Things to Do in Menorca: Beaches, Castles and Ancient Sites

If you only have a week, I would build it around three kinds of day. The first is a beach day at one of the coves: Cala Mitjana near Ferreries and Cala Llucalari near Alaior are the two bays that come up again and again when people ask about the nicest beaches in Menorca, and Cales Coves, also in the Alaior area, is a cove with real character of its own.

The second is a history day. For a small island, the list of archaeological sites is long: Sa Cudia Cremada and Cornia Nou near Maó, So na Caçana, Torralba d'en Salort and the Dolmen de Ses Roques Llises around Alaior, Binissafullet near Sant Lluís, and Son Mercer de Baix close to Ferreries. Add the Castle of Santa Àgueda and the Castle of Sant Antoni near Mercadal and you have more than enough for a fortnight of Menorca attractions away from the sand.

The third is an outdoor day in S'Albufera des Grau Natural Park, the island's best-known protected area, or out towards the Illa de l'Aire Lighthouse off the Sant Lluís coast.

Ferreries, in the middle of the island, is the busiest base for sightseeing. The Castle of Santa Àgueda sits above it, Cova des Coloms and the Sala hipòstila des Galliner de Madona lie towards Es Migjorn Gran, Son Mercer de Baix is close by, and Cala Mitjana gives you a beach to finish the day. Alaior, nine minutes from the airport, has S'Albufera des Grau Natural Park, the coves of Cales Coves and Cala Llucalari, and the archaeological sites of So na Caçana, Torralba d'en Salort and the Dolmen de Ses Roques Llises.

Maó, the capital and a ferry port, is the base for Sa Cudia Cremada and Cornia Nou. Sant Lluís, right by the airport, has Binissafullet and views towards the Illa de l'Aire Lighthouse, while Mercadal, sixteen minutes from the airport, is where you will find the Castle of Sant Antoni.

If you are staying in a resort such as Cala'n Bosch or Cala Galdana, or in Ciutadella in the west, all of these make good day trips by car hire, which you can compare on this page.

For families, the coves are the obvious draw, and Cala Mitjana and Cala Llucalari make easy half-days that pair well with a picnic. Many British families also choose a resort base such as Cala'n Bosch or Cala Galdana and simply hop between beaches in Menorca from there.

Older children tend to enjoy the sights with a bit of adventure in them: a walk to Cova des Coloms, a climb up to a castle such as Santa Àgueda, or the stone structures at the archaeological sites around Alaior. S'Albufera des Grau Natural Park suits families who like being outdoors. July is the hottest month, with highs around 30°C, so plan walks and castle visits for the morning and leave the afternoon for the sea.

June to October is the best stretch for a beach holiday, with highs of 26°C in June and September, 29 to 30°C in July and August, and 24°C in October. July is almost dry, with just one rainy day on average. From November to May the island is cooler, between 15°C and 21°C, which suits walking and archaeological sites more than swimming.

Most British travellers book a package with flights, hotel and transfers, and transfers are short: Maó is four minutes from the airport, Alaior nine and Mercadal sixteen. Expect higher demand during the UK school holidays, so book early if you are tied to them. You can compare package deals, hotel prices, car hire and tours and tickets for Menorca's sights directly on this page.