Three days are enough to see the essentials of Menorca if you give each day to one area: the east (Maó, Es Grau and Favàritx), the north and the centre (Monte Toro, Fornells and Cavalleria) and the west (Ciutadella, a southern cove and the sunset at Punta Nati). By car, no drive takes more than an hour: the island is about 50 km end to end.
Day 1: Maó, Es Grau and Favàritx lighthouse
Start in the east: the centre and harbour of Maó in the morning, a swim in the calm water of Es Grau at midday and the black slate cape of Favàritx in the afternoon.
From mid-May to 30 September the road to Favàritx is closed to cars: take bus L43 from Maó bus station (the last bus back leaves around 19:45). Start in Maó, have lunch in Es Grau and dinner in Cales Fonts, 8 minutes from Maó.
Recommended itinerary
3 days
Charming places
Lighthouses and villages of Menorca
Three days, three coasts: Favàritx and Es Grau, Monte Toro and Cavalleria, Ciutadella and Punta Nati.
Day 2: Monte Toro, Fornells and Cavalleria
On day two, head north: the view over almost the whole island from Monte Toro (358 m), lunch in Fornells and sunset at Cavalleria lighthouse, above 90-metre cliffs.
Go up Monte Toro early, while the sky is clear. In Fornells, lobster stew usually costs more than €60 per person: book ahead. If you’d rather swim, swap Cavalleria lighthouse for Cala Pregonda, about 35 minutes’ walk from the Binimel·là car park.
Day 3: Ciutadella, a southern cove and Punta Nati
Spend the last day in the west: the Naveta des Tudons and Ciutadella’s old town in the morning, an unspoilt southern cove in the afternoon and the sunset at Punta Nati lighthouse.
In July and August the Cala Turqueta car park closes when full, around 8:00, but there is usually space after 17:00. In those two months, at sunset, you reach Punta Nati lighthouse on the shuttle bus from Ciutadella. Before that, the Naveta des Tudons and Ciutadella’s old town.
Recommended itinerary
1 day
History and culture
Ciutadella in a day
The naveta, the marès quarries, the old capital, an unspoilt cove and sunset at Punta Nati.
Three days without a car
Without a car, split the days like this: Maó and Es Grau on bus L23, Ciutadella and Macarella on bus L69 (1 June to 30 September) and Cala Galdana with the path to Cala Mitjana.
Stay one night in Maó and two in Ciutadella: the Maó–Ciutadella bus runs every 30 minutes and takes an hour. Which line goes to each beach, in our guide to buses in Menorca.
Recommended itinerary
3 days
Beaches and coves
Menorca without a car
Three days by bus and on foot: Es Grau, Ciutadella, Macarella, Cala Galdana and Cala Mitjana.
Where to stay for a 3-day break
For three days one base is enough: Maó if you fly in and will use the bus, Ciutadella if you care most about the southern coves and sunsets, or inland (Es Mercadal, Ferreries) if you have a car.
What each area offers, in where to stay in Menorca.
Take it organised
Itineraries with the order of each day, how to get there and where to eat, ready on your phone.
3 days
Charming places
Lighthouses and villages of Menorca
Three days, three coasts: Favàritx and Es Grau, Monte Toro and Cavalleria, Ciutadella and Punta Nati.
3 days
Beaches and coves
Menorca without a car
Three days by bus and on foot: Es Grau, Ciutadella, Macarella, Cala Galdana and Cala Mitjana.
