A week in Menorca: what to see, what to do

We opened our summer holidays by flying off for a week to Menorca, one of the four Balearic islands in the Mediterranean Sea. This destination had been drawing us in for years but we had never found the right moment to go, because we wanted to avoid going in July/August. So we decided to go at the end of June to have summer temperatures while avoiding the crowds of tourists. And the bet paid off!

In this article we give you our tips, our detailed programme and our favourite spots for spending a week in Menorca. Happy reading!

See our trip in pictures on our Instagram account!

Car rental: where to rent a car in Menorca?

A car is essential to get around freely in Menorca! As usual, we went through the French comparison site BSP Auto, which we have trusted for years for our car rental bookings. Their negotiated prices give you good rates with international rental companies. We chose to book with HiperRentACar, which was well rated on the site. Everything went smoothly. A shuttle came to pick us up at the airport to take us to the branch a few kilometres away. We picked up the car in five minutes flat after showing our driving licence and credit card. On the way back, we returned the car with a full tank and the shuttle took us to the airport. Zero stress!

Budget: how much does a week in Menorca cost?

💸 A total of 1 665 € for 7 days for two (so 832 € per person).

• Flights: 230 € for 2, so 115 € return with cabin baggage per person with Transavia
• Accommodation: 658 € for 7 nights for 2, so 94 € a night on average
• Rental car: 211 € for 7 days with HiperRentACar via the comparison site BSP Auto
• Petrol: 62 € for 7 days
• Meals (groceries, restaurants and ice creams): 404 € for 7 days for 2
• Visits and activities: 84 € for 7 days for 2
  • Entry for Lithica: 14 € for 2 (so 7 € per person)
  • Cheese workshop: 70 € for 2 (so 35 € per person)
• Souvenirs: 16 € (cheese, gin)

Accommodation: where to stay in Menorca?

As a little aside, it took us a while to find a place to stay that suited us and fitted our budget on the island. We were quite late, last minute, and the choice of accommodation was fairly limited. In general you have to count a minimum of 120€-150€ for a night in high season, even at the end of June.

But we found a lovely gem by searching directly on Google Maps and booking direct on WhatsApp, two weeks before our arrival. So we spent a week at the Casa Rural Sant Tomas for 94€ a night (658€ for 7 nights) and it was perfect. It is the ideal place if you are looking for quiet and authenticity: pool, big garden, kitchen available, view over the surrounding fields… We were lucky to stay in the large bedroom with a terrace upstairs, with a private outdoor bathroom. The farm is in the middle of nature but only 7 minutes from the supermarket, so very practical for shopping. We strongly recommend this lovely place!

Food and drink: where to eat in Menorca?

• Can Xavi in Mahon: a small local place that looks unassuming in the historic centre, where everything was very good. 17,50€ for 6 croquetas and an assortment of Menorcan hams and cheeses
• Chaltén Bar Café in Sant Lluis: a very pretty coffee shop on the main street offering both sweet and savoury. 5,90€ for a slice of cake and an empanada
• Es Born in Ciutadella: a good restaurant with pretty decor in front of the big Plaça des Born. 37,50€ for a starter, two mains and water
• ❤️ Pez Limón in Ciutadella: a very fine gourmet restaurant with creative cooking made from local produce, we had a feast. 101€ for 2 croquetas, 4 dishes to share, 1 dessert and water
• Forn de sa plaça in Es Mercadal: a bakery well stocked with local specialities. 1,80€ the ensaimada (a pastry made from flour, egg, water, sugar and yeast)
• Sa Cantineta in Alaior: a workers’ restaurant in the industrial zone with very good sandwiches, perfect for a picnic. 16,80€ for 2 big sandwiches and 6 croquetas
• Ti Amo Sapori Italiani in Son Xoriguer: a pretty spot by the sea, for a change from Spanish food. 50€ for 2 pizzas, 2 tiramisus and water
• ❤️ La Viajera in Ferreries: a lovely place with generous dishes (and the decor is gorgeous). 60€ for croquetas, 2 dishes and water

Our favourite spots for ice cream in Menorca

• El Turronero in Mahon: good ice creams with original flavours like turrón. 3,95€ for 2 scoops
• ❤️ Heladería artesanal Nocciola in Es Mercadal: excellent ice creams (special mention for the pistachio) at a tiny price. 2,90€ for 2 flavours
• Heladería artesanal Nocciola in Ciutadella: a little ice cream kiosk on the Plaça d’Alfons III, the same one as in Es Mercadal. 2,90€ for 2 flavours
• ❤️ Gelateria Deliri in Ciutadella: the best ice creams in town! 3,30€ the small tub with 2 flavours
• Ricardo Riera in Fornells: very good artisanal ice creams in the heart of the village. 3,60€ for 2 flavours

What we thought of Menorca

Menorca had been on our list of trips to make for years and we were not disappointed! We spent 7 days and 7 nights on the island: the ideal length in our view to get a good overview. But we could have stayed about ten days to do more activities and rest a bit more. Weather-wise, it was rather sunny and hot (up to 32 degrees) at the end of June, with a small spell of sky loaded with Sahara sand. We would obviously have liked a pure blue sky so the turquoise water of the sea would stand out and so we would have beautiful sunsets: a shame. There was also wind that brought seaweed and posidonia onto the beaches… making some of them unusable. We were far from the postcard images at times! That gives us a reason to go back one day because we were a bit frustrated on that front.
At that time of year, we were expecting the worst in terms of how busy the island would be but we were not that bothered by the crowds. There are even some corners where we did not meet a soul, and we did not have that many problems parking either.

If you want to make the most of the island, we advise you to avoid the very high season (July/August) when the temperatures climb very fast and the crowds pour in. Menorca has stayed fairly unspoilt and wild and it is very pleasant to find yourself quickly out in nature. So, if you are looking for a destination not far from France, in the sun, with beautiful visits to plan, this is the destination for you!

This article contains affiliate links. We receive a small commission if you go through one of these links. Thank you for your support!