Cala Galdana, Menorca - What's It Like? A Quick Resort Guide

Thinking of booking a trip to Cala Galdana on Menorca? Here’s what to expect from this scenic beach resort town.

Where is it?

Cala Galdana is on Menorca’s southwest coast, west of Santo Tomas and east of Cala en Bosch.

What’s the vibe like?

I first visited Cala Galdana on a sailing trip way back in 2009 and remembered the beach being absolutely stunning, so I couldn’t wait to have a proper visit on a recent spring trip to Menorca.

One look at its photographic bay and you can immediately understand why it’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in Menorca. It’s also one of the biggest resorts in the island’s spectacular South West (none of Menorca’s resort areas are particularly huge though). The SW has limestone cliffs, fragrant pine forests, sandy coves, and emerald bays, and I was really keen to do the coastal walks in this part of the island.

Menorca’s resorts are all very low-rise, but Cala Galdana does have a couple of big beachfront hotels (the Melia at one end and ARTIEM Audex at the other). But it’s still fairly low-key here, aimed at families and couples. There are a few beach cafes, and enough restaurants and bars to keep you going for a week, but not much in the way of nightlife. I wouldn’t describe it as buzzing. The bigger hotels (and even some of the smaller ones) have their own bar and restaurant so it can feel quite quiet in the evenings for a place of its size. Cala Galdana’s main pleasure is its natural setting.

It’s a good base if you want to thoroughly explore the coast and its nature. For me, I’m not sure I would want to spend a long time based here as the food options are a bit limited. I ended up basing myself in Ciutadella and travelled around by bus, but I would definitely come back to Cala Galdana for up to a week of dedicated relaxing.

What’s the beach like?

Cala Galdana’s main beach is a graceful crescent of soft sand. There are several organised sections with sun loungers but with plenty of free space too. The location is enclosed by cliffs so well sheltered from big waves.

There was seagrass on the beach when I was there in early spring but this tends to clear naturally before the summer season. There’s decent parking near the beach, well-maintained public toilets and showers, and a couple of beach cafes – although not as many as you might think. I liked Cape Nao Beach House which is attached to the Melia. Aquario is more traditional. Most of the cafes are in the main part of the resort which, on north side of the little river along Passatge Riu.

The other thing I really like about the beach is all the shade. There are trees running the whole length of it, plus rock headlands at either end which are great for snorkelling.

No need to stick to Cala Galdana’s main beach though, there are lots of secluded beaches to explore in the wider area. I say secluded, but even in early spring some of them were still very busy.

Cala Macarella – there is a car park but it’s closed to car in the summer to protect the enviroment.
Cala Macarelleta – same as above
Cala en Turqueta – free car park
Cala des Talaier – no direct road access
Son Saura – big free car park
Cala Mitjana – unpaved car park
Cala Mitjaneta – access from Cala Mitjana car park
Cala des Trebalúger – no direct road access
Cala Fustam – no direct road access
Cala Escorxada – no direct road access

There are boat trips (half and full day) which will deposit you at a couple of different beaches and swim stops, and during the summer there’s also a special beach bus. Some of the beaches also get boat trips coming from neighbouring resorts and Ciutadella, and a few of them do have car parks (which get very busy in the summer), but there are also few that you can only reach on foot or by boat. The ones with car parks tend to have a small cafe/kiosk, although they might not be open outside the summer peak, and toilets.

The nearest beaches to Cala Galdana – Macarella/Macarelleta, and Mitjana/Mitjaneta – are walkable as long as you’re ok with hiking uneven paths. Mitjana is short but steep (under 30 minutes), whereas Macarella is a bit longer. The hikes are mostly forested and shady. I definitely recommend seeing the beaches if you can – the scenery is stunning. Just don’t expect to have them all to yourself. I actually found it more relaxing to spend the day at the main beach.

Activities and amenities

Cala Galdana is a seasonal town with a good tourist infrastructure and a small range of amenities, including a pharmacy, a bakery, a few souvenir and clothing shops, car rental, and a couple of mini-markets and ATMs.

If you’re interested in doing some of the coastal hikes, you can read about my experience here – Easy Day Hikes on the Cami de Cavalls. Another hike that looks really nice is Barranc d’Algendar, the walk down the canyon from Ferreries to Cala Galdana.

The best way to walk sections of the coastal path is to get the water taxi/beach boats out to your desired end point and walk back. It’s not the cheapest way to do it, but it’s easier than trying to do it by bus. Cala Galdana to Son Xoriguer is around 11 miles and took me about 4 hours at a slow pace, but you can always do shorter sections from one of the beaches. Make sure to take plenty of water and snacks are there aren’t many places to stop en route.

Most of the cafes and restaurants are Spanish or do general Mediterranean food (pizza, salad, seafood), but there are a few surprises. My meal at Bona Vida Restaurant and Lounge Bar, which is tucked away in the apartment complex behind Oasis, was one of my favourite (I had the Peruvian tiger milk ceviche and it was amazing – pictured below, although I’m not sure the photo does it justice). If you’re not staying somewhere with breakfast, Tobogán has Spanish and sweet options. Francesca, Restaurant Cala Mitjana, and Pata Negra have good reputations.

For the kids, there are small play parks, and you can hire pedalos (the ones with slides) at the beach. The ARTIEM hotel has a sports centre that hires kayaks, bikes, and paddleboards, although it might not be open at the start and end of the season judging by some comments in the reviews.

And there are all sorts of boat trips available from here, including diving and snorkelling trips, sunset yacht sails, and powerboat hire, as well as the daily beach excursions.

Close-up of the delicious ceviche. — Ceviche at Bona Vida.

Covered outdoors seating at Cape Nao with the beach in the background. — Cape Nao.

Transport and accessibility

From the airport:

Cala Galdana is a 35-minute drive from the airport.

A private transfer from the airport starts at around €65. Both private and shared transfers/shuttles are available through (try Hoppa, Holiday Extras, or Shuttle Menorca).

Public transport:

Cala Galdana’s main bus link is with Ciutadella, but in the summer there is an extra route to Mahon. Taking the bus from the airport can involve 1-2 changes – a long and cumbersome journey, with no options early or late in the day. I’d recommend checking out the shared transfers instead. Trying to bus to other resorts along the coast also usually involves a change, unless you find one of the beach buses running (these notoriously different to find information about online).

Read more: How to Get Around Menorca By Bus

Cala Galdana has two parts separated by a small river. The main part of Cala Galdana around the beach is mostly flat, but the back and side areas of the resort (where you’ll find lots of individual apartments to rent) are hilly. There are two bridges across the river that have a gentle slope, but there’s also a wooden walkway with no slope or steps at all. The beach has a footpath that runs alongside it, there are some steps down to the beach but I think there are also sections with no steps.

The main bus stop is opposite the Minura Hotel, close to the bridge (see Google Maps location). This is also where the main car park is.

Where to stay

High-end/luxury:

5-star Melia Cala Galdana is the obvious choice if you’re looking for something higher-end. All rooms have a sea view and there’s an adults-only infinity pool on the roof.

But if I was going back to Cala Galdana I think I’d stay in the 4-star ARTIEM Audax which is adults-only and seemed to have a really nice vibe. It has great active facilities, including a wellness centre with a couple of indoor pools, and a rooftop pool with cabanas. Having the indoor facilities is great if you’re travelling early or late in the season when the weather can be a bit patchy (it definitely was when I was there). It’s not directly on the beach like the Melia. Jacuzzi rooms are available. Both get really great reviews for breakfast, and Melia has a choice of restaurants for dinner, including a buffet.

Mid-range: Minura Cala Galdana & Apartamentos d’Aljandar is a 4-star resort that also owns an adjoining complex of small apartments around a pool (this is where you’ll find the Bona Fide Restaurant and Lounge Bar!). I find the apartments, which are in traditional-style buildings, more appealing than the hotel.

Comitas Floramar is another option, it’s up a hill behind the ARTIEM but has great views and modern rooms.

Budget: Apartamentos Alta Galdana are bright and central, and share a small pool and shady terrace.