Without a car, the best bases are Maó and Ciutadella: buses leave their stations for almost the whole island, and the bus between the two runs every 30 minutes. If you’d rather sleep by the sea, choose a beach with buses all year, such as Es Grau or Son Bou, and avoid the north, where many coves and lighthouses have no public transport.
Maó: the best-connected base
Every line ends at Maó bus station, next to s’Esplanada, and the airport is about 15 minutes away by bus. From here you reach Es Grau, Es Castell, Binibèquer, Son Bou, Cala en Porter and Ciutadella.
On top of that, central Maó, the harbour and the Museu de Menorca are all walkable, and Cales Fonts is 10 minutes away by bus.
Recommended itinerary
1 day
Food and local markets
Maó in a day, on foot
Markets, museum, tapas by the harbour, a gin tasting and dinner in Cales Fonts, no car needed. Ideal for cruise passengers.
Ciutadella: for the southern coves
In season, buses to Cala Turqueta (L68) and Macarella (L69) leave Ciutadella’s ring road, and other lines go to Cala en Bosc and Cala Galdana. The bus station is a 10-minute walk from the Born.
It is the best base for the unspoilt southern coves without a car: in summer, Macarella can only be reached by bus. The old town and the harbour are walkable.
Recommended itinerary
3 days
Beaches and coves
Menorca without a car
Three days by bus and on foot: Es Grau, Ciutadella, Macarella, Cala Galdana and Cala Mitjana.
By the sea, with a bus
Es Grau (line L23) and Son Bou (line Maó–Alaior–Son Bou) have buses all year. Cala Galdana, Cala en Porter and Binibèquer have lines from Maó, Ciutadella or Ferreries: check the winter timetables.
Es Grau is a small village with basic services; Son Bou and Cala Galdana are resorts with more choice. Timetables for each line in mou-T Menorca’s beach buses.
Areas that are hard without a car
The north (Cala Pregonda, Cavalleria), most Talayotic sites and Monte Toro have no direct bus: you will need a taxi. Favàritx and Punta Nati only have buses in season.
No bus reaches Cala Pregonda; for the Naveta des Tudons, a taxi from Ciutadella (about 10 minutes); and for Monte Toro, a bus to Es Mercadal, then a taxi or an hour’s walk uphill.
Tips for getting around without a car
Check timetables on mou-T Menorca every day —they change between high and low season—, note the time of the last bus back and save the Radio Taxi Menorca numbers: 971 367 111 and 971 482 222.
How each line works, in buses in Menorca.
Take it organised
Itineraries with the order of each day, how to get there and where to eat, ready on your phone.
3 days
Beaches and coves
Menorca without a car
Three days by bus and on foot: Es Grau, Ciutadella, Macarella, Cala Galdana and Cala Mitjana.
1 day
Food and local markets
Maó in a day, on foot
Markets, museum, tapas by the harbour, a gin tasting and dinner in Cales Fonts, no car needed. Ideal for cruise passengers.
