THINGS TO DO IN MENORCA

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Menorca, one of the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, is known for its beautiful beaches, charming towns, and archaeological sites. Here are some of the best things to do in Menorca:

1. Swim and relax on one of the best beaches on the island

Menorca has some amazing beaches to choose from. The most popular beaches are on the south coast of the island, mainly small white sandy coves with crystal clear turquoise waters.

I will recommend visiting at least the two popular beaches on the south coast Cala Galdana, & Cala ‘n Porter and two of the best coves Cala Macarella and Cala Mitjana.

Do not forget to visit some of the equally beautiful beaches on the north coast like Cala Pregonda and Platja de Cavalleria with their amazing red cliffs.

More information about the best beaches on the island can be found here.

2. Explore the two pretty towns of Ciutadella and Mahon

Ciutadella, the former capital of Menorca, is a pretty port town situated on the west coast of Menorca while Mahon, the current capital, is situated on the east side of the island built on a cliff overlooking this big natural harbour.

Both are beautiful towns to explore on foot and great places for a meal and a drink.

Having a stroll on the narrow streets and the harbour of Ciutadella and Mahon is a must thing to do while in Menorca.

For more information about Ciutadella and Mahon and the best villages and towns to visit click here.

3. Admire the views from Monte Toro

Monte Toro is the highest point on the island that can be reached easily by car. Located close to Es Mercadal provides panoramic views of the whole island. There is also a church and a monastery run by Franciscan nuns.

4. Visit some of the traditional fishing villages: Binibeca Vell, Fornells and Es Castell

Binibeca Vell is a small fishing village on the south coast, with narrow streets and white houses. The village is a reconstruction of a typical Menorcan fishing village for tourists, but it is still a very picturesque spot.

Fornells is a nice fishing village on the north coast and the best place to eat the famous lobster stew.

Es Castell close to the capital Mahon provides a nice place for an evening stroll and a meal at one of the restaurants by the sea.

For more information about the best villages and towns to visit in Menorca click here.

5. Take a boat trip to Mahon Harbour

There are daily boat excursions from Mahon harbour that offer guided tours of the harbour providing some nice views of the town and surrounding coastal scenery. It lasts about 1.5h without any stops.

You can see the Lazareto island, the La Mola Fort, various settlements around the harbour, Es Castell and glorious views of the town of Mahon itself.

6. Visit some of the prehistoric monuments

Menorca is full of sites of prehistoric settlements, mostly dating from the Talaiotic Period, which was the period of civilisation between 2000 and 1000 BC.

The main monuments are the Taules, T-shaped stone formations thought to be spiritual sanctuaries; the Talayots, which are stone towers that local people believe were once used as look-out points, and the navetas, as communal burial structures.

Some of the sites worth visiting are:

• Naveta d’es Tudons: The most famous Naveta from around 1300 BC is the most remarkable megalithic chamber tomb in Minorca, where the remains of some 50 skeletons were found. The exterior is open to visits.
• Torre d’en Galmés: the best known and largest Talayotic settlement.
• Poblat talaiòtic de Talatí de Dalt: it has some of the most well-preserved taulas.
• Torralba d’en Salort: another Talaiotic village that contains the most important “Taula” on the island.
• Talayots de Cornia Nou
• Talaiot De Torelló

7. S’Albufera d’es Grau

S’Albufera d’es Grau is a natural park located at the northeast of the island. It is the heart of the biosphere reserve. It consists of mainly farmlands, marshes and wetlands with nature trails, as well as facilities for picnicking, kayaking, snorkelling, and wildlife watching. It is the best place to spot migrating birds during spring and autumn.

More information about the park and walking trails can be found here.

8. Visit one of the Lighthouses of Menorca

Far de Cavalleria is a pretty lighthouse in a very nice location at north of the island. You can get there easily by car. There is a small exhibition inside the building and a bar outside to get a drink or some ice cream. You can walk around the lighthouse while enjoying nice views of the rocky coast of Menorca. Great spot for sunset views.

Far de Favàritx is another interesting lighthouse located at the northeast of the island. Its setting resembles of a moon landscape and it is one of the most photographed places on the island.

Punta Nati Faro is another interesting lighthouse to visit north of Ciutadella.

9. Cova d’ en Xoroi

Natural cave on a cliff, situated in Cala ‘n Porter. It is now used as a bar during the evening and it is very popular for its sunsets. It is also one of the few nightclubs in Menorca and opens until the early hours of the morning. Watching the sunset over the sea from the terrace with a cocktail is simply amazing.

10. Visit one of the military fortresses of Menorca

La Mola is a magnificent Spanish fortress located by the harbour of Mahón and built in the 19th century. It offers both an interesting insight into military history and some nice views towards Mahon Harbour.

Fort Malborough is another interesting fort to visit near Mahon. It was built by the British during the occupation of the island in the 18th century.

Castillo de San Felipe is also an interesting fortress to visit in Es Castell near Mahon.

11. Explore some of the museums of Menorca

Probably the most interesting is the Museu de Menorca. This former 15th-century Franciscan monastery in Mahon showcases Minorca’s cultural heritage, from ancient sculptures to 19th-century fine art. It contains the earliest history of the island, the Roman, Byzantine and Muslim eras and includes paintings from more recent times. Open on Tuesday to Sunday 10am-2pm (Mon closed) with tickets of €4, but free on Sundays.

There are some other museums like the Municipal Museum of Ciutadella and the Military Museum in Es Castell (Museo Militar de Menorca) if you are interested in this type of thing.

12. Líthica, Pedreres de s’Hostal

Lithica is an interesting old quarry that’s now been converted into some lovely gardens, a labyrinth and an amphitheatre for concerts. Located close to Ciutadella is fairly accessible and a great place to see (tickets of €6 currently). Allow at least an hour.

13. Visit the Xoriguer Gin Distillery

Xoriguer Gin Distillery, constructed during the 18th century, is situated in Mahon, close to the port. You can taste and purchase this typical Minorcan gin in the shop and you can have a look at the factory, but there are no guided tours of the distillery. It is worth a visit, but to be honest you can buy the same product cheaper in ordinary supermarkets.

The story of the Minorcan gin started during the British occupation of the island in the 18th century. The island’s strategic significance lay in its port at Mahon, one of the best natural harbours in the Mediterranean, which became a major British naval base. Sailors and soldiers stationed on the island frequented local taverns but were unable to find gin, the most popular drink of the day. Before long, a group of Mahon craftsmen found a solution to the problem. They imported juniper berries, which were not native to the island, and distilled gin using wine alcohol from Mediterranean vineyards. This is how Xoriguer Gin was born.

Over time, Xoriguer gin gained recognition for its unique flavour and resulted in being one of the few gins to be recognised throughout the EU as a local speciality with a geographic designation of origin, Mahon-Menorca.

Tourist Map

I have created a map that shows all the attractions and best things to do in Menorca with additional practical information.

Further Reading

You can check the following posts:

• Menorca Travel Guide
• Menorca Beaches
• Town & Villages of Menorca

Travel Resources

• Flights: I always use Skyscanner as my first choice as it’s so easy to use and you can search best deals by month. Google Flights is another very good search engine.
• Accommodation: I always use Booking.com as my first choice, as it offers a great choice of accommodation at affordable prices and it’s so easy to use. Airbnb is a great alternative for homes and apartments to rent by real homeowners. HotelsCombined is one of the best search engines to check deals from different websites.
• Ferries: Ferryhopper is one of the best websites to check ferry schedules and buy the cheapest ferry tickets.
• Car Rental: I always check Skyscanner for the cheapest car rental options. Discover Cars is also a good and easy-to-use website with great prices.
• Public Transport: There are 3 different companies with their own website for checking public transport in Menorca: TMSA, Autos Fornells & Torres.
• Day Trips & Tours: Viator provides the most comprehensive list of day trips and you can book directly with them. GetYourGuide is also a great place to search for tours & activities to do.
• Travel Insurance: SafetyWing is a great choice for long-term travellers and digital nomads. Alternatively, you can use one of the price comparison websites for cheaper quotes.
• Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, and at no extra cost to you, I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping this site running and ad-free.

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