Mahon Holidays – Menorca’s charming capital city

Gleaming white Regency and Georgian houses, narrow bustling streets, and a large beautiful harbour – the abundance of culture and history in Mahon shows there is much more to Menorca than just stunning beaches. Explore the mazy streets and you’ll find pavement cafes, shady squares, traditional tapas bars, beautiful churches and even an 18th century gin distillery. The grand harbour – the second deepest in the world after Pearl harbour  - divides the city in half, with the historic old quarter and most commercial development on the south side, and newer residential area on the north. Many bars, restaurants and shops line the quayside, and a boat trip around the marina is a great way to get some amazing photos of the town.

Well worth a visit are the 13th century Church of Santa Maria, Museu de Menorca and Parc D'es Freginal. For those looking to explore the area, a few kilometres north is the Biosphere reserve of S'Albufera des Grau Nature Park, and the small sandy beach at Es Grau.

When to go

As the island’s capital, Mahon is one of the busiest resorts on the island. There is less of a distinct off-peak season here like you’ll find in the beach resorts, but winter will obviously see a dip in tourism. June-August are when the town really starts to swing, with accommodation prices rising sharply. These months also see the best weather.

Spring is a lovely time to visit; the flowers in Parc D'es Freginal will be in full bloom and the trees around the city starting to blossom. What’s more prices are cheaper during this time than in peak season. The same goes for the autumn; temperatures remain pleasantly warm well into October, and prices will be cheaper. If you book a holiday around the 7th-9th September, you’ll get to see the city-wide Fiesta de la Mare de Deu de Gracia; a huge, rollicking party with parading horses, live music throughout the city, dancing, food stalls, street parties and a fireworks display over the harbour on the last evening.

The weather in Mahon

Mahon Holidays benefit from the warm Mediterranean climate typical of the Balearic Islands. Summers are long and hot and winters and short and mild. Spring in Mahon sees pleasant average maximum temperatures of between 18-21C, before heating up for the summer months of June, July and August to between 25-28C. Autumn (September-October) remains hot right into late October, with average maximum temperatures of between 22-26C. From November there will be an increase in rainfall and blustery winds, with average temperatures over the winter period of November-March of 14-18C.

Getting the best deal

To get the best deal on package holidays to Mahon, it’s advisable to book as early as possible. The cheapest priced rooms always sell out fast. This especially applies for school holidays dates such as Easter and half term, as tour operators raise their prices for these periods and everyone wants to get the best deals first.Similarly, if you planning on visiting over the Fiesta de la Mare de Deu de Gracia period in September it’s wise to book up early, as accommodation in the city may sell out fast.Booking for the off-peak seasons of spring and summer will work out much cheaper than visiting in the peak summer months. Take a look at our best deals on holidays to Mahon below or check out our late offers here.

Airport and transport need to know

Your holiday to Menorca begins at the Menorca Mahon airport (MAH). This is a small, bustling international hub with one terminal set across 2 floors. The airport gets very busy during the peak season. There is a small selection of shops and restaurants here.

You can reach Menorca from a number of UK airports. London Gatwick, Luton and Stansted run flights to the island, as do Manchester and Liverpool airports and over 10 other regional hubs.

Getting to Mahon couldn’t be easier – it is the closest destination to the airport at just under 3 miles away. Taxis wait outside the Arrivals hall and operate on a ‘fixed price’ basis. You should expect to pay between €8-10. Taxis carry up to 4 people. There is a charge of around €0.50 per suit case, and fares may vary at weekends.

The cheapest way to get to Mahon is by public bus. Catch the Airport-Mahon bus from outside the Arrivals hall to Mahon central bus station, located in Plaza Explanada. It should cost around €1.50, and the journey only takes 15 minutes. Buses run every 30 minutes at 25 past and five to the hour.

Alternatively, you can book a shared shuttle bus using one of the coach companies that run from the airport, although this is probably not the most cost-effective option given the short distances involved. Companies such as Menorca Airport Transfers run a bus to the capital for around €25 for a return fare. 

The best beaches in Mahon

Although Mahon does not have a beach itself, its position in the south east of Menorca means a number of the best beaches on the island are easily accessible. What’s more, because Mahon is the island’s capital city it has the best transport links on the island, so buses can be caught to the top beach resorts in the vicinity very easily. A PDF file of the bus timetable from Mahon can be found here to all the beaches below.

Es Grau Beach

The nearest beach to Mahon is located at Es Grau, a tiny fishing village located around 10km north of the city. Es Grau boasts a fantastic scenic location in one of Menorca’s best nature reserves, the S 'Albufera Parc Natural.  A small, sandy half-moon bay, this a natural beach with calm, shallow waters. It is rated as one of the prettiest beaches in Menorca, backed by sand dunes and fragrant pines.  The water is very clear and fantastic for snorkelling, and there is a good selection of watersports including kayaking and windsurfing. Local fishermen offer boat trips to the small nearby island of 'Illa Den Colom', just off the coast, where there is a beautiful, unspoilt beach.

Punta Prima Beach

Punta Prima is one of the largest and best loved beaches in Menorca. Expansive white sands and a good range of facilities including bars, restaurants and watersports make this a popular beach with families. Those with small children than there can be strong currents here and you should be careful to be attention to the warning flag system that operates above the Red Cross station. You can hire pedaloes here and try your hand at sailing, wind surfing and scuba diving. Buses leave from Mahon to Punta Prima on the hour between 07:00-23:00 and take around 20 minutes.

Cala’n Porter Beach

Overlooked by the cliff top resort of Cala’n Porter, Cala’n Porter beach is large, sandy horseshoe-shaped bay that is well sheltered on 3 sides by high cliffs.  The water here is warm, calm and shallow, making it a popular choice for families with young children. The beach is well serviced by beach bars, watersports, sunbeds with parasols, pedaloes and a lifeguard post with warning flags. There is free parking nearby. The town is accessible via a number of steep steps, or by road train for those with walking difficulties. The bus from Mahon to Cala’n Porter takes around 25 minutes.