Best beaches in Menorca you can’t miss! [+ Map]

This guide to the beaches of Menorca will be a bit different from others of the same kind. Why? I’ll explain right away.

The island of Menorca is small but has a limited number of roads, in order to preserve the territory as a biosphere reserve (although nearly all the coastal villages are essentially open-air tourist resorts, but that’s another story).

There is one main road “Me-1” that cuts across the island horizontally and a handful of secondary roads that connect it to the villages or beaches along the coast. So, to reach two beaches in Menorca that are only 5km apart as the crow flies, you might end up driving 50km to get back on the “Me-1” and then head down the next road. On top of this, parking is not located right on the beach as it is on other European islands, but is often followed by a further path (often beautiful and through nature), so it’s important to know that in advance.

Besides the travel time, some of the most famous and popular beaches in Menorca (located in the southwest of the island) are similar to each other in size and type (small coves with crystal-clear water often less than 50 meters wide), which turns them into actual anthills even in low season months.

So throughout the guide, I will show you the best beaches in Menorca and tell you whether it’s worth going or not, depending on which ones you’ve already seen, how long it takes to get there, and how much you like crowds. At the end, also take a look at where it’s best to stay in Menorca to avoid spending too much time driving. Let’s get started!

Map of the beaches of Menorca

The map below shows the location of all the beaches we’ll talk about and the location of the respective parking lots (all free).
With few exceptions, parking lots are far from the beach: you then continue along paths in the woods (or on rocks) walking between 10 to 40 minutes. So always bring water and food for a possible lunch with a sea view, since going back to search for a restaurant could cost you a lot of time. An umbrella is also useful, as many beaches are natural and with no services.

The yellow pins indicate the beaches in Menorca I most recommend. The red pins indicate other beaches you might consider if you have extra time.

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Those who follow this website know I like to suggest public transport when possible: however, in the case of Menorca, having your own vehicle is essential, since with very few exceptions, there are no alternatives to reach the beaches. Fortunately, car rentals are not prohibitive here.
A bike is also not recommended: distances are significant, the island isn’t flat, and summer temperatures can turn the trip into hard work.

 

Playa de Cavalleria

Overall rating: 9/10
Services: No
Beach type: Golden sand
How to get there: Paved road to the parking lot (free) + 300 meters of path

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Let’s start the list of beaches in Menorca with the one I think is the most beautiful on the island: Playa de Cavalleria.

Playa de Cavalleria is a wide golden sand beach located on the north side, less frequented by tourists compared to the more famous ones in the southwest, and it stands out for its colors and particularly calm waters, so much so that if there are no noisy visitors, you can hear only the gentle lapping of the water.

I recommend visiting this beach when the wind is not blowing from the north (use an app like windfinder to check in advance). It’s a natural beach, with no services of any kind: so bring water, food, and possibly an umbrella.

If you have children the beach is suitable for them too if the sea is calm, since the seabed slopes down gradually.

A tip: if you have kids, balls, or are noisy, settle in the initial area of the beach (near the stairs): the far end is frequented by those seeking complete silence and by nudists. 😉

 

Beaches of Binimel-là and Cala Pregonda

Overall rating: 8/10
Services: no
Beach type: golden sand and pebbles
How to get there: paved road except for the last km + path to various beaches, from 500 to 1500 meters.

Another group of beaches in Menorca that is very interesting and less chaotic than average is the area of Binimel-là, not far from the previous Playa de Cavalleria. Here there are at least 4 small beaches connected by a path that (as often happens) is part of the Camì de Cavalls, the famous trail that circles the entire island along the coast.

To get to these beaches, set your GPS to this single large free parking lot. The last stretch of road is unpaved. On this road and in the parking area the ground is dry, and if you drive fast you’ll kick up clouds of dust into the eyes of everyone walking or biking: don’t be one of the many assholes tourists, go slow and check your mirrors to see what you’re doing.

Once you reach the parking lot you’ll find a bar and the start of the path to reach the beaches, where there are no other services. Depending on which one you want to reach, the walk will take between 5 and 20 minutes.

Here too, if the wind is not blowing from the north, the sea is calm and pleasantly colored. The walkpaths are also very beautiful, alternating with rocks of various colors, like the bright red in this photo:

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Cala Algaierens

Overall rating: 7/10
Services: No
Beach type: Light sand
How to get there: Paved road + 200 meters on foot

The last beach on the north coast I recommend is Cala Algaierens, another natural, wide beach that is not too crowded, with lighter sand compared to the previous ones. The usual considerations still apply, as it is a beach with no services.

If you feel like taking a walk, you can go past the big rock to the east and reach the adjacent beach, along a path that also skirts a small pond, making the walk through the greenery very interesting.

Here too, the less crowded end of the bay is frequented by nudists.

 

Playa de Son Saura – Playa Bellavista

Overall rating: 8/10
Services: no
Beach type: Fine white sand
How to get there: paved road to the free parking lot + 5 minutes on foot

We now move to the southwest of the island, where the type of beaches changes (here the sand is fine and white) and in this area you’ll find the most visited beaches in Menorca. Playa de Son Saura and nearby Playa Bellavista are the widest (and therefore least crowded) of this type.

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To get there, drive along a fully paved road to the parking lot where, especially in the morning, you’ll find parking attendants showing you how to position your car. Along the road at the main intersections you’ll also find a couple of electronic boards showing whether there are still free spots or if it’s full.
Parking here is also free (as it is at all the island’s beaches).

After getting out of the car, the first beach you’ll see is Son Saura, which I you could skip, because it is often a deposit of seaweed/posidonia in large quantities and with not very inviting smells:

Continuing along the path, in a few minutes you’ll reach the adjacent Playa de Bellavista (sometimes also called Son Saura), which offers a completely different view.

The sea is calm if the wind isn’t blowing from the south and as long as there aren’t too many people (no later than 10 am), you can focus and hear only the sound of the water. The seabed slopes down very slowly so it’s also good for those with children. There are no services, so bring supplies and possibly an umbrella.

 

Cala de Talaiers

Overall rating: 7/10
Services: No
Beach type: Sandy cove surrounded by rocks
How to get there: on foot from Playa Bellavista

From the previous Playa de Bellavista, if you continue along the path into the vegetation, in 500 meters you’ll also reach Cala de Talaiers, a beach with a typical southwest style.

It’s a cove framed by rocks, with fine white sand like the previous one, without services and with lots of greenery behind. It may be a 10/10 beach if you find it empty; unfortunately, it’s small and popular, and just a few people are enough to make it feel crowded or noisy. And no matter where you lay down, there will always be a genius smoking close to you.

Cala en Turqueta and Cala Macarella

Cala en Turqueta and Cala Macarella are the two most famous beaches in Menorca! Why aren’t they at the beginning of the guide? Well, now that you’ve seen Cala de Talaiers you can decide whether to visit these two beaches… based on what criteria?
Did you really love Cala de Talaiers and did the narrow, rocky cove make you fall in love? Then you might consider going, since the layout of the beaches is similar.

Do you dislike the limited space and the crowds (or feel like you’re in Rimini)? Feel free to skip them without regrets.

To get to Cala en Turqueta and Cala Macarella it’s also important to know that:

• The respective parking lots are small and fill up early in the morning. If that happens, you will be denied access already from the start of the road (don’t get mad, first come, first served…) and you’ll have to reach them by hiking along the coastal path from one of the nearby beaches, with 30–40 minute walks.
• The parking lot of Cala Macarella is also closed to cars from June 1st to September 30th, allowing access only via bus 69 from Ciutadella, or by walking from adjacent beaches.

Alternative tours to see the most crowded beaches

If you’re unsure and feel bad about skipping these famous but tiring/crowded beaches, there’s also an alternative way to see them differently and with less walking: a boat tour.
There are some boat tours I recommend below that depart from the west coast (Ciutadella or surroundings) and, depending on which one you choose, take you around for 2 to 8 hours along the southwest coast of Menorca to see several beaches.

The prices of these boat tours are relatively affordable compared to other more famous islands, the only downside is that some beaches are only “viewed” from the boat, while you disembark (or dive in front of them) at just a few.

Here you can see some of these tours, all with free cancellation; check the detailed itinerary to choose the one that best suits your tastes:

• An affordable half-day cruise to the beaches along the south coast;
• Another well-priced tour of the south coast, departing from Cala en Bosch;
• Equivalent cruise on the north coast (visiting beaches that are however easily accessible by land);
• 8-hour sailing boat tour along the north coast, departing from Fornells;
• If you prefer something more active like a kayak tour, you can visit the caves around Cala En Porter (southeast);

Cala Mitjana

Overall rating: 7/10
Services: No
Beach type: Sandy cove surrounded by rocks
How to get there: from the Cala Galdana area + 20–30 minutes along a trail

If you decide to skip the two previous beaches in Menorca but still want to see another of the same kind, you might consider visiting Cala Mitjana, another cove enclosed by rocky cliffs.
To get there, follow the road towards nearby Cala Galdana, park here and then continue on foot for 20–30 minutes as usual.

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Cala Galdana

Overall rating: 7/10
Services: Yes
Beach type: Large sandy cove
How to get there: Paved road

Let’s now return to the (perhaps overly) urbanized areas. Cala Galdana is a large and very commercial bay that I recommend visiting around sunset or in the late afternoon, maybe right after returning from nearby Cala Mitjana.

This is because it can get quite crowded during the day and because the evening atmosphere becomes pleasant: thanks to the many benches along the beach itself, where you could consider a takeaway dinner by the sea or, alternatively, dine directly at one of the bars/restaurants on the pedestrian seafront.

Getting here is easy, just head to this free parking lot. You’ll then find a wooden walkway that goes under the bridge and takes you directly to the beach.

This is a fully serviced beach, with bars/restaurants and areas with sunbeds and umbrellas alternating with free beach areas. There are also several trees right on the beach, so you can lie in the shade amidst nature if you like.

Waters are calm and sheltered, suitable for families. The view isn’t the most unforgettable, due to the urbanization and the huge hotel built behind it, which you can see in the first photo.

 

Son Bou

Overall rating: 6/10
Services: Yes
Beach type: Light sand
How to get there: Parking in front of the beach

Son Bou is the name of a beach in Menorca and the large village in front of it, in the southern area of the island.
It’s perhaps the longest beach in Menorca, wide and sandy, alternating sections with umbrellas and loungers with long free areas. If you enjoy walking, you can go almost 2km along the shore, and the section farthest from the parking lot is, as usual, the most wild and natural.

Go there on a nice day when the wind isn’t coming from the south, otherwise you might find rough seas and less appealing waters:

The surrounding urbanization is yet another open-air tourist village: like 90% of the coastal towns, there’s nothing “typical” to visit apart from the sea.

 

Playa Sa Mesquida

Overall rating: 6/10
Services: no
Beach type: Sand
How to get there: Paved road to the parking lot + 5 minutes on foot

We finish with Playa Sa Mesquida, one of the easternmost beaches of Menorca.
It is a sandy, natural beach with no services (at most you might find an ice cream caddy), which I recommend visiting only if you’re already nearby and the wind isn’t coming from the east/southeast. Otherwise, the waves rise quite a bit and the choppy water loses some of the charm of this beach.

Cala Mesquida is located at the far east of the island, a bit far from all the other beaches mentioned in the guide. If you’re short on time or far from the area, consider whether to visit or skip it: it’s a beautiful beach but not one of the unmissable ones in Menorca.

Explore more beaches in Menorca!

If you’re still not satisfied, Menorca is the best island for exploring, so don’t be afraid to try others.
In my opinion, however, not all beaches are actually worth visiting. For example, near Es Grau (a nature reserve park where you can walk among forest and a small lagoon—I recommend a stroll there if you’re nearby), there’s also a beach, but it’s nothing special due to the posidonia.

Other beaches that didn’t impress me and that I wouldn’t recommend are the tiny bays at the southeast tip of the island, such as Cala Alcaufar, Cala en Porter, Binisafuller.

These are tiny beaches, not particularly beautiful, at the foot of totally touristy villages/neighborhoods, and they didn’t impress me.

Now that you know everything about Menorca’s beaches, it’s time to find the best area to stay in Menorca to avoid spending your days driving around, and also to look for a cheap flight, thanks to the box below:

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