Platja de Son Bou (Menorca): how to get there and what to see

Son Bou is the longest beach in Menorca: nearly two and a half kilometres of unbroken sand on the south coast, in the municipality of Alaior. It is one of those beaches that change a great deal depending on where you set foot. The western end is built up, with two large hotels overlooking the sand and every service within reach; as you walk east, the buildings fall behind and the real Son Bou appears: dunes, reeds and a protected wetland behind the beach. If you have come looking for a wild, tucked-away cove, this is not it. If what you want is sand for miles, easy swimming and a stretch of coast that slowly turns wild, here you have it.

Where it is and what it's like

The beach belongs to Alaior and lies in the heart of the island's south, between Sant Tomàs (to the west) and Cala en Porter (to the east). It faces due south, wide open, so it catches the sun all day long, and also the wind and swell when they blow from the south.

What sets it apart is its length and its contrast. The western end is the tourist zone: promenade, beach bars, sunbeds, hotels. From there the development disappears and a belt of vegetated dunes remains, and behind it the Prat de Son Bou, a wetland of reeds and birdlife that is one of the few of its kind in Menorca. The eastern end is the quietest and the most natural; it is also where many spend the summer on the island's traditional naturist beach. On a small rise beside the beach you can still see the remains of a 5th-century early Christian basilica, carved into the rock, which can be visited on foot.

How to get to Son Bou

By car. This is the easiest access on the whole of this coast. From Alaior a road runs straight down to the Son Bou resort, with large car parks next to the beach. In summer they fill up early, so it is worth arriving first thing or late in the afternoon. From the car park you step straight onto the sand at the western end, with no steps or walking.

On foot along the Camí de Cavalls. The island's coastal path passes through here and lets you link Son Bou with its neighbours. To the west it connects with Sant Tomàs following the dune belt; to the east, the Camí climbs the cliffs heading towards Cala en Porter. Walking the entire beach from one end to the other is a good outing in itself: if you start at the western car park and head east, after a good while you reach the wild part and leave the crowds behind.

By sea. Son Bou is an open beach exposed to the south, not a sheltered cove for anchoring, and the swimming area is marked with buoys in season. From the water, the part that gains interest is the eastern end, the wildest, where the coast begins to break up towards Cala en Porter. Bear in mind that with a southerly wind this stretch gets choppy and stops being comfortable. Our llaüt sets out from Es Canutells and sails the south or the north depending on the sea and the wind each day, with no fixed destination guaranteed; if you want to see how we plan our outings along this coast, you can look at our boat trips along the south of Menorca.

What you'll find

Fine, pale sand, plenty of it, and a bottom that shelves gently: that is why Son Bou is one of the most comfortable beaches on the island for swimming with children and for swimming long stretches without any surprises. The water is usually clear, though with a southerly swell the sand stirs up and it loses its clarity.

For snorkelling it is not the best choice: the bottom is sandy along almost the whole front and there is little relief to look at. Anyone after rocks and marine life will have to head to the ends or to neighbouring coves with more rocky bottom.

When it comes to services, the two worlds of Son Bou show here too. The western side has everything: beach bars, sunbed and parasol hire, toilets, lifeguards in season and water sports. As you move east, the services run out: the wild part has no natural shade and nothing laid on, so there you are on your own. Bring water and a parasol if you plan to settle in the quiet zone.

Best time and tips

In July and August the western end gets packed: park early and, if you are after calm, walk east, which is the age-old trick at Son Bou. June and September are ideal, with mild water and far fewer people. May and October also work for walking the beach and visiting the basilica, though swimming is for the brave by then.

The beach is open to the south with hardly any protection, so on a day with a southerly wind it is worth checking the forecast: the sand blows about and swimming gets tricky. Natural shade is scarce except at the dune end, where in any case you must not tread on the vegetation: the dunes and the Prat wetland are protected and the belt of reeds holds the whole beach together. If you visit the early Christian basilica, respect the fencing around the remains. And as anywhere in Menorca's natural areas, whatever comes in with you goes out with you.

Nearby coves

If you are working your way along this stretch of the south, to the west you have Platja de Sant Tomàs, also a long sandy beach with easy access, and to the east the spectacular Cala en Porter by boat, wedged between cliffs at the mouth of a ravine. To place them all, take a look at the guide to the coves of southern Menorca or at the complete guide to the coves of Menorca.

Frequently asked questions

Is Son Bou the longest beach in Menorca? Yes. With nearly two and a half kilometres of unbroken sand it is, by far, the longest beach on the island.

Does Platja de Son Bou have services? At the western end, yes: beach bars, sunbeds, toilets, lifeguards in season and water sports. The eastern end is wild and has no services and no shade laid on.

Is it good for children? Very much so. The bottom shelves very gently and the water stays shallow for a good stretch, so it is one of the calmest beaches for little ones. It is worth keeping an eye on the southerly wind, which stirs up the sand.

Can you reach Son Bou along the Camí de Cavalls? Yes. The coastal path runs along the beach and connects it with Sant Tomàs to the west and with Cala en Porter to the east, climbing up the cliffs.

What's special about the eastern end of Son Bou? It is the most natural and peaceful part: dunes, the protected Prat de Son Bou wetland and the remains of a 5th-century early Christian basilica beside the sand. It is also the beach's traditional naturist zone.