When is the cruising season in Menorca?

May to September. Menorca keeps a quieter pace than Ibiza and Mallorca. Its north coast is the most exposed to the tramontana, so the route keeps to the sheltered calas of the south coast when it blows, with Fornells the protected bay on the north.

Where do charters depart from?

Mahón is the principal port, with marina berths for large yachts in a natural harbour about five kilometres long. Ciutadella's harbour is narrow, with few berths in season, and suits smaller yachts or a short call. Many Menorca weeks also begin in Palma and cross.

How long is a typical charter from Menorca?

Three to five nights covers Menorca's coast at an easy pace. In a full week, Menorca pairs naturally with the north-east of Mallorca, a short crossing from Ciutadella to Alcúdia. Adding Ibiza, at the far end of the archipelago, suits ten nights or more.

What are the best anchorages in Menorca?

On the south coast, Cala en Turqueta, Cala Macarella and Macarelleta, Cala Galdana and Cala Mitjana follow one another in the south-west. On the north coast, the large bay of Fornells, behind its narrow entrance, has a regulated buoy field where yachts take a buoy rather than anchor. Mahón is the principal port.

How does the tramontana affect a Menorca charter?

It decides which coast the yacht follows. Menorca is the Balearic island most exposed to the tramontana, a north-north-westerly that can blow for several days and makes the north coast rough. When it sets in, the route moves to the deep calas of the south coast, which stay sheltered, and the north is left for calmer days.

Are there anchoring rules in Menorca?

Yes. Anchoring over Posidonia seagrass is prohibited across the Balearics, so yachts anchor on sand, and patrol boats check anchorages through the season. In the bay of Fornells and around S'Albufera des Grau and Illa d'en Colom, regulated buoy fields replace anchoring altogether. The north coast also has a marine reserve, created in 1999, running from Fornells to Cap Gros.

Which events mark the summer in Menorca?

Three in particular. The festival of Sant Joan brings riders and decorated horses to the streets of Ciutadella in June, the Copa del Rey de Barcos de Época gathers classic yachts in Mahón in late August, and the Festes de Gràcia close the summer in Mahón in September. A week planned around one of them is best requested early.

What is there to see ashore in Menorca?

Prehistory, above all. The island's Talayotic sites, stone monuments built by its early inhabitants, have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2023. Ciutadella has the old capital's streets and squares, Mahón its harbour front, and the natural park of S'Albufera des Grau protects the wetlands of the east coast.

Balearic Islands · yacht charter

Menorca.

Menorca yacht charter runs between Mahón, at the head of its long natural harbour, and Ciutadella in the west, by the calas of the south coast and the bay of Fornells on the north. The island has been a UNESCO biosphere reserve since 1993.

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Overview

What to expect.

Menorca is the quiet end of the Balearics, and the contrast with Ibiza is the point of it. Where Ibiza runs on movement and a busy summer fleet, Menorca keeps a slower rhythm and emptier water. Mahón, on the east coast, is one of the largest natural harbours in the Mediterranean, a long deep-water inlet that serves as the principal embarkation; Ciutadella at the western end is the smaller, older harbour and the alternative base for shorter itineraries.

The cruising is anchorage-led rather than marina-led. The south coast holds the calas the island is known for, the pale limestone coves of Cala Macarella, Cala Mitjana and Cala en Turqueta, best taken early before the day boats arrive and left before an afternoon southerly makes them uncomfortable. A yacht charter week in Menorca is built on reading that discipline: choosing the sheltered side of the island as the wind shifts, and moving to the protected northern bays such as Fornells when the south is exposed.

Most weeks fold Menorca into a wider Balearic loop rather than treating it as a standalone base. The island sits east of Mallorca, a half-day passage away, so a common routing runs Mallorca to Menorca to Ibiza, or the reverse, over seven nights. Menorca is the calm middle of that line: three to five nights of quieter anchorages between the busier islands on either side.

Private yacht charter in Menorca

Menorca lies north-east of Mallorca, the second largest of the Balearic Islands and the quietest of the larger ones. It has been a UNESCO biosphere reserve since 1993. Two historic ports frame it: Mahón in the east, at the head of a long natural harbour, and Ciutadella in the west, the island's former capital. A Menorca yacht charter moves between the two along a coast of white-sand calas, open northern headlands and sheltered bays.

From a yacht, the calas of the south coast can be reached before the day's visitors arrive and enjoyed after they have gone, and the wind decides each morning which side of the island to follow.

The coast of Menorca

Mahón. The harbour runs about five kilometres inland to the town, a deep and sheltered approach that makes Mahón the island's main port of embarkation, with marina berths for large yachts.

The south coast. Cala en Turqueta, Cala Macarella and its smaller neighbour Macarelleta, Cala Galdana and Cala Mitjana follow one another in the south-west. Cala Galdana is one of the best-protected anchorages on this coast, though a steady south-westerly sends yachts elsewhere.

Ciutadella and the west. The old capital sits above a narrow harbour with few berths in season, better suited to smaller yachts and short calls. In June the town holds the festival of Sant Joan, when riders on decorated horses fill the streets.

The north coast. A wilder shore of open bays and headlands, Cala Pregonda among them, exposed to the northerly tramontana. Fornells, 18 miles north-west of Mahón, is the exception: a large bay behind a narrow entrance, with a regulated buoy field. The northern marine reserve, created in 1999, runs from the bay of Fornells to Cap Gros.

Es Grau and the east. The natural park of S'Albufera des Grau and the island of Illa d'en Colom form the core of the biosphere reserve, with a second regulated buoy field for visiting yachts.

A week around Menorca

From Mahón, a week can follow the south coast west to Cala Galdana and the calas around Macarella, round the western end of the island to Ciutadella, and return along the north coast by Cala Pregonda and Fornells to Es Grau. The passages are short, and the order is set by the wind: the north coast on calm days, the south when the tramontana blows. Mallorca is close enough to join the same week, a short crossing from Ciutadella to Alcúdia.

When to go

The season runs from May to September. June and September bring warm water and quieter anchorages; July and August are the busiest months. Menorca is the Balearic island most exposed to the north-north-westerly, the tramontana or mistral, which can blow for several days. When it does, the deep calas of the south coast are the sheltered side. In summer a sea breeze builds from the late morning.

Three events mark the summer: Sant Joan in Ciutadella in June, the Copa del Rey de Barcos de Época, a regatta for classic yachts, in Mahón in late August, and the Festes de Gràcia in Mahón in September.

Anchoring and protected waters

Anchoring over Posidonia seagrass is prohibited across the Balearics, so yachts anchor on sand. In the regulated fields of Fornells and of S'Albufera des Grau and Illa d'en Colom, yachts take a buoy rather than drop anchor. The crew works from the official seagrass charts, and patrol boats check anchorages through the season.

Marinas and arrival

Menorca Airport lies 4.5 kilometres south-west of Mahón, with year-round flights from Barcelona and Madrid and seasonal routes across Europe. There are no nonstop flights from the United States; American guests connect in Spain, or fly to Palma and embark there. Mahón is the principal port, and Fornells has a harbour as well as its buoy field.

Yachts and what a week costs

The choice of yachts is widest in Palma, the main yachting centre of the Balearics, and a Menorca week can begin there and cross. A yacht based elsewhere can embark guests in Mahón, usually with a delivery charge. As a Mediterranean guide, a 20 to 30 metre motor yacht runs from around EUR 30,000 to EUR 80,000 a week before running costs, and a 30 to 45 metre yacht from around EUR 80,000 to EUR 250,000; above 50 metres, yachts are quoted individually. Sailing yachts usually sit below motor yachts of the same length. The Advance Provisioning Allowance is typically 25 to 35 percent of the base rate, VAT applies at a rate that depends on the cruising area, and the all-in cost lands at roughly 130 to 150 percent of the base rate. See what a charter costs.

How a Menorca charter is arranged

We shortlist the yachts that suit your group and plan the week around the tramontana, with Menorca on its own or as part of a longer route through the Balearic Islands. It combines well with Mallorca, and with Ibiza on a longer charter; our Ibiza and Balearics charter guide covers the routes between them.

Tell us your dates, the size of your group and what you have in mind, and we will come back with a shortlist. Start the conversation.

Fleet

Yachts available in Menorca.

Available on request

The current selection for Menorca is shared privately on request. Speak to a yacht advisor for a curated shortlist.

Request the selection

Season

When to cruise.

Best months: May to September
Prevailing winds: Sea breeze · Tramuntana
Typical base ports: Port of Mahón · Marina Menorca, Mahón · Ciutadella · Fornells

Turquoise bay and white sand beach in Menorca with cliffs and pine trees

May through September. Menorca’s pace is quieter than Ibiza and Mallorca throughout the season, and the southern calas are protected in settled weather while the northern bays hold up when a summer southerly makes the south coast uncomfortable. June and September are the calmest windows, with July and August the busier months when the south-coast coves fill from mid-morning. Most weeks route Menorca as the quiet middle of a wider Balearic loop.

Ports

Marinas and anchorages.

Port of Mahón
Marina Menorca, Mahón
Ciutadella
The smaller, older harbour at the western end. A quieter alternative base for shorter itineraries.
Fornells
The sheltered northern bay. The protected overnight anchorage when the south coast is exposed to a summer southerly.

Frequently asked

Practical questions.

When is the cruising season in Menorca?: May to September. Menorca keeps a quieter pace than Ibiza and Mallorca. Its north coast is the most exposed to the tramontana, so the route keeps to the sheltered calas of the south coast when it blows, with Fornells the protected bay on the north.
Where do charters depart from?: Mahón is the principal port, with marina berths for large yachts in a natural harbour about five kilometres long. Ciutadella's harbour is narrow, with few berths in season, and suits smaller yachts or a short call. Many Menorca weeks also begin in Palma and cross.
How long is a typical charter from Menorca?: Three to five nights covers Menorca's coast at an easy pace. In a full week, Menorca pairs naturally with the north-east of Mallorca, a short crossing from Ciutadella to Alcúdia. Adding Ibiza, at the far end of the archipelago, suits ten nights or more.
What are the best anchorages in Menorca?: On the south coast, Cala en Turqueta, Cala Macarella and Macarelleta, Cala Galdana and Cala Mitjana follow one another in the south-west. On the north coast, the large bay of Fornells, behind its narrow entrance, has a regulated buoy field where yachts take a buoy rather than anchor. Mahón is the principal port.
What does a week of yacht charter in Menorca cost?: As a Mediterranean guide, a 20 to 30 metre motor yacht runs from around EUR 30,000 to EUR 80,000 a week before running costs, and a 30 to 45 metre yacht from around EUR 80,000 to EUR 250,000. Above 50 metres, yachts are quoted individually. With the Advance Provisioning Allowance and VAT, the all-in cost usually lands at 130 to 150 percent of the base rate, plus a customary gratuity of 5 to 15 percent.
How do guests reach Menorca?: Menorca Airport lies 4.5 kilometres south-west of Mahón, with year-round flights from Barcelona and Madrid and seasonal routes across Europe. There are no nonstop flights from the United States, so American guests usually connect in Spain. Another option is to fly to Palma, embark in Mallorca and cross to Menorca by yacht.
How does the tramontana affect a Menorca charter?: It decides which coast the yacht follows. Menorca is the Balearic island most exposed to the tramontana, a north-north-westerly that can blow for several days and makes the north coast rough. When it sets in, the route moves to the deep calas of the south coast, which stay sheltered, and the north is left for calmer days.
Are there anchoring rules in Menorca?: Yes. Anchoring over Posidonia seagrass is prohibited across the Balearics, so yachts anchor on sand, and patrol boats check anchorages through the season. In the bay of Fornells and around S'Albufera des Grau and Illa d'en Colom, regulated buoy fields replace anchoring altogether. The north coast also has a marine reserve, created in 1999, running from Fornells to Cap Gros.
Which events mark the summer in Menorca?: Three in particular. The festival of Sant Joan brings riders and decorated horses to the streets of Ciutadella in June, the Copa del Rey de Barcos de Época gathers classic yachts in Mahón in late August, and the Festes de Gràcia close the summer in Mahón in September. A week planned around one of them is best requested early.
What is there to see ashore in Menorca?: Prehistory, above all. The island's Talayotic sites, stone monuments built by its early inhabitants, have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2023. Ciutadella has the old capital's streets and squares, Mahón its harbour front, and the natural park of S'Albufera des Grau protects the wetlands of the east coast.