Planning a trip to Minorca

Menorca, lying off the eastern coast of Spain and northeast of Mallorca, is reached by air or sea. It is quickest to fly, but you can take a ferry from mainland Spain or from Ibiza or Mallorca. It is always good to arrive with everything arranged in advance—hotel rooms, car rentals, ferry, or airplane tickets.

Menorca International Airport (tel. 90-240-47-04) is 3km (1 3/4 miles) outside the city of Mahón. Air Europa, Vueling, and Air Nostrum all fly to Menorca at least seasonally from Barcelona, Madrid, Palma, San Sebastián, and Valencia. Easyjet flies from London/Gatwick in summer.

Regular ferry service operates frequently in the summer, connecting Menorca with Barcelona and Palma. From Barcelona, the journey takes 9 hours aboard moderately luxurious lines. If you’re on a real budget, bunk in a four-person cabin, which is about the same price as a chair in the lounge. The ferry service is operated by Trasmed GLE, whose offices in Mahón are at Sa Cularsega, 41 along Moll (Andén) de Ponent (tel. 96-091-33-16); it’s open Monday to Friday 8am‒1pm and 5‒7pm, Saturday 7‒10pm. The office is also open Sunday 2:30‒5pm but is mostly busy managing ferry arrivals from Valencia then. Book online.

Transportes Menorca (TMSA), Cí Rodees, 5, Mahón (tel. 97-136-04-75), operates bus service around the island. Mahón’s tourist office (see below) has complete bus schedules for the island. The Spanish-owned Atesa (tel. 97-136-62-13) as well as Avis (tel. 97-136-15-76) operate car rentals at the airport; rates start around 400€ per week. Car-rental firms will deliver a vehicle to the airport or to your hotel, but you must specify in advance.

To summon a local taxi, call  97-136-71-11. The taxi stop is at Plaça de s’Esplanada in Mahón. One-way cab fare from Mahón to the beaches is 22€.