UltimateIsland Guide Menorca
Our favourites
Turquoise water below the pine-topped cliffs at Cala Macarella, Menorca Turquoise water below the pine-topped cliffs at Cala Macarella, Menorca Pines and white rocks around the turquoise cove of Cala en Turqueta The Gothic west front and rose window of Ciutadella Cathedral The Naveta des Tudons, a Talayotic stone tomb shaped like an upturned boat

The island guide to Menorca, Spain

Best of Menorca

Turquoise coves in the pines, a World Heritage island of prehistoric stone, Ciutadella’s palaces, Maó’s great harbour and an opera house from 1829.

Where to eatWhat to see
A cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, MontenegroSister guideULTIMATE CruisesLines, ships and itineraries, from river to expeditionThe Matterhorn in winter above ZermattSister guideULTIMATE Ski ResortsSeason dates, hotels, après and ski schools, resort by resort

Your trusted, one‑stop guide to Menorca

Menorca has been a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1993, and its Talayotic monuments joined the World Heritage List in 2023. Ciutadella keeps its cathedral and palaces above a narrow harbour; Maó looks over a long natural harbour to Illa del Rei; and between them lie farm estates, stone walls and the coves of the south coast. We’ve checked every listing against the venue’s own website or an official source, and we leave out anything we can’t confirm.

Naveta des Tudons

World Heritage

The Naveta des Tudons

Ciutadella·Prehistoric tomb

A prehistoric tomb shaped like an upturned boat, “considered the best-preserved prehistoric monument of the Balearic Islands” (menorca.es) and part of UNESCO’s Talayotic Menorca. Come in the late light, then drive on to Ciutadella for the sunset.

Plan your visit

Menorca by area

From Ciutadella in the west to Maó’s harbour in the east: each area has its own guide.

A carved stone doorway and the cathedral tower in the old town of CiutadellaArea guideCiutadellaThe old capital in the westThe long natural harbour of Maó from the La Mola headlandArea guideMaó & the harbourThe capital on its harbourWhite houses and a llaüt fishing boat in Binibeca VellArea guideSant Lluís, Es Castell & BinibecaThe south-east cornerFishing boats along the palm-lined harbour front of FornellsArea guideFornells & the northLobster stew and lighthousesThe Talayotic settlement of Torre d’en Galmés from the airArea guideEs Mercadal & Monte ToroThe heart of the islandThe terraces of Cova d’en Xoroi in the cliffs above the sea at Cala en PorterArea guideAlaior & Cala en PorterEstates, taulas and a cliff barTurquoise water below the pine-topped cliffs at Cala Macarella, MenorcaArea guideThe south-west covesMacarella, Turqueta and Galdana

The Balearic Islands

Menorca’s neighbours, a ferry away.

Yachts at anchor off the cliffs near Cala MacarellaMallorca · Best for everythingMallorcaPalma, the Tramuntana and FormentorYachts at anchor off the cliffs near Cala MacarellaIbiza · Best for nights outIbizaDalt Vila and Es VedràYachts at anchor off the cliffs near Cala MacarellaFormentera · Best for the seaFormenteraSes Illetes, via IbizaThe long natural harbour of Maó from the La Mola headlandBarcelona · The mainlandBarcelonaAbout 3½ hours by fast ferry

Plan your trip

The practical things to know before you go.

The long natural harbour of Maó from the La Mola headlandBefore you goMenorca essentialsEntry, beach buses and ferriesYachts at anchor off the cliffs near Cala MacarellaGetting aroundGetting aroundBuses and ferriesA carved stone doorway and the cathedral tower in the old town of CiutadellaItineraryCiutadella in a dayThe classic dayThe red-and-gold horseshoe auditorium of the Teatre Principal de MaóLuxury guideLuxury MenorcaThe finest addresses

In depth: Menorca’s back stories

The Talayotic island, the coves, the hotels, how to eat and where to buy.

The Naveta des Tudons, a Talayotic stone tomb shaped like an upturned boatThe back storyTalayotic MenorcaA World Heritage islandPines and white rocks around the turquoise cove of Cala en TurquetaThe back storyThe covesMacarella to GaldanaThe Gothic west front and rose window of Ciutadella CathedralThe back storyWhere to stayTown houses and estatesFishing boats along the palm-lined harbour front of FornellsThe back storyEating in MenorcaLobster stew to young chefsThe red-and-gold horseshoe auditorium of the Teatre Principal de MaóFun factsMenorca fun factsThings you might not know

ULTIMATE City Guides: Europe & beyond

Planning a longer journey? Each city in the network has its own independent guide, written with the same care and checked place by place. Here are the guides that are live, with more on the way.

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and Es VedràSpainULTIMATE FormenteraThe white sands of Ses Illetes, the lighthouses of La Mola and Barbaria, the craft markets and an island made for bikes.Visit the guide The Baie des Anges, NiceFranceULTIMATE French RivieraNice, Cannes, Antibes, Cap Ferrat, Èze, Menton, Saint-Tropez and Cassis: palace hotels, three-star tables, beach clubs, the Festival de Cannes and the painters’ coast.Visit the guide Blue domes of Oia above the Santorini calderaGreeceULTIMATE Greek IslandsIsland hopping made easy: Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Milos and the Cyclades, plus Crete, Rhodes and Corfu, with ferries, beaches, hotels and tavernas.Visit the guide Helsinki Cathedral above the South HarbourFinlandULTIMATE HelsinkiSuomenlinna and the South Harbour, saunas by the sea, Aalto and the Design District, two-starred Palace and day trips to Porvoo and Tallinn.Visit the guide The walls of Dalt Vila and the cathedral above the harbour of Ibiza Town, in late sunSpainULTIMATE IbizaDalt Vila’s UNESCO walls, Es Vedrà, three MICHELIN-starred kitchens, the beach clubs and the quiet north, 30 minutes from Formentera.Visit the guide The Golden Horn and the mosques of the old city, IstanbulTurkeyULTIMATE IstanbulTwo continents, one city: Hagia Sophia and the bazaars, Bosphorus ferries, meyhanes and rooftop bars, Sinan’s hammams and the car-free Princes’ Islands.Visit the guide The Triple Bridge over the LjubljanicaSloveniaULTIMATE LjubljanaSlovenia’s green, car-free capital of river cafés and Plečnik’s bridges, an hour from Lake Bled, the Julian Alps, the caves and the Adriatic.Visit the guide The Palace of Westminster and the Elizabeth TowerUnited KingdomULTIMATE LondonRoyal palaces and the Thames, world-class museums, West End theatre, grand hotels, and the restaurants and bars of Soho, Mayfair and the City.Visit the guide La Seu, Palma’s Gothic cathedral, and the Almudaina above the old sea wall, seen from the Parc de la MarSpainULTIMATE MallorcaPalma’s cathedral and palace hotels, the UNESCO Tramuntana, Deià and Sóller, nine MICHELIN-starred kitchens, and Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera.Visit the guide Yachts in Puerto BanúsSpainULTIMATE MarbellaWhitewashed lanes and orange trees in the Old Town, the yachts of Puerto Banús, beach clubs on the Golden Mile and day trips to Ronda and Gibraltar.Visit the guide Monaco from above, Port Hercule and Monte-Carlo below the mountainsOur sister guideULTIMATE MonacoThe Casino and Monte-Carlo’s palace hotels, the Prince’s Palace on the Rock, superyachts in Port Hercule, Larvotto’s beach clubs and the Grand Prix streets.Visit the guide The Millennium Bridge over the MoračaMontenegroULTIMATE PodgoricaMontenegro’s relaxed capital of rivers and café terraces, and the gateway to the Bay of Kotor, Lake Skadar, Cetinje and the mountains.Visit the guide The Sebilj fountain and the square of BaščaršijaBosnia & HerzegovinaULTIMATE SarajevoWhere East meets West at a line in the pavement: an Ottoman bazaar, Habsburg boulevards, Bosnian coffee and the 1984 Olympic mountains, with Mostar two hours away.Visit the guide The Matterhorn in winter above ZermattOur sister guideULTIMATE Ski Resorts (Europe & North America)Ski resorts in Europe and North America, country by country, for every budget: season dates, hotels, mountain restaurants, après, ski schools and getting there.Visit the guide The Stone Bridge over the VardarNorth MacedoniaULTIMATE SkopjeA 15th-century stone bridge between a 21st-century square and an Ottoman bazaar, Kenzo Tange’s concrete city, Matka Canyon, and Lake Ohrid three hours away.Visit the guide The gilded domes of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, SofiaBulgariaULTIMATE SofiaRoman streets beneath the city, golden domes, warm mineral springs and a mountain at the end of the main boulevard.Visit the guide Skanderbeg Square with the Et’hem Bey MosqueAlbaniaULTIMATE TiranaAn Ottoman mosque painted with waterfalls, museums in bunkers, Blloku’s cafés and the Dajti cable car, with Berat, Gjirokastër, the 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Golden Gate Bridge seen from Battery SpencerCaliforniaULTIMATE San FranciscoCable cars over Nob Hill, North Beach cafés, the murals of the Mission, three-star tables and the Golden Gate Bridge.Visit the guide Goat Cay and the turquoise shallows of the ExumasOur sister guideULTIMATE The BahamasSeven hundred islands: Nassau and Paradise Island, the Exuma Cays and the swimming pigs, Harbour Island’s pink sand, marinas and island hopping.Visit the guide The golden sand and calm water of Paynes Bay, St. JamesOur sister guideULTIMATE BarbadosThe Platinum West Coast and Sandy Lane, UNESCO-listed Bridgetown, rum where it was born, Friday nights in Oistins and the wild Atlantic east.Visit the guide Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the twin volcanic spires of the UNESCO-listed PitonsOur sister guideULTIMATE St LuciaThe UNESCO Pitons and Soufrière’s drive-in volcano, Marigot Bay, Rodney Bay and the Gros Islet street party, reefs, rum and cocoa.Visit the guide The Grand Palace reflected at dawnThailandULTIMATE BangkokThe Grand Palace and Wat Arun on the river, the grand hotels of Charoen Krung, MICHELIN stars from street food to tasting menus, rooftop bars and the Thai islands.Visit the guide An aerial view of a small island ringed by reef in the MaldivesOur sister guideULTIMATE MaldivesUndersea restaurants and overwater bars, Hanifaru Bay’s mantas, the whale sharks of South Ari, private islands and the little capital, Malé.Visit the guide The Taj Mahal Palace and the Gateway of India from the harbourIndiaULTIMATE MumbaiThe Taj and the Gateway of India, Marine Drive’s Queen’s Necklace, three UNESCO sites, modern Indian restaurants and day trips to Elephanta and the Ghats.Visit the guide The Lujiazui skyline lit up at night across the Huangpu RiverChinaULTIMATE ShanghaiThe grand hotels of the Bund facing the towers of Pudong, every MICHELIN star, Yu Garden, the two Shanghai Museums and day trips to Suzhou and Hangzhou.Visit the guide A caparisoned elephant in the Esala 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HOT TOPICS · Have Your Say

The latest from our readers: visitors and locals talking about Menorca, its restaurants, theatres, museums and neighbourhoods.

    Have your say in HOT TOPICS

    Hauser & Wirth Menorca

    This week's pick

    Hauser & Wirth Menorca

    Illa del Rei, Maó·Art centre

    Last chance this season: ‘Directionless’ at Hauser & Wirth Menorca on Illa del Rei closes on Sunday 25 October 2026, with a day celebrating the gallery’s sixth season (hauserwirth.com). Book the shuttle boat ahead.

    Find out more

    Every list in the guide

    Plan your day

    A carved stone doorway and the cathedral tower in the old town of CiutadellaItineraryCiutadella in a dayOne day, on foot and by carThe long natural harbour of Maó from the La Mola headlandItineraryMaó and its harbourOne day, on foot and by boatThe Naveta des Tudons, a Talayotic stone tomb shaped like an upturned boatItineraryThe Talayotic trailOne day, by carTurquoise water below the pine-topped cliffs at Cala Macarella, MenorcaItineraryThe south-coast covesOne day, by bus and on footLlaüts and harbour houses at Cales Fonts, Es CastellItineraryA property viewing day: Ciutadella, the countryside and Maó harbourOne day, by carFishing boats along the palm-lined harbour front of FornellsItineraryFornells and the north coastOne day, by car or bus

    Know your neighbourhoods

    Our favourites right now

    Restaurants

    1. 1Eating in Menorca: the back storyMaó · In depth
    2. 2SmoixCiutadella · Restaurant
    3. 3AquiaraCiutadella · Restaurant
    See all 16

    Cafés & food

    1. 1Xoriguer gin distilleryMaó harbour · Gin distillery
    2. 2Consell Regulador of Mahón-Menorca cheeseMaó · Cheese designation
    3. 3Sa SucreriaEs Mercadal · Bakery
    See all 5

    Bars

    1. 1Cova d’en XoroiCala en Porter · Cave bar and club
    2. 2Cantina at Hauser & Wirth MenorcaIlla del Rei, Maó · Restaurant and bar
    3. 3Club Marítimo de MahónMaó harbour · Yacht club
    See all 5

    Hotels

    1. 1Where to stay in Menorca: the back storyCiutadella · In depth
    2. 2Faustino Gran Relais & ChâteauxCiutadella old town · Town-house hotel
    3. 3Hotel Rural Sant IgnasiCiutadella · Country house hotel
    See all 17

    Sights

    1. 1Talayotic Menorca: the back storyMenorca · In depth
    2. 2Naveta des TudonsCiutadella · Prehistoric tomb
    3. 3Torre d’en GalmésAlaior · Talayotic settlement
    See all 11

    Museums & Arts

    1. 1Hauser & Wirth MenorcaIlla del Rei, Maó · Art centre
    2. 2Museu de MenorcaMaó · Museum
    3. 3Teatre Principal de MaóMaó · Opera house
    See all 5

    Parks & beaches

    1. 1Menorca’s coves: the back storyCiutadella · In depth
    2. 2Cala Macarella and MacarelletaCiutadella · Coves
    3. 3Cala en TurquetaCiutadella · Cove
    See all 8

    Walks

    1. 1The Camí de Cavalls (GR 223)Menorca · Coastal path
    2. 2Cala Galdana to MacarellaFerreries · Coastal walk
    3. 3Ciutadella old town walkCiutadella · Town walk
    See all 5

    Shopping

    1. 1MascaróMaó · Shoemaker
    2. 2Pons QuintanaAlaior · Shoemaker
    3. 3RIA MenorcaFerreries · Avarca maker
    See all 5

    Health

    1. 1Emergencies: call 112Menorca · Emergency number
    2. 2Hospital Mateu OrfilaMaó · Public hospital
    3. 3Juaneda Hospital MahónMaó · Private hospital
    See all 5

    Property

    1. 1Buying in Menorca: the back storyCiutadella · In depth
    2. 2Engel & Völkers CiutadellaCiutadella · Estate agency
    3. 3Engel & Völkers MahónMaó · Estate agency
    See all 6

    Developments

    1. 1Hauser & Wirth Menorca (open since 2021)Illa del Rei, Maó · Art centre
    2. 2Talayotic Menorca on the World Heritage List (2023)Menorca · World Heritage
    3. 3Villa Le Blanc Gran Meliá (open)Santo Tomás · Hotel
    See all 6

    Cars & yachts

    1. 1Marina MenorcaMaó harbour · Marina
    2. 2Club Marítimo de Mahón (yacht club)Maó harbour · Yacht club
    3. 3Club Nàutic Ciutadella (yacht club)Ciutadella port · Yacht club
    See all 5

    Getting Around

    1. 1Menorca Airport (MAH)Maó · Airport
    2. 2Island buses (TIB Menorca / Mou-t)Menorca · Island buses
    3. 3Menorca Lines (Alcúdia–Ciutadella)Ciutadella port · Ferries
    See all 5

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