Menorca Travelers Recommend

While visitors tend to flock to Menorca for its beaches first and foremost, this pocket-size Balearic gem offers plenty more. With three days at your disposal, there’s time to enjoy its pretty towns, prehistoric relics, and sleepy countryside, as well as sailing trips and water sports. Here’s how to get the most out of 72 hours on Menorca.

Day 1: Sea, Sands, and Sailing

Devote day one to Menorca’s top draws: the sandy coves and turquoise waters that offer up all manner of water-sports opportunities and the chance to simply lounge in the sun. Take a Jet Ski tour to whiz past beaches and bays, join a boat trip, or choose a kayaking tour to learn how to paddle and follow a guide to hidden coves and swim stops. In the afternoon, take a catamaran trip—it’s a relaxing way to enjoy the coast and access bays perfect for snorkeling. Alternatively, swap the beach for a spot of culture at the Binissues Natural Sciences Museum. Set in the countryside, this indoor-outdoor attraction showcases traditional life with craft demos, re-enactments, and food tastings. Come dusk, view the sunset and the island from the water on an evening sailboat cruise.

Day 2: Getting Out and About

Now that you’ve enjoyed Menorca’s beaches, delve into its towns, countryside, and sights. Get an all-round picture on a grand tour that covers highlights such as historical Ciutadella, Mt. Toro, and the island’s megalithic sites—ancient stones left by the Talaiotic peoples around 3,000 years ago. If you prefer to explore independently, rent a scooter for the day to zip around Menorca’s country lanes and villages. Outdoor enthusiasts, meanwhile, can hike the Cami de Cavalls footpath that winds along Menorca’s southern coast. Or, if you’re hungry for adventure, take off on a Jeep safari, heading off-road to discover secret coves and gorges and checking out landmarks such as the Cavalleria lighthouse.

Day 3: Water Sports and Water Parks

Menorca’s beaches and water sports beckon again today. Go all out for thrills with a high-in-the-air flyboarding session, or try snorkeling with a motorized sea-scooter to expand your exploring range and speed effortlessly through the water. Alternatively, book a stand-up paddleboarding tour—learning the technique from an instructor and discovering coves inaccessible from land—or opt for luxury on a private catamaran cruise along the island’s rugged coast. For family fun, make tracks for Menorca’s water parks. If you haven’t already taken a catamaran trip, save it for tonight—cutting through the waves and watching the sunset over drinks and nibbles. Alternatively, go restaurant-hopping at Menorca’s seaside towns—perhaps hitting Mahon or Ciutadella for the pick of harborfront eateries.

From long, sandy stretches dotted with boats to hidden, cliff-ringed bays, tiny Menorca offers seemingly endless options to swim, sail, and soak up the Mediterranean sun, all in a more relaxed setting than glitzy Ibiza. Here are some of the island’s best beaches to help you find your bliss. 

Cala Macarella

Considered one of Menorca's most beautiful beaches, Macarella offers an undeveloped cove of turquoise water surrounded by pine trees and cliffs. Enjoy some of the best views on the island on a cliff-top walk between Macarella and the smaller, neighboring beach of Macarelleta, frequented by nude sunbathers.

Punta Prima

Head to Menorca’s southeasternmost point for one of the island’s top water sports destinations. Fringed by resorts, this long sandy crescent is also one of the island’s largest beaches, with plenty of room to drop a towel and umbrella. It’s a great launch point for windsurfing and sailing, and calm waters attract flocks of swimmers. Just be wary of occasional strong currents, and look for a green flag signaling that it's safe to swim.

Cala Turqueta

Found on the southern shore of Ciutadella, this secluded cove is just a short drive from one of Menorca’s main cities. A 15-minute hike down a rocky trail leads to a white sandy beach and clear, shallow waters. Try to arrive early, as the parking lot fills up in summer.

Cala Mitjana

Beloved by locals and tourists alike, this gorgeous, clean beach on the island’s southern shore offers a slice of white sand leading into a pristine blue cove, all surrounded by dramatic cliffs. Get here via a short walk from the parking lot, or arrive in style on a boat, kayak, or jet ski. 

Es Grau

Tucked into a protected nature reserve on Menorca’s sleepy north coast, this family-friendly beach abuts the fishing village of the same name. Rent a sea kayak or swim in shallow waters along the expansive shoreline. Make a day of it by exploring the nearby S’Albufera wetlands and getting a taste of Menorcan cuisine at a village tavern.

Even with just one day in Menorca, it’s possible to enjoy the highlights of the Balearic island. From a rugged coast and sandy coves to pretty ports and action-packed waterparks, here’s how to experience the best of Menorca during a 1-day stay.

Morning: Ocean Waves and Country Ways

Surrounded entirely by the Mediterranean Sea, Menorca has a myriad ways to enjoy the beach and sea. Rent a Jet Ski and zoom past the south-coast beaches, or join a cruise that drops anchor at a series of secluded bays. Go deeper during a sea scooter snorkeling adventure, which involves a handheld propulsion device that lets you go faster and deeper. 

Menorca has lots for landlubbers, too—take a Jeep tour around the rugged countryside or join a sightseeing tour that covers gems such as the whitewashed village of Fornells and medieval Ciutadella.

Afternoon: Slides and Scooters

Menorca’s family fun isn’t confined to beaches and boats; it takes center stage at the island’s family-friendly waterparks. Dive into Splash, which boasts the Black Hole chute and other high-speed adventures, or enjoy the giant slides of the Aqua Center near Cala’n Blanes— opt for a package that includes round-trip transport and admission tickets for maximum convenience. To set your own sightseeing schedule, hire a scooter and follow Menorca’s country lanes, delving into the historic capital of Mahon or seeking out secluded coves.

Evening: Sunset Sails

As dusk falls, catch sunset views on an early-evening cruise from Fornells. Opt for a small-group sailboat trip for a more intimate experience, and watch coastal lights flicker into life over onboard drinks and snacks. Alternatively, choose a later-start catamaran cruise to add a frisson of after-dark romance. 

If you prefer a classic drinks-dinner night out, stroll along the seafront and you’ll find abundant waterside restaurants, bars, and clubs. Up the pace in Mahon or west-coast Ciutadella— both have harbors alive with seafood eateries, cafes, and music spots.

Two days in Menorca gives you time to explore the countryside, try out watersports, and discover the island’s historic towns, ruins, and culture. See below for how to get the best from two days on this small yet adventure-filled island.

Day 1: Sights and Heritage

**Morning:**Familiarize yourself with Menorca on an island tour, which lets you skip the hassle of car hire. Tours typically cover highlights such the wetlands of Albufera Natural Park, Mt. Toro, and Mahon, the capital.  For extra adventure, ride a Jeep to hidden coves and lighthouses, or hike part of the Cami de Cavalls coastal path.

**Afternoon:**Devote the afternoon to uncovering Menorca’s traditional culture at the Binnisues Natural Sciences Museum. This indoor-outdoor museum brings bygone ways to life with exhibitions, re-enactments, folkloric shows, and food tastings. Otherwise, rent a scooter and go off the beaten track to uncover remote villages and beaches.

**Evening:**Menorca’s sunsets are something special and boats make prime viewpoints. Cap your day on a sailboat cruise to savor drinks and nibbles as you absorb the sundowner views. If you prefer staying on land, book a table at one of the island’s many waterfront restaurants. 

Day 2: Aquatic Adventure

**Morning:**Today’s all about fun in the sun. Jump on a Jet Ski to zoom across the waves, or opt for a gentler kayak or boat trip along the southern coast. Alternatively, use Menorca’s calm and clear waters to try out adventurous watersports such as flyboarding, stand-up paddle boarding, and snorkeling with a handheld, motorized seascooter.

**Afternoon:**Continue the water-based activities this afternoon at one of Menorca’s family-oriented waterparks. Ride the lazy river and slides at Splash park, or book an admission-ticket-and-transfer tour to AquaCenter, so you can dive into the fun without worrying about transportation.

**Evening:**After an action-packed day, spend the evening enjoying the island’s rustic, seafood-based cuisine. Cherry-pick a fish restaurant along Mahon’s harborfront or take a romantic table in Ciutadella’s backstreets.