Boat Tours and Cruises in Mahon in Menorca

The port of Mahón is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in Spain. Sheltered by the city's own landscape and full of colourful houses, it is worthy of a postcard. If you have come here to take a boat trip around the coves of Menorca, don't hesitate to take advantage of your visit to explore the port and its surrounding streets.

But during your holiday you'll probably want to take a dip in the turquoise waters and join one of the boat trips in Menorca.

The best option

Menorca Port of Mahón 1-Hour Boat Tour

Explore the port of Mahón on a relaxing boat trip

Enjoy a one-hour panoramic cruise around the largest natural harbour in the Mediterranean. History, views and tranquillity in a perfect experience from Mahón.

From £19 at Hellotickets

If you're in the capital of Menorca, this boat trip around the port of Mahón is one of the best ways to learn about its history and admire its coastline from the water. For an hour, you'll tour the largest natural harbour in the Mediterranean, accompanied by a guide who will explain the historical significance of each point along the way.

From the sea, you'll see landmarks such as La Mola fortress, Isla del Rey and the old arsenals that bear witness to the city's military past. All this while enjoying a drink on board and relaxing in the sea breeze.

Recommended if... you are looking for a short but complete experience to soak up the history of Mahón and enjoy its best views from the sea.

Depending on the itinerary you want to follow, you can choose from several companies operating in the port of Mahón. Some are limited to a panoramic tour of the city, while others will take you to the unspoilt coves of the north or the idyllic beaches of the south. Take note:

Boat trip around the port

Yellow Catamarans, for example, organises tours around the port itself to enjoy the best views of the city. You can book online and they cost only £12 for adults. However, on this excursion you will not have the opportunity to take a dip or visit unspoilt coves. This tour skirts the city and is a great opportunity to take photos of the coastline.

Rutas Marítimas de la Cruz organises something very similar. On board their boat, you can explore the port in depth and the boat also has panoramic underwater windows so you can discover the seabed.

Trip to the southern coves

The same company, Rutas Marítimas de la Cruz, organises daily trips from the port of Mahón to the southern coves and Ciudadela: the tour lasts a whole day (7 hours) and includes stops for swimming. The price is €44 per adult and you will discover the famous coves of Macarella, Macarelleta, Turqueta and several more.

It also includes sangria and a delicious paella on board so you don't have to worry about a thing.

Boat hire without a skipper in Mahón

If you have a licence to drive a boat yourself or even fancy renting a small boat that doesn't require a special permit, you can also rent a boat from the port of Mahón. This option gives you plenty of freedom to go wherever you want, without having to join a pre-planned itinerary or a group of tourists. You can check availability and prices at Nautal.

The prices of boat trips from Mahón vary depending on the route and the boat you want to take: you can take a one-hour trip around the port on a large boat for around £10, and if you want to sail to the southern coves and spend a whole day at sea, the price can rise to around £45. You can always hire a boat without a skipper to sail without having to stick to an organised tour: in this case, the price can range from £200 to £1,000.

Bear in mind that the larger the tour and the more passengers taking part in the excursion, the cheaper the activity will be. The good thing is that large boats are very well equipped and even serve food and drinks on board, so you don't have to worry about a thing.

The exclusivity of hiring a private boat with or without a skipper usually makes the experience more expensive. For example, to give you an idea of the price range, a full-day excursion around the north of Menorca can cost around €110 per person, but only 10 passengers travel on each boat.

It is best to book online and in advance. There are currently several companies operating in the port of Mahón, each with different routes, boats and timetables. However, I recommend that you do so in advance to ensure you get a place. Demand is usually very high during the summer months. Check with Yellow Catamarans, Rutas Marítimas de la Cruz and Nautal for availability and prices.

Once you have decided on your dates and budget, choose your route and book it on your mobile phone or computer. Check what is included (meals, drinks, snacks, snorkelling equipment, etc.) to make sure you choose the option that suits you best.

Depending on the type of route and boat you choose, the schedule will vary. There are departures every hour for short trips around the port, so if you choose this option, the schedule is very flexible. To reach the southern coves, bear in mind that the route will be longer, so the trip will usually last a whole day (around 8 hours) and will need to depart in the morning (around 10 am) to make the most of the middle of the day.

In Mahón, there is a wide variety to choose from: you can choose between 7- and 8-hour boat trips to spend the day sailing, or short 1-hour trips around the port. What you should know is that full-day excursions usually include lunch to make the logistics of the trip easier. If you prefer to hire a private boat for yourself and your companions, you can negotiate the times and duration with the owners (in this case, you usually pay by the hour, so the duration will depend on your budget).

The most common trips are limited to a tour of the port of Mahón: you will see the city from different perspectives along the coast and be back at the port in just 60 minutes. If you want to enjoy a whole day swimming in the crystal-clear waters of the most natural part of the island, the route will usually take you to the southern coves: you will visit Macarella, Macarelleta, Turqueta, Cala Mitjana and Trebaluguer, among others. Some excursions even go as far as Ciudadela.

All return to the port of Mahón at the end of the day, so the excursion ends at the same point where it started.

If booking a boat trip from Mahón isn't quite right for you, don't worry. There's so much to choose from on the island that you can pick excursions and routes that set sail from other ports in Menorca. For example, there are daily boat trips to the southern coves from Ciudadela and boat trips that depart from Cala Galdana. If you want to discover the northern coves, the most practical option is to book a boat trip from Fornells.

The island has a lot to offer culturally: its villages, landscapes, cliffs, cuisine and people will make you want to stay and live there for a while. But when we travel, time is precious, so I've put together a travel guide to help you decide what you can't miss in Menorca.