Villas in Menorca

Menorca Villa Holidays

Forget overcrowded tourist hotspots and step into the enchanting island of Menorca. More low-key than its Balearic neighbours, this stunning island offers sparkling beaches, dazzling Mediterranean waters, and seriously sensational seafood.

Crowned a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, you’ll also be treated to floral meadows and picturesque views across the rolling hills. Wander through white-washed villages, explore fascinating archaeological sites, and toast to the sunset with the island’s famed Xoriguer Gin.

For a truly authentic experience, stay at one of our luxury villas in Menorca and discover the island like a local!

Why visit?

Due to strong coastal winds, Menorca is the perfect place for water-sports. Get involved in windsurfing, sailing, and kite surfing or go scuba diving to explore captivating shipwrecks.
Try Menorca’s most famous delicacy, caldereta de langosta – a delicious lobster stew cooked in tomato, garlic and onion sauce.
There are so many day trips to keep the whole family entertained.
Whether you’re visiting the zoo, splashing in the waterpark or roaming the nature reserve, Menorca is a family-friendly destination.

Menorca Travel Guide

Why stay with us?

Discover the Oliver’s Travels way, where style and character define every handpicked luxury villa in Menorca. Our destination experts curate unique homes in beautiful locations that are perfect for families and guaranteed to ‘wow’.

Once you book a holiday, the service doesn’t stop there. Our Concierge Service can help with arranging in-house chefs, fridge stocking, housekeeping, and so much more, to make your stay truly extraordinary.

Why visit Menorca?

Menorca has long been considered the sleepy sibling in the Balearic family – but this tiny island is waking up. It may not have the buzzy beach bars of Mallorca or the clubby vibes of Ibiza, but Menorca dances to an entirely different beat.

Tranquil, unspoiled beaches wrap around its kidney-shaped coastline, while inland over 400,000 miles of dry-stone walls stitch together a patchwork of rolling hills and rural farmland. Two medieval port cities, Mahón and Ciutadella, sit at opposite ends of the island, with a smattering of mysterious ancient ruins and traditional fishing villages in between.

A UNESCO biosphere reserve since 1993, Menorca’s crystal-clear waters teem with marine life, including hammerhead sharks and Moray eels, while Albufera Natural Park is home to over 100 species of water bird. A clutch of converted fincas and boutique villas in Menorca are replacing the tired package hotels, opening up the island to visitors who want a calmer, more authentic experience.

Food and drink

One to watch on the foodie scene, Menorca is currently in the running for European Region of Gastronomy 2022. Must-try local dishes include caldereta de langosta (lobster stew) and arroz caldoso (seafood soup); try these at long-running stalwarts Café Balear in Ciutadella or Es Cranc in Fornells.

Food markets are the best places to sample Menorcan delicacies, including sharp, salty Mahón cheese and sugar-dusted ensaïmada pastries. In Mahón, the old fish market of Portal de Mar has been converted into a dining hub, while the cloisters of former convent Claustre del Carme have been reimagined with delicatessens and cafés.

What Oliver loves

Beautiful beaches, boutique villas, medieval cities, Bronze Age ruins, gastronomic restaurants: Menorca may well be the Med’s most underrated destination.

Sailing boat in Menorca

Best time to visit

Early spring or autumn is the best time to visit Menorca. Prices drop considerably outside peak season – mid-July to mid-September – though the weather remains mostly warm and sunny, yet cool enough to hike the coastal paths.
October is a good month to visit Menorca for near-deserted beaches but note that the later you visit in the year, the more likely you’ll hit a rainy patch.
If you want to experience a local flavour, perhaps time your trip with the Fiesta de Sant Joan, a raucous mix of vibrant parades, Menorcan horses, jousting and fireworks, in late June.

Top Tips

Fly out of season for bargain flights and empty beaches.
To save money, pick a seat at the bar over table service for tapas or drinks; note that outside tables come at a premium rate.
For meals, tip between 5% and 10% – considered generous by local standards.

Family friendly Menorca

Just a few hours by plane from the UK and with year-round sunny weather, the Balearics is a perfect destination for travellers with kids. The most laid-back of the islands, Menorca is also the most family friendly.

Self-catering holidays in Menorca combine luxury with practicality; think more space, multiple rooms and perhaps a private swimming pool or barbecue area. A wave of boutique rentals and new Menorca villas have opened in recent years, catering to families who want a local experience without jeopardising style and comfort.

With a 135-mile-long coastline, Menorca has more than its fair share of beaches. Beautiful bays are lapped by calm, clear shallows, which are safe for kids to splash about in.

Snorkelling, kayaking and paddleboarding will keep teens occupied. The shore-hugging Camí de Cavalls, a 115-mile defensive trail connecting watchtowers, cannons and fortresses, can be explored on foot, by bike or on horseback.

Thousands of megalithic sites peppered across the island can’t fail to stir the imagination of all ages; these imposing stone structures, caves and structures were built by the Talayotic people between 1500 and 123BC. Throw in water parks and jousting-filled festivals, and you can see why Menorca is one of the best family-friendly destinations in the Mediterranean.

Kayaking in Menorca

Why it’s perfect for families

For babies

Many beaches have gently shelving sands and balmy shallows that are ideal for baby’s first swim.

For kids

Water parks, lighthouses, caves and coves will all stoke the interest of young travellers, while there are plenty of Menorca villas with private pools for daytime hangouts.

For teens

For adventure, there’s horse riding, snorkelling, kayaking and island safaris. Teens will love Fiesta de Sant Joan, a mix of colourful parades, Menorcan horses, jousting and fireworks, as well as Torre d’en Galmés, the ancient ruins of a Talayotic village that thrived from 1100 BC to the Roman conquest of Menorca in 123 BC.

Best Beaches in Menorca

With a 135-mile shoreline, Menorca has more beaches than Mallorca and Ibiza put together. A UNESCO biosphere reserve since 1993, Menorca has long blazed a trail in sustainable travel, rejecting overdevelopment in favour of protecting its coastline. And with so much choice, variety is never a problem.

There are coves that look like a giant has taken a bite out of the coast, such as Cala Trebalúger and Cala des Talaier, interspersed with long sweeps of silky sand like Playa de Binigaus.

Three of the island’s most popular beaches are clustered along the southwestern coast: Cala Macarella, Son Saura, and Cala Turqueta. Then there’s lesser-known gems you stumble across on coastal hikes and meandering drives, such as the russet-toned Cala Pregonda or the impossibly pretty Cala Mitjana.

Some of the finest are the hardest to reach – wild, unspoilt coves with nothing more than white sand and pine trees. The best way to reach these hidden beaches is by kayak; Menorca en Kayak offers everything from a half-day’s rental to a seven-day circumnavigation of the island. Some of the finest luxury villas in Menorca can be found on the beachfront and in coastal resorts.

Cala Turqueta

A much-hyped beach – and rightfully so. A pine-fringed trail leads to Cala Turqueta, where a small cove of unfathomably blue waters and white sand awaits. Quieter outside the peak summer months, you’ll need to arrive early in July and August to secure a spot.

Cala Binidali

This near-deserted beach brings all the castaway vibes. Framed by a scattering of huge rocks, Cala Binidali is a tiny cove kissed by sparkling teal waters, with little more than a fisherman’s hut for development.

Cala Macarella

Bigger sister to Cala Macarelleta, this postcard-pretty cove has sugary sands and a calm pool of turquoise water. Sheltered by amphitheatre-like cliffs, it’s a lovely little sun trap, even in winter, and has a good tapas restaurant.

Caló Blanc

This rocky bay may not have an ounce of sand to its name, but it more than makes up for its unforgiving coastline with its staggeringly blue waters. Dive off the rocks into the sapphire-hued sea – some of the clearest, calmest waters in Spain.

Cala Escoxada

Beach bliss at its finest. A ribbon of silver sand trails between jade-tinted waters and pine forest, sheltered by a wall of cliffs. You can reach Cala Escorxada either from Sant Tomàs along a scenic 45-minute coastal trail, or by waterboat-taxi from Cala Galdana.

Es Grau

For families with small children, Es Grau’s gently sloping seabed creates a bathwater-warm paddling pool, with a good 50 metres of knee-high waters. Backed onto by Albufera National Park, the beach is located near tapas bars and kayaking kiosks.

Things to do in Menorca

It’s all about embracing the slow life on Menorca villa holidays. Days are spent hiking through olive and orange groves down to secret coves, shopping for traditional leather sandals in artisan stores, and feasting on day-fresh seafood at harbourfront restaurants. A new generation of creatives are shaking up the scene, from reimagining centuries-old sandstone quarries as arts and cultural centres, to transforming Menorca villas into boutique boltholes.

And if you want adventure, there’s plenty of it. Menorca may only be 30 miles long, but it’s home to the Med’s largest protected marine reserve. The sea teems with marine life, thanks to local conservation initiatives such as the Underwater Atlas project preventing boat anchors disturbing the seagrass beds. Snorkelling and diving are the best way to explore this watery playground, while back on dry land, you can hike, bike or horse ride the historic Camí de Cavalls.

Here you have some inspiration on things to do in Menorca:

Diving

Menorca is one of the most underrated diving destinations in Spain, with rich marine life, excellent visibility and diverse seascapes including reefs and caves. For an added adrenaline rush, ditch the gear and freedive some of the finest underwater sites, such as the Swiss Cheese cave, with its tangle of tunnels and brilliant blue light; Millennium Falcon, dubbed Menorca’s only cenote; and the Biblioteca, an extraordinary cave adorned with gold-tinted stalactites.

Discovering the landscape

Explore the scenic landscapes of Menorca, from the unspoiled coast to the hilly rural interior. Hike picturesque walking trails to the summit of El Toro, Menorca’s highest mountain, for epic views, or horse ride parts of Camí de Cavalls, an ancient bridleway tracing wave-lashed cliffs, hidden beaches, ancient monoliths and lighthouses.

Snorkelling

Menorca is home to the largest protected marine environment in the Mediterranean. Make the most of the teeming waters by snorkelling; head to the coves to the east of Binimel-là beach where you might see octopus and even a Moray eel.

Museu de Menorca

Step back in time at Museu de Menorca, housed in the cloister adjoining the church, to see a series of displays exploring the island’s early cultures, from Talayotic and Roman to Byzantine and Islamic

Birdwatching

Go birdwatching around the wild lagoon of S’Albufera, home to over 100 species of water bird. A network of paths showcases the natural beauty and rich wildlife of the region, with maps available from the visitor centre.A scattering of archaeological sites across Menorca nods to the Talayotic era (1500BC–123BC), during which sophisticated cultures built dozens of cone-shaped structures. One of the best is Cornia Nou near Mahón, with a staircase you can climb to reach the top.

Visiting archaeological sites

A scattering of archaeological sites across Menorca nods to the Talayotic era (1500BC–123BC), during which sophisticated cultures built dozens of cone-shaped structures. One of the best is Cornia Nou near Mahón, with a staircase you can climb to reach the top.

Oliver's Hidden Gem

Near Cala Turqueta, Playa des Talaier is a horseshoe-shaped bay with soft sands and shady pines offering respite from the midday sun. Rocky ledges flank the water, creating a natural diving board for swimmers. The surrounding undulating landscape provides a soul-soothing backdrop for long, lazy beach days.

Extra inspiration on things to do

Oliver's Hidden Gem

Es Migjorn Gran is a sleepy rural village with narrow streets lined with candy-coloured houses. While its centuries-old historic core doesn’t look particularly remarkable at first glance, scratch beneath the surface to discover a thriving gastronomic scene. A cluster of excellent restaurants and tapas bars, many overlooking the countryside, serve tasty Mediterranean plates.

Boats and beach in Es Migjorn Gran

Towns and villages in Menorca

At opposite ends of Menorca, Ciutadella and Mahón are connected by a strand of history that stretches across the island. Wedged into the western flank, Ciutadella’s narrow streets are arranged around a grand Gothic cathedral, the sole architectural survivor of a ruthless Ottoman attack in 1558 and witness to various power battles between France, Britain and Spain throughout the 18th century.

To the southeast, the thread loops further back in time to the Talayotic era with the remains of Torre d’en Galmés, a prehistoric village that thrived between 1100 BC to the Roman conquest of Menorca in 123 BC.

At the eastern tip of the island, the gigantic natural harbour at Mahón was transformed into a military base by the Royal Navy when the British arrived at Menorca in 1708. In between, the thread loosely wraps around a smattering of traditional whitewashed fishing villages, such as northern gems Es Grau and Fornells, and southern coastal resort towns like Cala En Porter and Punta Prima.

Menorca villa holidays are the best way of getting an insight into authentic Menorcan life; pick a beachfront bolthole for toes-in-the-sand days or a classic finca for laid-back rural charm.

Ciutadella

Springing up like a pop-up town on the shores of western Menorca, Ciutadella is a medieval maze of cobblestone lanes and sandstone houses. The island’s former capital is dominated by a grand Gothic cathedral, around which narrow alleys unfurl into handsome squares lined with pavement cafés. Stock up on traditional leather avarcas sandals, before feasting on platters of shellfish at a harbourside seafood restaurant.

Mahón

From Bronze Age mystery to British Naval stronghold, the rich history of Menorca is etched into the stones of its capital, Mahón. Presiding over the Mediterranean’s largest natural harbour, the city’s prime perch explains its allure to the Royal Navy when they arrived in 1708. Today, its streets are lined with handsome 18th-century mansions that nod to the period under British rule.

Binibeca

Around five miles from the Menorcan capital, Binibeca is a quirky development dating to the Seventies. Design fans will be awed by the Moorish architecture, the work of esteemed Spanish architect Antonio Sintes Mercadal, who wanted to replicate a traditional Spanish fishing village. A knot of cobbled lanes and whitewashed houses, the small town gazes out over a pocket-sized harbour flanked by sea-view restaurants.

Alaior

Draped across a hillside, Alaior is a glorious huddle of sugar-cube villas, punctuated with blue-painted wooden shutters and hanging baskets overspilling with bougainvillea. A small but decent collection of tapas bars creates a low-key buzzy mood over the summer, while traditional cobblers breathe new life into ancient traditions and hole-in-the-wall ice cream parlours dish out creamy gelato.

Fornells

Hugging the rugged northern coast of Menorca, Fornells is a traditional fishing village rooted in place, with wooden boats bobbing in the harbour and seafood restaurants famed for caldereta de langosta (lobster stew). Its wind-battered coastline makes Fornells a popular windsurfing destination, though its powdery sands are just as enticing for sunbaking.

Alcaufar

A lesser-trodden spot close to the capital, Alcaufar has a tumble of bone-white fishermen’s houses hooking around a brilliant blue bay. Dozy streets are partially hidden beneath clouds of bougainvillea, and low-key villas offer a taste of Menorcan life. A flour-soft beach is kissed by limpid waters, clear and calm enough for kids to splash around in.

Top Tips

Even with a car, beaches are often only accessible on foot; you may have to park and walk the final 1km to 3km (15 to 30 minutes).
Though usually free, car parks are often quickly packed out in high season; arrive early or travel by bus where possible.
You can hike, bike or horse-ride the whole way around the island using the Camí de Cavalls, taking around seven to ten days on foot. However, most people hire a villa in Menorca as a base and tackle different parts of the route with day hikes.

Menorca travel: Getting there and around

Several airlines connect the UK with Menorca: British Airways runs flights from Heathrow; easyJet serves Bristol, Gatwick, Liverpool, Luton and Southend; and Ryanair offers services from the East Midlands. Jet2 connects Belfast, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester and Newcastle.

From Menorca’s airport, a shuttle bus runs regular services to Mahón’s main bus station at Placa de S’Esplanada (every hour, October to May; every half-hour, June to September). A taxi to the centre costs about €10.

The easiest way to get around Menorca is by car. A good highway – the 45km ME1 – links Mahón, at the eastern end of the island, to Ciutadella at the western end. From this main thoroughfare, roads run to the main resorts, beaches and villas in Menorca.

By car

Hiring your own car is the best way of getting around Menorca, as you’ll be able to easily reach the hidden corners of the island. Local car hire companies, such as Autos Ciutadella, Autos Mahon Rent and Sol Car Hire, offer the best rates, with daily fees starting from around £30, though you’ll pay more for higher-category cars. The main rental companies are located at the airport, with some additional offices in Ciutadella.

By public transport

You can get around Menorca by public transport, though it’s not as flexible or easy as having your own car. A reliable bus network connects the main towns and beaches in high season, though services elsewhere on the island are generally patchy.

The main bus companies serving Mahón and Ciutadella are TMSA and Autocares Torres, with Autos Fornells also running services from the capital. The bus between the two towns takes around an hour, or the express option shaves 15 minutes off this time.

By boat

A water taxi service runs from Cala Galdana and Sant Tomàs, providing scheduled (and scenic) services to Trebalúger and Fustam beaches.

From the blog…

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