A charming seaside village in eastern Menorca, we’ve shared the best things to do in Es Grau and our picks on where to stay.
The small village of Es Grau feels like the sort of place many of us would love to see out our final days.
A collection of houses by the shore where the older generation trade home-cooked food and company in front of white-washed homes, or battle-worn stories across plastic tables in simple cafes and bars; where you are more likely to see a group of mature ladies in colourful swimming caps nattering whilst exercising as you are tourists enjoying the shallow and calm waters that line the bay.
There are of course younger people here - those that wait tables, take tourists out to sea and raise families - but the undeniable age-demographic means that Es Grau is peaceful - and a lovely day trip away from Menorcan resort towns, or perhaps for those of us that appreciate a slower way of life, a base from which to explore the island.
In this guide, we’ll cover the very best things to do in Es Grau - from kayaking to hidden beaches, hiking along the coast, getting closer to nature and a handful of excellent day trips - plus advice on where to eat, where to stay and how to get there.
es grau essentials
// Small village with minimal facilities
// Situated within Albufera des Grau Nature Park
// Perfect for couples and young families
// Pleasant sandy beach, with calm shallow waters
// Limited transport outside summer season
Things to Do in Es Grau
Hang Out at the village Beach
The half kilometre crescent of soft dark sand that fans out from Es Grau village is far from manicured - but that’s what makes it so appealing.
Divided in two by a big rock, it offers a larger beach popular with families and a smaller, more intimate cove, both edged by a large expanse of warm blue water that’s the perfect depth for paddling.
In fact, it’s this paddling-pool depth which makes Platja Es Grau beach so perfect for young children and those that enjoy calm waters, as well as an ideal spot for snorkelers.
As far as we’re aware, there are no beds or parasols to rent on the beach, so it’s advisable to bring your own if planning on baking in the sun for more than an hour or so. There is also no lifeguard on duty.
It is this lack of facilities on offer here that prevents Es Grau’s beach from becoming too oversubscribed, but do note that it can become busy during the weekends with day-trippers from Mahón.
Rent a Kayak
A super popular activity in Es Grau is to hire a kayak or SUP, either to head out independently or as part of a tour.
The company ‘Menorca en Kayak’ is based in the village and offers rentals from one hour to one day.
Prices start at €10 for one hour in a single kayak, up to €60 a day for a double kayak, or upwards of €40 per person for a tour out to caves, beaches or for snorkelling.
You can find full details of all their offerings here. Please note that they only open from May to late October.
Explore Albufera des Grau Nature Park
Designated a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1993, Menorca is considered to have one of the most diverse ecosystems of all the Mediterranean islands - and the protected Nature Park of S’Albufera des Grau is at its epicentre.
Situated in the northeastern part of the island (and including the village of Es Grau), it was created in 1995 and covers more than 5000 hectares of of wetlands, expansive sections of coastline, an islet and a number of traditional farms; a series of environmentally diverse landscapes which play home to hundreds of species of plants, birds, animals and marine life.
For visitors to Menorca, it provides an opportunity to experience an alternative side to the island, ramble along wildlife trails, embrace their inner twitcher, and explore the rugged coastline.
The Nature Park is easily accessible on foot from Es Grau, including via a 8.6 kilometre section of the Cami de Cavalls. Alternatively, there is a shorter 1.7 kilometre route that begins near to Es Grau village’s football field, here on maps. It will first take you left to a mirador, before heading back on yourself and continuing along the path proper, through the forest and on to the north part of Cala Es Grau. Walk back along the beach and finish in the village. The trail is marked as ‘blue 3’ on visitor maps.
We’ve also written a complete guide to visiting Albufera Nature Park, so be sure to head over there for further information.
Walk the Cami de Cavalls
If you’re the sort that can only lie still in the sun for so long or feel the need to do a little exercise to make up for all the meals out, we can highly recommend strapping on a pair of solid shoes and hiking a small section of the Camí de Cavalls.
Tracing the entire circumference of the island, the Camí is a historical 185km trail that is thought to have existed since the 14th century. In the past, it connected locals, villages and support military defence but nowadays is utilised by visitors and those living in Menorca for recreational purposes - namely hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking.
Although some tourists visit the island with the sole intention of hiking the entire 185km, most (like us), choose to hike just one or two sections, often using it as a means to access many of the most beautiful beaches in Menorca.
From the centre of Es Grau, the Camí follows the rugged coastline north, along ‘Section Two’ of the trail. It’s a 8-kilometre hike (which is not to be sniffed at during the summer months) which traces a path through secret coves and rocky outcrops, eventually leading to the black and white striped lighthouse on Cap de Favàritx.
Of course, you don’t have to hike the entire distance - you could instead walk until you reach a cove that takes your fancy, lay down your towel and enjoy one of the simple pleasure of being on a beautiful Mediterranean island! Two particularly beautiful calas to seek out on Section Two of the Camí are Cala des Tamarells and Cala de sa Torreta.
Take a Day Trip to Mahón
Whether you’ve got your own transport or hop on the bus, taking a day trip to Mahón - the capital of Menorca - is an essential activity for anyone basing themselves in Es Grau.
Begin the day with a stroll around the old town, pop into the fish market for a plate of pinxtos, visit a gin distillery, a museum and the city’s cathedral or simply take a slow boat around the harbour and have a glass of vermouth on the waterfront.
During the summer months, buses run regularly between Es Grau and Mahon (Line 23, 25 minutes, €1.75 per person - see timetable here), but your proximity means it’s possible and not too expensive to grab a taxi if there’s a few of you. Note that there are no buses in the winter months.
We spent a few days in the city and have put together a complete guide on our favourite things to do in Mahon, so be sure to take a look before visiting.
Escape to Illa d’en Colom
Located just off of the coast of Es Grau (but still part of Albufera de Grau Nature Park), is the small island of Illa d’en Colom.
Completely undeveloped, this is a pristine landscape covered in dense and lush vegetation, with a handful of stunning virgin beaches to explore - namely Arenal d'en Moro and Tamarells Beach (both on the west coast of Illa d’en Colom). It’s for these beaches that the vast majority of tourists visit the island (although it’s still a bit of hidden gem - and one that we’re still annoyed that we didn’t make the time to visit during our month).
To reach the island, you have three options:
1) Swimming. Not ideal in the summer months due to the number of fishing vessels and pleasure boats in the water, but strong swimmers may enjoy the 1500m swim across from Es Grau. It is advisable to only attempt this with an inflatable buoy.
2) Kayak. If you were keen on renting a kayak, this is an excellent spot to make your way to! In good weather, this is not a difficult journey, and should take a fit person no more than 15 minutes to complete.
3) Boat. If you’re not up to swim or kayak, don’t worry - there’s also a boat. Boats leave from Es Grau harbour (here on maps) and cost €11 per person, round trip. There are departures every hour from 9.30 am until 2.30 pm, with return boats leaving on the hour from 2pm until 7pm - for further information or to buy a ticket, you best bet is to just go down to the harbour and speak to the guys.
Top tip | Should you be keen to explore beaches beyond Es Grau but would prefer to do so by foot than by sea, consider taking the trail leading south from the village to Cala Nacé (maps) or Cala Vellana (maps), both of which are less than 10 minutes away.
Discover the Island by Car or Bike
Whilst the bus network in Menorca is fairly good, the lack of a circular route around the island (by vehicle at least) means that visiting multiple beaches and calas by public transport, or indeed even getting to some of the smaller towns, can be super challenging and something we’d actually caution against.
A much better alternative is to rent a car - or for those feeling a little more adventurous - a scooter for a day or two. The best website to look + book is Rentalcars.com.
Easily accessible from Es Grau are the beaches in the southeast (as well as the pretty village of Binibeca), Fornells in the northeast, or one of the small white-washed, inland towns. However, unlike many of the larger Menorcan resorts, there are no scooter or car rental places in Es Grau.
So, if you haven’t rented a vehicle upon your arrival at the airport, you’ll simply need to return there or to Mahón by bus or taxi to pick up a car or scooter.
Before renting a car or scooter, be sure to read our short guide to hiring a car in Menorca (it’s guaranteed to save you money).
Enjoy the Slow Life
Just a short note to say that the whole point to Es Grau is the chance to slow down - so embrace it!
Take long lunches by the water and strolls into the national park, laze upon a quiet beach with a good book, and wade into the blue to cool down - follow the rhythms of peaceful village life and you’ll return home more rejuvenated than ever.
Where to Eat in Es Grau
Ca’n Bernadet | We had a delightfully simple but utterly delicious lunch here - highly recommended! They offer both large meals as well as tapas. Do note that this isn’t on the water front. Find it here.
Bar Es Grau | Reviews are a little hit and miss these days, but its garden (shaded by trees) is a pleasant spot for a beer. Find it here.
Café Bar Es Moll | A clear favourite with the village’s older gentleman, this informal bar by the harbour offers drinks and small plates with lovely views out over the bay. Find out more here.
Restaurant Tamarindos | Es Grau’s fanciest option, Tamarindos sits on stilts over the water. There are tables inside, but we’d recommend the terrace fro views out over the water. The food is apparently excellent (we unfortunately didn’t get around to trying it) and would make a wonderful lunch stop on a day trip. Find it here.
Where to Stay in Es Grau
Somewhat uniquely for an island that relies so heavily upon tourism, Es Grau doesn’t have a single hotel; something that clearly allows the village to maintain its peaceful environment.
Therefore, the only option for staying here is to do so in a holiday home / apartment.
Two Bed with Sea Views | This new, modern apartment is clean, comfortable and with all the facilities you’ll need for a perfect stay. The real high point however is the incredible roof top terrace with panoramic sea views! Find out more here.
Beautiful Apartment | This newly renovated three-bedroom apartment has been stylishly upgraded, with a contemporary twist on traditional Menorcan style. Also comes with large roof top terrace. Perfect for a family. Find out more here.
Views Over Water | Whilst the furnishings are not quite as aesthetically pleasing as the two above properties, this one-bedroom apartment is still a fine choice - especially once you factor in the balcony literally overlooking the water. Find out more here.
How to Get to Es Grau
If you’re planning to use Es Grau as your base from Menorca, almost everybody will be arriving at Mahón Airport. To reach Es Grau from here, you have three main options.
For daytrippers without a rental car, your best bet is to jump on the bus from Mahón (which drops you off right at the beach entrance) or take a taxi.
// RENTAL CAR
If your holiday priorities involve relaxing upon a towel at the beach, or exploring the coast by sea - rather than circumnavigating the island - then we appreciate that renting a car may not make much sense. For us however, having our own vehicle to explore Menorca was essential, and makes getting to and from the airport a little simpler.
Journey time from the airport car pick up point to Es Grau should be no longer than 20-25 minutes, and the best place get an overview of prices and availability for your dates is Rentalcars.com.
We’ve written much more in this guide about Menorca car rental, so if it’s something you are considering doing, we highly recommend giving it a read first.
// TAXI
Taxis outside Menorca airport are plentiful, and with a fixed rate depending on your final destination you needn’t worry about overpaying nor the meter.
The standard fee for a Menorca Airport to Es Grau taxi is €19.89, plus €0.60 per piece of luggage.
Journey time is around 20-25 minutes.
// BUS
Accessing Es Grau by bus is possible, but only during the summer months.
First you’ll need to hop on one of the regular buses from the airport to Mahón bus station (Line 10). These leave every 30 minutes from the single bus stop located outside arrivals. Tickets cost €2.75 per person from the driver, and the journey time is around 15 minutes.
Once at the bus station, you’ll need to change onto bus number 23. These depart at least once an hour from around 10am to 2pm. Before and after this, they are more infrequent. You can find a full timetable here.
Essential Tips For Visiting Es Grau
// GROCERIES
There is a single small supermarket (maps) in Es Grau which has an adequate selection for beach snackers, daytrippers and basic self-catering requirements. However do note that you will pay significantly more for groceries here than you would in one of the larger supermarkets outside of Mahón.
If you’re based here for a week and plan on doing on doing a lot of cooking, we’d recommend heading to Mahón to do a big shop at the beginning of your holiday. Of course, this may only be possible if you have access to a rental car, or are happy using a taxi.
// ATMS
There are no ATMs in Es Grau, with the nearest being found in Mahón.
Paying by card will not be a problem, but it’s a good idea to arrive here with enough cash if using it as a base.
// CAR RENTAL AGENCY
There are no car rental agencies in Es Grau. Should wish to rent a car during your stay, your best option is either to pick one up upon arrival into the airport, or head back there (or potentially to Mahón) when you you want to begin exploring the island.
We recommend looking + booking via Rentalcars.com as it has the best selection of local and international companies on the island, and often has discounts and deals.
For more information, including ways to save money on rental, read this post: 7 Things To Know Before You Hire A Car in Menorca.
// PARKING
A large free carpark can be found at the entrance to the village - here on maps. There’s also one just outside the beach entrance and bus stop, but it’s quite small and fills up quickly.
// OTHER THINGS TO NOTE
As discussed already, there are minimal facilities in Es Grau. You can find a doctor here but we are not aware of a pharmacy, nor is there a tabac.
