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  • Beaches and coves
  • 7 days

Menorca’s coves with the family

Seven days to get to know Menorca’s best beaches and coves with children or at a relaxed pace: shallow-water beaches, fine-sand beaches with facilities and the unspoilt coves of the south and north, with mornings on the beach and afternoons for a walk, a village or a sunset.

Overview

Length
7 days
Activity level
Easy walks of under 30 minutes to each cove
Type of experience
Beaches and coves, Charming places

Itinerary

Day 1Es Grau: calm water to start
  1. Morning · Midday

    10:00–15:30

    Maó

  2. Afternoon

    17:00–19:00

    Maó

Days 2 to 7 are in the full itinerary

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  3. The same email includes the PDF with every detail: times, how to get there by car or bus, where to eat, a rainy-day plan and a card for each place. It works offline.

A look inside the PDF

  • Cover
  • Each day, with times
  • A card for each place
  • Phone numbers and tips
Real pages from the “Lighthouses and villages of Menorca” itinerary. Yours has the same layout, with the days and places of your route.

As digital content delivered instantly, it cannot be withdrawn from once delivered. How refunds work.

What’s included

  • A plan for every day with approximate times, from morning to night
  • Online itinerary to mark each place as visited during your trip
  • Downloadable PDF with every detail, to use offline too
  • How to get from one stop to the next: time, distance, parking and bus
  • Several places to eat in each area, in case one is full
  • An indoor alternative for rainy days
  • Summer and winter opening hours and access restrictions
  • A card for each place with the day and time of your visit, car parks and bus lines
  • Which coves have facilities and which don’t, and when to arrive at each

Places you’ll visit

Tap a place to see its card without leaving the itinerary.

  • Beaches and coves

    A small fishing village with a very calm, shallow beach, the gateway to the s’Albufera des Grau Nature Park.

  • Nature and hiking

    The heart of the Menorca Biosphere Reserve: a lagoon, dunes, woodland and coast with waymarked trails and birdwatching hides.

  • Beaches and coves

    Menorca’s longest beach, with almost 3 km of sand, dunes and the remains of an early Christian basilica by the shore.

  • History and culture

    One of the largest Talayotic villages in the Balearics, with three talayots, a taula enclosure, houses and a water-collection system. It has a visitor centre.

  • Beaches and coves

    A sandy beach between two high cliffs, with facilities, on Alaior’s south coast. The Cova d’en Xoroi is in one of the cliffs.

  • Charming places

    A cluster of white houses in the style of a fishing village, built by the sea in the 1960s. Its alleys are among the most photographed in Menorca.

  • Charming places

    The little harbour of Es Castell, at the mouth of Maó harbour: old fishermen’s caves turned into restaurants with tables by the water.

  • Beaches and coves

    An unspoilt cove south of Ciutadella with white sand, turquoise water and pine woods down to the shore. No buildings around it.

  • History and culture

    Menorca’s old capital: palaces, the Gothic cathedral, plaça des Born and the arcaded streets of Ses Voltes, all on foot within less than a kilometre.

  • Charming places

    A black-and-white striped lighthouse at the south-western tip of Menorca, next to Cala en Bosc. Facing Mallorca, it’s another great spot for sunset.

  • Beaches and coves

    Menorca’s most famous coves: white sand and turquoise water between cliffs and pines. Macarelleta, smaller, is 10 minutes away on foot.

  • Nightlife and leisure

    Ciutadella’s narrow, elongated natural harbour gathers terraces, restaurants and cocktail bars: where people dine and go out in the west of the island.

  • Beaches and coves

    A large shell-shaped cove with every facility, at the mouth of the Algendar gorge. Calm water, ideal for families.

  • Beaches and coves

    A white-sand cove surrounded by cliffs and pines, a short walk from Cala Galdana. Much loved for its crystal-clear water.

  • Charming places

    A fishing village in the north, at the end of a large, calm bay. It’s famous for its lobster stew and its 18th-century defence tower.

  • Charming places

    Menorca’s highest point (358 m), in the centre of the island. At the top are the sanctuary of the Virgin of El Toro and a viewpoint from which you can see almost all of Menorca.

Related guides

White houses and boats of Es Grau by the water

Beaches and coves · Maó

Es Grau

A small fishing village with a very calm, shallow beach, the gateway to the s’Albufera des Grau Nature Park.

What it’s like

The beach sits in a sheltered bay, with sand and water that stays shallow for many metres: one of the best for small children.

The village has restaurants with terraces over the water, and paths lead from here to the lagoon and the Camí de Cavalls.

Practical information

Municipality
Maó
Location
9 km from Maó
Best time
Morning and midday
By car
From Maó, 15 min (9 km). Free parking at the entrance to the village.
Parking
Free car park at the entrance to the village
By bus
Line L23 Maó–Es Grau, all year round, more often in summer. Bus timetables: Beach buses (opens in a new tab)

See the details

The s’Albufera des Grau lagoon surrounded by vegetation

Nature and hiking · Maó

S’Albufera des Grau Nature Park

The heart of the Menorca Biosphere Reserve: a lagoon, dunes, woodland and coast with waymarked trails and birdwatching hides.

What to do

Three short, waymarked trails leave from the visitor centre and take in the lagoon, the woodland and the hides. They’re flat and suitable for families.

The centre has an exhibition on the park’s landscapes: a good option if it rains.

Practical information

Municipality
Maó
Location
Rodríguez Femenias visitor centre, Maó–Es Grau road, km 3.5
Best time
Morning
Opening hours
Visitor centre: from April to October, Tuesday to Thursday 9:00 to 19:00 and Friday to Monday 9:00 to 15:00; shorter hours in winter. The trails are open to all.
By car
From Maó, 8 min along the Es Grau road to km 3.5. Free parking next to the visitor centre.
Parking
Free car park next to the visitor centre
By bus
Line L23 Maó–Es Grau runs along the park road: footpaths lead from Es Grau to the lagoon. Bus timetables: Beach buses (opens in a new tab)

See the details

Long sandy beach and dunes of Son Bou

Beaches and coves · Alaior

Son Bou

Menorca’s longest beach, with almost 3 km of sand, dunes and the remains of an early Christian basilica by the shore.

What it’s like

Light sand, moderate waves and facilities in the developed area. Behind the beach is a protected wetland.

At the eastern end are the remains of a 5th- or 6th-century early Christian basilica, free to visit.

Practical information

Municipality
Alaior
Location
South coast of Alaior
Best time
All day
By car
From Alaior, 10 min (8 km); from Maó, 25 min. Free car parks along the beach.
Parking
Free car parks along the beach
By bus
Line Maó–Alaior–Son Bou, all year round. Bus timetables: Beach buses (opens in a new tab)

See the details

Stone columns and slabs of the houses in the village of Torre d’en Galmés

History and culture · Alaior

Torre d’en Galmés

One of the largest Talayotic villages in the Balearics, with three talayots, a taula enclosure, houses and a water-collection system. It has a visitor centre.

The village

It sits on a small hill overlooking the south of the island. It was inhabited from the end of the Bronze Age until Roman times.

It’s best to start at the visitor centre and then explore the village at a gentle pace: an hour is enough.

Practical information

Municipality
Alaior
Location
5 km south of Alaior
Best time
Morning or late afternoon in summer (there’s little shade)
Opening hours
In high season, with a ticket (in summer, 10:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 20:00). From November to Easter, free entry. Check the visitor centre’s hours before you go.
By car
From Alaior, 10 min (5 km) towards Son Bou. Free parking next to the visitor centre.
Parking
Free parking next to the visitor centre
By bus
No bus goes there. The Son Bou bus passes about 2 km away: better by car or taxi.

See the details

Cala en Porter beach seen from the top of the cliff

Beaches and coves · Alaior

Cala en Porter

A sandy beach between two high cliffs, with facilities, on Alaior’s south coast. The Cova d’en Xoroi is in one of the cliffs.

What it’s like

A wide beach with facilities at the end of a gorge. Above, the resort has restaurants and shops.

The prehistoric caves of Cales Coves are 2 km away.

Practical information

Municipality
Alaior
Location
South coast of Alaior, 15 km from Maó
Best time
All day
By car
From Maó, 20 min (15 km) via Sant Climent. Parking in the resort and steps down to the beach.
Parking
Parking in the resort; steps down to the beach
By bus
Lines Maó–Sant Climent–Cala en Porter and Cala en Porter–Alaior. Bus timetables: Beach buses (opens in a new tab)

See the details

Alley of white houses and a boat pulled up in Binibeca Vell

Charming places · Sant Lluís

Binibeca Vell

A cluster of white houses in the style of a fishing village, built by the sea in the 1960s. Its alleys are among the most photographed in Menorca.

A village that is a development

Although it looks like an old village, Binibeca Vell was designed in 1964 imitating the architecture of Mediterranean fishing villages: whitewashed walls, wooden doors and windows and narrow passages.

The houses are private homes, so the community asks visitors to come quietly and within the permitted hours.

Nearby

Five minutes on foot is Binibèquer beach, with the Los Bucaneros beach bar, and ten minutes by car, Punta Prima.

Practical information

Municipality
Sant Lluís
Location
South coast of Sant Lluís, 10 km from Maó
Best time
Morning, before 11:00
Opening hours
It’s a private, lived-in development: visits are allowed from 10:00 to 22:00, all year.
By car
From Maó, 15 min (10 km) along the Me-8 and the Binibèquer road. Parking at the entrance; in summer it fills up around 11:00.
Parking
Car park at the entrance to the village; in summer it fills up by mid-morning
By bus
Line Maó–Sant Lluís–Binibèquer (and the loop via Binissafúller), from Maó bus station. Bus timetables: Beach buses (opens in a new tab)

See the details

Boats moored in front of the colourful houses of Cales Fonts

Charming places · Es Castell

Cales Fonts (Es Castell)

The little harbour of Es Castell, at the mouth of Maó harbour: old fishermen’s caves turned into restaurants with tables by the water.

The easternmost harbour

Es Castell grew as the suburb of Sant Felip castle during British rule: hence its parade ground and Georgian-style houses.

Cales Fonts is the cove where boats took shelter; today it’s one of the liveliest places for an evening stroll.

Practical information

Municipality
Es Castell
Location
Es Castell, 3 km from Maó
Best time
Sunset and dinner
By car
From Maó, 8 min (3 km). In summer, park in the upper part of Es Castell and walk down.
Parking
Street parking in Es Castell; in summer, better park at the top and walk down
By bus
Line Maó–Es Castell, with frequent departures from Maó town centre. Bus timetables: Island bus lines (opens in a new tab)

See the details

Cala Turqueta seen through the pines, with turquoise water

Beaches and coves · Ciutadella de Menorca

Cala Turqueta

An unspoilt cove south of Ciutadella with white sand, turquoise water and pine woods down to the shore. No buildings around it.

What it’s like

One of the best-known unspoilt coves of the south: fine sand, pines and two small rocky outcrops on either side. There’s no beach bar.

It’s on the Camí de Cavalls: on foot it links with Macarella (about 45 minutes to the east).

Tips

In summer, arrive before 8:00 or after 17:00. Bring water, food and shade.

Practical information

Municipality
Ciutadella de Menorca
Location
South coast of Ciutadella
Best time
First thing in the morning
By car
From Ciutadella, 20 min (12 km) south. A car park with about 120 spaces that closes when full (around 8:00 in July and August), then a 10-minute walk.
Parking
Free car park with about 120 spaces that closes when full: around 8:00 in July and August. From there, a 10-minute walk.
By bus
Line L68 Ciutadella–Cala en Turqueta in season, from Ciutadella's ring road. Bus timetables: Beach buses (opens in a new tab)

See the details

Façade of Ciutadella cathedral on the cathedral square

History and culture · Ciutadella de Menorca

Ciutadella old town

Menorca’s old capital: palaces, the Gothic cathedral, plaça des Born and the arcaded streets of Ses Voltes, all on foot within less than a kilometre.

What to see

Plaça des Born, with its obelisk and the town hall on the walls; the cathedral, built on the site of the old mosque after the Catalan conquest of 1287; and the Ses Voltes arcades, full of shops.

From the Born you walk down to the harbour, where many of the town’s restaurants are.

Tip

On rainy days, Ses Voltes and the cathedral let you carry on your visit under cover.

Practical information

Municipality
Ciutadella de Menorca
Location
Ciutadella town centre, between plaça des Born and the cathedral
Best time
Morning or from 18:00 in summer
Opening hours
Cathedral (free visit): 8:00 to 13:00 and 18:00 to 20:00; no tourist visits on Sundays and public holidays.
By car
From Maó, 50 min (45 km) along the Me-1. Park on the ring roads (Contramurada): the centre is pedestrian.
Parking
Car parks on the ring roads (Contramurada); the historic centre is pedestrian
By bus
Line Maó–Ciutadella every 30 minutes (and the non-stop Express Bus). The station is a 10-minute walk from the Born. Bus timetables: Island bus lines (opens in a new tab)

See the details

Artrutx lighthouse at sunset on Menorca’s south-west coast

Charming places · Ciutadella de Menorca

Artrutx lighthouse

A black-and-white striped lighthouse at the south-western tip of Menorca, next to Cala en Bosc. Facing Mallorca, it’s another great spot for sunset.

The south-western point

The lighthouse marks the channel between Menorca and Mallorca, which you can see across the water on clear days. The coast is low and rocky, ideal for a sunset walk.

A few minutes away are Cala en Bosc, with its marina and restaurants, and the beaches of Son Xoriguer.

Practical information

Municipality
Ciutadella de Menorca
Location
Cap d’Artrutx, next to Cala en Bosc (south of Ciutadella)
Best time
Sunset
By car
From Ciutadella, 20 min (11 km) south along the Cala en Bosc road. Free parking next to the lighthouse.
Parking
Free car park next to the lighthouse
By bus
Line Ciutadella–Sa Caleta–Cala en Bosc–Son Xoriguer: get off at Cala en Bosc and walk 15 minutes. Bus timetables: Beach buses (opens in a new tab)

See the details

Turquoise water of Cala Macarella seen from the clifftop path

Beaches and coves · Ciutadella de Menorca

Cala Macarella and Macarelleta

Menorca’s most famous coves: white sand and turquoise water between cliffs and pines. Macarelleta, smaller, is 10 minutes away on foot.

What it’s like

Macarella has a beach bar and is wider; Macarelleta, to the west, is reached by a 10-minute path and is more secluded.

Along the Camí de Cavalls you can walk there from Cala Galdana (about 45 minutes) or from Cala Turqueta.

Tips

In summer, take one of the first buses: by mid-morning the cove is full.

Practical information

Municipality
Ciutadella de Menorca
Location
South coast of Ciutadella
Best time
Early morning
Seasonal access
From 1 June to 30 September you can’t drive there: bus L69 from Ciutadella’s ring road, with frequent departures from 8:25 (until 20:20 in July and August), or on foot along the Camí de Cavalls. From October to May there’s a car park.
By car
Only from October to May: 25 min from Ciutadella and a car park 15 minutes' walk away. From 1 June to 30 September the car park is closed.
By bus
Line L69 Ciutadella–Macarella from 1 June to 30 September, from the ring road (av. Josep Mascaró Passarius), from 8:25. Single €4.60; return €8.40. Bus timetables: Macarella bus (opens in a new tab)

See the details

Ciutadella harbour with moored boats and whitewashed houses

Nightlife and leisure · Ciutadella de Menorca

Ciutadella harbour

Ciutadella’s narrow, elongated natural harbour gathers terraces, restaurants and cocktail bars: where people dine and go out in the west of the island.

At night

The terraces fill up from 21:00. Further along, towards the end of the harbour, are the cocktail bars and places with music.

In summer it’s worth booking a table for dinner.

Practical information

Municipality
Ciutadella de Menorca
Location
Baixada Capllonch and Passeig del Port, Ciutadella
Best time
Sunset and evening
By car
Park on the Contramurada or near plaça des Born and walk down the Baixada Capllonch steps.
Parking
Car parks near plaça des Born or on the Contramurada
By bus
Line Maó–Ciutadella to Ciutadella station and a 15-minute walk. Bus timetables: Island bus lines (opens in a new tab)

See the details

Shell-shaped bay of Cala Galdana with anchored boats

Beaches and coves · Ferreries

Cala Galdana

A large shell-shaped cove with every facility, at the mouth of the Algendar gorge. Calm water, ideal for families.

What it’s like

Fine sand, shallow water and a seafront promenade with restaurants, sunbeds and kayaks to hire. It’s the perfect base to walk to Cala Mitjana or Macarella.

Behind it starts the Algendar gorge, one of the longest on the island.

Practical information

Municipality
Ferreries
Location
9 km from Ferreries
Best time
All day
By car
From Ferreries, 12 min (9 km). Public car parks in the resort, paid in season.
Parking
Public car parks in the resort (paid in season)
By bus
Lines Ciutadella–Ferreries–Cala Galdana, Ferreries–Cala Galdana and Maó–Alaior–Es Mercadal–Ferreries–Cala Galdana. Bus timetables: Beach buses (opens in a new tab)

See the details

Cala Mitjana with turquoise water between cliffs and pines

Beaches and coves · Ferreries

Cala Mitjana

A white-sand cove surrounded by cliffs and pines, a short walk from Cala Galdana. Much loved for its crystal-clear water.

What it’s like

An unspoilt cove with no facilities, with rocks the boldest jump from. Right next to it is tiny Mitjaneta.

The path from Cala Galdana is part of the Camí de Cavalls and runs through the pines.

Practical information

Municipality
Ferreries
Location
East of Cala Galdana (Ferreries)
Best time
Morning
By car
From Ferreries, 12 min (8 km) along the Cala Galdana road. Dirt car park and a 15-minute walk.
Parking
Dirt car park 15 minutes’ walk away; you can also walk from Cala Galdana (20–30 min)
By bus
Bus to Cala Galdana (from Ciutadella, Ferreries or Maó) and a 20–30 minute walk along the Camí de Cavalls. Bus timetables: Beach buses (opens in a new tab)

See the details

Fornells harbour with boats and palm trees in front of the white houses

Charming places · Es Mercadal

Fornells

A fishing village in the north, at the end of a large, calm bay. It’s famous for its lobster stew and its 18th-century defence tower.

What to see

The harbour promenade, with fishing boats and terraces, leads to the Fornells tower, a British defence tower from the late 18th century overlooking the mouth of the bay.

The bay, shallow and sheltered, is one of the island’s best places to try kayaking or paddleboarding.

The caldereta

Lobster stew (caldereta) is the village’s best-known dish. It’s expensive and worth booking, especially in summer. Several restaurants close in the winter months.

Practical information

Municipality
Es Mercadal
Location
Fornells bay, 9 km from Es Mercadal
Best time
Midday (for lunch) or afternoon
By car
From Es Mercadal, 12 min (9 km) along the Me-15; from Maó, 35 min. Free parking at the entrance to the village.
Parking
Free car park at the entrance to the village
By bus
Line Es Mercadal–Fornells–Son Parc–Arenal d'en Castell–Maó, and the Fornells–Es Mercadal line, which connects with the Maó–Ciutadella bus. Bus timetables: Beach buses (opens in a new tab)

See the details

View from Monte Toro over the fields of central Menorca and the village of Es Mercadal

Charming places · Es Mercadal

Monte Toro

Menorca’s highest point (358 m), in the centre of the island. At the top are the sanctuary of the Virgin of El Toro and a viewpoint from which you can see almost all of Menorca.

The roof of Menorca

The Franciscan sanctuary was built from 1670 on the site of an old Gothic church. From the terrace you can see Fornells bay, the north coast and, on clear days, Mallorca.

The road up is narrow and winding: take it slowly.

Practical information

Municipality
Es Mercadal
Location
3 km from Es Mercadal along the Me-13 road
Best time
First thing in the morning or sunset, with a clear sky
Opening hours
The drive up and the sanctuary are free. The Sa Posada del Toro bar-restaurant opens daily from 1 May to 31 October and only at weekends from November to March.
By car
From Es Mercadal, 10 min (3 km) along the Me-13, narrow and winding. Free parking at the top.
Parking
Free car park at the top
By bus
The Maó–Ciutadella bus stops in Es Mercadal. From there, a taxi or a 1-hour uphill walk. Bus timetables: Island bus lines (opens in a new tab)

See the details

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