admittedly, it’ll be a busy day, but done right you’ll be able to pack in a lot of fun - we spent a day road-tripping around the island and managed to see a lot!
A car can be hired for as little as €30 for the day, while fuel should only set you back €30 depending on how far and wide you decide to venture.
As a minimum, we recommend exploring the old town of Ciutadella, a swim at the beaches of Cala Mitjana in the south, and Cavalleria in the north, a walk to Favàritx Lighthouse, cheese tasting at Subaida cheese farm (Ctra. Alaior-Arenal Castell, 07730, Alaior, Minorca, Spain), visiting the highest point on the island, El Toro, admiring the white town of Binibecca Vell, cocktails at the Cova d'en Xoroi (Cala N'Porter, Minorca, Spain) cave bar, and dinner and wine at Bodegas Binifadet (Carretera Ses Barraques S/N, 07710, Sant Lluis, Minorca, Spain).
For a full list of things to do on Menorca, read our guide here!
THE PRODUCE ON MENORCA IS EXCEPTIONAL
For a small island, the quality and variety of food on Menorca is exceptional. We can safely say we never had a bad meal, even accounting for Mark’s distaste for all things seafood. For those that DO love seafood (Mim), the bounty is endless.
Curiously for an island, Menorca’s two famous dishes are cheese and sausage. The British imported Friesian cows in the 1740’s, and over the following years Mahon cheese was perfected.
There are many cheese farms dotted throughout the countryside towards El Toro, the best being Subaida.
Sobrasada is the local sausage made of pork and red paprika, and by all reports, delicious (being mostly vegetarian meant this was off the menu for us). Other famous Menorcan dishes include oliaigo (Menorcan tomato soup), caldereta (fish stew), and amargos (similar to macaroons).
La Minerva, located on a platform in the port of Mahon, was our best meal on the Island. A ridiculously good cheese platter, delicious vegetarian paella, too many mussels, and a mouthwatering dessert concoction of berries and chocolate.
If you’re into Gin (who isn’t), Menorca is a brilliant place. A legacy of the British occupation of the island was Menorcan Gin, and you can find and enjoy a Pomada (Menorcan gin with cloudy lemonade) just about anywhere.
Warning, they're extremely 'moreish'...!
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THE TOWN OF CIUTADELLA IS PICTURE PERFECT
Ciutadella was actually an afterthought for us - we’d planned on overlooking it to spend more time on Menorca’s glorious beaches. Thankfully, we changed our minds and ended up being blown away by Menorca’s former capital.
Formerly under the influence of the Romans, Muslims, Turks and the British, the city was destroyed in 1558 and rebuilt in the 17th century. Little has changed since then, and the old town remains mostly untouched.
The cobblestone streets of the old quarter, coupled with pretty pastel facades at every turn make Ciutadella incredibly photogenic. The narrow laneways are filled with medieval, gothic and Moorish architecture, the best example being the 13th century Ciutadella de Menorca cathedral.
It is worth noting - this is one part of the island where you can feel the presence of tourism. Fortunately, a quick detour into one of the quaint laneways off the main will have you in peace and quiet.
The port is far more picturesque than Mahon, and a just short walk from the old quarter.
BINIBECA VELL IS A PHOTOGRAPHER'S DREAM
In the southeast of Menorca lies Binibeca, a quaint seaside village made up of gleaming white houses, built to mirror traditional fishing villages of years past.
Reminiscent of the Greek island villages made so famous by Instagram, Binibeca is the perfect little town to explore, camera in hand. In fact, we ended up spending far longer here than we expected, such was the lure of the pretty cobbled streets, afternoon shadows and angles.
Just remember, this is a village with private dwellings, so act responsibly!
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION FOR VISITING MENORCA
WHERE IS MENORCA, SPAIN?
Stunning Menorca (sometimes known as Minorca) is located in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Spain.
The second largest of the Balearic Islands, Menorca is steeped in rich history and culture, and is home to around 100,000 people.
Mallorca, Menorca’s largest sister, lies to its west.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT MENORCA, SPAIN?
We visited Menorca during late May/early June and thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
During this period there was a notable lack of tourists, and the crowds were smaller and more manageable, making the island extremely pleasant. What's more, the prices of food and drinks are cheaper during the shoulder period.
Therefore, we believe visiting Menorca during the shoulder seasons (April - early June, Sept-Oct) is the best time to holiday.
Visiting during the peak summer months of mid-June to August means you'll have to contend with thousands of visitors to the island, which means busy beaches, roads, restaurants and accommodation.
HOW TO GET TO MENORCA
If you're coming from Europe, getting to Menorca during peak seasons is rather easy, with daily flights from London via EasyJet. Out of season, flights are irregular and will need to be booked in advance.
Check out SkyScanner now for the best deals!
WHERE TO STAY IN MENORCA
We stayed at the all-inclusive PortBlue S'Algar San Lluis, in the resort town of s'Algar, south of Mahón, as part of a press trip with Spain tourism.
It was comfortable and pleasant enough, but if you’re like us and wish for a little less all-inclusive and a lot more adventure when on your holidays, we’d recommend opting for a more central location, in either Mahón or Ciutadella.
We’ve listed all of our Menorca hotel recommendations in our Menorca travel guide - read it here.
CIUTADELLA
Charming and beautiful, Ciutadella is our favourite town on the island - and definitely where we’d base ourselves on our next adventure here. It’s got access to some of the best beaches on Menorca, and is generally just a wonderful place to spend your time.
Hotels in Ciutadella | Search for your perfect hotel stay on Booking.com here
Airbnbs in Ciutadella | Search for your perfect Airbnb in Ciutadella here.
MAHÓN
This is Menorca’s capital, and a great place to base yourself if you’re looking to make the most of the local attractions plus have access some of the many beaches just a short drive away.
Hotels in Mahón | Search more Mahón hotels and prices on Booking.com here.
Airbnbs in Mahón | Search for your perfect Mahón Airbnb here.
HOW TO GET AROUND MENORCA
CAR HIRE
Hiring a car on Menorca is a great way to explore the island, and provide you with the freedom to visit wherever, whenever you'd like. We hired a car for a day and explored the north of Menorca, which was heaps of fun and wonderfully air-conditioned.
Fortunately, car hire on the Menorca is quite affordable, starting from €10 per day, with many local operators offering competitive prices, as well as the standard car hire companies. Car hire can be booked for pick up from the airport, or from your hotel.
To check prices and availability, check Rental Cars here
BOOK | Car rental in Menorca
PUBLIC TRANSPORT (BUS)
Public transport in the form of buses run all over the island. We travelled on the local bus many times and found them to be easy to use, clean, and most importantly, air-conditioned. Transportes Menorca runs buses all over the island, however, if you're looking to go from the north to the south, or east to west, you'll need to change buses, potentially multiple times.
THE DETAILS
Who | Transportes Menorca
Price | €1 - €5+ depending on ticket/route. Remember to carry change to purchase tickets
* If you're after more public transport information, visit the My Menorca bus info page here
SCOOTER HIRE
Sometimes, the best way to get around a little island is with the wind in your hair and two wheels under your legs. You can hire a scooter for anywhere between 24 hours and 7 days.
All you have to do then is strap on your helmet (included), plot out your adventure, and explore the best that Menorca has to offer.
Find out more about Menorca Scooter Rental here.
TAXI
Menorca is serviced by a reliable and regulated taxi service, which certainly helps if you've decided to head into town and need a late night ride back to your accommodation.
Fare prices are based on distance, but it's always best to check prices before commencing your journey. Taxi's are generally based at taxi stands known as Paradas de Taxi, so if you can't find one, ask a local who should be able to help.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
If you can't afford travel insurance, you really can't afford to travel. As the current global situation has taught many people, things can go wrong anywhere in the world - and insurance is often the only way of mitigating any issues with minimal expense or stress for you.
For all travellers | HeyMondo - COVID-19 coverage, comprehensive travel + medical insurance, an app with 24-hour medical support, and no out of pocket fees. *Get 5% off your policy by booking through our link here.
For digital nomads | SafetyWing - COVID-19 coverage, comprehensive travel & medical, and policies can be purchased while already abroad.
Car Insurance | Insurance4CarHire - a great annual car insurance policy
*In normal times, we recommend using World Nomads travel insurance, but unfortunately they're not currently covering COVID-19 related claims right now.
PLANNING TO VISIT SPAIN SOON?
We have a heap of essential reading before you travel to Spain
MENORCA GUIDE | Everything to see and do on Menorca
MENORCA DREAMIN’ | Why Menorca should be your next summer escape
MENORCA’S BEST BEACHES | Our complete guide to the stunning Menorcan beaches
SANTANDER CITY GUIDE | A complete 48-hour guide to Santander, including where to stay, what to eat, and things to know
SANTANDER | 9 amazing things to do in Santander, Spain
TRAVEL INSURANCE | Don’t leave home without travel insurance (seriously, don’t!). Click here to get the best deals with World Nomads, our trusted travel insurance provider
PHOTOGRAPHY | Love our photography? Wondering what gear we use to get all of our photos around the world? Click here to view our detailed photography gear guide, as well as our top travel photography tips!
RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL | Responsible travel is important. REALLY IMPORTANT. Learn our top responsible travel tips to help you, your family and friends travel more consciously around the globe
ECO-FRIENDLY PACKING ESSENTIALS | Don’t leave home without our favourite eco-friendly travel essentials
DISCOVER MORE OF SPAIN WITH THESE POSTS TOO!
We were hosted by Spain Tourism,Jet2.com, Visit Menorca, and Traverse as part of the #MustSeeMenorca campaign. A big thank you to the team for making our stay memorable. As always, all views are our own.
Check out #MustSeeMenorca on Twitter or Instagram.
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