Menorca is recommended for avoiding mass tourism because Mallorca and Ibiza are nearby.
What travellers report
We read hundreds of comments on Reddit (r/menorca, r/spain, r/travel) and kept the points that several people repeat. These are travellers' opinions, not official information. Each tip links to its source thread.
Platges de Fornells is a vacation rental area with small restaurants, grocery stores, nearby bay and beach, and parking right outside the homes; safe and quiet but easy to reach other parts of the island with a rental car.
Consider Albania; the Albanian Riviera is described as insane and money goes much further than in the mentioned countries.
Alamo/Enterprise hire cars are located within the airport grounds; from the terminal door walk right, signposted, about 3 minutes to the airport carparks.
A Renault Austral, brand new with only 300km, cost less than 200 pounds for the week to hire.
Cala en Bosh Harbour, Son Bou beach, the cove at Cala en Porter, and Mahon Harbour are recommended.
Rentalcars.com/app has been used for the last two years; in-terminal and car rental centre are the same, literally 30 seconds walk outside arrivals; Hertz/Thrifty used.
Doncars is a local firm with excellent reviews; they park cars in the short stay carpark and you drop off there too.
9am in July is usually too late to park at Cala Turqueta.
Bus line 68 is an alternative to parking at Cala Turqueta; check timetables again in July because they change.
Cala en Brut has cliff jumping platforms from all heights.
Cala Galdana was closed due to feces in the water.
It is practically mandatory to rent a car in Menorca.
You cannot pay a car rental deposit with a debit card in Menorca; a credit card is required, which led to extra fees of €90 (reported by a user).
The nightlife in Menorca is very quiet.
Learn Spanish or Catalan to integrate; locals do not speak English in day-to-day life.
Housing prices in Menorca are some of the highest in Spain.
Consider the countryside around Ciutadella for a more authentic feel.
There is local frustration over high housing costs driven by foreign buyers and holiday rentals.
Hike from Cala Galdana to Cala Macarella.
Taxi from Menorca airport to Cala en Bosc costs €80; return trip costs €70 (reported by a user).
Casas del Lago Resort in Cala en Bosc is fantastic for couples.
A Balinese bed by the pool at Casas del Lago costs €40, refunded as bar credit (reported by a user).
Menorca has quiet calas where people sunbathe nude even if not officially nudist beaches.
Some nudist beaches require a long or difficult hike to reach the nudist section.
Agroturismos and rural fincas are available for stays in Menorca.
There have been protests against overtourism in Spain and the Canary Islands, and some graffiti like 'TOURISTS GO HOME' has been seen.
Property prices in Menorca are very high, e.g., €1.5 million for a half-decent 4-bed villa (reported by a user).
From Ciutadella you can easily reach the areas of Sa Caleta.
In off season, buses to beaches in tourism areas run on the hour every hour rather than every 20 minutes like in main season.
Buses are usually cheaper in off season compared to summer.
Remote beaches may have only a couple of buses a day running near them, if any at all.
Remote beaches have no services, no bars, no toilets.
Season officially starts at Easter holidays with a slow open.
Jardí de ses Bruixes is a lovely boutique hotel in the centre of Mahón, pricey to stay at but very nice; recommended for brunch.
Renting a car in Menorca is recommended if staying a little further out of center.
Stay in Ciutadella as a base and explore from there; Mahon is nice too but Ciutadella is preferred.
Menorca is significantly smaller and more relaxed than Mallorca.
Mallorca is more populated and more expensive since it draws more tourists.
Menorca is too quiet for partying; just a few small bars and discos.
In Menorca there are local festivities all summer and it's a good way of meeting new people.
Late September in Menorca: weather is nice enough to swim and enjoy the beach.
Late September in Menorca: buses across the island still run.
Late September in Menorca: lively enough to not be dead.
For a stay in Cala Blanca then Cala en Porter, renting a car for the full time is easier to explore beaches and move accommodation.
Some accommodation relies on street parking and free public parking.
For a solo trip based in Cala Santandria exploring only the Ciutadella area, consider a 125cc scooter, small car, bike/e-bike, or public transport.
The Camí de Cavalls has scenic sections for hiking.
Take the cheapest rate that includes full coverage with no excess to avoid damage charges; companies may block about 200€ on your card as gas deposit and return it.
If using a cheap rate without full coverage, inspect the car for marks and damage before first driving, compare with the damage report, and make a full 360 video stopping at every imperfection.
Basic insurance with excess typically makes you responsible for damages up to around 1000€.
All rental companies will charge for gas if the car is not returned completely full.
Autos Menorca is described as barely reacting to minor scratches, while big companies like Hertz, Sixt, and Europcar will charge heavily if you don't have full insurance.
If you have full insurance, minor dinks and grazes are common in Menorca and you will be fine.
A user asked whether a taxi can be ordered from Cova d'en Xoroi to Binibeca at 4:00 or 5:00am when the night session closes, indicating uncertainty about late-night taxi availability.
A user reported ferry prices for 2 adults from Alcudia to Menorca in September as no less than 310 EUR for a day round trip.
Cala Galdana is described as nice but more developed; other out-of-the-way beaches may have 2-5 km trails that are too long with a toddler.
Cala Mitjana has mixed information about trail ease; a user asks whether it is possible to do easily in 15-20 minutes and whether to take a stroller or carry a child.
Cala Mitjana has no facilities, so bring a foldable tent for shade.
A family staying in Cala Piques and Cala Galdana wanted a private tour guide or driver for a day to visit a cheesemaking farm, olive grove, Salinas de la Concepcion, and a northern beach for a meal, because they did not want to drive.
Ciutadella is suggested as a good base for the first part of a trip, using a car or public transport to access beaches.
Staying in two different areas is recommended to provide variety: one city area with access to good beaches, and one more rural and quiet area near less popular beaches or in the interior.
A user staying in Mahon for 4 nights recommends checking an AMA post in r/menorca by a local for great recommendations.
A couple stayed 7 days at the beginning of September and were happy to rent a car.
A family of three planned to be in Menorca in mid August.
A user was in Menorca at the time of posting and staying at a hotel in the city, and reported being well received.
A couple interested in good food and wine wanted access to unpretentious, authentic, tasty local food and were not interested in food catered to tourists.
A couple interested in culture wanted nice streets to walk around, local life, maybe art and museums, good restaurants and bars.
Post-festival taxi availability is unreliable; the Menorca Taxi App and calling taxi business numbers both feel like a lottery.
A group of 5 friends with a rental car asked for lively bars, live music, beach bars, and local events; no specific towns or venues were recommended in the thread.
A 7-9 day Spain trip flying into Barcelona, visiting the Balearics (leaning Menorca), then renting a car to Valencia, Granada, and Seville before returning to Barcelona was proposed; no confirmation on whether it is too many places.
Traveler arriving in Palma mid-June wants to reach Menorca by ferry, avoiding another flight, and asks whether Palma or Alcudia is easier/cheaper/more efficient, and whether to visit Ciutadella or Mahon for 4 days.
A free seat-exchange initiative for travelers between Barcelona and Mallorca or Menorca is being organized to swap seats without paying airline extra fees.