Menorca often springs to mind as a peaceful island.
A cove with crystal-clear water. A path through pine trees. An al fresco table. The Mediterranean in the background and, at last, time to do nothing.
How to unwind in Menorca: wellness ideas for a leisurely holiday
A cove with crystal-clear water. A path through pine trees. An al fresco table. The Mediterranean in the background and, at last, time to do nothing.
And yes, that Menorca does exist.
But if you visit the island in the height of summer, you may also find busier roads, crowded coves and restaurants where it’s best to book in advance. Especially in July and August, finding the tranquillity we’ve been seeking sometimes requires changing the way we travel.
Because perhaps unwinding in Menorca isn’t about finding a completely empty beach in August.
Perhaps it’s about stopping trying to see everything.
Swapping a morning spent in the car with a map for a leisurely breakfast. Setting aside an afternoon for a massage. Getting up early to explore a cove before the crowds arrive and heading back to the hotel when the heat sets in. Practising yoga overlooking the Mediterranean or curling up with a book by the pool without feeling like we should be doing something else.
If you’ve come to Menorca to relax, here are a few ideas to help you really do just that.
1. Don’t try to see the whole of Menorca in one holiday
Monte Toro. Ciutadella. Mahón. Binibèquer. Cala Macarella. Cala Mitjana. Fornells. Favàritx...When you start planning a trip to Menorca, it’s easy to end up with an endless list of ‘must-see’ places.
But trying to fit them all in over just a few days can turn a holiday into a race from one end of the island to the other.
An alternative is to organise your days by area and always leave room for spontaneity. If you’re exploring Ciutadella and the west coast today, perhaps you don’t need to drive to the other end of the island to see another spot that very same afternoon.
Menorca is also best enjoyed by simply staying put.
Having a drink after lunch. Strolling aimlessly around Ciutadella. Returning to the hotel early. Or discovering that little cove that wasn’t marked as a must-see.
Not measuring your holiday by the number of places you’ve visited is a good first step towards unwinding.
2. Discover a different side to Menorca when the beaches get busy
In summer, the most popular coves can get very crowded during the middle of the day.Instead of trying to fight the crowds, you can adjust your schedule.
Get up early and enjoy the beach whilst the day is still just beginning. Head back to your hotel during the hottest part of the day and use that time to have a leisurely lunch, relax, take a dip in the pool or enjoy the spa.
Then, as the sun begins to set, head out again.
A stroll through Ciutadella, an al fresco dinner, a sunset on the west coast or simply a walk along the Mediterranean could turn out to be some of the best moments of your trip.
Because Menorca doesn’t end when you pack up your beach towel.
3. Set aside a car-free day
It may seem like a small thing, but it can completely change the pace of your holiday.Not every day has to start with thinking about where to park, which road to take or what time you need to set off.
Set aside at least one day to enjoy the area around your accommodation.
Walk to a nearby beach. Relax by the pool. Read. Have a leisurely breakfast. Eat without watching the clock. Have a nap. Go for a stroll at sunset.
At Sagitario Hotels, we have accommodation in various locations around the Ciutadella area, from the town centre itself to Cala Blanca, Santandria, Son Xoriguer and Cala’n Bosch, so you can perfectly combine days of exploring with days when Menorca comes to you.
4. Make an afternoon at the spa part of your trip
When we think about what to do in Menorca, we almost always look outwards.Beaches, lighthouses, villages, excursions, boats…
But one of the most enjoyable days of your holiday can also begin by closing a door and leaving the outside world behind for a few hours.
At Duna Spa, located at Gran Sagitario, you can enjoy a space dedicated to wellbeing with a heated pool, jacuzzi, sauna and Turkish bath, as well as massages and treatments.
It’s a particularly lovely option after several days exploring the island, during the hottest part of the day, or on those days when you simply fancy swapping the beach for a different kind of water.
And you don’t need to be staying at Gran Sagitario to enjoy it.
Duna Spa is also open to non-residents, so you can make it another activity to enjoy during your holiday in Menorca.
Discover Duna Spa in Menorca →
5. A massage can also be something to do as a couple
There are travel experiences we remember for what we saw.And others, quite simply, for how they made us feel.
If you’re travelling as a couple, setting aside some time for relaxation together can be a nice change from the usual plans: a few hours at a spa, a massage or a treatment, followed by a quiet dinner.
It doesn’t have to be a special occasion.
That’s precisely the point.
To set aside a few hours for yourselves during days when, paradoxically, we sometimes want to do so many things that we barely stop.
If you’re looking for massages in Menorca, at Duna Spa you’ll find a range of treatments to make that moment of relaxation complete.
6. Start the day by getting active, but without making it a chore
For some people, relaxing means sleeping in.For others, it means getting up, moving your body and starting the day with renewed energy.
Both options are perfectly compatible with a holiday.
A yoga session, swimming a few lengths, going for a walk by the sea or working out for half an hour can help us maintain those routines that make us feel good, without having to bring the demands of everyday life with us on holiday.
At Princesa Playa, you can practise yoga and Pilates outdoors and take part in various sporting activities during your stay.
And perhaps that’s where the difference lies.
Not doing sport because ‘you have to’, but because you have time to do it without watching the clock.
Discover Princesa Playa’s sport and yoga programme →
7. Look for open spaces where you can simply be
Not every beautiful space needs to become a photo opportunity or the setting for an activity.A terrace, a garden, a peaceful swimming pool or a shady spot may be all you need.
Especially if you’re travelling for several days, alternating days of excursions with more relaxed ones helps ensure your holiday doesn’t end up as a succession of planned activities.
And if you’re looking for even more peace and quiet, staying at an ‘Adults Only’ accommodation can make all the difference.
For example, Menorca Mar Adults Only combines the independence of staying in an apartment with a swimming pool, gardens, a gym and outdoor spaces designed to be enjoyed without too many set times.
It’s another way of discovering that, sometimes, the best plan for the day might be simply not to have one.
8. Eat as part of your holiday, not just as a stop between activities
We can also slow down a little around a table.Menorca’s cuisine is deeply rooted in the local area, and discovering it deserves more than just a quick bite to eat before heading off to the next stop on your itinerary.
At Sagitario Hotels, we bring that connection with the island to our restaurants through Sagitario Llocs, our five traditional Menorcan estates.
These estates provide seasonal fruit and vegetables, produce from our livestock, and our own Mahón-Menorca PDO cheese, amongst other products that are then used in our hotels’ kitchens.
Sitting down, sampling local produce and lingering over the meal are also part of the journey.
9. Swap a famous sunset for ‘your’ sunset
There are places in Menorca that are particularly well-known for watching the sunset.And they’re beautiful.
But you don’t need to be at the spot featured in every guidebook to enjoy it.
Menorca’s west coast offers extraordinary sunsets from many vantage points. Sometimes all you need to do is head down to the sea, find a quiet spot and sit down.
No booking required.
No queuing.
No overthinking the photography.
Just watching the light change over the Mediterranean.
It might seem like a simple plan.
Until you get home and realise it’s one of the moments you remember most.
10. Leave some space in your itinerary
This is probably our favourite tip.If you’re spending seven days in Menorca, don’t plan out all seven days.
Leave one morning free. One afternoon. Even a whole day.
On that day, you might end up going back to the cove you liked best. You might decide to book a massage. You might just stay by the pool. You might discover a restaurant. Or you might simply do absolutely nothing.
And that’s fine.
Because travelling is also about reclaiming something that seems in short supply for the rest of the year:
time without obligations.
Menorca at a different pace
Perhaps true well-being on holiday isn’t about filling your diary with wellness activities.It’s about something much simpler.
Sleeping when you’re tired.
Getting out and about because you feel like it.
Eating well.
Spending time outdoors.
Putting your mobile down for a few hours.
Treat yourself to a massage.
Don’t keep checking the time.
And realise that it’s perfectly fine if you return from Menorca without having visited all the coves you’d planned to see.
At Sagitario Hotels, we want to help you discover the island, but also to enjoy the time you spend there.
That’s why our accommodation combines different approaches to wellbeing: spa treatments and massages, yoga and sport, local cuisine, swimming pools, gardens, adults-only accommodation and spaces where you can simply relax.
Because perhaps the best memory you’ll take away from Menorca isn’t everything you did.
But rather how you felt whilst you were here.
Frequently asked questions about relaxation and wellbeing in Menorca
Where can I find a spa in Menorca?
Duna Spa, located at Gran Sagitario in Santandria and very close to Ciutadella, offers a hydrotherapy circuit, a heated pool, a jacuzzi, a sauna, a Turkish bath, massages and treatments.
Are there any spas in Ciutadella open to people who aren’t staying at the hotel?
Yes. Duna Spa is open to both Gran Sagitario guests and non-residents, so you can book a wellness experience even if you’re staying elsewhere.
Where can I book massages in Menorca?
Duna Spa offers a range of massages and body and facial treatments. It’s an option both for those seeking a moment of personal relaxation and for those who want to incorporate a wellness experience into a couples’ getaway.
Where can I practise yoga in Menorca whilst on holiday?
Princesa Playa has a programme of sports and wellness activities that includes outdoor yoga and Pilates, as well as other facilities and activities to help you stay active during your stay. These activities are exclusively for hotel guests.
What can you do in Menorca to unwind in summer?
As well as visiting beaches and villages, you can mix your day trips with more relaxing activities: get up early to explore the coves before the crowds arrive, spend an afternoon at a spa, book a massage, practise yoga, enjoy the local cuisine, or simply spend a day relaxing at the hotel.
