About

About ULTIMATE Menorca Island Guide

ULTIMATE Menorca Island Guide is an independent guide for visitors to Menorca, Spain. We publish 14 curated lists: restaurants, cafés & food, bars, hotels, sights, museums & arts, parks & beaches, walks, shopping, health, property, developments, cars & yachts and getting around. We cover Ciutadella and the south-west coves, Maó and its harbour, Es Castell, Sant Lluís and Binibeca, Fornells and the north coast, Es Mercadal and Monte Toro, and Alaior and Cala en Porter, with day trips to Mallorca, Ibiza, Formentera and Barcelona.

Our editor

Jai Michael is Editor-in-Chief of the ULTIMATE City Guides. With more than 25 years in the media industry, he founded ABSOLUTE brighton and London TV, and has worked with leading luxury brands around the world.

How we choose

Every place in our lists has been checked against its own website or an official source such as UNESCO, the Consell Insular de Menorca and its tourism foundation, the Govern de les Illes Balears, the MICHELIN Guide, IB-SALUT, Aena or the ferry operators. We use no awards or ratings, and we leave out anything we can’t confirm.

Before you go

Opening hours, beach access rules, bus seasons and ferry timetables change often. Please check directly with each place, and with official sources, before you travel. Prices are in euros (€).

For venues

Run a venue in Menorca and spotted something to update? We review our lists regularly and welcome corrections.

Photo credits

• The terraces of Cova d’en Xoroi in the cliffs above the sea at Cala en Porter, by MinorKan, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Yachts at anchor off the cliffs near Cala Macarella, by Nicolas Vigier, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The red-and-gold horseshoe auditorium of the Teatre Principal de Maó, by Teatremao, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Naveta des Tudons, a Talayotic stone tomb shaped like an upturned boat, by Dreizung, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Sunset over the sea from the cliffside terraces of Cova d’en Xoroi, by Travelinho, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• White houses and a llaüt fishing boat in Binibeca Vell, by Markus Trienke, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Claustre del Carme and Maó’s upper town above the harbour road, by User:Mateus2019, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Llaüts and harbour houses at Cales Fonts, Es Castell, by Markus Trienke, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A Camí de Cavalls waymark on the cliff path above the yachts at Macarella, by Franrull, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Yachts at anchor off the cliffs near Cala Macarella, by Nicolas Vigier, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Gothic west front and rose window of Ciutadella Cathedral, by Fernando, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The steps and classical portal of Ciutadella Cathedral, by Nicolas Vigier, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Talayotic settlement of Torre d’en Galmés from the air, by Consell Insular de Menorca, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A carved stone doorway and the cathedral tower in the old town of Ciutadella, by Nicolas Vigier, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A carved stone doorway and the cathedral tower in the old town of Ciutadella, by Nicolas Vigier, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Turquoise water below the pine-topped cliffs at Cala Macarella, Menorca, by Markus Trienke, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Yachts at anchor off the cliffs near Cala Macarella, by Nicolas Vigier, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Illa del Rei and its 18th-century hospital buildings in Maó harbour, by Dreizung, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Fishing boats moored at Cales Fonts in Es Castell, by Paul Stephenson from London, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• White houses and boats on the shore at Es Grau, by Markus Trienke, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Turquoise water in the bay below the lighthouse of Cap de Favàritx, by Markus Trienke, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Fishing boats along the palm-lined harbour front of Fornells, by Josep Renalias (Lohen11), licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The round stone defence tower of Fornells against a blue sky, by Nikodem Nijaki, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The bay of Cala Galdana seen through the pines, by Markus Trienke, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A pine tree on the sand at Cala Galdana, by Markus Trienke, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Talayotic settlement of Torre d’en Galmés from the air, by Consell Insular de Menorca, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The long natural harbour of Maó from the La Mola headland, by Àlex, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A pine tree on the sand at Cala Galdana, by Markus Trienke, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Turquoise water below the pine-topped cliffs at Cala Macarella, Menorca, by Markus Trienke, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Gothic west front and rose window of Ciutadella Cathedral, by Fernando, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The steps and classical portal of Ciutadella Cathedral, by Nicolas Vigier, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Illa del Rei and its 18th-century hospital buildings in Maó harbour, by Dreizung, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The crowned gateway of the Fortalesa de La Mola at the mouth of Maó harbour, by MARIA ROSA FERRE, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Gardens, palms and stone walls on the Illa del Llatzeret in Maó harbour, by Jorge Franganillo, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The red-and-gold horseshoe auditorium of the Teatre Principal de Maó, by Teatremao, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Turquoise water below the pine-topped cliffs at Cala Macarella, Menorca, by Markus Trienke, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A catamaran at anchor in the clear water of Cala Macarella, framed by pines, by Markus Trienke, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The long natural harbour of Maó from the La Mola headland, by Àlex, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Claustre del Carme and Maó’s upper town above the harbour road, by User:Mateus2019, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Cala Mitjana, a cove between pinewoods and white cliffs, by Ben Salter from Wales, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Naveta des Tudons, a Talayotic stone tomb shaped like an upturned boat, by Dreizung, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Alhambra in Granada in the evening light, by Jebulon, licensed Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Acropolis of Athens by day, seen from Philopappos Hill, by A.Savin, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Goat Cay and the turquoise shallows of the Exumas, by DrGvago, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The road winding out to the lighthouse on Cap de Formentor, Mallorca, above the open sea, by Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Grand Palace reflected at dawn, by Nawit science, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The golden sand and calm water of Paynes Bay, St. James, by Barry haynes, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Sagrada Família lit up at night, by Maksim Sokolov, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Belgrade's old town and the spire of the Cathedral Church of St Michael above the Sava at sunset, photo: © ULTIMATE International Media.
• The Romanian Athenaeum in its garden, by Jorge Franganillo, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Hungarian Parliament lit up at night on the Danube, by Tom Ek, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Bixby Creek Bridge on the Big Sur coast, by Diliff, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, Montenegro, by Gzzz, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Burj Khalifa and Business Bay at blue hour, by Robert Bock, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The beach at Rosemary Beach on the Gulf of Mexico, by Miamireader, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Aerial view of the white sand spit of Ses Illetes and Llevant, the salt pans and, across the strait, Ibiza and Es Vedrà, by Beni Marull, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Baie des Anges, Nice, by Tobi 87, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Blue domes of Oia above the Santorini caldera, by Norbert Nagel, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Helsinki Cathedral above the South Harbour, by Ввласенко, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The walls of Dalt Vila and the cathedral above the harbour of Ibiza Town, in late sun, by Charles from Port Chester, New York, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Golden Horn and the mosques of the old city, Istanbul, by Diego Delso, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Las Vegas Strip at dusk, by Dietmar Rabich, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Triple Bridge over the Ljubljanica, by Fred Romero from Paris, France, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Palace of Westminster and the Elizabeth Tower, by Domob, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Griffith Observatory with downtown Los Angeles beyond, by The Fun Chronicles, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• La Seu, Palma’s Gothic cathedral, and the Almudaina above the old sea wall, seen from the Parc de la Mar, by Enric, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• An aerial view of a small island ringed by reef in the Maldives, by Luka Peternel, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Yachts in Puerto Banús, by kallerna, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Turquoise water below the pine-topped cliffs at Cala Macarella, Menorca, by Markus Trienke, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, by Robbschultz69, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Monaco from above, Port Hercule and Monte-Carlo below the mountains, by Spike, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Taj Mahal Palace and the Gateway of India from the harbour, by iMahesh, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Sunset at the Naples Pier, by pmarkham, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The New York City skyline from Top of the Rock, by Dillan Payne, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Millennium Bridge over the Morača, by Desemeus, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Golden Gate Bridge seen from Battery Spencer, by Christoph Strässler, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Sebilj fountain and the square of Baščaršija, by Yukof, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Lujiazui skyline lit up at night across the Huangpu River, by King of Hearts, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Matterhorn in winter above Zermatt, by JoachimKohler-HB, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Stone Bridge over the Vardar, by kallerna, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The gilded domes of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia, by Plamen Agov (user:MrPanyGoff), licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A caparisoned elephant in the Esala Perahera procession, Kandy, by Daniel Liabeuf, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the twin volcanic spires of the UNESCO-listed Pitons, by xiquinhosilva, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Skanderbeg Square with the Et’hem Bey Mosque, by Andrew Milligan sumo, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Rolling green hills and a farmhouse near Pienza in the Val d’Orcia, by Tom Ek, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The tiled roof of St Mark’s Church in Zagreb’s Upper Town, by Bernard Gagnon, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Fishing boats along the palm-lined harbour front of Fornells, by Josep Renalias (Lohen11), licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The gilded 1810 organ in the church of Santa Maria, Maó, by Josep Renalias (Lohen11), licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Pines and white rocks around the turquoise cove of Cala en Turqueta, by Markus Trienke, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Fishing boats moored at Cales Fonts in Es Castell, by Paul Stephenson from London, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Cliffs and dry-stone walls on the Camí de Cavalls near Punta Nati, by Franrull, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Llaüts and harbour houses at Cales Fonts, Es Castell, by Markus Trienke, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Fishing boats along the palm-lined harbour front of Fornells, by Josep Renalias (Lohen11), licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Sunset over the inlet of Sanitja and its watchtower on the north coast, by Ferran Llorens, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• White houses and a llaüt fishing boat in Binibeca Vell, by Markus Trienke, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The castle of Sant Nicolau at the mouth of Ciutadella harbour, by Nikodem Nijaki, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A carved stone doorway and the cathedral tower in the old town of Ciutadella, by Nicolas Vigier, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A stone-roofed entrance at the Talayotic site of Talatí de Dalt, by Dreizung, licensed CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The red-and-gold horseshoe auditorium of the Teatre Principal de Maó, by Teatremao, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The stone façade of the Teatre Principal de Maó, by Josep Renalias (Lohen11), licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The taula of Torralba d’en Salord behind a dry-stone wall, by Miquel Colomer Planagumà from BARCELONA, España, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The long natural harbour of Maó from the La Mola headland, by Àlex, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Pines and white rocks around the turquoise cove of Cala en Turqueta, by Markus Trienke, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A Camí de Cavalls waymark on the cliff path above the yachts at Macarella, by Franrull, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The terraces of Cova d’en Xoroi in the cliffs above the sea at Cala en Porter, by MinorKan, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Sunset over the sea from the cliffside terraces of Cova d’en Xoroi, by Travelinho, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.