Menorca
Menorca, the perfect island
Introduction
Menorca is a quiet island
Compared to the rest of the Balearic Islands, this island:
– It’s cheaper than Formentera
– It is smaller and therefore less saturated than Mallorca
– It’s much quieter than Ibiza, because it misses a night scene in the style of the White Island
Even so, if you visit during the months of July and August, you will have to give up being alone on the most famous beaches.
But do not worry, some of the most beautiful beaches in Menorca are hidden and are not easily accessible, so even in the middle of summer, it is possible to be very quiet.
Here, I tell you step by step how to enjoy the island of Menorca.
Menorca Map
Perfectly located in the Mediterranean Sea
It is the easternmost island of the Balearic archipelago (and also the most eastern point of the Spanish state).
Thanks to this, it enjoys a clear atmosphere and a very powerful sun when it shines.
I advise you a lot of sunscreen since the sun in this beautiful Mediterranean island stings, and a lot!
To give you a practical example, sometimes I visited it in February, without sunscreen believing that it would not be necessary, and I returned well burnt!
Menorca beaches
Without a doubt, essential
Although I will talk here about many other things that can be seen and done on the island, the beaches are the main attraction and the reason why in summer is full of tourists.
Its beaches of fine white sand and crystal clear waters are famous, and rightly so.
The reality is that having these heavenly beaches so close to the peninsula also gives Menorca a “special touch”. A touch of summer that we all love at this time of year: swimsuit, towel, aperitif, walk, shopping, dinner with the breeze of the evening … everything makes the visits in the summer in Menorca something very special and nice.
Nevertheless, if you go to Menorca, I believe that you can not miss its culture, rural life, traditional festivals, language, its villages … a lot of things that I will give you advices about so that you can enjoy it to the fullest.
The beaches of Menorca are basically differentiated by one thing: South or North.
They are radically different.
While the northern beaches are mostly rocky and arid, the southern beaches are the typical Mediterranean beaches with white sand, crystal clear water and pine trees on the coast.
While the beaches of the South are usually very saturated (for photogenic), those of the North are usually deserted (any comment you make is not valid for July and August!).
The boats make an appearance in all of them, so also in those of the North, you will find them anchored in front of the beach, but at a prudent distance defined by yellow buoys.
The best beaches in Menorca Sur
To discover the best beaches of Menorca South, if you do not know them, what better way than to guide yourself by the eyes?
CLICK on the photos to see the detail of each, its location, a short description and how to get there without problems.
Important note! I consciously omit the beaches of Cala Turqueta and Cala Macarella since I personally believe that, despite being one of the most beautiful beaches in Menorca, they are too crowded.
In Poèpics we recommend what we hope you enjoy, and it is not among our wishes that you get to a beach and you can not stay since you can not even just plant the towel in the sand because it does not fit! I will write an article shortly about these two beaches in the south of Menorca.
Let’s start with what I consider my favorite beaches of Minorca South! 🙂
Cala Es Banyul
It is quite easy to access this beach, since it is the first you will find after leaving the Son Saura car park.
All the bays of Menorca have crystal clear waters, but this one has a particularly white color due to its intense white sand.
In it you can rest and bathe calmly, and toasting under a radiant sun.
Personally I also go a lot to see sunsets, from this beach and that of Son Saura, the light is spectacular:
Cala Son Saura
Another one that I consider the best beaches in Menorca Sur, and easy to access.
As you have read above, the parking is very close (just 5 minutes walk).
The difference between Son Saura and Es Banyul or Es Talaier, is its extension and its shallow depth of water.
In it you can enjoy a magnificent day at the beach, although in the middle of summer it is quite crowded.
I usually go to read quietly during the sunset, there are beautiful views and light.
This is a cove to relax in a nice way … 🙂
Cala Mitjana y Mitjaneta
Another of my favorite beaches in Menorca.
Surrounded by high cliffs and with several paths that leave it, it is perfect both to spend a day at the beach and to bathe in its waters, as well as to take it as a resting point before following the path.
From there you can reach Cala Galdana or Cala Trebaluguer, both of which are highly recommended.
To get to Cala Mitjana you must go by road to Cala Galdana, and just before entering this site of developments and hotels, enter the parking lot that is perfectly indicated on the left.
Years ago you could go down to the beach with the vehicle, but by 2014 they closed it and forced you to leave it a little higher.
The walk to the beach is about 10 minutes, in which you will pass through a dense forest typical of the island.
When you arrive at Cala Mitjana you will find this beautiful view:
Precious, isn’t it?
Cala Trebaluguer
One of the beahes that for me is among the best beaches in South Minorca, and which I go frequently despite being more difficult to access.
The cause is the tranquility and isolation of it (except when the tourist ship appears and 80 people disembark at once …).
To get to Trebaluguer you must take a path that leaves from Cala Mitjana, it is perfectly indicated, and after climbing a steep cliff with stairs carved into the rock, you will start a path that runs through a forest until you reach it.
If you like hiking, soon I will write an article that explains another longer way to reach it. Subscribe to the newsletter and stay tuned to the news in the email! 🙂
The road is approximately 20/25 minutes depending on your pace and what you like to stop to observe the landscape or take pictures! 🙂
Playa de Binigaus
The beach of Binigaus, easily accessible as there is a large parking lot right next to it, is a long beach of fine sand and calm waters.
Depending on the time of year and the storms that have occurred, you will find a different view to it, with less sand, but equally precious.
To get there you should go to the village of Es Migjorn Gran by road, and once there, to Sant Tomás and Binigaus.
When you get on the road you will find two parking lots with band and band.
The car parks are from a restaurant that is right on the beach, so I leave it to your discretion to use them or not, I always do it.
How are the best beaches in Menorca Sur
In summary, the best beaches in South Minorca are, in my opinion, in several aspects:
- The combination of Mediterranean pine forest with stone and fine white sand
- The easy access that allows parking near the vast majority of them
- The crystal clear waters that are famous for a multitude of photographs and that perfectly match them with many Caribbean beaches
These coves of Menorca are perfect to spend a day of sun and beach, or to go to see the sunset with total tranquility.
How to get to Menorca
Fast, by plane. Long stays? Boat
Let’s start with the practical facts on the island.
The fastest way to get there is without a doubt the plane.
If you book with time, and depending on the time of year, return tickets from Barcelona for example, you can leave for only 100 €.
If you buy last minute tickets, or you are very lucky, you will end up paying € 180.
Finished my first trips to the island, where I paid for plane tickets for 40 € round trip!
Flights to Menorca
The main thing to plan to get to the island is to know how many days you will stay there.
Why?
Well, if you arrive by plane, you will end up renting a car, and the car rentals in Menorca are the most expensive I have seen.
Here are some tips on how to avoid getting scammed in car rentals in Menorca.
Ferries and boats to Menorca
A cheaper way to get to the island is by boat.
Especially if you are going to be a week and a half or two weeks away, you will be more able to go by boat with your car or motorbike.
It is a little uncomfortable, but companies like Acciona or Balearia, make night trips to Barcelona and Valencia with very decent seats that make the trip
Something as uncomfortable as it may seem at first sight. And the best: you arrive on the island, disembark from your vehicle and run!
You save the cost of car rental, insurance deductibles, etc …
Hotels in Menorca
For all budgets
Here, of course, every case is a world … and everything depends on your budget.
I think if you read this, you are not one of those who spend 1000 € a night in a fancy luxury hotel, so I will give you some clues on how to save money on accommodation in Menorca.
Personally, I have stayed in three types of accommodation:
I started in hostels (in Ciutadella de Menorca, some are very decent), then I went to apartments (since I started traveling as a couple) and then went to Airbnb.
The hostels and apartments, booking with time, you can go between 25 € – 35 € per night. If you travel accompanied, sharing the costs will leave it to a minimum.
Airbnb, the cheapest I found in Menorca, 20 € per night (looking a lot …).
There are also campsites on the island, although I did not use them. Of these, I will leave you only the names and places.
I will only recommend the places where I stayed:
Car rental in Menorca
What do you want to do on the island?
At this point you have to decide whether you want to explore the island, or just go to the apartment in front of the beach, and not move in two weeks!
Since I traveled during all the times of the year in Menorca, the vast majority of times I opted for the car.
Amateur photographer and inveterate explorer in winter I wanted to get a dry corner in case of rain, and in the summer, knowing that it would make a lot of kilometers or driving at night to photograph sunrises, wanted comfort.
Think that even if the island is small, a scooter is a bit hard to use in case it’s your first visit to the island and you’ll be doing a lot of small tours.
With 45 km from Mahón to Ciutadella, and around 35-45 minutes depending on the traffic, riding a scooter can be a bit tiring if you go from end to end.
If, on the contrary, you repeat your visit and your itineraries are more specific, a scooter is the best option in the summer (it’s raining): you will easily find parking and they are much cheaper than cars.
Here are some tips for not getting scammed by the “car hire” from Menorca airport.
What to see in Menorca
Beaches, culture and charming corners
Menorca offers almost everything (less mountain, of course!). From dream beaches and fishing villages to charming sites and prehistoric settlements. Personally, I distribute the various attractions on the days I am there and everything is balanced.
Culture and history
Menorca has hidden cultural pearls. Although it does not appear in the first pages of Google when you look for information on the island, in this corner of the Mediterranean there was an important pre-Roman Talayotic civilization (for the dimensions of the island).
There are various archaeological sites in the form of villages and “taules”, imposing megalithic constructions in some cases.
The star of these remains is the Naveta des Tudons, near Ciutadella.
The remains of villages that I love most are those of Son Mercer de Baix and Torre de Galmés.
In the first, perhaps less architecturally spectacular, you will find views of the valley in which it is truly spectacular.
In the second some elevated views of the island very attractive.
If you click on each of the names, you can see their location in Google Maps.
Menorca, occupied for centuries by the Muslims, retains some vestiges of this culture.
Personally, although not particularly architecture, the valley of “Barranc d’Algendar” I find a beautiful walk (and cool in summer).
It is right next to the town of Ferreries and is very well signposted. If you are going to visit this region, I recommend you to wear good shoes: those are shadowed valleys where moisture and water make the ground slippery even in summer.
Lithica, in the outskirts of Ciutadella, is an ancient tidal quarry, a type of stone used very frequently to build houses of the population in antiquity. You will see this type of stone in the houses around the historic center.
The old quarry is currently used for cultural purposes and is a museum and concert hall for day and night events.
I could not refer to the culture of the island without mentioning its traditional festivals, based particularly on equestrian culture.
The most famous of all: Festivals of Sant Joan de Ciutadella. An annual event that marks the beginning of summer on the island.
If you are going to visit Menorca for the first time and you are planning, do not hesitate, being in Ciutadella right now is something you will not forget easily.
Villages
Although it is the second largest city on the island, Ciutadella is home to one of the most beautiful historic centers.
The walks you can take for its streets in the summer are a delight.
Other charming cities are Biniveca Vell, Ferreries, Alaior and Es Grau, as well as the port of Mahón.
Weather in Menorca
Best times: Spring and early fall
Menorca offers different things every season of the year, and all are interesting.
In winter, the tranquility offered by the island is a haven for those who go there. Humid environment, fog, deserted beaches … everything is a unique experience of living the “lethargy” of the island while waiting for better weather conditions.
In spring, the island explodes in a concert of colors, aromas and sleepy sensations. It is getting hot and on any beach it is extremely quiet.
With the beginning of summer, marked by the festivities of Sant Joan de Ciutadella, the high season arrives on the island. The tourist massification but also the emergence of sensations, and a meeting point for a multitude of different people.
The autumn seems to Menorca calm after the storm: still the tranquility and calm on the beaches that can still be appreciated beautifully.
So far, the guide guide for a visit to Menorca. I hope you find it useful.