Water fun, horses and a maze – Tips for family holidays in Menorca

Lithica is a remnant of one of the region’s most traditional professions, “trencador” (stone masonry). Marés stones were once struck from the ground here and used to build houses on the island, creating a unique sculptural landscape. The site is now run by a foundation and is used as a leisure and cultural space. Here you can stroll through green gardens with mazes of plants and stones, and in the summer there are open-air concerts and theatre performances. The whole family can learn about working with stone in a stonemasonry workshop.

Son Bou in south-east Menorca offers horseback riding for adults and children aged 3 and above. The routes pass through a section of the famous “Camí de Cavalls” hiking trail that sprawls all over the island. Here you can enjoy the landscape of the south coast on a leisurely horseback ride. Experienced riders can gallop along the trails or even attend a week’s dressage class. A horseback ride guarantees spectacular views over the beaches of Son Bou and Atalis.

The Cova des Coloms (cave of the pigeons) in Binigaus gorge is so big that it is sometimes known as the “cathedral”. The magical atmosphere and archaeological finds also suggest that religious rituals were regularly performed here long ago. To explore the cave it is best to walk from the small municipality of Es Migjorn Gran where there is plenty of parking. Tip: after this excursion, it is worth following the footpath to Platja de Binigaus, one of the island’s most pristine beaches with shallow, crystal-clear waters.

View on maps

Mahón is the largest natural harbour in the Mediterranean with an astonishing length of just under six kilometres. A tour through the fjord-like harbour with its four islands offers views of its beautiful coves, fortresses and colonial houses. Travel in a yellow catamaran along the north coast (S’Altra Banda), the Spanish marine base, the Isla del Lazareto, a former quarantine island, and on to the fortress of La Mola. If the weather is favourable, you can see the extensive seagrass meadows and numerous fish through the glass bottom of the boat. The tour lasts an hour. Tickets are available online and on site. 

Son Bou Scuba is a renowned diving centre under joint Dutch-German management. Experienced diving instructors will show you the colourful underwater world off the coast of Menorca, the mysterious cave of “Cueva Bonita”, affectionately referred to as “Swiss cheese” due to its many holes, or the impressive wreck of the “Malakoff”. Explorer dives are held daily for beginners aged 10 and above, starting from the waterfront. This allows even children to learn the basics of diving in a safe and relaxed environment.