Logistics · Destination Guide
Mediterranean reserve diving, clear coves, and slow island days in Spain's biosphere island
Updated Apr 20, 2026 • 33 sources
Use this travel brief to set arrival flow, local transit, and gear movement before you lock your itinerary.
Most visitors fly into Menorca Airport, IATA MAH, near Mahon. Summer has the broadest direct network from Spain, the UK, and other European gateways, while shoulder and winter trips often connect through Barcelona, Madrid, or Palma de Mallorca. Ferries are credible for car-based trips, with routes linking Menorca to Barcelona, Valencia, Mallorca, and seasonal international services. This is a local-only diving destination: book lodging, a rental car if needed, and local day-boat or shore-guided operators rather than looking for a Menorca liveaboard.
Menorca Airport
MAH • LEMH
5 km to Mahon and about 47 km to Ciutadella • 10 to 15 minutesutes to Mahon by car; 45 to 60 minutesutes to Ciutadella by car
The island's only commercial airport sits close to Mahon and handles domestic Spanish flights plus many seasonal European routes. Flight choice is strongest from late spring through early autumn.
Transport: Line 10 airport bus to Mahon bus station, Taxi, Pre-booked transfer, Rental car, Hotel shuttle where offered
Rent a car if you want to chase forecasts, dive from different coasts, or visit remote coves. Public buses connect main towns and resort areas, and Line 10 links the airport with Mahon bus station, but bus schedules are less flexible for early dive boats or remote trailheads. Taxis are useful but can be scarce in peak periods. Do not plan a cove-hopping trip around rideshare availability.
Menorca is part of Spain and the Schengen Area. Many visa-exempt travelers can visit Spain and the wider Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, but passport, visa, and permitted-stay rules depend on nationality. Spain's official guidance requires passports for many non-EU travelers to be valid at least 3 months after planned Schengen departure and issued within the previous 10 years. ETIAS is expected for visa-exempt travelers once it becomes operational in the last quarter of 2026. Check official requirements before travel.
Local centers supply cylinders and weights, and many offer full rental kits, guided reserve dives, courses, and snorkel boat seats. Bring personal mask, computer, SMB, certification, and proof of insurance. Wetsuit choice varies: 5mm is sensible in spring and shoulder months, while many summer divers use 3mm to 5mm depending on tolerance. Technical, sidemount, camera, and freedive-specific gear should be pre-arranged rather than assumed.
Euro (EUR)
Cards are widely accepted in hotels, dive centers, restaurants, supermarkets, and ferry or car-rental offices. Carry some cash for small beach kiosks, rural markets, taxis, tips, and remote parking or shuttle situations.
ATMs are common in Mahon, Ciutadella, airport areas, and resort towns, but not at remote coves. Withdraw before a full beach or north-coast day, and choose bank ATMs when possible to avoid high independent-machine fees.
230V • 50Hz • C, F
Bring Type C or F adapters and verify that camera chargers, laptops, strobes, scooters, and dive computers are dual voltage. Small villas may have limited convenient outlets for multi-diver charging.
Communications
Spanish mobile coverage is good in towns, resorts, and main roads, and EU roaming works for many EU SIMs. eSIMs are practical for non-EU travelers. Expect weaker signal in remote coves, ravines, north-coast trail sections, and some limestone inlets. Download offline maps and keep operator phone numbers available before beach or freedive missions.
Language
Spanish and Catalan, including the local Menorqui variety, are official and widely used. English is common in tourism, dive centers, hotels, and summer restaurants, but a few Spanish greetings and destination names help in villages, taxis, and local markets.
Insurance
Dive insurance is more than a good idea in Menorca because reserve diving authorization requires accident and civil-liability insurance. Carry policy details offline, confirm whether freediving and cavern or wreck profiles are included, and do not rely on an EHIC or GHIC as a substitute for dive accident coverage, trip interruption, or evacuation support.
Packing list
Pack an SMB, dive computer, certification and insurance proof, a light for guided caverns, water shoes, reef-safe sunscreen, rashguard, hat, reusable bottle, dry bag, and trail shoes. Add 5mm exposure protection for spring and shoulder months, and pre-arrange any technical, camera, sidemount, or freedive-specific equipment.