Make way for Menorca: The Balearic Island that's turning heads in 2025

The cities and villages are charming

Menorca’s two main cities sit at either end of the island, urban bookends to the smattering of fishing towns and rural villages that lie in between.

With an old town packed with Georgian-style mansions, historic churches and quaint plazas, and one of the best natural harbours in the Med, capital Mahón has plenty to shout about. Lively markets and boat trips departing from the port create an animated buzz that carries long into the night by the restaurants and bars. In the north, Ciutadella’s cobbled alleyways and grand gothic cathedral continue the old-world charm.

As for cute coastal towns, you can take your pick. Fornells’s picturesque bay and specialist fish restaurants woo couples, while Binibeca’s whitewashed houses and dune-backed beaches are a draw for families.

Head inland, and central Es Mercadal is a snapshot of local Menorcan life – think morning markets, village fairs and family-run restaurants making food from recipes passed down through the generations.

Its coastline rivals any in the Mediterranean

Like many islands in the Mediterranean, Menorca is blessed with an enticing coastline that’s punctuated with golden nuggets of sand in its crooks and crags. Its 100 or so unspoiled beaches – visited by a fraction of tourists compared to Majorca or Ibiza – are what puts it a cut above the rest.

The north coast has some of the most spectacular. Cala Macarella’s translucent turquoise water and white sand have made it a postcard celebrity, while Platja de Cavalleria’s equally pretty crescent is one of the few red-gold beaches on the island.

That’s not to say the larger resort beaches aren’t as appealing. Most hotels and restaurants backing Cala Galdana’s horseshoe bay keep a low profile between pine trees, and cliff-flanked Cala’n Porter is both pretty and practical with family-friendly facilities.

If you want to get out on the water, the coast around Cala Galdana is a warren of arches and tunnels that are best explored by kayak. Cova d’en Xoroi is more unique. Part cliff-side, part beach club, this one’s best enjoyed at sunset with a drink in hand.

It’s the definition of ‘the great outdoors’

Known as the ‘green island’, Menorca’s pristine countryside practically begs to be explored. The island’s extensive trails will show you the best of it – or all of it, in the case of the Camí de Cavalls.

The 186km (115 miles) path is a 360-degree tour of the island, passing fields, forests, coves and clifftops. Split into 20 sections, you can tackle as much or as little as you like.

Declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1993, the island’s protected natural areas and reserves are home to much of the island’s wildlife. Covering 5,000 hectares (12,355 acres) of wetlands, dunes and meadows, the S’Albufera des Grau Natural Park is the place for birdwatching – there are around 100 species to spot, along with lizards and tortoises.

Out on the sea, you can skim the waves with sailing, kitesurfing or jet-skiing, or head beneath them for snorkelling and diving. With over 30 dive sites, you can explore everything from wrecks and reefs to multi-level caverns.

The island is basically an open-air museum

You don’t have to go far in Menorca before you stumble across an ancient ruin, tomb or table – it has 1,586 archaeological sites to be exact.

The island’s Talayotic monuments are the best examples of prehistoric architecture in the Balearics, earning the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Torre d’en Galmés and Torralba d'en Salort are the most impressive, where you can explore circular stone settlements, submerged caves and giant megaliths.

Mahón offers a lesson in more recent history. Stoic La Mola (also known as the Fortress of Isabel II) is one of the largest 19th-century European fortresses. Head underground to discover gunpowder stores and prison chambers.

Delve into the city’s museums and you’ll find hundreds of thousands of ancient artefacts to gawk at in the Menorca Museum, as well as impressive military memorabilia at the Menorca Military Museum.

Its food scene is making a name for itself

Menorca doesn’t need Michelin stars to show that it knows a thing or two about food. Much like the island itself, the cuisine is low-key and local, dedicated to home-grown and line-caught produce that pack a flavourful punch.

La caldereta de langosta is the island’s signature dish – a rich lobster stew traditionally made in a clay pot. Mahón’s harbourside restaurants are some of the best places to try it, but Es Mercadal, ten minutes from the capital, is the real foodie hotspot.

Alongside seafood plucked straight from the sea, moreish staples like sobrasada (paprika-spiced sausage), oliaigua (a room-temp soup made with tomatoes and herbs), and stuffed aubergines fill menus here.

Don’t miss the chance to try Menorca’s famous cheese, queso de Mahón. It can be found in any restaurant, shop or market, but buying it straight from the source at one of the island’s cheese farms just adds that chef’s kiss.

A glass of Xoriguer gin is the natural choice for a digestif. The juniper berry spirit has been the island’s official tipple since the 18th century.

There are plenty of interesting events

For a laidback island, Menorca sure knows how to bring the party.

Fiesta season is in full swing in summer. Originally religious festivals held in honour of each town’s patron saint, they’ve developed over the years to become full-scale street parties complete with music, food, fireworks and dancing.

Horse parades are a big tradition too, so don’t be startled to see them rearing through the crowds under the control of skilled cavaller riders. June’s Fiesta of Sant Joan in Ciutadella is the most iconic.

Art and music are also celebrated with equal vigour throughout the year. Watch a ballet, opera or theatre performance in the atmospheric setting of the s'Hostal quarries during the Pedra Viva Festival, find your groove at the International Jazz Festival, and catch the latest in cinema at the International Film Festival.

If you’re visiting early in the year, time your trip with Carnival. The most flamboyant festivities are found in Mahón and Ciutadella.

How to get to Menorca

There are direct flights from various UK airports to Menorca’s airport in Mahón. The flight time from London is approximately two and a half hours. The island also has good ferry connections to Majorca, Barcelona and Valencia.

The best time of year to visit Menorca

There’s never a bad time to visit Menorca. Its Mediterranean climate brings mild temperatures year round, peaking in the high 20s in summer and hovering around the low-teens in winter.

July and August see the most crowds and the highest package holiday prices, so look to the shoulder season seasons of May, June and September for better value deals.

Our data revealed that October was one of the most searched departure months for family holidays in Menorca in 2025 – it’s worth considering as an alternative to travelling in the school summer holidays. The weather is still on the dry side and the deals are more budget-friendly.