We travelled with our three children (aged 5, 7 and 10), who are happiest when they’re barefoot, in the sea, or exploring nature. Seven days later, we all agreed on one thing: we didn’t want to leave.
From hidden coves and endless snorkelling to boat adventures, forest walks, strategic ice creams to avoid meltdowns, and beaches that quickly became “our beach”, Menorca completely won us over.
Here’s how we spent our week:
This wasn’t one of those boutique hotels full of charm—and honestly, that wasn’t what we were looking for. For a family of five, it turned out to be a fantastic choice.
Its location in Es Canutells is very central, making it easy to explore all the southern beaches we had on our list.
Having an apartment with a fridge was a huge advantage. With three children, there’s always fruit, yoghurts, water and snacks that need to stay cold.
But the real highlight? The enormous swimming pool. Every morning started there. The kids would burn off some energy before we headed to the beach, and almost every evening ended there too.
We’re usually not fans of half-board because we love discovering local restaurants, but after full days at the beach, everyone was so exhausted that staying at the hotel for dinner actually worked perfectly!
After dropping our bags, we headed straight to Binibeca for lunch.
Then we walked down to the beach. Instant love! Warm, crystal-clear water. Shallow enough for the children to play safely for hours.
There’s also a lovely beach bar serving great drinks while you watch the sea.
By the end of the afternoon, the children had officially named it…“Our beach!!”
Punta Prima is beautiful. But after Binibeca, it had a lot to live up to.
It’s slightly more developed, with restaurants and a road directly behind the beach, while we generally preferred the more untouched coves.
That said, it turned out to be the perfect place for one very special moment. It was here that our children tried snorkelling for the very first time.
The smaller rocky cove next to the main beach was full of fish, making it an unforgettable introduction to the underwater world.
Lunch was in Saint Luis, Sa Punta Prima, another lovely area with beautiful sea views and excellent restaurants.
By late afternoon…the kids voted unanimously. We were going back to Binibeca!
The famous Tramuntana had arrived, bringing one of those windy Menorca days everyone talks about. Unsure where to go, I messaged Miki, the lovely local skipper from Olives Ocean we’d be sailing with later that week. If anyone knew where to escape the wind, it had to be him! He immediately recommended Binigaus and told us to walk all the way to the last stretch of the beach for the best shelter. We trusted the local’s advice… and off we went.
We walked through beautiful woodland filled with the sound of cicadas, enjoying spectacular views along the way. Until we realised…there was no way down!
So back we walked. Loaded with bags. Beach umbrellas. One child on dad’s shoulders. Another complaining every few minutes 🙂
When we finally arrived, another surprise was waiting for us. Almost everyone was naked!! ahaha Our children had never experienced a naturist beach before and were completely fascinated. We couldn’t stop laughing!
We didn’t quite find the courage to join in, but the beach itself was absolutely stunning.
That evening, we headed to Es Mercadal, one of the island’s prettiest inland villages. Every Thursday throughout the summer, the town comes alive with its evening food and craft market, and it couldn’t have been a nicer way to end the day. The streets fill with local artisans selling everything from handmade ceramics and basketry to local cheeses, fresh bread, pastries and wines. It isn’t a huge market, but that’s exactly what we loved about it. It felt authentic, relaxed and wonderfully local.
The children enjoyed wandering between the stalls while we picked up a few souvenirs to take home!
Cala Mitjana is probably one of Menorca’s most famous beaches. And yes, it really is beautiful.
Getting there, however, requires commitment. There are plenty of steep climbs and descents, which become significantly more challenging when your youngest still regularly asks to be carried. Fortunately, ice cream solves almost everything!!
In all honesty, while we really enjoyed it, it wasn’t one of our favourite beaches. The Tramuntana wind was still blowing that day, so we probably didn’t experience it at its very best. Even so, we found it quite small and, being one of Menorca’s most famous coves, it felt much busier than some of the others we visited. For families with young children, there simply wasn’t as much space to play or relax.
Beautiful? Absolutely. But if we had to choose, there were other beaches on the island that stole our hearts even more.
By the afternoon we headed to Cala Galdana.
Completely different from all the other beaches we visited.
With a wide stretch of soft sand, plenty of shade beneath the pine trees and beautiful viewpoints overlooking the bay, it’s probably one of the easiest beaches to enjoy with young children.
It was also the only beach we visited with large hotels, beach concessions and a more developed tourist atmosphere. While that made it feel a little less wild and untouched than the other coves we fell in love with, it was still undeniably beautiful, and perfect if you’re looking for a beach with more facilities and space for children to play.
Long before we even arrived in Menorca, Miki had already become our go-to local. Whenever we had a question about the island, he was there with honest recommendations, hidden gems and practical advice. So by the time we finally met him, it already felt like we were spending the day with a friend.
And what a day it was! Seeing Menorca from the sea completely changes your perspective of the island.
Our children spent half the day sitting right at the bow, hair flying in the wind, completely mesmerised by the feeling of freedom. It was one of those moments you know they’ll remember forever.
Miki guided us through the coastline, sharing stories about the island and stopping at some incredible swimming spots where we could jump straight into the open sea.
The most incredible part?
Even surrounded by deep water, you could still see the seabed perfectly. The water was so unbelievably clear that it almost didn’t seem real.
We swam, snorkelled, explored underwater rock formations and watched countless fish dart beneath us. The boat was equipped with excellent snorkelling gear, making every stop feel like discovering a new little underwater world.
For the more adventurous among us, there were even rocky cliffs to jump from into the crystal-clear water, a moment that me and our older children absolutely loved!!
In between swims, Miki spoiled us with delicious local snacks while we simply drifted from one postcard-perfect cove to another, enjoying Menorca at our own pace.
It’s the kind of day that reminds you holidays aren’t just about the places you visit, they’re about the moments you’ll still be talking about years later.
Parking is limited, so either arrive very early or take the shuttle bus. We were incredibly lucky to arrive just as someone was leaving, grabbing what felt like the very last space.
From the car park, a beautiful walk through the pine forest leads you to the beach. It’s not particularly difficult, but after several days of beach hopping and carrying towels, umbrellas and three excited children, it certainly feels longer than it looks!
And then…You catch your first glimpse of that impossibly turquoise water. Completely worth it!
Cala Turqueta isn’t a huge beach, but that’s exactly what makes it so special. Two small stretches of soft white sand are connected by crystal-clear water, creating the feeling of a hidden paradise rather than a busy tourist beach.
Behind the sand lies a peaceful pine forest with plenty of natural shade, where our children happily spent hours building dens, collecting sticks and simply being kids whenever they needed a break from the water.
The sea itself couldn’t have been more perfect for families. Calm. Warm. Crystal clear.
We honestly spent almost the entire day in the water.
The snorkelling here was probably our favourite of the whole trip. Colourful little fish swam all around us, sea urchins clung to the rocks below, and every swim felt like discovering another little underwater world.
There are several rocky areas perfect for jumping into the sea. One huge rock immediately caught our attention. Our older looked at it with excitement… while we looked at it thinking, “Absolutely not!” It felt just a little too high for us! Thankfully, there were plenty of smaller rocks nearby, where we happily spent the afternoon jumping into the water over and over again.
If we’d had a few more days in Menorca, this is exactly where we would have come back to.
Sometimes you visit a beach. Sometimes a beach stays with you. For us, Cala Turqueta will always be that beach!!
For our final beach day, we decided to leave the car in Ciutadella and take the shuttle bus to Macarella instead.
It turned out to be a great decision. Not only does it save you the stress of finding one of the very limited parking spaces, but it also drops you much closer to the beach than if you arrive by car.
There’s still a walk to reach the beach, and with three children, beach bags and the summer heat, there were naturally a few negotiations along the way—but once again, Menorca rewarded us for the effort.
Macarella is every bit as beautiful as the photos suggest. The water is impossibly clear, the surrounding cliffs are spectacular, and it’s another fantastic spot for snorkelling. We spent hours discovering tiny fish swimming between the rocks and spotting sea urchins hidden beneath the crystal-clear water.
Unlike some of the previous beaches, the children were completely fascinated by the rocky areas along the shoreline. Natural rock pools became little worlds to explore, while the flat rocks made it easy to climb in and out of the sea. They happily spent hours jumping between rocks, looking for sea creatures and inventing games while we soaked up one last day in paradise.
Our original plan had been to continue walking to the famous Macarelleta. Everyone tells you not to miss it!
But after almost a week of beach hopping, several long walks and temperatures well above 30°C, we looked at each other… and decided we’d already had the perfect day. The walk between Macarella and Macarelleta is much longer than many people expect, and with tired little legs (and even more tired parents!), it simply didn’t feel like the right moment.
It gives you the perfect excuse to come back. Macarelleta, we’ll see you next time!!
That evening we celebrated our final night at Casa Tia, in Cala en Porter. As lovers of Spanish food, we couldn’t have asked for a better farewell to Menorca. Every tapa was delicious, the atmosphere was wonderfully relaxed, and it was the perfect way to end a week that completely stole our hearts.
One last tip. We rented our car from a company located outside the airport, much closer to our hotel. It was significantly cheaper than airport rentals, and they provided a free shuttle service. Definitely worth comparing before booking!
After a week of beach hopping, boat trips and endless hours in the sea, we quickly realised there were a few things we simply couldn’t have travelled without.
A few days before leaving, I remembered Minô, a Portuguese brand I already knew for its incredibly practical children’s bedding. While browsing their collection, I discovered they also make the most practical family travel accessories, and honestly, they came with us everywhere!
Their oversized backpack became our daily companion. It somehow managed to fit towels for five, sunscreen, spare clothes, snacks and everything else a family seems to carry to the beach… with room to spare! Even better, the insulated cooler bag kept our water, fruit and little snacks perfectly chilled all day long. Comfortable to carry and incredibly practical, it made beach days so much easier for a big family like ours that always seems to bring the whole house along.
Each of our children also carried their own little backpack with their snorkelling gear and water shoes. They absolutely loved being responsible for their own things and it made every adventure feel even more exciting.
We also packed a couple of Petites Pommes floats and our favourite swim goggles for the hotel pool. Ever since discovering them at home, our children refuse to swim without them! We especially love that the goggles have a clever clip fastening at the back, so no more tears from hair getting caught every time they’re put on or taken off.
Water shoes are something we would absolutely recommend packing. Many of Menorca’s coves have rocky entrances and incredible snorkelling spots, so they made exploring the coastline much safer and much more comfortable for everyone.
When it came to clothing, we kept things wonderfully simple. Our boys practically lived in their colourful Molo swim shorts. They’re so beautifully designed that, paired with a simple plain T-shirt, they instantly look effortlessly stylish. Honestly, you don’t need much more in Menorca. Their backpacks, usually reserved for school, came along for the adventure too and turned out to be perfect for our beach days. Each child carried their own snorkelling gear, water shoes and little beach treasures, making them feel wonderfully independent throughout the trip. And, of course, Vasco refused to leave behind his favourite Molo Smileys cap! They came with us to every beach, every boat trip and every walk, adding a cheerful touch to every outfit while protecting him from the Menorcan sun.
Pack light. Really light.
Even after sunset, the island stays beautifully warm. We spent the entire week in swimsuits, lightweight dresses, linen shirts, flip-flops and easy beachwear.
Sometimes the best holidays only require the simplest suitcase. And somehow…those always become the most unforgettable ones.
Without hesitation. Menorca isn’t about theme parks or luxury resorts.
It reminded us what summer holidays are really about. And one thing is certain…We’ll be back!!!
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