9 Tips to Prepare Your Trip to Menorca

Última actualización: 19/08/2024

If you are going to travel to Menorca for your vacations, here is my list of tips that can help you to enjoy your trip more.

How many days do I need to see Menorca?

One of the most common questions of those who plan to go to Menorca is how much time is necessary to see and know a little bit of this beautiful island.

• Menorca in 5 daysIf you want to know Menorca for the first time and you can’t stay longer (or you can’t spend so much), 5 days is enough time to enjoy natural landscapes, beaches and gastronomy.
• Menorca in 7 daysIf you want to see Menorca well and get to know both the north and the south, taste the delicious Menorcan gastronomy, visit the villages and do some boat or kayak activities, 7 days is the minimum I recommend to anyone.
• Menorca in 10 days: If you want to enjoy the luxury of having “free” time during your travels, go shopping, repeat a beach that you liked, make excursions along the Camí de Cavalls, visit several viewpoints, make a Kayak route, visit some of the monuments of Menorca… then I recommend you to dedicate 10 days.

1. Before Traveling – Practical Information

1. Menorca is a small island within the Balearic Islands.
   Anywhere on the island can be reached in less than 1 hour by car, and in summer there is a good frequency of buses.
2. Menorca has 96,620 inhabitants according to the 2019 census.
3. Maó and Ciutadella have about 30.000 inhabitants each.
   The distance by car from one to the other is 45 minutes without traffic jams, and 50 minutes by bus.
4. The climate of Menorca is Mediterranean with hot summers. The months with the most sun and hours of light are May to September. Here you can see tips on what clothes to wear in each month.
5. Menorca is a Biosphere Reserve (it celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2018!) and a Marine Reserve.
6. Menorca has thousands of kilometers of Paret Seca7 lighthouses distributed along its coastline, and a famous and a famous road that goes all the way around the island for 185km..
7. The pristine postcard beaches in June, July and August are usually full(some beaches not so full).
8. In Menorca there are many fun local fiestas in which Menorquina horses participate. The most famous of all is Sant Joan in Ciutadella.
9. You can do dozens of outdoor activities almost anywhere on the island: kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, hiking, biking, freediving, paragliding, sailing, horseback riding, Jeep safaris…
10. When the weather is bad you have many possibilities to enjoy the island.
11. If you go in Summer, checkall the access restrictions by car!

2. When to travel to Menorca?

Many people ask me when is the best time to go to Menorca.

Menorca has almost 2,700 hours of sunshine per year. From May to September there are more than 12 hours of sunshine per day on average.

So if you are looking for some sun and beach, you should go between May and September. My personal recommendation:

• April: If you don’t mind the possibility of bad luck and rainy days, I have really enjoyed Menorca in April.
  If you are lucky with the weather, the spring scenery and empty beaches are spectacular.
• June and September: for me the best months since the weather is very good and there are “less”people than in July and August
• May and October: If you don’t mind taking the risk of a slightly worse weather, May and October are also very good options. There are far fewer people and prices are cheaper.
• July and August: If they are the only months in which you can take holidays. You must know that the island will be at its maximum capacity, you can find traffic jams and crowded beaches.

3. How do I travel?
Flights vs.
Ships

There are 2 ways to get to Menorca: By Plane or by Boat.

• Arriving by PlaneThe airport of Menorca is in Maó, about 40 Km from Ciutadella. Arriving by plane is the best way to get there if you don’t want to bring your car to the island(I recommend renting one then, or a motorcycle). You have to keep in mind that Vueling has had some operational problems in 2017 and 2018, so be patient first and foremost. If a flight is delayed by more than 3 hours, you are entitled to compensation.
• Arriving by boatThe two ports with maritime routes in Menorca are Maó and Ciutadella. Only GNV, Trasmed and Balearia have maritime routes, so there are few options to choose from. For me it is very good option if you come from Mallorca, Barcelona or Valencia,and you want to take your car and as much luggage as you want.

4. Moving by Motorcycle, Car or Bus

During the months of June to October, public transport in Menorca is quite better than the rest of the months (and every year it improves a little bit, especially to go to beaches in summer).
In addition, since 2018, local authorities are starting to make it more difficult to use private transport to access emblematic places of the island (such as Macarella, Tortuga, Presili, Mongofra and Favàritx) Despite that, there are people who prefer to have the flexibility to move anywhere without time constraints. If this is your case, you can choose to rent a car or rent a motorcycle.

• Reasons to Rent Car: If you want to have maximum flexibility. The parking lots are full in summer, especially from June to August.
• Reasons to rent a motorcycle: If you go as a couple from June to August (without the intention of crossing the island every day) it is a good option to avoid traffic jams and agglomerations in the parking lots of some beaches and in Ciutadella and Maó.
• Reasons to use transfers: Maximum comfort and service, at a higher price than other options.

5. Where to sleep?
Hotel vs.
Apartment

I always recommend to book accommodation as soon as possible once you have the tickets for your trip.
Menorca is a very popular tourist destination, and there are hotels that are booked 6 and 8 months in advance (especially the best ones). I have seen booking requests up to 1 year in advance (people booking for the following year when leaving the hotel or apartment) Before choosing your accommodation, I recommend you to read about the different areas of Menorca and the advantages or characteristics of each one..
When you have decided the area where you want to stay… My favorite accommodations are:

• Boutique HotelsCharming hotels in historic centers, with exceptional service and very personalized attention.
• Rural HotelsRural hotels are hotels located in a rural environment, away from the population centers, and usually have a special touch in terms of the architecture of the hotel.
• ApartmentsApartments allow you to cook and save on food expenses. So if you go out to dinner one day you can treat yourself.
• Beachfront AccommodationIf you go to Menorca in search of beach and you want to see the sea even from your accommodation.
• House with Private Access to the SeaIf you go with your family and there are many of you, sometimes it is better to take a whole house.

My personal recommendations for couples:

• Try a Boutique Hotel in CiutadellaEveryone who tries one of the Boutique Hotels in Ciutadella is delighted with the experience. In this article I recommend my favorites.
• Hotel Sant IgnasiThe best of a rural environment incredibly close to Ciutadella. Sometimes it fills up months in advance.
• Barceló Hamilton Adults OnlyAdults only hotel (no children) between first line and proximity to Maó (an area with more late-night options).
• Aparthotel Skyline MenorcaAffordable option in Ciutadella and on the seafront. Many afternoon-night leisure options.
• Aparthotel FloramarAffordable option in Cala Galdana on the seafront. You can walk to Macarella,the most famous beach in Menorca.
• PortBlue Rafalet – Adults OnlyApartments with private terrace, without children and on the seafront.

My personal recommendations for families:

• House for 11 with garden, swimming pool, barbecue and private access to the sea.

My personal recommendations for groups of Friends:

• Apartments with Kitchen: See if you can take turns to cook!
• House for 11 with garden, swimming pool, barbecue and private access to the sea.

6. What to Do in Menorca? Activities

If you have decided to go to Menorca you should know that there are a lot of activities to do, especially from May to October.
My recommendation is that you look at the ones that interest you and book them in advance, especially if you will be in Menorca between June and September.

• Best Outdoor ActivitiesMy favorite is kayaking if you are on a tight budget, and the sailing excursion if you can spend a little more. If you like the sea and you are sporty, don’t miss the freediving with Freedive Menorca, you will love it ;).
• Best Boat and Sailing ActivitiesI always recommend doing at least 1 boat excursion.
• Best Activities for Couples

If you want to play it safe, these are the 6 most popular activities in 2022:

1. Boat trip to the southern coves (65€ – Free cancellation)
2. Sailing trip: 1 full day (125€ – Free cancellation)
3. Sunset Sailing (65€ – Free cancellation)
4. Kayak + Snorkel Excursion (40€ – Free Cancellation)
5. Jeep Safari la Menorca Desconocida (75€ – Free cancellation)*.
6. Jet Ski Excursion for 2 (150€ – Free Cancellation)

7. Where to Eat or Dine? Suggestions

recommend including gastronomic experiences within a trip of any kind. This is especially recommended in Menorca, as it has many restaurants of high quality,so it is worth trying at least some restaurant. Some of my recommendations:

• The best Restaurants in Ciutadella
• Restaurants recommended by locals
• The Best Chiringuitos
• Restaurants in Menorca in the Michelin Guide (2021)

8. Enjoy the Fiestas Patronales

Menorca has some very fun popular festivals suitable for all audiences. The Fiestas de Sant Joan in Ciutadella are the most famous, with tens of thousands of participants, but all the towns in Menorca have festivals and it is worth trying to be in one of them.

• Dates of the Festivities of Menorca

9. Don’t Forget This in Your Suitcase!

If you are going to Menorca for a few days, here are some things I think everyone should pack.

1. Snorkeling glasses: Essential for me, either the old ones that allow to freedive, or the modern ones that cover the whole face for beginners. If you go to any beach, it is worth taking a few snorkel glasses with you. I have the Cressi Big Eyes (and the Cressi F1) for 3 years and I am delighted.
2. GoPro or similarIf you go diving or snorkeling, try some cliff jumps, or hike the Camí de Cavalls and do outdoor activities, it’s great to have a GoPro handy to make some videos that are like-getting machines 😉
3. Paper Guides: Although I have the PDF guide that I highly recommend,there are those who prefer them on paper. If you are one of those nostalgic people who prefer paper, there is 1 guide that I consider essential: The guide Todas las Playas de Menorcawhich contains all the information to get to the beaches, to go kayaking in Menorca, to walk the Camí de Cavalls or to sail along the coast.
4. SunscreenIt seems silly but if you spend the whole year indoors with hardly any exposure to the sun, it is essential to put sunscreen, especially if you are going to be in the sun like a salamander. I always use the sunscreens that can be applied on sand, sweat and salt water,which although they are more expensive they are also much more convenient to use in any situation. In addition the format is 100ml so you can bring it on the plane without problems.
5. Flexible Tripod: If you are a photography lover like me (although I don’t know much) I recommend the Gorillapod. I use it to take photos with tripod in the “complicated” landscapes of Menorca. A rock wall? perfect for the Gorillapod. A branch? I can hook up my Gorillapod. There’s no impossible ground for the gorillapod!

Bonus 1: Interactive Map and PDF Maps

If you travel to Menorca during your vacations I recommend you to consult our interactive map to consult our interactive map where you can see what places of interest there are all over the island. If you want a more detailed map we also have other mapsfor example:

• Map of Cicloturismo
• Map of the Camí de Cavalls

Bonus 2: Is there 3G/4G/5G at the Beaches?

Short answer:on most unspoiled beaches there is NO internet coverage. For me it’s a very positive thing because it allows you to disconnect quite a bit. On some beaches it is possible to catch some coverage, but it almost never allows you to browse comfortably or make calls. That is why we we recommend you to buy our PDF guide to have all the information you need to plan your trip.

• Imagine you are at the beach and want to plan the rest of the day on the spot: with our Guide you can consult the information offline and decide on the spot.

Bonus 3: Do you accept credit cards?

• ATMs are available in all towns. If your entity charges you to withdraw money at other entities ATMs, it is best to check where the ATMs are first to avoid absurd fees.
• Please note that some shops and restaurants do not allow to pay by credit card. This is becoming less and less common but there are still places where you won’t be able to pay by card. In Maó, Ciutadella, Mercadal and Ferreries you will not have any problem to find ATMs, but if you are a little more isolated it is better to consult with the restaurants if they allow to pay with card.

Bonus 4: Most Empty Beaches in Summer

If what you are looking for above all is to be quiet on the beach and with the minimum of people around you, check out our article on which beaches in Menorca are less crowded in summer. article on which beaches in Menorca are the least crowded in summer..

Bonus 5: How far in advance should I book?

If you have doubts about when you should start booking your flight/boat, accommodation, car and activities, here is some useful information.

• Tourists travelling to Menorca book their holidays at least 60 days in advance.
• The best accommodations are usually filled up to 6 months before for the months of July and August (In February the best rooms are already full).

When to Book a Vacation to Menorca?

Based on official CAIB statistical data for 2018, this is an approximation of Spanish tourist bookings (Spanish tourists make up approximately 37% of Menorca’s tourism) that occur each month of the year. As you can see, most bookings are made between April and June,so my recommendation is that you do the same. If you can, it is best to book at least 4 months before your trip.

1. January:810 bookings – 11 bookings per hour
2. February: 1,061 bookings – 15 bookings per hour
3. March:879 bookings – 12 bookings per hour
4. April:2,342 bookings – 33 bookings per hour
5. May:3,947 bookings – 55 bookings per hour
6. June:4,263 bookings – 59 bookings per hour
7. July:2,239 bookings – 31 bookings per hour

Book your Accommodation Soon

• You can book better hotels at lower prices than later (I sometimes book 2 and decide later).
• Prices usually go up over time. The later you book the more expensive the prices.
• You can cancel your reservation at no cost if you cancel or change your trip

Book your Activities soon

• You can secure a place in the most popular activities (especially in (especially in July-August)
• You can cancel almost all activities for free up to 48 hours before doing them, in case you cancel or change your trip.

Reserve your car soon

2023: In 2023 there will be a shortage of cars (as every year) and high prices for several reasons. If you want to rent a car during the summer, book it as soon as possible.

• From June to August there is some shortage of cars and you can end up without one or paying much more. You can book by comparing prices.
• Prices usually go up over time. The later you book the more expensive the prices.
• You can cancel your reservation for free if you do so via rentalcars.