6 Best Beaches in Menorca, Spain and How to Visit Them

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Menorca is home to more than 100 beaches and coves, which is wonderful news if you love the coast, but not so helpful when you’re trying to decide which ones are actually worth visiting.

With limited time on the island, it can be difficult to know which beaches deserve a place on your itinerary and which ones you can happily skip.

If you’re anything like me, you’d probably choose a beautiful beach over a hotel swimming pool any day of the week. Whenever I visit a new destination, I make it my mission to seek out the most stunning stretches of coastline, and Menorca certainly didn’t disappoint.

The good news is that many of Menorca’s best beaches are easy to reach if you have a hire car and don’t mind exploring a little beyond the main resorts. In fact, some of the most beautiful spots are tucked away from the busier tourist areas, rewarding those willing to venture a little further.

To make sure you add only the best beaches in Menorca to your itinerary, I’m going to share six of my personal favourites and exactly how you can visit them.

These are the beaches that left the biggest impression on me and the ones I’d confidently recommend adding to your travel plans. Along the way, I’ll also explain how to visit each one, what to expect and why they’re worth the journey.

Cala Mitjana and Cala Mitjaneta

One of the best beaches in Menorca and our favourite beach, by far, was Cala Mitjana. Despite being so popular, the beach retains a feeling of remoteness due to the short hike it takes to reach it from the car park.

Despite this, this beach does get busy, so if you’re looking for a remote location and a quiet day, this might not be the beach for you.

This beach is framed by impressive cliffs, which provide a great platform for theatrical dives into the sea below. The sea is as turquoise as turquoise gets, and, coming from the UK, there is something special about being able to walk straight into the sea without dying of hypothermia in the process, and the sea here was as warm as a bath!

Cala Mitjana’s sister beach, just a short walk away, Cala Mitjaneta, features a stunning small cove and shallow water, but the beach is much smaller than Cala Mitjana.

Amenities and Facilities

There are no bars, restaurants or cafes on the beach itself, so be sure to bring a packed lunch for the day, and plenty of water.

During our visit, there was a lady selling coconuts from a wheelbarrow, as well as beers and bottled water, but I wouldn’t rely on this and would make sure to take plenty of supplies for the day with you.

How to Get to Cala Mitjana

Just a short drive from Cala Galdana, Cala Mitjana is a fairly easy 1.2 km hike from the car park along a dusty downhill track. The beach is accessible for most people, although you do need to hike back uphill on your return, which may put some people off. Access for those with mobility issues may be difficult.

Parking

Parking at Cala Mitjana is free, but it gets busy, so arrive early to secure a spot. Parking location can be found here.

Cala Mitjana Accommodation

There’s no accommodation on the beach itself and no cafes, bars or restaurants, but if you’re looking to stay close to this beautiful Menorca beach, here are our favourite picks:

Galdana Gardens – A budget hotel very close to Cala Galdana, which is the resort next to Cala Mitjana. Some rooms have a sea view or pool view.

Melia Cala Galdana – Luxury 5-star hotel just a short drive from Cala Mitjana.

Cala Macarella and Cala Macarelleta

Two of my favourite beaches, and often noted as the best beaches in Menorca, are the famous Cala Macarella and Cala Macarelleta.

On the south-western side of Menorca, these two beaches belong to the Àrea Natural d’Especial Interès. These beaches are so beautiful that they are used as the backdrop for the majority of souvenirs, such as postcards and fridge magnets.

A visit to Cala Macarella can be combined with a short walk to the smaller and more discreet Cala Macarelleta.

To reach Cala Macarelleta, head to the far right side of Cala Mararella and take the coastal path through the trees, bearing round to the right. You’ll soon come to a viewpoint overlooking the beautiful Cala Macarelleta.

Amenities and Facilities

There are no facilities on Cala Macarelleta, but there is a restaurant cafeteria with toilets on Cala Macarella called Cafeteria Susy. Other than this, there are no facilities, so ensure you bring everything you need with you.

Access and Parking

Access to Cala Macarella and Macarelleta differs depending on the season. In low season, you can park at the official car park, but in high season (between June and October), access is restricted due to overcrowding to try and protect the area.

Because of this, in the summer months, you’ll need to park at Cala Galdana and walk via the Cami de Cavalls, which will take 30-50 minutes, or you can jump on a public bus from the Ciutadella or arrive via a chartered boat.

Cala Macarella Accommodation

The nearest resort to Cala Macarella is Cala Galdana, which offers plenty of accommodation. But you could also choose to stay in the beautiful Cuitadella, which is only a 25-minute drive or bus ride in the summer. If you’re looking for Cuitadella accommodation, look no further. Here are our recommended picks…

Sodium Boutique Hotel – A very cool boutique hotel in Cuitadella’s Old Town. Rooms are decorated with unique artwork and original design pieces.

120 Hotel Boutique – This adult-only luxury boutique hotel is absolutely stunning and situated in the heart of the Old Town in Menorca’s Ciutadella.

Cala Galdana

Cala Galdana is a busy seaside town with a beautiful harbour and stunning beachfront surrounded by cliffs. There are plenty of restaurants and bars here, so it’s a lovely place to head for lunch or dinner. This Menorca beach resort is also a lovely place to catch the sunset in the evening.

Cala Galdana also provides an excellent base to explore the south of the island. Due to its easy accessibility from the town, this is the perfect location for families and those with reduced or restricted mobility.

However, it’s important to add that this is predominantly a tourist town and resort, so if quintessential Spanish culture is what you’re after, you probably won’t find it here.

Facilities and Amenities

Cala Galdana is a busy seaside resort with a variety of cafes, restaurants, bars and other amenities to choose from.

Access and Parking

As a busy tourist resort, there is plenty of parking and easy access to the beach. The beach is long and wide and perfect if you’re after a little more space than some of the smaller remote beaches, such as Cala Mitjana and Cala Macarelleta.

Car parks can be found here or here.

Cala Galdana Accommodation

There is a huge variety of accommodation in Cala Galdana. If you’re looking for a base to explore the rest of the island with plenty of beaches and restaurants on your doorstep, this is the spot for you. Here’s our pick of the best hotels for every budget…

Ilunion Menorca – budget-friendly hotel in Cala Galdana with a pool and sun terrace, only 600 metres from the beach.

Comitas Floramar – a beautiful 4-star hotel very close to the beach with stunning views in Cala Galdana.

Son Saura

On our last day in Menorca, we headed to Son Saura. If you want a spacious, flat, white sandy beach to chill out on, you won’t be disappointed.

Son Saura is a flat stretch of white sand, with turquoise water and one of the best Menorca beaches if you’re after plenty of space to spread out. This is in contrast to other nearby beaches that mostly consist of small coves, leaving very little space when they get crowded in the summer.

Amenities and Facilities

There are no facilities or amenities on Son Saura, except for a toilet in the car park.

Access and Parking

Parking is very close to the beach, which makes this one of the easier beaches to access for those with restricted mobility. The car park can be found here.

Son Saura Accommodation

The best places to stay to access Son Saura would be in Cala Galdana or the Cuitadella. Alternatively, you could choose to stay in the coastal resorts of Cala en Bosc and Cap d’Artrutx, which is where we stayed when we visited.

Cala en Bosc is a lovely little resort with a quaint harbour and plenty of restaurants and bars. Here’s our pick of the best places to stay in Cala en Bosc.

Apartamento Calan Bosch – Modern and light 3-bedroom apartment in Cala en Bosc with a shared swimming pool.

El Faro 8 – Gorgeous 2-bedroom apartment with sea views out to the lighthouse in Cap d’Artrutx.

Lago Resort Menorca – Luxury adult-only hotel in Cala en Bosc, with a sun terrace, pool, and fitness centre. Located very close to the beach.

How Long Should I Spend on Menorca?

A week is not long enough to be able to see this island in all its glory, so we decided to stick to the one small area of the coastline on the south of the island with the aim of going back to explore more another time.

Ideally, 1-2 weeks would give you enough time to explore a small area of the island and check out some of Menorca’s best beaches.

If you need a holiday to unwind and recharge your batteries, Menorca is ideal. I felt that we had the best of both worlds, being able to relax but also not having to compromise on natural beauty and culture.

Is Menorca Worth Visiting?

Just in case you need any more motivation to visit Menorca and its gorgeous beaches…

Menorca is an underrated gem! It is beautiful, lusciously green, fairly quiet and peaceful with a real chillout vibe that you can’t help but succumb to.

Many people focus their attention on the more popular islands of Ibiza and Mallorca, but if you’re looking for a more laid-back vibe, Menorca is a great choice!

And the beaches…well, I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves. I recently read that Menorca has more beaches than Ibiza and Mallorca combined, and it certainly feels that this could be true when trying to decide on the best beaches in Menorca to visit.

The coastline is lined with one stunning beach after another, making it extremely difficult to decide which one to check out first.

Tips for Visiting Menorca’s Best Beaches

Arrive Early in Peak Season

Menorca is a small island, and although it tends to be quieter than the other Balearic Islands, the most popular beaches get busy in peak season.

If you’re planning a trip to one of the well-known beaches, such as Cala Mitjana or Cala Macarella, plan to arrive early to ensure you can park and find a spot on the beach before it gets busy.

Bring Food and Water to Remote Beaches

Many of the best beaches in Menorca are remote, with no shops, restaurants or bars nearby. While this is all part of the charm, it does mean you need to come prepared with food, drinks and plenty of sunscreen for a day at the beach.

Wear Suitable Footwear for Coastal Walks

Some of the beaches on this list require a short walk along a gravel path to reach them. So, don’t arrive in flip flops! Bring some sturdy walking shoes or trainers and change into your flip flops when you reach the beach.

Check Beach Parking Restrictions

Some of the best beaches in Menorca limit access during peak summer months to try to avoid overcrowding and damage to the environment. If you plan to visit between June and October, do some research before you arrive at the beach to check that access and parking are available.

Respect the Natural Environment

Of course, this should go without saying. Leave no trace principles should always apply when you are out enjoying a natural environment. Don’t leave your rubbish behind – take it with you and dispose of it when you are back at your accommodation.

Are you planning a trip to the Balearics and looking to visit some of the best beaches in Menorca?