Charlie, from Where Charlie Wanders, is a UK-based travel blogger with a focus on how to maximise travel around an already busy life! From solo travel in your 30s to city breaks and adventure travel, all with detailed itineraries, travel tips and personal travel stories from destinations all over the world. Always aiming to inspire others to explore and enjoy their travels.

What to see in Menorca in four days

With four days in Menorca, this itinerary offers a balance of relaxing on beautiful beaches, soaking up the culture and wandering around pretty towns and cities. Of course, there’s so much more that this island has to offer, but this will be more than enough to make you dream of returning.

Day 1

Ciutadella
Start your trip to Menorca with a visit to the island's second-largest city, Ciutadella. This was the capital of the island until 1714, when the British moved it to the harbour of Mahon in the south-east of Menorca.

This city contrasts with the usual whitewashed style of buildings you’ll find across the island. Instead, you'll discover pretty, ochre-hued brick buildings, giving it a much grander feel than much of the rest of the island. The best thing to do in Ciutadella is simply to wander. It isn’t large, so take a chance on random turns as you meander your way through the pretty streets.

Other top spots include:

• Ciutadella port is one of the most charming quayside areas. Packed with delicious waterside restaurants.

• The cathedral, which is one of the best preserved Catalan Gothic buildings on the entire island.

• Mercat Municipal de Ciutadella, which is located in the heart of the city, is a charming fish market where you can watch local life.
  

Cala en Bosc or Cala Macarella beaches

After a morning walking in a city, spend the afternoon relaxing on one of the beautiful beaches on that side of the island.

Cala Macarella and Cala Macarelleta are two coves which are some of Menorca’s most famous beaches. Cala Macarella features a larger beach area, while Cala Macarelleta is a smaller, more secluded spot. Both are surrounded by pine trees and offer beautiful views of turquoise waters.

Cala en Bosc is a popular beach with soft white sand and turquoise waters. If you’re looking for more amenities, this area also has a lively atmosphere with nearby bars, restaurants, and a marina.

Es Castell

For the evening, head to Es Castell, a small town situated at the entrance of Mahon's natural harbour. The town has a charming half-moon harbour area, which is the perfect place for an evening meal. There is an abundance of restaurants along the waterfront, so you'll be spoiled for choice. Some are really popular, so make sure to do your research and book in advance.

It has such a lovely vibe in the evening, and on the streets just above the harbour, there is often a little night market, perfect for picking up souvenirs. As well as shops carved into the rock that forms the harbour

Day 2

Cami de Cavalls

The Cami de Cavalls is a 185 km/115-mile trail which circumnavigates the whole of the island. If you’re a keen hiker, then you can walk the entire trail, however you would need more than four days in which to do this! There are 20 sections in total, and these will take you to some of the more remote parts of the island.

The name ‘Cami de Cavalls’ literally translates as ‘Horse Route’. Originally, it was created for practical and defensive means, when King Jaime II directed that each of his knights should have a horse to defend the island. This route was the means in which they patrolled.

Start your second day by taking the time to walk one or two sections for the chance to see some of the island's beauty, and even access some of the more remote beaches from it.

Restaurante Binimel-La

For a remote and delicious lunch spot, head to Restaurante Binimel-La. Hidden down a fairly remote track, and seemingly out of the way, it’s a hidden gem popular with the locals. Booking is essential, but you can enjoy some of the best paella while sitting outside under the shade of the trees, overlooking the beautiful Menorcan countryside.

After lunch, pop back into your car and head further along the track, through a traditional Menorcan gate. Head down the path (part of the aforementioned Cami de Cavalls), to access a small but adorable beach. It has almost black sand, red rocks and an abundance of snorkelling opportunities. It's the perfect way to spend an afternoon.

Mahon

Head into Mahon, the charming capital of the island, for dinner. If you have time, arrive mid-afternoon to wander around, before enjoying tapas from one of the many delicious restaurants scattered throughout the capital. Mahon is a city built on a cliff overlooking the natural harbour. Located on the opposite side of the island from Ciutadella, it's a must-see when visiting Menorca.

Menorca is famous for its Gin Xoriguer, which you can find all over the island, recognisable by its distinctive green bottle with a windmill on the yellow label. When visiting Mahon, be sure to stop by the shop and distillery. You can sample different flavours of the gin and peek through the glass to see how it's made. One popular way to serve it is in the local drink ‘pomada,’ which is made with slushy ice, gin and Fanta Limón. Delicious!

Other must-see attractions in the capital include the Old Town, dining at one of the many restaurants along the port, visiting the Church of Santa Maria, the Town Hall Square, the Portal de Sant Roc, the Museum of Menorca, the Mirador Pont des Castell, and the Llatzeret Fortress.

If your itinerary aligns, there's also a music night every Tuesday in the city during the summer months, where many local artists perform at various locations throughout the streets.

Day 3

Fornells

Start your third day on the island by heading to the town of Fornells on the north of the island. It's a charming little town, and has a different feel to some of the towns on the south of the island. It's a picturesque fishing village with a pretty harbour, traditional whitewashed houses, and tranquil atmosphere.

Start by exploring the scenic harbour, where colourful fishing boats bob in the clear waters, and local seafood restaurants line the promenade. A must-see is the 17th-century Torre de Fornells, a defensive tower built by the British during their occupation to protect the bay from pirates. From the tower, you’ll have wonderful panoramic views of the coastline and the rugged landscape of the surrounding area.

Nearby is the beautiful S’Albufera des Grau Natural Park, a short drive from Fornells, offering diverse flora and fauna, as well as beautiful walking trails. Perfect for nature enthusiasts.

Fornells is also known for its water sports, so if you fancy trying sailing, paddle boarding or a boat cruise, this is the place for you.

Stop for some lunch as Fornells is famous for its traditional lobster stew, caldereta de langosta, which can be savoured in one of the village's quaint restaurants.

Cala Pregonda, Cavalleria or Cala Tirant beaches

Fornells is also a gateway to some of the island’s most pristine beaches, such as Cala Tirant, Cavalleria or the more secluded Cala Pregonda, known for its red sand and crystal-clear waters.

When you're in the north, there are plenty of beaches to choose from, and these three are some of the best which you might want to visit.

Cala Tirant is a very large bay with fine golden sand and a dune system and marsh area at the back. Compare this with Cala Pregonda which is considered to be one of the finest and quietest beaches on the rugged north coast of Menorca. The bay is horseshoe-shaped and has a magnificent sandy beach with dunes behind it, which run in the same direction as the wind.

Cavalleria is the largest unspoiled beach in the north of the island. It's more than five hundred metres long and divided into three parts. The landscape is beautiful and there are no buildings other than the remains of some bunkers left from the war. Its unique and diverse geology gives it a colour that makes it stand out from the beaches in the south.

Torralba de'n Salort

Finally, to end your day, indulge in a bit of history. Menorca is dotted with hundreds of prehistoric Talaiotic settlements. These first appeared over 3,000 years ago and fell into decline during the Roman era.

The map below shows just how many there are!

One of the best-preserved sites on the island is Torralba d'en Salort. It's the largest and most complete, featuring two talaiots, an impressive taula (a T-shaped stone monument), a unique hypostyle hall, several prehistoric houses, a cyclopean wall, underground silos and hypogea. The village was inhabited from 1000 BC to the Middle Ages.

For history lovers, it is an incredibly unique and interesting place to explore.

Day four

Binibeca Vell

For your final day in Menorca, head to the beautiful whitewashed village of Binibeca. You would think that this village has been on the island for many years. However, in truth, it was designed in the 70s as part of a dream to create an idyllic place for artists and the like. Inspired by a fishing village, the little village has become a must-see in Menorca.

When visiting, please be mindful and respectful of the fact the little alleys are home to locals, keep the noise down and please don’t invade their privacy. Make sure to have lunch in one of the local restaurants or enjoy a cocktail in the bars.

Ses Olles

Just a few minutes' walk from Binibeca Vell is one of the best-kept secrets of the island. Ses Olles is a little cove that isn’t signposted, and is off the main busy roads. It’s an entirely rocky Cala, affectionately known as ‘the rocks’.

Wander down the paths from the roads, find a little place to relax and drop your stuff. Make sure to take snorkels and jump into the bright blue water. This place is teeming with fish, so it's the perfect place to explore.

Biniparratx or Binibeca Nou beaches

While in the south of the island, there are a couple of beaches that are worth checking out. Binibeca Nou is a long strip of white sand, accessed via a small walk through pine trees. With turquoise water and sandy beaches, it's an ideal place to relax.

Biniparratx is south facing, so it has sun for most of the day. A small little cove accessed via a walk through the ravine for about 10 minutes. Once there, you'll find a small beach with white sand and shallow water. Along the side of the bay are little caves, or necropolis, which were once used as burial caves during the Bronze period by the ancient settlers of the island.

Cova d’en Xoroi

For the perfect final night in Menorca, head to Cova d’en Xoroi for sunset drinks. This bar is quite possibly one of the most beautiful in the world. It's located inside a natural cave, perched on the side of a cliff overlooking the sea.

There are three time slots when you can visit. Daytime, sunset and evening. Each offers a different vibe. The bar is completely emptied out between each slot, and if you want to visit all three you'll have to pay the entry fee again. However, the views at sunset are something else. There's also a band with live music if you want to dance. The perfect way to end a trip!

If you have more than four days in Menorca...

This itinerary is a perfect introduction to the island. But if you have some more time, or are already planning your return trip, there are some additional things which you should absolutely add to your Menorca bucket list!

Hauser & Wirth

Hauser & Wirth is a Swiss contemporary and modern art gallery. Located on the Isla del Rey, it opened in 2021 and is accessible via a shuttle boat service. The shuttle boat departs from Moll de Llevant 61 in Mahon. Following a conservation project, Hauser & Wirth repurposed an existing 18th-century outbuilding of a naval hospital on the island.

Cales Coves

Located about 5km from Cala en Porter, Cales Coves is the location of around 90 caves dating from the Bronze Age. These caves were used for burial rituals dug into the coastal cliffs around the bay. You can’t enter the caves, but they are a remarkable sight.

Cala Mitijana

One of the most stunning beaches on the island, Cala Mitijana is located on the south of the island. It does get busy, so ideally get there early. Another beach with gorgeous turquoise waters and white sand.

If it's really busy, then the beach of Cala Mitjaneta is a ten-minute walk around the corner. You do have to climb down a rocky path to get there.

Visit the lighthouses

There are seven lighthouses in Menorca, so if they're your thing then this could keep you busy! However, it isn’t necessary to visit them all.

The best, and most popular, are:

• Faváritx is one of the best known on the island, and reached by a remote road through a seeming lunar landscape. Its distinct black and white striped tower makes it different from the others on the island.

• Cavalleria is the northernmost lighthouse of Menorca and was opened in 1857, as there had been over 700 ship accidents that had happened off the coast here since the fourteenth century. The lighthouse is located more than 90m above sea level, surrounded by spectacular cliffs and is a wonderful spot to enjoy the sunset and panoramic views of the north coast.

My final thoughts…

Four days in Menorca is never going to be enough to enjoy everything this island has to offer, but it's the perfect amount of time to get to know its true beauty.