Crystal clear waters, white sand, Menorca remains one of the most visited destinations in the Balearic Islands for its beauty and tranquility. Today we talk about how to organize your trip to Menorca. Unlike Ibiza or Mallorca, it is more familiar or for young couples, prices are accessible and with good gastronomy.
HOW TO GET TO MENORCA:
Menorca has an airport (MAH), several low-cost airlines like Vueling, Ryanair or Easyjet have direct flights from all over Europe. Tickets in high season can cost a lot, so I recommend buying them as soon as possible.
Once at the airport, to get to Mahon or Ciutadella you can take the local buses (towards Mahon line 10 2.45 € one way ticket). If you have decided to rent a car, all you need to do is go to the reception of the company you have chosen, the airport is quite small. The best time is June or the end of September, but do not be scared, even in August, it’s fine, there are only more people.
By boat departing from Ibiza or Mallorca, the ferries are more frequent with an approximate duration of 2/3h.
WHERE TO SLEEP:
I advise you to go on the island at least 4 days, you have a lot of choice on where to go to sleep, but I sincerely recommend you either Mahon or Ciutadella. Sleeping outside these two cities means taking the car just to go out for dinner and after a day of driving, I’m sure you do not want to. Sleeping in villages such as Sant Tomas or Binibequer has its charm but the number of restaurant bars is much reduced.
I chose to sleep 4 nights in Mahon, I found a hostel (Hostal San Jume) cheap and central, € 230 for 3 nights without breakfast. Looking back, I would book accommodation in Ciutadella, because my favorite beaches are all in the north. Having rented a car, however, everything is easily accessible.
LOCAL BUSES OR RENTAL CAR:
From one side to the other of the island (from Mahon to Ciutadella) it is a 50min drive. Menorca has a very extensive bus network (to be an island), which will allow you to visit the most easily accessible areas of the island. Lines and timetables. Mahon bus station is 5 minutes from the city center. Let’s see the pros of the two options:
Local transport pros: cheap (€ 1.70 / ticket), comfortable, extended transport network.
Rental car pros: flexibile timetables and route.
Conclusion: the island is not big but if you want to visit the most beautiful beaches it is essential to rent a car. I have chosen to try with Drivy, a new car-sharing app (like “Social car”) where privates make their car available. I would not go back the book for two reasons, limited kilometers, and somewhat confusing conditions. I always recommend you to use Rentalcars, full to full deposit and unlimited kilometers.
BEACHES:
Officially there are 75 beaches in Menorca, to think that such a small island has so many beaches is scary. So here are my tips on how to choose your top ten:
- Choose in advance which beaches you want to visit, create a map on google with your favorites.
- Always choose option B, the parking lots fill up quickly for the most famous beaches. Go early or you may have to go back.
- Check always distances, many beaches are located at 30 / 40min from the parking.
- Most beaches do not have showers or bars, always bring a bottle of water with you.
- If you have booked with children, take a good look at how long it takes from parking to the beach.
That’s all, now just missing an eye on my top ten beaches? Or you want to visit Mahon and Ciutadella.
