With secluded coves of turquoise water, surprising flora and fauna, charming old towns and an altogether slow pace, Menorca offers a varied getaway that tempts visitors even in low season.

Our unique slow travel guides are carefully curated handbooks to some of our favourite destinations. Slow travel, part of the wider slow living movement, is not just a method or a means, it’s a mindset. It’s an approach to travel which replaces the desire to see as much as possible with the desire to experience everything as deeply as possible. Instead of solely listing the biggest landmarks, we share our favourite local spots to slow down and gain a richer sense of place.

This article may include affiliate links but this does not influence our editorial.

What to eat, where to stay and what to do in Menorca

The bijoux size of Menorca lends itself to hiring a car. The major towns, Mahón and Ciutadella, sit on opposite sides of the island, but only a forty-minute drive along the island’s main road separates them. It is a joy to drive this route, taking in the Menorcan landscape, which is surprisingly green. There are plenty of opportunities to turn off to admire the island’s various Neolithic sites or buy local Mahón cheese.

Both Mahón and Ciutadella merit your attention. The island’s capital, Mahón, has a pretty old town, bustling food market and a number of interesting boutiques to explore. With a significant naval history, relics of the past are evident across the coastline surrounding Mahón, including the sprawling La Mola fortress and the former military hospital on Illa del Rei. The island is now home to an outpost of Hauser & Wirth and a fantastic restaurant, Cantina. Boats leave regularly from Mahón’s harbour to Illa del Rei during the warmer months, and can be booked as part of the entrance fee to the gallery. As expected from Hauser & Wirth, the approach to the exhibition spaces is stylishly landscaped with gardens from Piet Oudolf. The restaurant, Cantina, offers ample alfresco seating under olive trees and hanging lanterns. It’s a delightful spot to share some small plates.

Across the island, Ciutadella’s mustard, sienna and ochre-coloured buildings are bathed in a warm glow at sunset. There’s a faded grandeur to many of the streets here, a rustic patina that only true age can create. After wandering through the town’s narrow streets to the scenic harbour below, a row of bustling seafood restaurants await, many serving up the island’s signature caldereta de langosta (lobster stew). The pretty seaside village of Fornells is another must-visit for those seeking out typical seafood dishes.

Best time to visit Menorca

Menorca is a great choice for an off-season jaunt, particularly in early October. It’s quieter, the sea has warmed during the summer and temperatures can still reach 25 degrees Celsius during the day. Spring, before it gets too hot or busy, is also a great time to walk the Camí de Cavalls, the island’s spectacular circular hiking route. Some of the island’s most remote, and most idyllic, beaches can only be reached on foot from these coastal paths. During the winter months (November to February), there’s certainly fewer restaurants open, even in the towns, but we’ve found you can still be well fed and watered in January in local haunts. Avoid peak summer (July and August) and busy seaside resorts, for a slower paced trip.

SLEEP

Where to stay in Menorca

From historic townhouses to countryside fincas (farmhouses), there are plenty of special spots to spend a night. Notably however, there are fewer Airbnbs than you might expect. Menorca has a strong focus on sustainable development, aiming to avoid the pitfalls of some of its Mediterranean neighbours and maintain a good balance between tourism and local communities. Restrictions limit the number of rental properties available and generally new developments and rentals are only allowed in areas already designated as ‘tourist hubs’. These restrictions help to maintain the character and natural beauty of the island, but already ‘touristy’ spots can be exacerbated. Those planning a slow travel trip and wishing to avoid resorts, may wish to skip package destinations such Cala en Porter, Son Parc, Son Bou and Cala Galdana.

Cristine Bedfor boutique hotel, Mahón: This charming townhouse features an eclectic, yet well curated, mix of antiques and fabrics. After a day’s exploring, visitors can enjoy the pool and courtyard garden.

• Book via Booking.com and Mr & Mrs Smith

Faustino Gran, Ciutadella: Part of the Relais & Châteaux family, Faustino Gran is a collection of three palaces within Ciutadella’s old town, moments from the steps to the harbour. The enclosed courtyard and small swimming pools offer a quiet escape on warm days.

• Book via Booking.com and Mr & Mrs Smith

Meloussa boutique hotel, Ciutadella: Meloussa is a quiet, friendly hotel with just seven white-washed rooms and a private roof terrace. Meloussa offers a simple but delicious breakfast, setting guests up well for exploring.

• Book via Booking.com

Son Blanc, near Alaior: Son Blanc is a renovated 19th-century farmhouse and secluded rural retreat. Located at the end of a dusty track, deep in the Menorcan countryside, Son Blanc is somewhere special to embrace slow living. The considered, calm interiors are finished to an exquisite standard and celebrate natural materials and textures, while outside, the landscaping is inviting. Paths flanked by fragrant lavender and rosemary bushes lead down to a show-stopping swimming pool. Guests can take yoga classes, take part in ceramic workshops and explore wild hiking trails within the property’s expansive 130 hectares.

• Book via Mr & Mrs Smith

We have stayed at each of the above properties and would highly recommend each. For further options for rural boutique hotels, try Amagatay, Hotel Rural Morvedra Nou, Vestige Son Vell and Menorca Experimental.

EAT & DRINK

Where to eat and drink in Menorca

Beyond seafood, visitors will enjoy trying sobrasada while in Menorca. A sort of chorizo-like paste, sobrasada is spread onto bread and pairs perfectly with rich Mahón cheese. Local wine is great value on the island, with a glass setting you back less than three Euros in some bars.

• Café Balear, Ciutadella: Established for over 40 years, Café Balear is a popular destination for fresh fish and seafood in the town’s harbour.
• Ulisses, Ciutadella: On the edge of the fish market in Ciutadella, Ulisses has a great array of fresh seafood and local wines.
• Bar Imperi, Ciutadella: An affordable local haunt for easy bar snacks of cheese, slices of jamón (Spanish ham) and generous wedges of tortilla (Spanish omelette).
• Nonna Bazaar, near Ciutadella: A stylish but relaxed farm to table restaurant with a dancefloor for later in the evening.
• Es Tast de na Silvia, Ciutadella: A slow food restaurant serving up seasonal dishes in the heart of Ciutadella.
• Mercat de Peix, Mahón: Part fish market, part food hall, this is a small, but lively spot packed with bars and pinchos stalls (individual tapas on cocktail sticks/skewers).
• Cantina, Illa del Rei: A picturesque spot to enjoy a delicious selection of small plates.
• Ca Na Pilar, Es Migjorn Gran: Located in a 200-year old property in the small town of Es Migjorn Gran, Ca Na Pilar offers refined Menorcan dishes by Victor Lidón, an acclaimed chef with experience working in various Michelin star restaurants.

SLOW DOWN

What to do in Menorca

Menorca became a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1993 and champions sustainable development to protect the island’s diverse flora and fauna. One of the best ways to explore the natural beauty of Menorca is on foot. The Camí de Cavalls is an ancient 185km trail that follows the entire perimeter of the Balearic island. It dates back to the 14th century and was once used to defend the island, before falling into disrepair. Now restored, it’s split into 20 different stages between five and 14 kilometres in length, allowing visitors to discover the varying landscape of the island. From lighthouses to fragrant pine forests, striking coves of crystal clear water and the north of the island’s rugged coast, there’s so much to see. Lucky hikers may also spot the island’s wild Mediterranean tortoises, which are most active during March to October.

Some of the best calas (coves) are found on the south coast and boast Caribbean-like blue waters. Try Cala des Talaier, Cala Turqueta, Cala Macarelleta, Cala Escorxada or Cala Mitjana and visit off-season for the opportunity to enjoy these spots without the crowds.

• Hike the Camí de Cavalls
• Take a boat to Hauser & Wirth on Illa del Rei
• Visit the Museo de Menorca in Mahón
• Explore the island’s Neolithic past
• Try local wines at Binifadet vineyard

For more inspiration, read our guide on slow stays and where to visit in 2025.

Slow Travel