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Car Hire in Menorca – Explore the Balearic island

Menorca is the perfect island destination to explore and a car hire in Menorca will give you the freedom to drive through this natural island, exploring this unspoilt Mediterranean oasis with its stunning harbours, sandy beaches, hidden coves, entertainment, and nightlife! Check out Auto Europe's rates to start your holiday.

Menorca is located within the Balearic Islands, west of Sardinia. The highest point on the island is Monte Toro. Menorca takes its name from the island's size (it is smaller than other islands, like Mallorca and the island is split into two with the north of the island rough and rugged, whilst the south has plenty of cliffs leading to hidden coves full of white sand.

Visiting Menorca off-peak is also a great way to enjoy the island with fewer tourists, meaning you can drive and explore at your leisure. Visit the emblematic Cova d’en Xoroi, a cave bar nestled within the cliffs. One of the best places on the island to enjoy a drink and watch the sunset, and also to go out at night as it turns into a nightclub.

Take the kids to Splash Sur Menorca for a day, a water park on the island, that offers endless options like pirate ships with water cannons, a black hole for the thrill-seekers, tall slides with racing lanes, jacuzzi and lazy rivers for relaxing and a kid’s area with gentle slides and splash pools. When the water gets tiring, there are picnic zones and several bars around the park.

Walk around the Binibeca Vell, a fisherman’s village designed by Spanish architect Antonio Sintes Mercadal, with its unique Moorish style with cobbled lanes and whitewashed houses. At the island´s many beaches it is possible to do several kinds of water activities like kayaking, sailing, paddling, scuba diving and snorkelling, there are a lot of companies that rent out equipment and provide instructors. Also, the island is a great place to enjoy nature by hiking its many trails or renting bikes. Visit the town of Alaior, where you can nibble on fresh local cheeses or Fornells, or try some fabulous lobster stew! You have to come to Menorca to experience it for yourself! For peace of mind before you book, why not take a look at our Menorca car hire reviews page to read the comments left by some of our other customers who recently enjoyed their Auto Europe car rental experience on the island.

How is the traffic in Menorca?

Driving your car hire in Menorca is very easy. The roads are quiet, all main roads are well-surfaced ad the island has great signposts. Driving around the island is not hectic, with locals having time for the tourists, even if some speed by. Driving on the right-hand side is relatively easy, plus if this is your first attempt at driving on the right, you have picked a great place to try it out. Click here for traffic regulations in Spain.

Where can I park my car hire in Menorca?

Parking is available on the street and in car parks when you rent a car on Menorca. You can park on the street when it says Zona Azul (Blue Zone), with the bays marked out in blue paint, make sure you have the ticket and display it on the window. Tickets can be bought at nearby machines. Do not park in front of garages, openings or driveways. If you find a space in front of a house on the street, check the kerbstones for alternate red/white ones, it also means you cannot park here. A single yellow unbroken line means you cannot park here either. Any vehicles illegally parked will be towed away.

Menorca Airport

Opened in 1969, Menorca Airport is the only airport on the island; it is located within the city limits of Maó (Mahon) and Sant Lluís, 4.5 km (2.8 miles) southwest of Mahon city centre and 47 km of Ciutadella. It is primarily a holiday airport, especially during Summer. It handled over 3 million passengers in 2019.

Menorca International Airport (MAH)
Address: Carretera de Sant Climent, s/n, 07712, Illes Balears, Spain
Website: Menorca Airport
Telephone: +34 91 321 10 00

What to do in Menorca

Menorca is smaller than Mallorca and Ibiza, but can offer the same rich nightlife and lively environments without the big crowds. Come find the calm and relaxing beaches, historical locations and gorgeous natural landscapes. Here are a few locations to visit in Menorca:

• Ciutadella de Menorca: The second biggest city in Menorca, it used to be its capital until it was changed to Mahon. Here you can visit many historical sites such as Menorca Cathedral, built over an old mosque, it is the most important gothic building in Menorca. The Plaza del Borne, an obelisk erected in 1875, that commemorates the historical defence of the Ciutadella from a Turkish attack in 1558. Castelo San Nicolas, built at the end of the 18th Century to defend the city’s port. The Ciutadella Museum offers an exhibit of pre-historical artefacts. The Ciutadella Port, one of the most emblematic locales in Menorca, perfect for evening walks after dinner at one of its many restaurants.


• Mahón: The island’s capital, Mahon is the seat of the Island Council of Menorca and its largest city. Home to one of the best natural ports in the world, Mahon has been very coveted by foreign maritime forces throughout history. In Mahon, you can visit the Fortaleza de la Mola, a structure erected to defend the port from the attacks of the British Army. You can also visit the Museum of Menorca, inside an old convent displays many pre-historical artefacts, very abundant on the island. Church of Santa Maria where the Organ International Festival takes place, as the church houses a 20th-century organ with four keyboards and 3.120 tubes. Near Mahon, you can also visit the Marlborough Fort in El Castell. Mahon grew from the cliffs above the harbour and town. This allows you to wander from the city down to the port through the square by the fish market and the covered walkway Carmen, located in the centre of the market. It also has great local shops, restaurants and bars to pass away the hours.


• Fort Marlborough: Standing at the entrance of the Mahon Harbor, the Fort was built between 1720 and 1726 by the British. It is named after the Duke of Marlborough, Sir John Churchill, the most prominent British general at the time. Alongside with the Stuart Tower and the Sant Felip Castle, it was built to protect the entrance of the port. It was partially destroyed by the Spanish in 1782 and rebuilt during the last period of the British rule. Nowadays reenactments are done to illustrate the period when the fort was under siege, including technological effects and uniformed soldiers.

Best day trips with my car rental in Menorca

Renting a car in Menorca offers you the freedom to explore the island at your own pace and rhythm, as well as exploring sites further away from your lodgings, and Auto Europe provides you with the best selection and competitive prices for a car rental on Menorca. Here are some day trips you can take with your rental whilst on the island:

Parc Natural de s'Albufera des Grau: The nature reserve is located on the northeast of the island and is home to a wide range of fauna and flora, including up to 90 different species of birds and countless varieties of wildflowers and shrubbery. In 50 square miles of dunes, cliffs, marshland and forests, the park has a visitors centre, the Rodríguez Femenias Reception Centre, with maps and videos about the park. You can use to chose one of the three different trails to walk around the park, and you can choose to visit them on your own or arrange for a guided tour. A good way to end the day in Albufera is the Favátrix lighthouse from where you can observe the unique view, unlike most of the Menorca landscape, with steep cliffs and its black slate stones that evoke a more lunar than earthy landscape.

Monte Toro: The tallest mountain in Menorca, El Toro rises 358m above sea level. After a two hour walk to the top, the breathtaking view will compensate for sore legs and it is possible to see the outline of the whole island, and on very clear days, its neighbouring island of Mallorca. At the top of the mountain sits the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Monte Toro, that was built in the 17th Century, inside it is a statue of the Virgin carved out of wood. Also at the top of Mount Toro, there is an image of Christ inspired by the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro.

Cala Galdana: 26km from the Ciutadella and 36km from Mahon, Cala Galdana is the lengthiest and the most famous of the over 70 beaches in Menorca. Perfect to spend a day relaxing, swimming and tanning. Served by several hotels, restaurants, villas and apartments, it is great for families that don’t want to be too far from their accommodation. The beach provides umbrellas and sunbeds for hire, and offers different water sports, is watched by lifeguards and has toilets close by. The only downside to its convenient locations is that it can get very crowded in high season.

How to get around Menorca

Bus

The best way to get to every corner of the island is by bus. A few local bus companies are operating on the island. Buses run from the main square (plaza) in Ciutadella to the majority of the western beaches and buses from Mahon, Alaior, Ferreries run to Sant Luis and the beach towns on the east side. Here you can find more information on routes and timetables.

Useful links

Menorca Tourism Website