Best Beaches of Menorca

You will come to Menorca attracted by its turquoise waters and you will fall in love because there is nothing better in the Mediterranean. Here you have the ranking of the best coves of the island:

Carmen Navarro

Carmen Navarro

8 min read

Best Beaches of Menorca

Mitjana Cove | Joao Branco

You will have seen them in postcards and photos hundreds of times, but until you put your feet in the sand, dive into its waters and enjoy sunbathing in its coves you will not believe that this paradise was so close. If you want to discover which are the best coves in Menorca, keep reading.

1. Macarella and Macarelleta coves

Macarella Cove| © Alejandro Muñoz Cabrisas - Trabajo propio
Macarella Cove| © Alejandro Muñoz Cabrisas - Trabajo propio

Considered by many the most beautiful beaches of Menorca, the complex of Cala Macarella and Cala Macarelleta, on the south coast, is essential and you cannot leave Menorca without spending a day enjoying its spectacular scenery.

The crystal clear waters reach here the maximum expression and the environment surrounded by stone cliffs and trees will not leave you indifferent. Although it is a virgin beach, you will find a restaurant where you can eat, have a snack or simply refresh yourself.

If you want to enjoy it to the fullest, you can join a boat trip. This type of excursions are very comfortable, since you spend a day on board and also include lunch. You will avoid crowds, long waits in the parking lots and walks under the sun and you will have time to swim and snorkel in Cala Macarella, among others.

Keep in mind that Cala Macarelleta is nudist (although nowadays it is also easy to find swimmers dressed) and that it is totally virgin, it does not have any services.

Where it is: south coast - see on Google maps

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2. Turqueta Cove

Turqueta Cove| © J. Braun - Wikipedia
Turqueta Cove| © J. Braun - Wikipedia

This is another favorite for Menorcans and tourists. The name does not deceive: its turquoise waters are the main attraction of this cove that at times seems to have a fluorescent blue sea.

Its fine sand completes the spectacle and the good thing is that it won't take you too long to get there: it is a ten-minute drive from Ciudadela and with only 10 minutes more of walking, you will cross a lush pine forest and you can plant a parasol and a towel. The prize? A refreshing dip as soon as you arrive.

Despite being a virgin cove, it is under the surveillance of a lifeguard and has public toilets nearby to which you can resort in case of need. As for bars, restaurants or beach bars, you won't find anything, so it's best to bring food and drink in a backpack.

Where it is: south coast - see on Google maps

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3. Son Saura Cove

Arenal de Son Saura| © hugos007 - Flickr
Arenal de Son Saura| © hugos007 - Flickr

We are reluctant to leave the south coast of Menorca because its crystal clear waters and white sand have us totally trapped. Son Saura is another of those coves that deserves a visit (or to stay there to live forever). It is also a virgin cove but in the last years it has been watched by a lifeguard, which makes it especially safe for families.

You can get there by car and once there, you can enjoy a large shaded area thanks to its lush pine forest. The only drawback of Son Saura is that in recent years has been frequent arrival of algae that can accumulate on the shore of its coast and make bathing a little more uncomfortable.

Where it is: south coast - see in Google maps

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4. Mitjana and Mitjaneta coves

Mitjana Cove| © De Voltumna, CC BY-SA 3.0 - Wikipedia
Mitjana Cove| © De Voltumna, CC BY-SA 3.0 - Wikipedia

The complex of Calas Mitjana and Mitjaneta cannot be missing in any ranking of the best coves in Menorca. Flanked by ravines, pine forest and cliffs, when you reach its fine sand you will feel that you are surrounded only by nature.

To get there you will have to park (or get off a bus) in Cala Galdana and from the Mirador de Sa Punta, take a stretch of the Camí de Cavalls of approximately one kilometer. It won't take you more than 20 minutes walking (unless you stop to take pictures along the way, which is totally understandable).

Why do we like Cala Mitjana? The fact that the path here is a bit longer than the one that leads to other coves means that not so many people get here, especially to the small Mitjaneta. But be sure to bring food and refreshments or you will have to make the 20 minutes walk to Cala Galdana when you want to eat or drink something.

Where it is: south coast - see on Google maps

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5. Pregonda Cove

Pregonda Cove| © Jle1bat - Trabajo propio - Wikipedia
Pregonda Cove| © Jle1bat - Trabajo propio - Wikipedia

We leave for a moment the coves of the south to dive into another planet. When you arrive at Cala Pregonda, you will be struck by practically everything: the landscape, the reddish color of its sand and the virgin panorama that you will have before you. It is located on the north coast of Menorca, which is generally less crowded than the south coast. If you feel like avoiding crowds, keep this in mind.

Thanks to being in a point somewhat distant from the rest of the island and the relatively long distance that you have to walk it turns it into an island very little frequented by the tourists.

If you feel like snorkeling in Menorca during your vacations, do not hesitate to take out your goggles here: Cala Pregonda is within what is considered the Marine Reserve of Menorca, since the number of species that inhabit these waters is very high. If you have already overcome laziness to get here, make the most of the cove and take a good dip, you will remember this cove forever!

Where it is: north coast - see on Google maps

6. Trebalúger Cove

Trebalúger cove| © Gabriel Vidal Álvarez (Gabriel Vidal) - Trabajo propio - Wikipedia
Trebalúger cove| © Gabriel Vidal Álvarez (Gabriel Vidal) - Trabajo propio - Wikipedia

All good things come at a price and getting to Cala Trebalúger will take you about 40 minutes walking from Cala Mitjana, which makes a total of almost an hour walking from the moment you park the car. But if Trebalúger is in the top 10 coves of Menorca is because it is really worth it.

Surrounded by white stone and pine trees that practically reach the sea, its blue colors and fine sand make it a true paradise and a delight for the eyes. The path is not particularly easy, as it has quite a steep slope and you will even have to cross a small stream.

But I insist: this virgin cove is one of the most authentic of the south coast of Menorca and you will enjoy both the path and your rest in the water. Do not hesitate and go for it!

Where it is: south coast - see in Google maps

7. Presili Cove

Tortuga cove, near Presili cove| © Nicolas G. Mertens - Trabajo propio - Wikipedia
Tortuga cove, near Presili cove| © Nicolas G. Mertens - Trabajo propio - Wikipedia

The Favàritx lighthouse guards this spectacular beach on the east coast of the island of Menorca. To access it you can arrive by car to the lighthouse (be careful! it is not possible to reach the lighthouse by car in high season, so you will have to park a little earlier) and then walk to it. On this occasion it will be especially necessary to wear comfortable and closed shoes, as the path is steeper than that of the coves in the south.

Once you reach your destination you will find a spectacularly unspoiled and unfrequented beach where you can spend a perfect day in the sun. Remember that as an authentic virgin beach, you will not have any kind of bar service or sale of drinks and food, so it is best to carry supplies in a backpack or cooler.

There is also not much shade, so I recommend bringing an umbrella if you plan to spend the middle hours of the day there in summer.

Where it is: north coast - see on Google maps

8. Escorxada Cove

Escorxada cove| © MontanNito - Trabajo propio - Wikipedia
Escorxada cove| © MontanNito - Trabajo propio - Wikipedia

Returning to the south but leaving the most frequented circuit of the coves of this coast, we find Cala Escorxada. Much more secluded and difficult to access, in this cove is very rare to find crowds, so the enjoyment once there will be maximum.

You will have to walk almost an hour from Cala Mitjana or Santo Tomás, but I assure you that the walk will be worth it when you take a dip in its turquoise waters. If you want to opt for the comfortable option, there is a Taxi service (Taximar) that for 30 € can take you to the cove, but it is true that the road is quite nice and worth the walk (at least to the idea or the return). If you dare, you could even do it by bike.

You won't find any services here either, so remember to pack everything you will need during the day in a backpack.

Where it is: south coast - see in Google maps

9. Fornells Bay

Bay of Fornells| © CC BY-SA 3.0 - Wikipedia
Bay of Fornells| © CC BY-SA 3.0 - Wikipedia

This small fishing village on the north coast of Menorca has a port from where all the boat trips of the north coast depart. You can arrive here by car in a comfortable way and park to embark on a boat trip or take a kayak out to sea to discover the small coves that surround it.

It is a good place for snorkeling, as it is within the Marine Reserve of Menorca and you can even dive in the famous Cueva de los Ingleses, surrounded by rock, vegetation and marine fauna. Although in Fornells you will find everything you need to spend the day, if you join a boat trip to the northern coves, the crew of the boat will be in charge of serving you food and drinks on board. Enjoy!

Where it is: north coast - see on Google maps

10. Es Caló Blanc

Es CAló Blanc| © MontanNito - Trabajo propio - Wikipedia
Es CAló Blanc| © MontanNito - Trabajo propio - Wikipedia

This is the smallest beach of the island and probably the most charming. Its completely crystalline and transparent waters invite you to take a bath that lasts for hours. The surrounding landscape is also at the same level: two large rocks surround it and leave very little space for bathers, but it is not a problem because this is not especially a beach known by tourists.

Upon arrival you will find a small parking lot on both sides of the road and walking very little you will be directly in the water, and you will never want to leave!

Where it is: south coast - see in Google maps