The 17 Best Menorca Beaches
This sleepy island in the Balearics is much quieter than its near-neighbours, Mallorca and Ibiza, but its beach scene is arguably more impressive.
In fact, there are more beaches here than Mallorca and Ibiza combined, and a good number of them have Blue Flag ticks by their name, thanks to their cleanliness and quality.
The beaches in the south of the island are renowned for their Caribbean-like white sands, while the northern beaches tend to be of the rockier variety, with steep cliff backdrops.
One thing you'll find all over Menorca is family-friendly beaches, with Son Bou being a particular favourite - it also happens to be the longest one on the island, at a touch over 2.5 km.
And if you really want to get away from the crowds, head for the secret sands of Cala Presili. There are no bars or restaurants to be found here, so you'll need to bring your own supplies, but as a result it's one of the less touristy beaches on the island, so it's perfect if you want to sprawl out in space.
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1. Cala en Turqueta
hugos007 Great for:- Snorkeling
Cala en Turqueta is arguably the most beautiful cala (cove) on Menorca. The beach is set in a deep, rocky inlet with pine forests to all sides. The sand here is fine and near white whilst the crystalline water is a beautiful mix of blues and turquoise. This is where the beach gets its name, and it certainly lives up to it.
The beach is sheltered from most of the wind… read more »
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2. Son Bou
© lunamarina Great for:- Surfing
- Kitesurfing
The largest beach on the island, Son Bou can be found on Menorca's southern coastline. Though backed onto by a large and well-equipped holiday resort and multi-storey hotels at its eastern end, they are separated from the beach by dunes and reeds that provide an important habitat for birds and butterflies, and provide a sense of isolation. At its western end, Son Bou amalgamates with St Jaume Mediterrani, which largely… read more »
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3. Platja es Grau
Markus Trienke Great for:- Snorkeling
- Swimming
Six hundred metres long by roughly 35 metres wide, Menorca's Es Grau Beach sits beside a small fishing village of the same name within the island's Natural Park of S'Albufera de Es Grau. This means visitors to Es Grau beach are able to enjoy a fine natural landscape of grassy sand dunes while being certain they'll find somewhere to enjoy a meal or a cold drink nearby.
Comprising the same yellow… read more »
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4. Cala Mitjana
© Tono Balaguer Located in a wide rocky inlet on the south coast of Menorca are two of the islands most beautiful beaches; Cala Mitjana and the tiny cove of Cala Mitjaneta. Here you will find a bay with brilliant turquoise sea which contrasts with the low white cliffs surrounding it. All around the beaches and bay are pine and olive groves and there is virtually no sign of development (which we tend… read more »
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5. Cala Macarella
Markus Trienke Great for:- Snorkeling
- Swimming
Cala Macarella has much in common with many of Menorca's other most stunning coves. It is set in a deep rocky inlet of limestone cliffs covered in pine trees. The sand here is near white and contrasts brilliantly with the crystalline turquoise sea.
What gives Cala Macarella the edge over some of the equally lovely beaches along this coast (at least in terms of a family beach) are the facilities here.… read more »
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6. Cala Escorxada
MontanNito Great for:- Swimming
- Surfing
You would expect a beach this beautiful to get pretty busy in the summer, but this is not the case with the exquisite little cove of Cala Escorxada. It is just that bit too far off the beaten track for its pristine white sands and clear blue waters to ever get crowded.
If you don't have a boat getting to Cala Escorxada involves at least an hour's walk from the nearest… read more »
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7. Cala Trebalúguer
Ben Salter Cala Trebalúguer is another of Menorca's south coast hidden gems. Much like nearby Cala Escorxada this little cove is so far off the beaten track (or nearest parking) that few visitors to Menorca ever make it here.
The beach is set in a small rocky bay surrounded by pine forest. Here white sand meets crystal-clear turquoise water creating one of the prettiest beaches on the island.
There are no facilities to… read more »
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8. Cala Macarelleta
Sönke Biehl Great for:- Snorkeling
- Swimming
Cala Macarelleta is recognised as being so beautiful that it sits within a protected Area Natural d'Especial Interes. Owing much of its recent fame to none other than an advertisement for a beer, it is nonetheless a beach which any tourist board would be happy to flaunt, and with good reason.
At Cala Macarelleta a picture-perfect view of white sands and turquoise waters vie for attention against the dark green pines… read more »
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9. Cala Binidali
rene boulay Great for:- Snorkeling
- Swimming
Situated on Menorca's rugged yet beautiful southeast coastline, Cala Binidalí is only a 20-minute drive from the island's airport. Sitting at the landward end of a curving inlet of the Mediterranean, its soft sands are surrounded by sheer cliffs of bedrock and native flora clinging on where it can. As a result, the crystal clear waters off Cala Binidali are very well sheltered, and offer good opportunities for those looking… read more »
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10. Cala Pregonda
Miguel Escobar Gómez Great for:- Snorkeling
- Swimming
Located on Menorca's northern coast in a sheltered bay, Cala Pregonda has a relatively shallow draft into the sea, and golden sands that will have children entertained for hours.
Older children and adults in the group might like to swim lazily to one of the tiny islands just offshore that help to ensure Cala Pregonda remains protected from heavy Mediterranean waves. Alternatively, they might like to snorkel in the clear… read more »
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11. Platja de Cavalleria
Seruba Great for:- Swimming
- Surfing
Approaching the northernmost extremes of Menorca, Cala de Cavalleria is two large arcs of yellow-orange sand, edged to either side by rocks and low hills beyond. Situated in a protected area, you won't find the large-scale development that can be found on some of Menorca's other beaches, though the beauty of Cala de Cavalleria ensures it still can get busy during the peak summer months.
Cala de Cavalleria offers nearby free… read more »
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12. Cala del Pilar
Markus Trienke Great for:- Snorkeling
- Kitesurfing
The orange-red sands of Cala del Pilar can be found on the north of the Menorca, near Ferreries. Facing out into the near endless blue of the Mediterranean from a small cove, it is surrounded by low-slung hills which drift between the rich colours of paprika and chocolate depending on the time of day.
Its location means Cala del Pilar can seem something of a secret known only to you. Parking… read more »
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13. es Calo Blanc
Olaf Tausch The aptly named Es Caló Blanc – or White Beach – consists of a narrow tongue of pale sand between high rocks in the largely traditional area of Saint Lluis close to both Binisafuller and Cape d'en Font.
Quite probably the smallest beach in Menorca, Es Caló Blanc has dimensions not much greater than three by three metres, with the sand extending out into the seabed where it is accompanied… read more »
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14. Cala Presili
Ben Salter Also going by the name of Capifort, Cala Presili lies in the north of Menorca roughly 17 kilometres from Mahón, close to the well-known lighthouse at Favaritx on the 186-kilometre Cami de Cavalls walking trail that rings Menorca's coast. Unlike many of the beaches on the north of the island, however, Cala Presili boasts fine white sand in addition to clear, inviting waters that are ripe for exploration via… read more »
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15. Platja de Binigaus
Paul Stephenson The attractive red rocks that back onto Platja de Binigaus make this beach's colourless sands all the more surprising. A long ribbon of elegant white between a warm turquoise sea, the orange-red rocks, and a rich green woodland beyond make Platja de Binigaus as attractive from the sea as it is on land.
Located a short distance almost immediately south of Ferreries, on Menorca's southern coast, it lies just west of… read more »
