5-Day Menorca Itinerary: For The Best Short Trip

Menorca, Spain, is the perfect place for a short summer getaway. Plenty of beaches to choose from, incredible places to eat and beautiful villages to wander. Five days is the ideal introduction to the island. It is enough time to soak up the Mediterranean pace of life without feeling rushed. This Menorca itinerary is ideal for any trip to the island.

To help plan your trip to Menorca, check out all my guides HERE:
MENORCA GUIDES

Why a 5-Day Menorca Itinerary Works

Menorca is only around 50km long, which makes it ideal for a short trip. You can see a lot on this Menorca itinerary without feeling like you’re rushing. Five days gives you enough time to hit the highlights: the two main towns, a handful of beaches, great food, and a couple of very good sunsets. Island life lends itself naturally to mornings exploring and afternoons on the beach, which is exactly how this itinerary is built.

Public transport does exist on the island, particularly in the peak summer months and between the main sights, but hiring a car will give you the flexibility and freedom to make the most of this Menorca itinerary. There are some great deals to be found through Discover Cars.

Day 1: Explore Mahón and Head to the Beach

Day 1 is all about arriving, visiting Mahon and then treating yourself to some beach time and a sunset.

Begin your Menorca Itinerary – Arrival in Menorca

Arrival in Menorca could not be easier. There is one airport, officially called Menorca Aiport Mahon. And there are daily flights from the UK throughout the shoulder and summer seasons, averaging around 15 arrivals a day. So you have plenty of choice over when you land. If you are staying in Menorca for five days, I would recommend catching one of the many early morning flights to make the most of your first day.

I always use Skyscanner to find the best deals.

Upon arrival in Menorca, the easiest place to pick up a hire car is from the airport. The car rental desks are in the airport, but for many providers, there is then a shuttle to collect your car. Find out more details here: Hiring A Car in Menorca: Everything You Need to Know

Lunch and wander in Mahón – Menorca Itinerary

If you have arrived early, your accommodation might not be ready for check-in. But this means it is a wonderful opportunity to check out the capital city of the island, Mahon.

Start with a walk around the Old Town. You can easily get yourself lost and find your way again, walking the narrow streets and small squares. A good place to start is Plaça de la Constitució, the main square next to the Town Hall, which is lined with cafe terraces and is the perfect spot to sit with a coffee and watch the world go by.

From there head to the Xoriguer gin distillery, where you can sample some of the local gin. Don’t miss the Mercat Des Peix, the historic fish market in Mahon. Still home to several traditional fish stalls, but now you can also find pintxo and tapas bars.

Finally, head down to the harbour to have a relaxed waterfront lunch.

Find out all the best things to do in Mahon:
14 Exciting Things to Do in Mahon: The Capital of Menorca

Afternoon at Cala en Porter – Menorca Itinerary

After lunch, head to the nearby beach of Cala En Porter, which is approximately 17 KM from Mahon. Rated as one of the best resort beaches in Menorca, and is one of five beaches on the island to be classed as a blue flag beach. It has gentle shallows, pristine sand and stunning turquoise water, all in a sheltered cove. It is easy to access, with free parking in the shade and steps down to the beach. A perfect first beach experience on your Menorca itinerary!

Sunset drinks at Cova d’en Xoroi

To finish your first day with a bang, head to Cova D’en Xoroi for some stunning sunset drinks. This is a natural cave located in Cala en Porter, which has been turned into a bar. There are sun terraces which you can sit at to watch the sun go down over the sea.

Day 2: South Coast Beaches

Today is all about settling into island life, with visits to some of the best beaches on the South Coast of the island. This area is known for its stunning turquoise waters and white sand. It is often the more sheltered side of the island, making it perfect for swimming to cool down!

Cala Galdana

First stop should be Cala Galdana. It’s a horseshoe-shaped bay, around 400 metres of beach enclosed by cliffs on either side, with the stunning turquoise water you will want to see. The small river, the Algendar, also flows into the sea, which adds to the setting here. It is easy to access and more developed than some of the other beaches on the island, with sunbeds, restaurants, and water sports along the shoreline. Because of this, it can get crowded, so it’s good to get there in the morning.

Cala Macarella and Macarelleta

From Cala Galdana is around a 45 to 50 minute walk along the Camí de Cavalls coastal path to Cala Macarella. During the peak season of June through to October, you cannot park at the official car park due to overcrowding. There is a shuttle bus, but seats are limited due to its popularity. So the best thing to do is to park at Cala Galdana and walk.

Macarella is one of the most stunning beaches on the island, a cove framed by cliffs and pine trees, with a sheltered bay. There is a beach bar, Susy’s, tucked behind the beach if you need a cold drink or lunch. However, this beach can also get busy!

If you can, a further 10-minute walk from Cala Macarella will get you to Cala Macarelleta. This is a secluded, remote beach and perhaps even more stunning! Well worth the walk if you are looking for a quieter experience. Just a couple of things to note, there are no facilities at this second beach, and it is also a nudist beach!

Top Tip: A great way to see the south coast is to join a boat tour, such as THIS ONE. You get to see many of the beaches, including the harder-to-reach ones, without walking. And it includes paddleboarding, snorkelling and drinks.

Day 3: Ciutadella, Lithica and the West

Head to the west of the island today to explore the old capital, a quarry and some of the coves on this side.

A Morning in Ciutadella

Start your day in the beautiful historical city of Ciutadella. It was the original capital of the island until it was moved to Mahon during the British regime. Think cobbled alleyways, street cafes, a pretty harbour and cathedrals and churches. It is known for it’s honey stoned buildings, which is a contrast from the rest of the usual whitewashed colour of the rest of the island. It is definitely worth a wander, and a great way to spend the morning.

Start by just mooching around the Old Town, make sure to pop into the cathedral for some beautiful architecture, and have lunch down in Cituadella Port.

Find out everything to see and do in Ciutadella here:
15 Beautiful Things to Do in Ciutadella: Menorca’s Charming Old Capital

Visit Lithica

When you are on the west of the island, you can’t miss a stop at one of the most interesting and unique parts of the island. The old quarry of Lithica. Lithica Pedreres de s’Hostal was responsible for providing the marés stone that was used as the building blocks for many of the buildings in Western Menorca. When it was abandoned, it was turned into a cultural and unique heritage space. The huge cavern that was carved from the removal of stone became the perfect place for gardens, mazes and an interesting insight into an important part of Menorca’s history. 

Check out why you need to visit here:
Lithica Quarry Menorca: Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting

Swim Off the Rocks at Cala en Brut

To finish the day, head to Cala En Brut to cool off with a swim off the rocks. This is a stunning, sandless cove on the west of the island. It has absolutely perfect water, and lots of places to enter the sea from, as well as great snorkelling. A perfect place to chill, with a vibe.

Day 4: Binibeca, Binifadet and the Southeast

Visit some of the prettiest Menorcan spots, relax on the beach and enjoy local food and wine!

Spend some time in Binibeca

Binibeca is one of the more famous villages in Menorca; its whitewashed fisherman-style village is used in many images promoting the island, and it is an Instagrammer’s dream. But, for good reason. It is the most charming town located on the south coast of the island. But there is so much more to do than just see the village.

Start by exploring the fisherman’s village of Binibeca Vell. It consists of 165 houses and a small church, all woven together with a small maze of cobbled streets winding through the whitewashed buildings. It doesn’t take long to explore the little alleyways, and while it might feel like you are getting lost, all lead to the parade of shops or the small harbour.

Afterwards, grab some lunch at one of the local restaurants in the village, Sa Musclera is a favourite of mine. It has the best sobresada on the island!

After lunch, head to Binibeca Nou for some chill time on the beach. It was formally a blue flag beach, although it lost it in 2021, but only because the local council decided not to reapply for it! You’ll find a strip of white sand and stunning turquoise waters. The sea is shallow and often calm, so perfect for families and snorkelling.

Sundowners at Los Bucaneros

Before leaving the beach, make sure to relax with a drink at sunset at Bucaneros. This charming bar is perched on the edge of the beach, and makes for the most stunning spot to enjoy a drink as the sun sets, after a hard day spent relaxing by the sea.

Dinner at Binifadet Vineyard

Did you know Menorca also produces its own wine? Binifdadet is the largest vineyard on the island and was opened in 2004. You book a one-hour guided tour to find out all about the vineyard, or, if you prefer, explore on your own at your own pace. The vineyard also offers wine tasting. But, above all this, it also has a wonderful restaurant on site, which serves the most delicious food on the terrace under the vines. The perfect way to finish a day.

Day 5: The North Coast

For your final day in Menorca, head to the north coast. This is a wilder, more rugged side of the island. Where the south has white sand and turquoise water, the north has dramatic cliffs, reddish sand and far fewer crowds.

Cala Pregonda

Cala Pregonda is instantly recognisable for its striking copper-coloured sand, a rare contrast to Menorca’s more typical white beaches, and its beautifully clear blue sea. Set on the island’s rugged north coast, it feels wild and untouched, with offshore rocks that help keep the water calm and perfect for swimming. Reaching it requires a walk, but the sense of isolation and the unique landscape make the effort more than worthwhile.

Lunch in Fornells

After a morning on the beach, head to the nearby fishing village of Fornells. It is a quaint whitewashed place, which feels more local and less touristy than some of the other places on the island. The village is also famed for its highly regarded seafood restaurants lining the waterfront. It is one of the best places in Menorca to try the famous lobster stew, known as Caldereta de Llagosta.

Head to the Airport to Finish your Menorca Itinerary

After a delicious lunch, make your way back to the airport. Ideally, booking an evening flight will allow you to make the most of this 5-day itinerary. Menorca Airport Mahon is quite small, so you don’t need to get there too early for your flight. If you are flying to the UK, you will need to go through passport control, and there can be a queue, but generally an hour and a half is more than enough time in Menorca Airport.

Menorca Itinerary: Where to Stay

For this Menorca itinerary, I would recommend basing yourself in one of the following places. This allows you to easily access

CALA GALDANA
A central location on the south coast, which isn’t too far from the airport and has good access to all of the locations.
Take a look at options HERE.

BINIBECA
It is only a 25-minute drive from the airport and is ideal for the second half of the itinerary. While still not too long a drive for Ciutadella and the north coast. Plus, it is a lovely place to stay with great restaurants and close to beaches. (This is where I stay when I visit Menorca).
Take a look at places to stay HERE.

AGROTOURISM
For something a little different, try staying at a rural farmhouse in the centre of the island, which puts you equidistant from pretty much everything. A brilliant option if you want something more characterful and away from the resort areas.
Check out the best HERE.

Is a 5-day Menorca Itinerary Long Enough?

A 5-day Menorca itinerary is certainly enough time for you to get the feel of the island. You can spend time in the cities, relax on the beach and visit the pretty villages the island has to offer. However, Menorca is the sort of place where you just want to slow down. The island has a distinctly unhurried feel, and so if you are able to spend longer you can truly relax and enjoy the sights at are more lesuirely pace!

This Menorca itinerary gives you a taste, but there is so much more to see and do in this wonderful part of Spain: Things to Do in Menorca, 23 Amazing Must-Do’s!

If you have longer…

If you are able to extend your Menorca itinerary, here are some more things you might want to add to your list:

• Visit some Talayotic sites. There are over 1,500 on the island, dating from around 3000 years ago.
• Have dinner in Es Castell. This charming harbour town has waterfront dining and shopping.
• Explore towns inland, such as Es Mercadal and Alaior.
• Find Menorca’s windmills, remnants of the island’s agricultural heritage.
• Visit the highest point on the island, Monte Toro, for a panorcamic view.
• Walk the Cami de Cavalls. The path is divided into 20 sections; it is 185km long, and you can hike all or some of them.
• Take a walk in S’Albufera des Grau, which is designated as a Biosphere Reserve.
• Explore so many more of Menorca’s stunning beaches. Check out the best here: Best Beaches in Menorca: 23 Stunning Places

Menorca Itinerary: FAQs

Getting to Menorca

Menorca has one airport, located just outside Mahón. There are regular direct flights from across the UK throughout the summer and shoulder seasons, with airlines including Jet2, TUI and easyJet operating routes from most major airports.

Do you need a car to get around?

While there is public transport, this itinerary works best with a car. Many of the best beaches require a drive followed by a short walk, and public transport on the island is limited. Car hire is widely available at the airport and is straightforward to book in advance. Check out Discover Cars for great deals.

When is the best time to visit Menorca?

The best time to visit Menorca is late May to early July or September. You get the sunshine and warm temperatures without the peak August crowds, and prices are noticeably lower. August is busy and can feel overwhelming, particularly on the most popular beaches. Check out some guides here: Menorca In May, Menorca In June, Menorca in July for specific details on each month.

Is Menorca Expensive?

Menorca is not cheap, but it is consistently the most affordable of the Balearic Islands. Beaches are free, there is plenty to do at little cost, and eating out is very reasonable if you eat where the locals eat. Shoulder season, May, June or September, will also save you significantly on flights and accommodation. For a full breakdown of costs, head to this guide: Is Menorca Expensive?

Is Menorca Good for Families?

Yes, Menorca is a brilliant family destination. The beaches on the south coast are calm and sheltered, making them ideal for younger swimmers, and the island is small enough to navigate easily with children.

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