Summer night markets and things to do in Menorca

When the sun goes down, Menorca changes gear. From June to September, almost every town sets up its night markets: craft stalls, street music, terraces and a lively buzz well into the night. Each town has its own day and, since they're spread across the whole island, having a car lets you hop from one to another each evening. In this guide we tell you which market is on each day, the festival and jaleo calendar and other ideas for summer nights.

If you arrive by plane, pick up the car as you land with our car rental at Menorca Airport and get around freely from day one.

The night markets, town by town

The days of the week repeat every season, but the exact start and end dates change a little each year: use this as a reference to plan, and confirm locally.

At a glance, which market is on each day:

• Maó. The capital hosts several markets in summer; on the slope down to the harbour there are craft stalls almost every evening from June to September, and the port setting is perfect for dinner afterwards. If you're staying nearby, see our car rental at the Mahón hotels.
• Ciutadella. Its artisan night market is set up in the Plaça des Born on Mondays and Fridays (and Wednesdays in July and August), plus the Capllonc market in the old town. Wandering Ciutadella at night is one of the great summer plans.
• Es Castell. At Cales Fonts, one of the island's prettiest spots, there's a craft market every evening from 15 June to 15 September, with shops in the old harbour caves. On Mondays the Mercat de Nit is added on Carrer Sa Font. Check our car rental in Es Castell.
• Alaior. Mercat de Nit on Wednesdays, with crafts, tastings and cultural activities in the historic centre.
• Es Mercadal. Night market on Thursdays through the town-centre streets, at the foot of Monte Toro.
• Ferreries. Its famous Mercat de Nit takes over the centre on Fridays, with live music; one of the liveliest.
• Es Migjorn Gran. The "Dimarts as Migjorn" fills the centre on Tuesdays with crafts, workshops and cultural activities.
• Sant Lluís. The Molí Market brings together artisans and creatives on some Fridays in summer, with live performances.
• Fornells. The northern fishing village sets up its craft market at weekends by the sea; perfect to combine with a lobster stew.

There are also evening markets in coastal areas like Punta Prima (paseo de s'Arenal, several days a week) or Cala en Porter, and in the Ciutadella resorts. If you're staying in the southeast, our rental in Punta Prima and rental in Binibeca come in handy.

Summer festivals and the jaleo

The other great spectacle of Menorca's nights is the patron-saint festivals, where the Menorcan horse is king: in the jaleo, the horses rear up on their hind legs among the crowd to the beat of the band. They take place town by town between June and September:

• Sant Joan (Ciutadella) — 23 and 24 June. The island's most famous; they open the summer.
• Sant Martí (Es Mercadal) — third weekend of July (18-19 July 2026).
• Sant Jaume (Es Castell) — 24 and 25 July.
• Sant Antoni (Fornells) — fourth weekend of July (25-26 July), with the jaleo by the sea.
• Sant Cristòfol (Es Migjorn Gran) — 1-3 August.
• Sant Gaietà (Llucmaçanes) — first weekend of August.
• Sant Llorenç (Alaior) — the weekend of 10 August.
• Sant Lluís (Sant Lluís) — fourth weekend of August.
• Mare de Déu de Gràcia (Maó) — 7 and 8 September. They close the summer.
• Sant Nicolau (Es Mercadal) — second weekend of September.

Festival dates may shift slightly each year, so it's worth confirming the programme before you go.

Other ideas for summer nights

• Sunsets at Cova d'en Xoroi (Cala en Porter): cliffside caves turned into a viewpoint and bar, spectacular at sunset.
• Illuminated monuments. Several talayotic sites and lighthouses are lit up in summer for evening visits.
• Street music nights ("Nits de música al carrer"), which usually coincide with the night markets.
• A stroll around the ports of Maó or Ciutadella at dusk, with dinner on a terrace and a pomada (Menorcan gin with lemonade).

Practical tips

• Arrive before dark. The markets come alive as the sun sets, and parking is easier early on.
• On festival days, park outside the centre. Many towns close streets during the jaleo; you can use the Jaleo Bus to get in and out hassle-free.
• Comfortable shoes. Leave the flip-flops for the beach: there's a lot of walking at the jaleo and the markets.
• Confirm days and dates on the town hall or tourist office website, as they vary each season.
• Book the car in advance in July and August, when festivals and peak season overlap.

With a car you can have dinner in Ciutadella on a market Friday, watch the Fornells jaleo at the weekend and end up at Cales Fonts another night, without depending on timetables. At AblaCars we make it easy: final price, no excess, no deposit and no surprise extras. Book your rental car in Menorca and enjoy the island's summer nights at your own pace. And if you're after beaches by day, don't miss our guide to the best beaches and coves in Menorca.