Menorca is the quieter island in the Balearics. The whole island has been a UNESCO biosphere reserve since 1993, its coastline stretches for 216 kilometres, and most beaches sit in small coves without large hotel complexes. In the south, the sand is white and the water turquoise, while the north coast is rougher, with reddish sand and cooler water.
It’s a small island, but your choice of base still matters. Mahón in the east and Ciutadella in the west are around 50 kilometres apart, several beach resorts almost close down out of season, and many beach buses only run in summer. These are my recommendations for six good areas in Menorca, with places to stay at different prices.
Contents
The Best Areas in Menorca
- Ciutadella - best area for first-time visitors and couples
- Mahón - best area without a hire car and out of season
- Cala Galdana - best area for families with young children
- Son Bou - best area for a long sandy beach
- Fornells - best area for peace, water sports and good food
- Punta Prima and Binibeca - best area for a beach holiday near the airport
Below, I go through the six areas one by one, covering their advantages and drawbacks and three places to stay at different prices, so you can choose a base that suits your holiday in Menorca.
1. Ciutadella - best area for first-time visitors and couples 🏛️
- 📍 Distance to the centre: You’ll be staying in the town itself. All three hotels below are within walking distance of the cathedral and harbour.
- 🚌 Transport: Bus L01 connects Ciutadella and Mahón, while local buses serve beaches to the south and west. Several beach routes only run in summer.
- ✈️ Time from Menorca Airport: Around 45 to 50 minutes by car. By bus, you first need to travel to Mahón and change there.
- 💰 Prices: €€ to €€€. When I searched for a weekend in May, hostals and four-star hotels cost around €100 to €140 a night, while five-star hotels started at about €250.
- 👮 Safety: Quiet and easy to get around. The Sant Joan festival takes place on 23 and 24 June, so book early if you’re travelling on those dates.
Ciutadella is my first choice for a first visit to Menorca when you want a proper town with restaurants and things going on in the evening. It was the island’s capital until the British moved it to Mahón in the 18th century, and that history is still visible in the palaces and narrow streets around the 14th-century Santa Maria Cathedral.
In the centre is Plaça des Born with its 22-metre obelisk. Just below, the harbour sits in a narrow inlet, with restaurants lining the quayside. Follow the waterfront and you’ll reach the small Castell de Sant Nicolau fort, built in the late 17th century.
You won’t have a large beach on your doorstep. The nearest is around a kilometre from the three hotels below, and only one of them has a pool. Ciutadella does, though, make the best base for the south-west coast’s coves, including Cala en Turqueta, Macarella and Macarelleta.
See places to stay in Ciutadella here.
The coves need a little planning. At Macarella, it’s a 1.8-kilometre walk from the car park, there are no facilities, and in summer further visitors are turned away when the car park is full. The bus only runs in the summer season, so head out early.
You can easily get around the town without a car. I’d hire one for a couple of days to visit the beaches and Naveta des Tudons, a Bronze Age burial monument just outside town. For a pool and beach close to your hotel, Cala Galdana or Son Bou would be a better choice.
Places to Stay in Ciutadella
Hostal Menurka - best budget choice near the Old Town
Hostal Menurka is around five minutes’ walk from the cathedral and has a guest rating of 9.0 from more than 1,100 reviews. Rooms are simply furnished, there’s a terrace and bar, and breakfast is available at an extra charge. There’s no pool, and several guests mention thin walls, so it works best when you’ll mainly use your room for sleeping.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Very friendly staff, comfortable large beds and a perfect location. Really good and tasty breakfast.”
See photos and book Hostal Menurka here.
Hotel Maïa - best mid-range hotel in town
Hotel Maïa is a four-star hotel less than a kilometre from the cathedral, with a guest rating of 9.2. Rooms are soundproofed, there’s a lift, and breakfast receives plenty of praise. Be aware that there’s no pool, and some guests say the double bed is made up of two single beds pushed together.
One guest highlights the interiors on Booking.com: “The lobby is fantastic with its green wall, trees and plants, and fun places to sit among it all and soak up the atmosphere.”
See photos and book Hotel Maïa here.
Can Araya - best luxury choice with a pool
Can Araya has five stars and is the only one of these three hotels with an outdoor pool. There’s also a garden and terrace, and you’re still just a short walk from the cathedral. It’s my suggestion for couples who want to stay in town and have somewhere for an afternoon swim. Some guests are disappointed with the condition of the pool, so check the latest reviews before booking.
One guest says on Booking.com: “The staff were fantastic. The room, a king room with a balcony, was spacious and lovely and cool.”
See photos and book Can Araya here.
2. Mahón - best area without a hire car and out of season ⚓
- 📍 Distance to the centre: You’ll be in the island’s capital, on a cliff above the harbour. The waterfront is a few minutes’ walk down from the Old Town.
- 🚌 Transport: Mahón is the island’s bus hub, with routes to Ciutadella, Fornells, Son Bou, Cala Galdana and Punta Prima, among others.
- ✈️ Time from Menorca Airport: The airport is only 5 kilometres from town. Bus L10 reaches the bus station in 10 minutes and costs just under €3.
- 💰 Prices: €€ to €€€. The three hotels below cost around €115 to €250 a night for a weekend in May.
- 👮 Safety: Quiet. The town sits high above the harbour, so expect steps and steep streets between the centre and the quayside.
Mahón, called Maó in Catalan, is an obvious choice without a hire car, for a short stay or outside the summer season. It’s the island’s administrative capital, with hotels, restaurants and shops that remain open when the beach resorts close. When I searched for a weekend in November, there were nine hotels available here and none in the four beach resorts further down this guide.
The main attraction is the harbour, which is more than five kilometres long and considered one of the Mediterranean’s largest natural harbours. From April to September, sightseeing catamarans sail between the harbour’s islands, including Illa del Rei with the Hauser & Wirth gallery and the former quarantine island of Lazareto. The Xoriguer gin distillery is also on the quayside.
In the Old Town, you can walk between Santa Maria Church with its large organ, the Teatre Principal opera house from 1829 and the Claustre del Carme cloister, now a market selling local produce. Look out for the English-style bay windows, a reminder of British rule, and try the local Mahón cheese.
See places to stay in Mahón here.
The drawback is the beaches. Mahón has no town beach: the nearest are Sa Mesquida, 7 kilometres away, and Es Grau, just under 10 kilometres away. The Es Grau bus only runs in summer, so without a car you’ll be taking day trips on the routes serving the beach resorts.
For a harbour base with more of a village feel, look at neighbouring Es Castell, where fishing boats gather in the small Cales Fonts harbour. If the beach is your priority, I’d choose Punta Prima instead, just 11 kilometres from Mahón.
Places to Stay in Mahón
Hostal Jume - Urban Rooms - best budget choice in the Old Town
Hostal Jume is in the Old Town, around 200 metres from the harbour, with a lift and paid breakfast and parking options, the latter unusual in such a central location. Rooms are small, and some guests have been disturbed by noise from the room next door. It suits a short stay where location matters most.
One guest sums up their stay on Booking.com: “Fantastic location and a very well-equipped room.”
See photos and book Hostal Jume - Urban Rooms here.
Catalonia Mirador des Port - best hotel with a pool and harbour views
The four-star Catalonia Mirador des Port overlooks the harbour and has a seasonal outdoor pool, spa and gym. It was also open when I searched in November. The centre is around ten minutes’ walk away, putting you just outside the busiest streets. Some guests feel the pool’s opening hours are too short.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Very clean and friendly staff. Really good facilities, and the food was high quality.”
See photos and book Catalonia Mirador des Port here.
Can Alberti 1740 Boutique Hotel - best boutique hotel in a historic townhouse
Can Alberti 1740 is a five-star boutique hotel on Isabel II street, around 200 metres from the harbour, with a guest rating of 9.2. It’s a quiet option for couples who want a central location. The building is old, and it shows: guests mention dim room lighting and low beams that taller visitors need to watch out for.
One guest describes it on Booking.com: “Very quiet hotel. Fantastic location. Extremely clean. Lovely breakfast.”
See photos and book Can Alberti 1740 Boutique Hotel here.
3. Cala Galdana - best area for families with young children 🏖️
- 📍 Distance to the centre: This beach resort is 8 kilometres south of Ferreries. Everything in Cala Galdana itself is within walking distance of the beach.
- 🚌 Transport: Bus L51 runs from Mahón and L52 from Ciutadella, both via Ferreries. A beach holiday is possible without a car, but seeing the rest of the island is more awkward.
- ✈️ Time from Menorca Airport: Around 40 minutes by car.
- 💰 Prices: €€ to €€€€. The three hotels cost around €120 to €280 a night, making this the most expensive of the six areas.
- 👮 Safety: The beach has lifeguards and shallow water. Hotels on the slopes involve an uphill walk, so check the distance if you’re bringing a pushchair.
Cala Galdana is my suggestion for families with young children and anyone who wants the beach to be the focus of their holiday. The bay is 350 metres long and 40 metres wide, with white sand and shallow water, sheltered by cliffs topped with pine trees. There are lifeguards, a wooden walkway for wheelchair users and a marked area for kayaking and paddleboarding.
At one end of the beach, the Algendar, Menorca’s longest watercourse, flows into the sea. Behind the resort is the Barranc d'Algendar gorge, giving you a little more nature around the hotels than in many other beach resorts.
Cala Galdana is also a good starting point for walks to the south coast’s undeveloped coves. The Camí de Cavalls trail passes right by, and Cala Mitjana is just 1.5 kilometres to the east. Wear proper shoes and bring water, as there are no facilities there. To the west, the trail continues towards Macarella and Macarelleta.
See places to stay in Cala Galdana here.
Don’t choose Cala Galdana for local town life. It’s a purpose-built beach resort and operates seasonally: when I searched for a weekend in November, there were no hotels available. Between May and October, though, it’s one of the easiest places on the island for a holiday with children.
For restaurants and shops in a town in the evening, Ferreries is 8 kilometres away, and bus L52 takes you to Ciutadella.
Places to Stay in Cala Galdana
Ilunion Menorca - best budget choice with a pool
Ilunion Menorca is a three-star hotel with studios, an outdoor pool and a restaurant, around 600 metres from the beach. It’s the cheapest of my three suggestions. The hotel sits partway up the hill, so the walk back from the beach is uphill. Some guests are unhappy with breakfast and with plates and glasses that weren’t properly clean.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Really nice studio with plenty of storage space. Clean, cosy and comfortable, with good beds and a good location.”
See photos and book Ilunion Menorca here.
Comitas Floramar - best aparthotel near the beach
The four-star Comitas Floramar is around 250 metres from the beach and has an outdoor pool, pool bar and gym. It’s a good choice for families wanting extra space and the option to cook a meal. Parking costs extra, and some guests have found the staff stretched during dinner service.
One guest recommends it on Booking.com: “Lovely hotel where the staff were so friendly and helpful. Very clean and close to the beach. Highly recommended.”
See photos and book Comitas Floramar here.
Meliá Cala Galdana - best luxury hotel right on the beach
The five-star Meliá Cala Galdana sits right on the beach, with an infinity pool, children’s pool, kids’ club and spa. It’s an obvious choice when your budget allows and you want to go straight from your room to the sand. Prices are high, parking costs extra, and some guests feel the rooms don’t quite live up to the five stars.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Excellent staff. Excellent breakfast selection and excellent restaurants. Beautiful views.”
See photos and book Meliá Cala Galdana here.
4. Son Bou - best area for a long sandy beach 🌊
- 📍 Distance to the centre: Son Bou is in the municipality of Alaior. Bars and shops sit near the beach, while many hotels are in Torre Solí, 1 to 2 kilometres up the hill.
- 🚌 Transport: Bus L32 runs from Mahón via Alaior, but only in summer. I recommend a hire car to see more than the beach.
- ✈️ Time from Menorca Airport: Around 25 minutes by car.
- 💰 Prices: € to €€€. I found the lowest prices of the six areas here, starting at around €95 a night and rising to just over €265 for the hotel closest to the beach.
- 👮 Safety: The water is shallow, but watch the flags. In August 2024, swimming was prohibited for one day following heavy rain.
Son Bou is the place for a long sandy beach rather than a small cove. At 2,400 metres, its beach is Menorca’s longest, with clear, shallow water. Even in high season, you can find room by walking a little further from the hotels.
Behind the beach are extensive dunes and protected wetlands visited by migrating birds. Right beside the sand, you can see the remains of an early Christian basilica dating from the late fifth century, discovered by chance in the 1950s.
The area suits families wanting an aparthotel or full board at a reasonable price. Two of my three hotels are uphill and offer a free beach shuttle. To walk directly from your room towards the water, choose the hotel down by the beach.
See places to stay in Son Bou here.
Son Bou is close to some of the island’s prehistoric settlements. Nearby Torre d'en Galmés and Torralba d'en Salort belong to the Talayotic culture, added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023. Further inland, Alaior is the centre of the island’s cheese production.
Like Cala Galdana, Son Bou is a summer destination. The bus doesn’t run out of season, and I found no hotels available for a weekend in November.
Places to Stay in Son Bou
Valentin Son Bou - best budget choice for families
Valentin Son Bou is a four-star family hotel with several pools, a children’s pool, kids’ club and entertainment. When I searched, it was the cheapest hotel in this guide. It’s around 1.9 kilometres from the beach, but there’s a free shuttle bus and free parking. Some guests find the rooms basic for a four-star hotel.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “We loved the atmosphere at the hotel. The staff were friendly and helpful. Large pool area and plenty of food and drink options around the hotel. It was a very relaxing stay.”
See photos and book Valentin Son Bou here.
HG Jardín de Menorca - best aparthotel with three pools
HG Jardín de Menorca is a four-star aparthotel with three outdoor pools, a kids’ club, gym and free parking. The beach is around 1.2 kilometres away, and the hotel provides a free shuttle. It suits families wanting space and a kitchen, although several guests mention poor Wi-Fi and slow service at the pool bar.
One guest describes their stay on Booking.com: “Lovely staff, excellent location and beautiful views. The rooms were spacious, bright, modern and airy.”
See photos and book HG Jardín de Menorca here.
Royal Son Bou Family Club - best family hotel close to the beach
Royal Son Bou Family Club is around 100 metres from the beach and is designed around families, with a kids’ club, waterslide and heated pool. Its guest rating is 9.1, and it’s the hotel I’d choose in Son Bou if the budget allowed. One guest points out that the buffet isn’t good for people with allergies.
One guest says on Booking.com: “We had a lovely stay. The staff are extremely friendly towards children and in general. They try to accommodate everything guests ask for.”
See photos and book Royal Son Bou Family Club here.
5. Fornells - best area for peace, water sports and good food ⛵
- 📍 Distance to the centre: Fornells is a small fishing town on the north coast. Most hotels are outside the town itself, in Platges de Fornells around 3 kilometres away or beside the bay in Ses Salines.
- 🚌 Transport: Bus L41 connects Mahón and Fornells, with a timetable that changes through the year. I recommend a hire car.
- ✈️ Time from Menorca Airport: Around 30 minutes by car.
- 💰 Prices: €€. All three hotels were similarly priced at around €105 to €120 a night, and I found no real luxury hotels here.
- 👮 Safety: The north coast is more exposed to the tramontana northerly wind, and the water is cooler than in the south. Evenings are very quiet.
Fornells is my suggestion for couples and anyone who’d rather sail, eat well and walk than spend their time on a large beach. It’s a small fishing harbour of low, whitewashed houses with green shutters, beside a long, enclosed bay. This is one of the island’s best places to learn to sail, windsurf or kayak.
Fornells is also known for one particular dish: caldereta de langosta, a red spiny lobster stew cooked in an earthenware pot. It’s expensive, but if you’re going to try it anywhere in Menorca, this is the place.
The local beaches are different from those on the south coast. Ses Salines, inside the bay, is more than a kilometre long and shared with windsurfers. Cala Tirant, beside Platges de Fornells, has dunes but no facilities. Further west lies Cavalleria, with coarse, dark sand, and the cliffs of Cap de Cavalleria, rising up to 80 metres above the sea.
See places to stay in Fornells here.
The main thing to check is the hotel’s location. In Platges de Fornells, you’ll be around 3 kilometres from the town and its restaurants, so you’ll need a car or bus in the evening. Several guests describe the area as very quiet.
Fornells makes a good base for north-coast walks along the Camí de Cavalls and a drive up El Toro, the island’s highest point at 358 metres. For a traditional beach holiday with children, I’d choose the south coast instead.
Places to Stay in Fornells
TRH Tirant Playa - best budget choice near Cala Tirant
TRH Tirant Playa is a four-star hotel with apartments, an outdoor pool with views and a pool bar in Platges de Fornells. Cala Tirant beach is around ten minutes’ walk away, while Fornells town is roughly 3 kilometres away. The hotel is isolated, and some guests think the apartments need updating.
One guest highlights this on Booking.com: “The overall atmosphere. The pool is spacious, and there are always sun loungers available.”
See photos and book TRH Tirant Playa here.
Comitas Tramontana Park - best aparthotel beside the sea
Comitas Tramontana Park is a three-star aparthotel in Platges de Fornells, with an outdoor pool, children’s pool and a restaurant serving a breakfast buffet. Its guest rating is 8.8. It suits couples and families wanting somewhere quiet near the sea. Guests mention unreliable Wi-Fi and breakfast finishing early.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “We loved it because it was very comfortable and a lovely place with the sea right on the doorstep.”
See photos and book Comitas Tramontana Park here.
Hostal Port Fornells - best small hotel by the bay
Hostal Port Fornells is in Ses Salines beside Fornells Bay, around five minutes’ drive from town. This small hotel has an outdoor pool, free parking and a breakfast buffet, and is a good choice for water sports in the bay. The furnishings are simple, and one guest would have liked more fruit and eggs at breakfast.
One guest describes it on Booking.com: “Lovely family-run hotel. Fairly simple, but spotlessly clean.”
See photos and book Hostal Port Fornells here.
6. Punta Prima and Binibeca - best area for a beach holiday near the airport 🌅
- 📍 Distance to the centre: Punta Prima is on the island’s south-eastern tip, 7 kilometres from Sant Lluís and 11 kilometres from Mahón.
- 🚌 Transport: Bus L92 links Mahón, Sant Lluís and Punta Prima, while L93 serves Binibeca. In summer, you can manage without a car.
- ✈️ Time from Menorca Airport: Around 15 minutes by car, making this the island’s shortest transfer to a beach resort.
- 💰 Prices: €€ to €€€. The three hotels cost around €125 to €270 a night for a weekend in May.
- 👮 Safety: Punta Prima beach has shallow water and suits children. The resort largely closes down in winter.
Menorca’s south-eastern corner is a good choice for a beach holiday with a short transfer and Mahón nearby for an evening out. Punta Prima beach is 200 metres long and 75 metres wide, with white sand and shallow water. It looks directly towards Illa de l'Aire and its lighthouse.
A little further west is Binibeca Vell, an all-white fishing village of narrow lanes designed by architect Antoni Sintes. It’s one of the island’s most photographed places, so come early or towards the end of the day. At Binibeca Nou, there’s a 400-metre beach with fine white sand and pine trees providing shade.
The area suits couples and families alike. Hotels are smaller than in Son Bou and Cala Galdana, and it’s easy to combine beach days with a visit to Sant Lluís. Founded by the French in the 18th century, the town is still known for its white houses and the blue-and-white windmill at its entrance.
See places to stay in Punta Prima here.
The drawback is the distance to the famous south-western coves. Cala en Turqueta and Macarella are at the other end of the island, so allow a full day trip to visit them. Mahón and S'Albufera des Grau Natural Park, north of the town, are much closer.
Like the other beach resorts, Punta Prima is seasonal, and I found no hotels available for a weekend in November.
Places to Stay in Punta Prima and Binibeca
Hotel Xaloc Playa - best budget choice by the beach
Hotel Xaloc Playa is a three-star hotel around 50 metres from Punta Prima beach, with an outdoor pool, restaurant, bar and free parking. You get one of the resort’s best locations at a reasonable price. Rooms are small, bathrooms are older, and the safe costs extra.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Lovely hotel, central for the town and beach. Everything was so clean, and the pool area is lovely with plenty of sun loungers and a good bar.”
See photos and book Hotel Xaloc Playa here.
Comitas Isla del Aire - best apartments for families
Comitas Isla del Aire offers four-star apartments around 380 metres from the beach, with an outdoor pool, pool bar, playground and restaurant. Its guest rating is 9.0. It’s a good choice for families wanting both a kitchen and somewhere to eat on site. Some guests find the interiors a little dated and say it can feel damp indoors.
One guest sums it up on Booking.com: “Comfortable and clean apartment, friendly staff and fantastic breakfast and dinner.”
See photos and book Comitas Isla del Aire here.
Barceló Nura - best luxury hotel with a spa
Barceló Nura is a five-star hotel in Biniancolla, with a spa, sauna, gym, several pools and free parking. It suits a stay focused on peace and comfort outside the centre of the resort. It isn’t on a beach: Punta Prima is around 1.8 kilometres away. Some guests are disappointed with the evening buffet.
One guest describes it on Booking.com: “A lovely, relaxing hotel. Quiet rooms, comfortable beds, good TV channels and lovely breakfast.”
See photos and book Barceló Nura here.
Where Should You Avoid Staying in Menorca?
I wouldn’t book a hotel in a beach resort outside May to October. In Cala Galdana, Son Bou, Fornells and Punta Prima, I found no hotels available for a weekend in November, and several beach buses only run in summer. In the winter months, Mahón is the reliable choice.
Check the exact location within each area, too. The hill above Son Bou is a poor choice if you want an easy walk to the beach, and Platges de Fornells is the wrong place if you expect to stay in the fishing town itself. Mahón is pleasant, but doesn’t suit a holiday entirely focused on the beach, since the nearest are 7 to 10 kilometres away.
My choices would be Ciutadella for a first trip as a couple, Cala Galdana or Son Bou with children, Fornells for peace and water sports, and Mahón for a long weekend without a car. With a week to spend, splitting your stay between Ciutadella and a beach resort could save you driving across the island every day.
To compare Menorca with the other Balearic islands, see my guides to where to stay in Mallorca and where to stay in Ibiza. Menorca is the quietest of the three, which is exactly why so many visitors return.
Travel ressources & websites I use all the time 👇
• Booking.com has the best offers on hotels and unique places to stay
• GetYourGuide is the best place to book tours & activities with free cancellation
• Welcome Pickups is the best & safest place to pre-book airport transfers
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