I had never written a guide like this before, but in the case of Menorca, I believe there are some tips to keep in mind to fully enjoy the island and avoid disappointment… or breaking the bank! So let’s see when to go to Menorca and some other aspects of the island that are worth knowing before booking.
When to go to Menorca
When people talk about Menorca, it’s often presented as a very natural island (which is true) with lots of beautiful, relaxed, quiet, and peaceful beaches (which depends on the time of year you travel).
The beaches of Menorca are indeed beautiful, but relatively few in number compared to the island’s perimeter, and above all they are very small, with few exceptions. In particular, the most famous and popular ones in the southwest of the island, small coves nestled among rocks and greenery, can become crowded like anthills already at the beginning of June.
If you go to Menorca looking for beautiful, quiet seas without confusion around you, and your available time is in July or August, I’d suggest you consider a different destination.
If instead, you’re less interested in the sea and more into nature, hikes and walks along the Camì de Cavalls (the coastal path that circles the entire island), then it might work for you.
When to go to Menorca: seasons and costs
It’s no news that in the last years the prices of all goods and services have increased without control. The Balearic Islands in particular, considered a gem of Spain, have become even more expensive than other areas.
While you might still score a good price for flights with some deals and luck, when it comes to accommodation and local costs, there’s little joy.
Bars/Restaurants
This is easily seen by looking at restaurant listings on Google Maps: you’ll often find photos of menus taken in previous years. A comparison between 2022 and 2023 shows that the same dishes have increased by 20 to 50%.
Or: simple ice creams like Magnum cost €3.25/3.50 both at beach bars and in mini-markets, where they’d normally be cheaper.
Accommodation
As for accommodation, there are big differences depending on the time of year.
When to go to Menorca to spend less? If your work vacation schedule allows flexibility, the least expensive times are before mid-June and from September onwards. These are also the times when the island is less crowded, which can be a double advantage.
Between the two, June is more recommended, both for the longer days and because after mid-September there’s a higher chance of storms in the Balearics, especially in Menorca, which is more exposed to winds from southern France.
Before June 15, you might find prices nearly half of what they are in high season for the same accommodations, so it makes a big difference. Take a look at the guide on where to stay in Menorca to understand the areas best suited to you, the ones to avoid, and potential costs.
The search for authenticity
Finally, one aspect of Menorca that left me a bit puzzled.
The island has been classified as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO. Well-deserved, considering the wide presence of greenery, untouched nature, forests and trails, the Es Grau nature reserve, and the limited road network on the island.
You might also be interested in: Roads and speed cameras in Menorca
However, it’s puzzling when you reach any of the many coastal neighborhoods/villages (except the two historic towns Ciutadella and Mahon). They all look the same and are clearly built entirely with tourism in mind.
The villages consist of tourist villas, mini-markets with typical tourist prices, the inevitable main street or seafront dotted with bars and small restaurants with nothing genuinely Spanish, and a tiny beach out front. Nothing else. Even the nightlife has nothing typical—actually, in almost all villages the height of entertainment is the in-house shows of hotel chains (with hosts speaking Italian on the mic), or an Irish pub where there’s sometimes karaoke.
If you’ve already visited some of the Canary Islands, where you can easily find small coastal villages still frozen in time where you can feel a truly authentic atmosphere, seeing all these open-air tourist villages might leave you a bit disappointed.
I could mention Cala’n’Bosch, where everything is built around a circular harbor (which is still lovely for an evening stroll, no doubt), Cala en Blanes, Cala en Porter or Cala Galdana, which actually has a beautiful beach but behind it stands an enormous hotel that ruins the view. Son Bou, one of the largest coastal villages, is just a 2 km strip of rental villas, and many others, including Fornells.
Yes, Fornells: the northern village that every blog—perhaps due to copy-paste and affiliate links, maybe without ever having been there—describes as the most authentic area of Menorca, outside tourism and with the most genuine restaurants. Then you get there and find that apart from the harbor walk and two small pedestrian alleys (nice, but can be seen in 15 minutes), there’s nothing authentic; just faux-classy restaurants with the highest prices on the island, and even the local supermarkets charge beach-bar prices.
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