On the island of Menorca, there are a total of 75 beaches, some of which are among the most beautiful in the Balearic archipelago. White, golden, or reddish sand, their beauty must sometimes be earned, some being more difficult to access than others. On arrival, you will always be amazed. Authentic, family, unusual… find below our favorites.
1- Son Bou
Nearly 2 kilometers of golden sand, caressed by a turquoise sea… Welcome to the largest beach on the island of Menorca. Supervised, this stretch of sand is perfectly suited to families on vacation in Menorca for its shallow waters.
There is a children’s playground, water sports clubs, beach bars, and sunbeds and parasols. To find some peace, you’ll have to walk a bit, as the beach is only accessible from its ends, so vacationers don’t venture very far and the middle of the beach is often quiet.
On the eastern side of the beach, you can discover the ruins of the Son Bou Basilica, an ancient Paleo-Christian building discovered in 1951 and whose construction could date back to the 5th century.
How to get there?
The seaside resort of Son Bou and its beach is located in the municipality of Alaior, 20 km from Mahon and 40 km from Ciutadella.
We like: the family side
We like less: the popular atmosphere
2- Cala Pregonda
Here there is no golden or white sand, the beach of Cala Pregonda has the particularity to be covered with sand whose color is red. On this atypical beach located in the north of the island, you can put your towel down but also go and discover exceptional sea beds, especially near the cliffs at the foot of which divers can discover a great variety of fish.
How to get there?
From Mercadal, take the road to Fornells, then the direction of Cavalleria. On the road, you will see a sign for Benimel-la/Pregonda that will show you the way to the free parking lot. It takes about 30 minutes to walk to the beach.
We like: the reddish sand and the calmness
We like less: the difficulty of access (30min on foot)
3- Binigaus
Fine sand, pebbles, forest, cliffs, and turquoise water come together on Binigaus beach and offer beautiful views to bathers. Usually peaceful, this large beach (1 km) is quite busy in summer, as it is located near the Sant Tomas district of Es Migjorn Gran, which has a large number of hotels, restaurants, and entertainment.
It is easy to get to and not very steep, so it is very popular with families with children.
How to get there?
From Ciutadella, turn off at the village of Es Mercadal to Es Migjorn. From Mahon, continue for 3 kilometers past the village of Alaior. The beach is 2 km further on in the neighborhood of Sant Tomas. In summer, there are buses to Sant Tomas from Mahon (line 45) and Ciutadella (line 72).
We like: the easy access and the shallow waters
We like less: the tourist influx in August
4- Cala Mitjana
Cala Mitjana is one of the most famous beaches in Menorca, and one of the most beautiful too. Located on the south coast of the island, this 140-meter long and 90-meter wide cove is very popular with swimmers because of the turquoise color of its water and its wildness, which makes it somewhat crowded in the summer season. This is why it is advisable to arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon to enjoy the setting. A few meters from the beach, a picnic area is set up under the pine trees.
Smaller and quieter, the beach of Cala Mitjaneta, located just next door, is also very popular for a lazy afternoon.
How to get there?
From Ciutadella, it takes 30 minutes by car, and from Mahon, it takes 40 minutes. The parking at the beach is free, and the beach can be reached after a 15-minute walk.
From Cala Mijtana, you can reach Cala Mitjaneta in 2 minutes by taking the Cami de Cavalls hiking trail.
We like: the wild side
We like less: the parking lot is quickly full in summer
5- Cala Trebaluger
If it is not paradise, it looks like it… Surrounded by cliffs, Cala Trebaluger reveals its dream setting with translucent water and a small strip of fine white sand. It is one of the least frequented coves on the island, even during the summer season, because to get to this haven of peace you have to walk for 40 minutes, fortunately in the shade of the pine trees.
How to get there?
Cala Trebaluger has located 8 km from Ferreries. You have to park in the parking lot that leads to Cala Mitjana, then walk for about 20 minutes to this other cove and take the Cami de Cavalls path, to walk another 20 km. The parking of Cala Mitjana is one of the bus stops of line 51 from Mahon, line 52 from Ciutadella, and line 53 from Ferreries.
What we like: the tranquility even in summer
We like less: the long way to walk to get there
6- Cala en Brut
There is no sand in Cala en Brut but polished rock platforms from which the bravest like to jump for a dive in water often agitated by the waves. There are even stairs to go back up and repeat the experience.
To the west of the island, 5 km from Ciutadella, the place is also ideal for snorkeling, there are many excursions to discover the marine fauna and when the water is clear, you can see schools of fish without wearing a mask.
How to get there?
From Ciutadella follow Cala’n Blanes or los Delfines and then the signs for Cala en Brut. Another option is to take the bus (line 61) to Plaça dels Pins in Ciutadella. The stops are at “playa Cala’n Blanes” or “Avenida Simón de Olivar”. A few minutes walk is enough to reach Cala en Brut.
We like: the natural diving boards
We like less: the screams of the divers who jump from the cliffs
7- Cala en Turqueta
On the northwest coast of Menorca is this nugget. Ten kilometers from the picturesque town of Ciutadella, this beach is 110 meters long and 25 meters wide and is famous for its idyllic setting, between white sand, pine trees, and turquoise sea, hence its name… On this pretty wild cove, there are no deckchairs or restaurants, but holidaymakers who have come to lay their towels in a preserved environment. On the condition that you come early because the beach is quickly taken by storm.
How to get there?
Access is easy from Ciutadella, just follow the signs leading to the parking lot where there are public toilets. You can reach this supervised beach after a 10-minute walk from the parking lot, and easy access attracts many tourists, especially in the high season.
We like: the white sand and the easy access
We like less: the crowd of tourists in the middle of summer
8- Cala en Porter
In the municipality of Alaior, along the southeast coast of the island, the beach of Cala en Porter is the perfect place to spend the afternoon, even if the setting is a bit urbanized. The clear waters and the cliffs make the landscape fascinating. Swimming is supervised, parking is available nearby and the water is shallow, which makes Cala en Porter a very suitable cove for families with children.
Not to be missed: the Cueva de Xoroi, a cave on the edge of the cliff that serves as a bar during the day and a disco at night. It is one of the tourist attractions of Menorca.
How to get there?
You have to take the main road that connects Ciutadella and Mahon and exit either at Mahon or at Alaior then follow the signs to Cala en Porter
We like: the idyllic setting even if there is some urbanization around
We like less: the beach can be a little noisy in July-August
9- Cala Macarella
White rocks falling into the crystal blue sea, fine and immaculate sand, rows of pine trees under which to take a break in the shade, a few sailboats on the horizon… Cala Macarella is the postcard of the island of Menorca. The bathing is supervised and there is a small beach bar to refresh yourself after sunbathing.
Just next door, a 10-minute walk away, Cala Macarelleta is another famous cove, smaller and quieter. There are a few naturists here, so it’s important to be aware of this if you are traveling with children.
How to go there?
From Ciutadella, by bus (shuttles every 20 to 40 minutes according to the season) or by car. The journey takes about 15 minutes in the direction of San Joan de Misa. There are two paid parking lots, one at a 5-minute walk from the beach, the other at 15 minutes. You can also park at Cala Galdana, a nearby beach, and then walk about 20 minutes along the Cami de Cavalls path.
We like: the paradisiacal decor
We don’t like: the crowd in the middle of summer
Also Read: 8 Best Safest Destinations For Solo Female Travel
