When it comes to the Balearic Islands, Menorca stands out as a destination that offers the most authentic and relaxing experience in Spain. And yet, it’s often a destination that gets overlooked.
Located in the Mediterranean just off the eastern coast of Spain and floating off the northwest tip of its larger neighbour Mallorca, most visitors are lured to Menorca for its coastline, Neolithic sites, and historic twin cities. But the easternmost Balearic Island conceals hidden depths. Discover indigenous horses, artisanal traditions, arts festivals, and gorgeous marine landscapes, alongside a deeply rooted culture of creativity.
You’d be forgiven for wanting to spend your whole time on the beach when you visit the island, but there are so many brilliant things to do in Menorca that we’d really recommend adding more to your itinerary. Whether you’re visiting on a romantic trip, travelling with a group of friends or have brought your family on a summer holiday, you’ll find more than enough to keep you busy.
So what is there to do in Menorca? Here are twelve of our top recommendations.
Some of the best places to visit in Menorca are sites that are a little off the beaten track. Delve into undiscovered corners of the island with a thrilling jeep safari and let an exciting off-road vehicle lead you to some of Menorca’s most rugged and unspoiled destinations.
One of the best tours on offer is Menorca Discovery, which has exclusive access to areas closed to the general public. You can unearth archaeological remains, get up close to revered Menorquín horses, swim in turquoise calas (coves) and learn about local cheese-making traditions. Pick from three different two-hour tours, depending on your interests.
Paragliding is one of the most exciting and unusual things to do in Menorca. Take to the skies beneath a parachute and enjoy spectacular aerial views of the island as you gently glide back down to the ground from atop a mountain or cliffside.
Try tandem paragliding with Planoram Paragliding to soar above Son Bou Rock and S’Enclusal, or launch from El Toro, the island’s highest peak at 1,122ft, with Parapente Biplaza Menorca. Paragliding offers a truly unique perspective of the island, as well as being an adrenaline-filled activity which is perfect for travellers who like to try something new when they’re on holiday.
Camí de Cavalls, or “Way of the Horses”, is an ancient bridleway that circles the entire coastline. The 185km-long path is dotted with old watchtowers and fortresses which were used to defend the island in bygone eras.
While you can walk or cycle the trail, horse riding is our favourite way to traverse the cliff-lined perimeter and one of the best activities in Menorca if you’re looking for a unique way to explore the island. Horses are sure-footed in navigating steep paths and even the rockiest of Menorca beaches, meaning you can easily access some of the island’s more remote areas without too much fuss.
You can complete the whole “Way of the Horses” route in a week, or Rutas Ecuestres offers a two-day package. It specialises in black Menorquín horses – the island’s indigenous breed – allowing you to connect more to the local culture as you travel.
One of the most scenic things to do in Menorca to explore the coastline is a boat trip from Port de Mahón. Board a yacht or a motor boat from the island’s capital city and glide along the 5 km-long inlet to the point at which it meets the Mediterranean Sea, passing ice cream-coloured buildings and forested hills.
Boat trips are one of the best ways to appreciate the scenery of an island in a way that you simply can’t when you’re on land. They’re also one of the best things to do in Menorca for couples if you book a trip in the early evening and catch the sunset as you sail along the coast.
If you want to also enjoy the marine scenery below as well as what’s going on around you, Yellow Catamarans offer hour-long historical tours in a glass-bottomed boat, departing frequently from the Moll de Ponent.
Visit Menorca in July to make the most of the Pedra Viva festival, a month-long arts and culture event held in an abandoned limestone quarry: the spectacular Ses Pedreres de s’Hostal. Originally intended as a one-off event, it was a smash and is now an annual affair, filling the stone spaces with all kinds of art that you can immerse yourself in.
Expect everything from music concerts and poetry readings to dance performances and theatre productions. It’s one of the best things to see in Menorca if you’re visiting over the summer, offering a really special insight into the different cultural offerings on the island.
With crystalline waters and brightly coloured fish, Menorca is a snorkelling hotspot. One of the best places for underwater exploration in the Mediterranean, you’ll have the best visibility between July and October, as well as benefit from really warm water temperatures.
Blue Islands Diving offers a three-hour boat trip and underwater snorkelling safari tour from Cala Galdana, covering the shallows of the island’s finest beaches. This is one of the best things to do in Menorca for families, especially as the tour company specialises in opportunities for children who might not have dived before.
Alternatively, take a shorter snorkelling tour (1.5 hours) in the pristine marine reserve to the north of the island, where you may see starfish or moray eels. If you’d rather go solo, grab your mask and head to Cala Pregonda near Es Mercadal, which is one of the best beaches in Menorca. You’ll have to hike half an hour to reach this remote beach, but it’s worth it – it’s one of our favourite things to do in Menorca.
One of the best things to do in Menorca with kids is to visit Splash Sur, the biggest waterpark in Menorca. With plenty of thrilling waterslides, pools of all depths and sizes, and lots of sun loungers with parasols, it’s easy to spend an entire day at Splash Sur no matter your age.
A fairly new addition to the island, the park sits on the southeast coast of Menorca, near Punta Prima. It’s designed for adults as well as younger visitors, with tipping buckets, water jets and a splash pool for younger kids, to hair-raising slides like the Black Hole and the Kamikaze for teens.
Ask any local what one of the best things to do in Menorca is, and they’ll say climb El Toro, the highest point on the island, at 354 metres above sea level. It’s also one of the only significant peaks in Menorca, which means your hike will result in totally uninterrupted views and the sense of being truly above everything on the island.
Taking up to two hours, this hike may pull on your hamstrings, but the panoramic vistas at the summit are jaw-dropping. You can seek shade in the 13th-Century church or refuel at the café, before tackling the (easier) downhill route.
S’Albufera des Grau is a wild, untamed pocket of northeast Menorca that sees dense forest give way to marshland and windswept dunes. Beautiful cliffs wrap around the nature reserve, plunging to the sea below, making this one of the most beautiful places to go in Menorca as well as one of the most wild and rugged.
A handful of tiny islands complete the picture at S’Albufera des Grau Nature Park, creating a stunning area with a really diverse range of scenery. The 50-plus square kilometres provide habitat for wildlife, including around 90 species of bird. You can sign up for a guided tour with an experienced Menorca travel guide at the visitors’ centre and enjoy the chance to learn all about the different creatures that live here.
To see one of the best-preserved Talayotic villages in the Balearic Islands, head to Torralba d’en Salord. While the Talayotic era remains a mystery, it is thought to have spanned 1500 and 123 BC, with its prehistoric monuments hinting at a sophisticated culture.
A large taula – a T-shaped stone structure – is encircled by an enclosure believed to have been an open-air religious space. You can also check out excavated caves, pillared buildings, and huge boulder walls. It’s one of the top Menorca attractions for history fans and is a great place to bring curious kids who like to learn about the past.
Menorca is emerging as a top-rated water sports destination, thanks to strong winds and clear waters. Head to Fornells, a northeastern village with some of the best beaches on the island, to try a range of fun things to do in Menorca like windsurfing, sailing and kite surfing.
Alternatively, head southeast to Binibeca for the chance to dive among underwater shipwrecks. The nearby Marine Reserve of Isla Del Aire offers some truly incredible underwater environments to explore or admire from a boat if you’d rather not spend time beneath the surface.
The most staggering spot to catch a sunset in Menorca is Cova D’en Xoroi, a cliff-side bar carved into the rocks, in the seaside resort of Cala en Porter. An evening trip here is one of the best things to do in Menorca for couples, where you can toast the success of your holiday whilst admiring the changing colours of the sky.
Grab a seat on the outdoor terrace for views of the sun sinking below the Mediterranean. Be warned, though, the bar’s reputation precedes it, so it gets busy – try to book ahead.
There are plenty of brilliant things to do in Menorca no matter where you stay on the island or how you like to spend your holidays. With so much glorious coastline to explore either from the beaches or out on the water, as well as the island’s interesting history and culture, you’re really spoiled for choice when it comes to planning a trip
Ready to buy that plane ticket to Menorca and try out this list of things to do? We don’t blame you. We’ve got a great selection of villas in Menorca, which have been handpicked by experts to get you either in the heart of the action or out in the blissful countryside. Contact our friendly concierge team for help and advice will many wonderful extra services for your holiday, from private chef dinners to pampering and day excursions!
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