Getting ready to visit Menorca, the quietest and gentlest island in the Balearic Islands? Then check out our guide to getting to Menorca from Barcelona by ferry!
Declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1993, Menorca is the second largest island in the Balearic Islands. Less crowded than its neighbors, it stands out clearly fromIbiza and Majorca.
Quieter, more unspoilt and just as beautiful, Menorca is home to sublime landscapes dotted with rocky paths, dry-stone walls, picturesque villages, picture-postcard beaches and beautiful coves bathed in crystal-clear waters. You can also discover prehistoric sites or historic towns, such as the superb Ciutadella, a seductive city rich in ancient buildings.
To discover this Mediterranean gem in complete freedom, you’ll probably want to take a trip with your own vehicle. While the island is best visited on foot, by bike or on horseback, having a car comes in very handy for changing sites and not staying confined to one place. Menorca is home to so many unique places, it would be a shame not to discover them all during your stay in the Balearic Islands!
Fortunately, it’s easy to get to Menorca from Barcelona by ferry. You’ll have no trouble getting to the island in your own car. Freedom is yours! Thanks to your vehicle, you’ll be able to move around the island with ease, and even into neighboring areas after another ferry ride.
So if this is the adventure for you, here’s our guide to getting to Menorca from Barcelona by ferry!
Ferry companies linking Menorca to Barcelona
Most travellers prefer to fly to Menorca. But, as mentioned above, this Balearic island is a superb destination to discover by car, van or camper van.
To enjoy total freedom during your trip, you’ll probably want to bring your own vehicle. The best way to get to Menorca is by ferry. The Balearic island can also be a stopover on a longer road-trip throughSpain, with its exceptional towns and natural sites.
If you want to go to Menorca by ferry, the best place to start is Barcelona. Close to the French border, the port of Barcelona offers easy access to Port Mahon and Ciutadella.
Two companies serve the island daily from Barcelona: Balearia and Trasmediterranea. The journey takes between 7 and 10 hours, depending on the point of departure and arrival on the island.
From Barcelona, you can also take the ferry to Mallorca, another Balearic island. If the routes from Barcelona don’t suit you, you can also travel to Menorca from Valencia by ferry. Both companies offer several trips per week from this port.
View ferries between Barcelona and Menorca
Plan a ferry trip to Menorca with Direct Ferries
Direct Ferries is a specialist ferry comparison service. Covering the whole world, it organizes 1.2 million crossings every year. If you’d like to travel to Menorca from Barcelona by ferry, you can use this specialized website to find the best fares and schedules closest to your vacation dates.
You can then easily book your trip to Menorca from Barcelona on this online comparator. This destination is served by the two main ferry companies in Spain: Balearia and Trasmediterranea.
There’s usually at least one trip a day from Barcelona to Port Mahon or Barcelona to Ciutadella (and vice versa). You’ll have no trouble finding the schedule that suits you best. In the opposite case, it’s always possible to reach the port of Valencia, further south.
How do I book a ferry to Menorca from Barcelona?
As with any journey, we recommend that you book your ferry tickets in advance, if possible several weeks or months before departure. Last-minute or summer prices can fluctuate rapidly.
To get to Menorca from Barcelona by ferry, prices are generally stable, hovering around €400 and €450. However, during the summer or at the last minute, they can easily exceed €500 or even €600 (for a round trip). This rate also depends on the type of vehicle and the number of passengers. Fortunately, thanks to Direct Ferries, you can easily compare and book your trip in advance. So there are no nasty surprises!
On the Direct Ferries website, you’ll first need to enter your travel dates and times, as well as the number of passengers and any pets. If you’re traveling with your own vehicle, you’ll also need to indicate its type, make and model. The Direct Ferries search engine will then suggest several timetables and fares to suit your preferences.
Once you’ve selected your desired crossings, you’ll be able to choose your seat and cabin type. The latter is an optional extra, but without it you’ll have to sleep in the ship’s lounge or on deck during the journey (often at night). You can also indicate whether you would like a meal and priority boarding. All these options have a logical impact on the price of your crossing.
We also recommend that you take out free cancellation insurance at the time of purchase(€9.75 per passenger). Changes and cancellations are frequent, and the change fee for a standard ticket can be as high as €35.
Please note: the fares shown on the Balearia and Trasmediterranea websites are very similar to those of Direct Ferries.
View ferries between Barcelona and Menorca