The Ultimate Guide for your Menorca trip + Travel Costs!

About

Menorca is a small island off the East coast of Spain. It is part of the quartet of the major Balearic islands of Spain. It’s sister islands of Mallorca and Ibiza are also popular tourist destinations but Menorca bears the title of the quieter sibling.

Best For

Adventure seekers, families, couples

Currency

Menorca uses the Euro, however, most shops, restaurants and businesses accept all major credit cards but it’s always prudent to carry cash for use on public transportation, at market stalls etc.

Visa Requirements

European Union citizens enjoy freedom of movement and can freely visit, live and work in Menorca. Some countries may require a Schengen visa to enter Menorca. A Schengen visa costs approximately 120 GBP/ 150 Euros.

Getting to Menorca

There is one airport on the island that operates several flights across continental Europe. If you’re coming from outside Europe, it is likely you will have to stopover at a major city in Europe to get to Menorca.

Flights are relatively cheap as there are several low cost airlines flying to Menorca. Flight costs from major European cities range between GBP 50-100, with a cabin or check in luggage as add-ons. Flights tend to be more expensive during the summer break in Europe which happens between July and August.

My flight from London to Menroca cost around GBP 90 and included one 15kg check in luggage.

Getting Around

The best way to explore the island is by renting a car. The prices of rentals may vary depending on season, but can be as low as GBP 20 per day for a manual if you book in advance and for a longer period. For a single day, the price is likely to be around GBP 40. This does not include insurance and petrol/diesel.

Driving may give you the freedom you want but parking might prove to be difficult as most popular beaches and attractions are likely to get crowded. To get around this issue, I advise starting out early. If you prefer a later start to the day and don’t want to deal with the hassle of parking, I recommend getting public buses to major beaches and attractions- especially if you’re staying Mahon or Ciutadella as there are likely to be direct buses to major spots.

The public bus system in Menorca is very clean, efficient and reliable. I depended on buses for pretty much my entire trip. Bus tickets vary depending on the distance you travel. The cheapest was around 2 Euros and there are no return/daily/weekly tickets- they are all one-offs. The cost per day of riding the bus varied from 5 to 30 Euros depending on where we were going and how many changes we made. Bus schedules tend to change depending on season- the peak months have a more frequent service. Buses usually come every half hour to an hour- delays are rare, which really helps with planning.

You can find the bus schedule and fares here-

Taxis are widely used and available in Menorca. There is no uber or reigning “taxi app” per say but taxis are available in all towns and most popular beaches. It is advisable to get the number of a taxi company should you get stranded in the middle of nowhere (which did happen to me!). They work on a meter and a 5 minute ride will probably set you back around 7 Euros. It cost me 45 Euros from the airport to my hotel in Ciutadella, which was a little over a half an hour’s drive.

Tip! If you’re travelling as a couple, I highly recommend getting around on a motorcycle- it works out cheaper than hiring a car and parking isn’t an issue.

Other ways of getting around the island include hiking or cycling- but these aren’t for the faint hearted. Hikers and cyclists take this challenge of circling the island very seriously and it’s made possible through a 185km long circuit called the Cami de Cavalls.

Communication

There are a number of prepaid SIM cards available in Spain including Orange and Vodafone. You can buy 10 GB of data for about 25 Euros. There are also e-sim cards available in Spain.

Emergency numbers- Emergency-112,  Medical- 061, National Police- 091, Civil Guard- 062, Fire- 092

When to Visit

The island enjoys sunny weather pretty much all year long. However, the best time to swim in the warm turquoises beaches is from May to September. June to August are the peak touristic months and possibly overcrowded. I recommend visiting during the shoulder season of May and September- the crowds would have likely thinned out.

Important Cities/ Towns

Mahon- the capital city of Menorca is a major touristic destination and is significant both culturally and historically. There are a large number of hotels, restaurants, cultural attractions to choose from. Mahon is a great introduction to the island of Menorca as it has the Museum of Menorca as well. The city is also a great base to stay if you are a first timer to the island or need to depend on public transportation as the main bus station is located here.

Ciutadella- while Mahon is situated on the east coast of Menorca, Ciutadella happens to be on the west side. It is the former capital of Menorca, again, culturally and historically significant with imposing cathedrals and pastel clad buildings throughout.

Highlights and Attractions

Binibeca Vell – A Santorini-esque fishing village along the South east coast, known for its whitewashed architecture. You do not need to pay any entrance here; tourists are allowed to freely wander the streets (but it’s important to note that the houses have residents and it’s to be respectful to them). There are plenty of options for lunch/dinner and souvenir shopping here.

Cova d’en Xoroi – This famous cave bar and club is an Instagram favourite and must visit for its magnificent views out to sea. The bar holds live performances almost every day and is one of the most lively places in Menorca. Entrance during the day is 12 Euros and includes a drink. Entry after 16.45 incurs a fee of 15 Euros.

Menorcan Vineyards – Menorca produces and grows wine widely across the island. Amongst the vineyards, the most popular is Bodegas Binifadet that organizes tours and tastings both in English and Spanish. Tours cost 12 Euros and last 60 minutes. You can also reserve a table for lunch and order half glasses starting at 2 Euros, if the tour doesn’t work for you.

S’Albufera des Grau – Menorca is a UNESCO biosphere reserve site and Albufera des Grau natural park forms a large part of this. It harbours a number of diverse wildlife and ecosystems. There is no entrance fee and the park can be accessed through the Cami de Cavalls trail or the neighbouring Es Grau village.

Naveta D’es Tudons – A famous burial monument and tomb native to Menorca, is a popular archaeological site, close to Ciutadella. The burial chamber is built using dry stone walling method without mortar. It is also said to be the oldest building in Europe. Entrance fee is 3 Euros.

Lithica, Pedreres de s’Hostal – A unique stone quarry site, near Ciutadella, is a labyrinth carved in stone. It’s an unusual site and may not be on everyone’s radar but is definitely photographic! Entrance fee is 6 Euros.

The fars of Menorca – Menorca is home to seven unique lighthouses or fars, all differing in design and architecture. The most visited is Far de Favaritx on the north east coast. The lighthouse is known for its unique candy striped tower painted in black and white. There is no entrance fee to visit the lighthouse. The lighthouse can be reached by bus from Mahon.

Eating Out

Eating out in Spain is often a fancy affair, and Menorca indulges in culinary extravagance. There are a number of restaurants serving up Spanish tapas, Italian pastas among other cuisines. Spanish specialties like paella are also very popular here.

Dinner for two at a high end restaurant is possibly going to cost you just around GBP50 (not including alcohol). At a mid-range restaurant, the cost would be around GBP30-40 for two people. There are plenty of local restaurants catering to the locals that are very reasonably priced and you can easily order 5-6 tapas costing you around GBP30 between two (and the portions are quite filling!). You also have the option of availing the services of a chiringuito, which are small beach side bars, that mostly serve alcohol and snacks- these are open during the day though.

There are several restaurants along Ciutadella’s harbor that offer good views especially during sunet, however, these are often overpriced and cater to tourists, so they may not offer an authentic Menorcan experience.

My favourite restaurants while I stayed in Ciutadella were:

1. Raco d’es Palau- a quintessential Spanish restaurant set along the narrow alleyways of Ciutadella offering humble Spanish staples. Their paella is to die for! It’s quite popular so you may have to queue up for a bit- but it’s totally worth it! The meal cost us GBP35 for an enormous serving of paella and alcoholic drinks.
2. Fang/Aram- a laidback, unpretentious vegetarian restaurant on a quieter residential street, away from the tourists. The food is unbelievably tasty and very reasonably priced as well. Paid around GBP 33 for two.
3. Bar Ca’n Tito- this is a local restaurant where you’ll find Menorcans lounging around and catching up with friends. It’s your very typical tapas experience without all the hoopla that fancy restaurants seem to rely on. Five to six sizable tapas cost GBP 24 for two people.

Also, if you are sweet tooth, much like myself, I highly recommend grabbing a gelato from Sa Gelateria in the main town area. It’s GBP 2.50 for two scoops- such a steal!

Menorca doesn’t cater to a party crowd but there are two main bars/restaurant on the island that are un-missable! Cova d’en Xoroi which is a cave bar and Bambu Menorca, which is a bar and restaurant, both offer what is conceivably close to a nightlife here. Reservations have to be made atleast 2-3 weeks in advance for Bambu Menorca.

Please also note that tap water in Menorca is safe to drink.

Accommodation

The island has ample options when it comes to accommodation- from modern hotels with spas to countryside agrotouristic properties to beach side resorts. Though the type of stay is not the only consideration you need to keep in mind when it comes to choosing your hotel but also the location. Touristy towns like Ciutadella and Mahon as well as popular beach resorts like Cala Galdana are more expensive compared to lesser known areas like Son Xoriguer or Son Bou. This doesn’t mean the less popular areas are inadequate or bad; they’re harder to reach (especially by bus) or the beach isn’t the best.

If you’re depending on public transport or it’s your first time, I highly recommend staying in Ciutadella or Mahon. If you’re looking for a lazy beach holiday, the beach resorts along the South are your best bet. If you’re looking to try something different for this holiday, there are a number of agrotouristic properties to choose from.

Most hotels tend to have breakfast included, swimming pools and spas. Below is a brief review of travel costs depending on the budget you’re looking at.

Budget friendly- When it comes to backpacking hostels, there are a few options, especially around Ciutadella, starting at GBP30 per dorm bed. There are also a number of affordable 3 star hotels that start at GBP 60*.

Mid-Range- 4 star hotels start at around GBP 100*.

Luxury- 5 star and boutique hotels start at around GBP 200*.

*Cost based on per double room per night

Activities and Tours

Snorkelling- Amongst all the activities I tried in Menorca, this was the most fun. Menorca’s Mediterranean waters cradle an abundant marine life. Snorkelling gear can be found sold in shops in a lot of the popular beaches and touristic towns. They cost around 15 Euros for the mask and goggles.

Scuba Diving- Menorca is not really a popular destination among scuba divers but if you are looking to qualify or just try scuba diving for fun, there are a few schools in Ciutadella and Mahon. Prices start at 60 Euros for single dives.

Kayaking- The beach resorts in the South are popular for kayaking. There are a number of kayak hire places at the beach and prices start at 15 Euros for an hour.

Hiking- Cami de cavalls may not fit in one trip for most but you can attempt sections of the trail like the section along the South taking you through all the famous turquoise beaches. If you’re looking for something short and sweet, hiking up to Mt Toro for 360 views is also a great option.

Sailing- You can rent a small boat without license along some of the beaches on the South Coast. This is quite a unique experience as you get to be the skipper of your own little boat. You can hire the boat for about 8 hours and it costs Euros 250 (fuel is not included). Some shops also allow a 4 hour hire.

Catamaran Sailing- We did a catamaran cruise along the north coast commencing at Fornells. The sea is quite rough this side and hence you will need a licensed skipper for this. This is a group tour including snorkel stops and snacks. The total cost per person was Euros 70 for an afternoon tour.

Cycling- While it’s not common to cycle around the towns, most people do hire cycles to traverse the Cami de Cavalls trail. You’ll need a mountain bike for this and hire starts at around Euros 25 per day.

Shopping

There are a few souvenirs you can take home from Menorca including the Avarcas de Menorca- a typical Menorcan leather shoe you find here. Queso and sobrasada are among the local delicacies here and ensaimada is a popular pork filled pastry. Not to forget, the delicious wines that are famous around the island.

Recommended Itineraries

Looking to spend a long weekend (3-4 days) in Menorca? – Day 1- Base yourself in Ciutadella and spend the first day exploring the town- if you’re arriving early in the day, you can add in a beach in the north, like Cala Morell, or a historical site close to Ciutadella to your afternoon plan. Spend the rest of your evening in Ciutadella, enjoying a lovely sunset over a drink or dinner.

Day 2- Head to the popular beaches of Cala Mitjana, Cala Galdana, Cala Macarella and Cala en Turqueta for a long beach day. Here you can choose between a number of activities including snorkeling, sailing, hiking, kayaking etc.

Day 3- Leave for Mahon early in the day to wander around the capital city. If you have enough time, visit the Museum of Menorca or go on a walking tour! Drive/ catch a bus to Binibeca Vell and spend the afternoon exploring the village, having lunch and taking tons of photos! If you have a car, drive down to Cova d’en Xoroi, a unique cave bar known for its live music sundowner events or if you prefer staying local, head to Bambu Menorca (reservation required in advance).

Staying for a week? – Follow my itinerary here.

Have longer time to spare? – Consider slow travel or hiking or cycling the Cami de Cavalls to discover the more rugged, virgin areas of Menorca.