Destination,  Spain

The Best Beaches for One Week in Menorca

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I have travelled to beaches from Rio to Thailand, and Menorca has some of the best I have ever seen! Menorca is the lesser visited of the Mediterranean Balearic Islands, which means its beaches remain unspoilt and stunningly beautiful.

There are an over-whelming number of Menorca beaches to chose from (and many top 10 and top 20 guides to read!). To save you time, I have picked out my favourite five beaches for a one week visit to Menorca. Giving you a range of beach types to see – from the small and isolated, to the rugged, to the town-side beach.

I have included information on how to access each beach by car, as well as walking and bus options. The Bus Travel to the Beaches section also provides an index on how to reach many other Menorca beaches from the two cities of Ciutadella and Mahón (‘Maó).

The Beaches:

Unless otherwise stated, all pictures are my own with full rights reserved.

Cala Macarella + Macarelleta (South-West)

Cala Macarelleta
Cala Macarella

Cala Macarelleta is arguably the best beach on the island and deserves a full day visit along with its sister beach Cala Macarella. You will arrive at Cala Macarella first from the car park and I would recommend heading straight to Cala Macarelleta to beat the crowds. It is reachable by a 10-15 minute walk around the cliff path, with stunning views of both beaches. (Note – the the path is steep and uneven in places, so would not recommend for those with mobility issues).

Cala Macarelleta lacks any facilities, save for the ever popular cocktail man, so use the facilities on arrival at Cala Macarella and be prepared with food and drinks. Cala Macarella is a larger beach with amenities including toilets, showers, bins and a lifeguard. You can also find the restaurant Cafeteria Susy, which has a large and varied menu and surprisingly decent food. Given its amenities and larger size, Cala Macarella is the best option for families.

Getting There + Tips: Parking is available at Parking Cala Macarella i Macarelleta. From there it’s a 15 minute walk to Cala Macarella down a dirt path through the forest. I would recommend walking sandals, though it is double in flip flops. Do arrive early in the morning, as it’s a very popular beach. If travelling by bus, take the direct Route 69 Ciutadella – Macarella service from Ciutadella (mid-June to mid-September), getting off at the car park stop.

There are also services from Ciutadella or Mahón (‘Maó) to Platja de Cala Galdana, which is a 40 minute walk to Cala Macarella (with the further 10 minute walk to Macarelleta). The routes are: Route 52 Ciutadella-Cala Galdana (June – September) and Route 51 Maó-Cala Galdana (June only). Alternatively, you can reach Cala Macarelleta via a 30 minute walk from Cala en Turqueta through the brush (with a further 10 minute walk to the the Turqueta car park).

Son Saura (South-West)

Son Saura is a slim and classically beautiful beach of golden sand and an amazing turquoise sea (not to be confused with Arenal Son Saura in the north). It is less busy than other beaches, so has a more relaxed vibe, and its shallow waters make it great for swimming. Highly recommend floating in the waters looking out at the anchored boats!

There is a wooded walkway along the length of the beach, which provides a more accessible way to make your way along the beach. Son Saura does not have food or drink facilities, so be prepared with food and water for the duration of your visit. There are two temporary block style toilets at the entrance from the car park.

Getting there + Tips: Car parking is available the Parquing Son Saura. This offers easy access to the beach in just a 5 minute walk. If travelling by bus, you can take the direct Route 66 Ciutadella – Son Saura service from Ciutadella (mid-June to mid-September), getting off at the car park stop.

Alternatively, you can reach Son Saura via a 40 minute walk (2 miles / 3.2 km) from Cala en Turqueta (with a further 10 minute walk to the the Turqueta car park) via a brush / coastal path with a few sandy beaches on the way; or from Cala en Bosch town in around 1 hour 20 minutes (4 miles / 6.5 km), via brush / coastal path with a few rocky beaches on the way.

Cala en Turqueta (South-West)

Cala en Turqueta is a petite little beach, set in narrow cove with beautiful turquoise water. It is busy beach often served by the local boat tours. Expect to be cosy with your fellow beach visitors, but it’s worth it! The beach does have a toilet and usually a local cocktail man serving refreshments. There is also a quite expensive cafe at the car park, which does offer a shower for a fee.

Getting there + Tips: Car parking is available at Aparcamiento Cala en Turqueta, with a 10 minute downhill walk to the beach (0.6 miles / 1km). Given its popularity, I would recommend getting there in the early morning (8-9am), or risk a full car park. If full, consider using the Parquing Son Saura and making the 40 minute walk (2 miles / 3.2km). If travelling by bus, take the direct Route 68 Ciutadella – Cala en Turqueta service from Ciutadella (mid-June to mid-September), getting off at the car park stop.

Binibèquer Vell (South-East)

Binibèquer Vell is a popular pocket size town beach in Binibeca, with golden sands and clear waters. It makes a great stop if you are visiting the town, which you really should! There is a small bar for refreshments but no toilet facilities.

Getting there and Tips: Car parking is available at the busy Apartament Cala Binibèquer, or at the the extension car park just around the corner (going east). If full, you can find a spot in town and walk down to the beach. If travelling by bus, you can take the direct Route 93 Maó-Binibèquer service from Mahón (May – October). Travel time is around 20 minutes, getting off at Binibèquer – Platja stop.

Platja de Binimel.là (North-Central)

Platja de Binimel.là is an often over-looked beach on the centre-north of the island. If you are looking for some different from the typical golden-sanded Menorca beaches, or the weather is just not delivering, this is the place to go. Set in lovely green surroundings, it’s a more wild beach with coarse sand and stronger waves from windier north side. It is perfect for sitting on beach enjoying the waves and walking the area.

Combine your visit with a walk to one of the other beaches in the immediate area, such as the petite (and nudist) Cala Racó D’en Miquel, a 16 minute walk east, or to the Cala Pregonda, a 15 minute walk west; along with the Cape Cavalleria Lighthouse, which is about a 20 minute drive away (7 miles / 11km).

The beach does not have any facilities so start your visit at Restaurant Binimel·là a 5 minute walk from the beach and next to the car park. I would highly recommend their gorgeous black seafood paella and requesting a table in the back of restaurant, which has great views of the beach.

Getting there + Tips: Car parking is available at the Parking cala Binimel-La y cala Pregonda just a 5 minute walk to the beach via dirt path and wooded walk way. Unfortunately, Binimel-La is very difficult to reach without a car, with the nearest bus service at Cala Tirant, a 50 minute ride from Mahón and then what appears to be around a 2.5-3 hour walk (5.2 miles / 8.4 km). This walk include roads, which are narrow and walled in Menorca, so remain aware of coming traffic.

When to Go + Getting Around

Menorca’s beaches are relatively under developed, which makes them pristine and beautiful but also more challenging to access. Many Menorca roads are rural and narrow, car parks are relatively smaller (and nearly always require a further walk to the beach), and bus services are not as frequent as compared to more developed tourist areas.

This can be made more challenging by the busy summer season, particularly parking space due to the preference for hire cars by tourists (it is much easier to visit the island with a car). During the summer high season, beach car parks can fill up and close as early as 8-9am. Some with have signs on route indicating spaces remaining or if the car park is full, so you can find an alternative (e.g. walking further from a local town, or going to a different beach altogether).

Of course, Menorca is absolutely worth it (!) but do consider whether you can visit Menorca in the latter part of September or early October. The island is less busy with families as children return to school and flights will be cheaper.

I visited at the start of October and had glorious summer weather, with temperatures in the mid-20s throughout (as a Brit, I consider that basically tropical!) I visited beaches at all times of the day and was always able to get a parking spot (unsurprisingly, Cala Macarella and Macarelleta were the most challenging, with the car park almost full by 10am). If you are travelling by bus to the beaches, most of the summer timetables continue to run until September or October.

If you do visit during the high season, then I recommend going to beaches early in the morning and having an alternative parking spot in mind to access the beach (e.g. local town or another beach). If you are staying in Mahon or Ciutadella also consider if you are able to get the bus to your chosen beach.

Boat Tour

Where ever you are on the island, a beach tour by boat is also an option and easier way to access the beaches during peak times (though with more limited time at each beach). Amigo’s Boat Trips offers a great half-day trip from Cala en Bosch to beaches on south-west of the island for 29€.

Bus Travel to the Beaches

There are a few bus companies serving beaches in Menorca, particularly those on the south side of the island, with services primarily running from the two main cities – Ciutadella on the west of island and Mahón on the east of the island. Generally beaches can be reached from the main cities in around 20-25 minutes on direct services, but can take up at 50 minutes, along with the further walking time to the beach.

Do plan ahead with the timetables and check the latest ones. Note that while some routes have frequent services throughout the day and the week, others have 1-2 buses in the morning and evening (and maybe 1-2 at lunchtime). They also may not run on Sunday/public holidays. Prices vary between 1,70€ up to 5,10€ one-way, depending on the route and destination (prices are listed on the route pages linked below). You pay on the bus in cash and it is preferable to have change as close to price as possible (larger notes maybe refused).

Beach Bus Routes

TMSA has the most comprehensive bus service on the island. The timetables are available here, including the summer timetables (June-September/October), and outlined below.

TMSA – from Mahón (‘Maó) to south-east beaches:

Note: click the text next to the clock for timetable:

TMSA – from Mahón or Ciutadella to south-central / south-west beaches:

Torres – from Ciutadella to north-west, west and south-west beaches:

Torres bus company has beach services in and out of Ciutadella city. Full timetables are available here – check ahead of your travel, as not all routes specify which months the services run (though its reasonable to assume they serve the core summer season of June- September).

Autos Fornells – from Mahón to Northern Beaches

If you wish to visit beaches in the North, there are also services from Mahón operated by the Autos Fornells bus company. Information on all routes is available here.

What beach would you like to see the most? What are your recommendations for Menorca? Let me know in the comments!

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