36 Hours on Minorca

Avid bird watchers gravitate to the trails in S’Albufera des Grau Natural Park, a more than 1,200-acre protected marine reserve on the island’s eastern side, to spot birds of prey like osprey, protected red kites and booted eagles, and the spectacled or Sardinian warbler, depending on the time of year. You can spot sea turtles and land tortoises in the reserve as well as elsewhere on the island. The three main trails range in difficulty level and the duration of the walk (from 40 minutes to one hour). Free entry.

In Mahón, the island’s capital, which has a large natural harbor, start by visiting the Museu de Menorca (4 euros, or about $4.33; opening times vary by season). The museum goes all the way from the prehistoric Talayotic civilization to the story of La Menorquina, a ice cream manufacturer founded in 1940 that still sells its desserts in stores. Afterward, visit the Gin Xoriguer distillery, whose recipe dates back to the early 1700s. Find prints of 18th-century maps and copies of Apunt, a local guidebook for cultural happenings, at Island Mood, a store full of Minorcan souvenirs. Meander along the sloping streets to one of the oldest opera houses in Spain, Teatre Principal de Maó, built in 1829. It’s surrounded by stores like Lucera, which specializes in colorful handmade ceramics.

Stroll Cales Fonts, a picturesque port lined with boats swaying in lapping green waters, before dinner. Stop at Fausto for modern clothing with earthy tones and clean lines. There are several options for dinner: Trébol, open since 1969 and with a rustic interior and casual outdoor seating, serves local products like Mahón mussels in white wine (€16) and grilled Minorcan prawns (€35). Sa Punta, slightly more formal, offers panoramic views of the water and has a thoughtful, seasonal menu that includes eggplant croquettes (€9.50) and bread made with Xeixa wheat, an ancient grain grown on the island (€3.50). For a more lively, summery vibe, share plates of oysters (€5.50), scallops (€20) and steak a la plancha (€22), at Pintarroja. (Note that many businesses on Minorca are open seasonally.)

Slip into a beekeeping suit at Son Felip, a regenerative and organic farm in the north of the island, that includes open fields, forests, coastline and a 2,000-year-old olive tree. Xec, the agricultural director — and bee whisperer — explains the curious nature of these hard-working insects and offers a tasting of the farm’s award-winning honey before securing everyone in their bee suits to visit the hives and see the production firsthand. As he said on a recent tour, if you stay calm, then the bees will be calm — it’s time to use your yogic breathing. This two-and-a-half-hour apiculture workshop (€45) is limited to a small group and subject to time changes depending on the season, so it’s best to contact the farm ahead. Son Felip also offers farm tours, horseback riding and overnight stays.

Get lost in Ciutadella, Minorca’s capital until 1722, a town of colorful buildings, labyrinth-like cobbled streets and former palaces. Pop out onto the Contramurada, a road built atop the moat that once encircled the medieval walled center. The Minorca Cathedral (€7.20), which was constructed and restored over centuries, still marks the opening and closing of the wall gates by ringing its bell. Ciutadella is full of artisan shops: Visit Carmen Cocoon for handmade jewelry and Kiniria for leather handbags. Pick up a beach blanket at the homeware store Ses Orenetes and shop for a breezy dress at Sent S’illa. Then head to the orange-tree-studded Plaza de la Libertad, a square with a lively fish market, butcher shops and a farmers’ market. Savor a coffee at Can Padet (€1.70) and pick up some of Minorca’s best goat cheese at the Cas Ferrer de Sa Font stand.

In Minorca’s restaurants, stores and hotels, you’ll most likely notice a sand-colored stone used for arched walkways, ceilings or walls. The stone, called marés, is found on the island. Peer into the vast depth of one of Minorca’s preserved stone quarries, Pedreres de s’Hostal, in Ciutadella. After the quarry, which dates back to the 19th century, ceased operations in the 1990s, it was at risk of being filled with rubbish. Today it is protected by the nonprofit foundation Lithica, which uses the space for concerts and other cultural events on summer evenings. The quarry area, more than 18 acres, includes gardens and mazes that are open to the public. It is recommended to book ahead, especially during the high summer season, as admission and parking are limited (€7).

For art lovers, there are galleries sprinkled throughout Minorca, like Etesian in Ciutadella or the luxe Hauser & Wirth on Isla del Rey near Mahón’s harbor. In the hilly, historic town of Alaior, LÔAC (€5), a contemporary art museum in a former schoolhouse, shows works by prominent Modern and contemporary Spanish artists, like Joan Miró and Jaume Plensa. The museum’s opening times vary with the seasons, as is the case on much of the island, so it is best to check the website before your visit.

Relax by the sea, as little is open on Sundays. Minorca is windy, so choose a beach that is not facing into the gusts (the website and app Windy is helpful). In the north, Cala Pregonda is a stunning beach with golden sand, distinctive rock formations and clear waters for snorkeling or swimming. It requires an approximately 40-minute uncovered walk to reach, unless you come in by boat. In the south, Cala Mitjana offers a short walk to a white-sand beach with rocky ledges for sunbathing. Or view the burial caves of the Talayotic civilization dug into the cliffs at Cales Coves, also in the south, with rocky inlets for swimming and sunbathing. For a traditional Spanish lunch, make reservations at Molí d’es Racó in the town of Es Mercadal if you’re heading to Pregonda or Mitjana , or enjoy local fish or vegetables at El Romero in Mahón.