Mahón Harbour (the Port of Maó) is the long natural inlet on Menorca’s east coast that leads from the open sea to the island capital: about 5 km long and up to 900 m wide. The quays below the town, Moll de Llevant and Moll de Ponent, are 400 m from the centre and 4 km from Menorca airport, with ferries, bus stops, car parks and harbour boat trips. It suits anyone interested in history, boats and an easy waterfront walk; skip it if you want a beach day, since the harbour coves are small and busy with moorings.
Quick facts
- Names: Port de Maó in Catalan (the official form, on the road signs), Puerto de Mahón in Spanish, historically Port Mahon in English.
- Where: eastern end of Menorca, Balearic Islands. The town of Maó stands on the south shore; Es Castell sits nearer the mouth.
- Coordinates: 39.8898, 4.2689 (the Moll de Llevant ferry quay).
- Size: about 5 km long and up to 900 m wide; the Balearic tourist board calls it the largest natural port in the Mediterranean.
- Islands inside: Illa del Rei, Illa Pinto, Lazareto and others.
- Getting there: regular ferries from Palma, Barcelona and Valencia; the quay is 4 km from the airport.
- Entry: the quays and waterfront are public and free; boat trips, museums and forts charge separately.
Access and parking
From the town: the harbour lies below the cliff on which Maó is built. The Costa de ses Voltes, a stepped and ramped street, drops from the old town to the Moll de Ponent. Spain’s tourist board puts the port 400 m from the city centre and 900 m from the historic centre (spain.info).
By bus: spain.info lists bus line 11 for the port. OpenStreetMap shows stops on the waterfront at Moll de Ponent and Plaça Sant Roc, about 100–125 m from the ferry quay, and another on Carrer Barcelona to the east.
Parking: OpenStreetMap marks a paid surface car park at Plaça de Josep Claret, about 185 m east of the ferry quay, a free 70-space car park about 270 m east along the Moll de Llevant, and paid street parking at the foot of the Costa de ses Voltes. In summer the waterfront fills up; arriving on foot from the town is simpler.
By sea: the Balearic tourist board recommends arriving on one of the regular ferry connections from Palma, Barcelona or Valencia, because the approach up the inlet is the best view of the harbour (illesbalears.travel).
What to expect
A working harbour first, and a sight second. Ferries, cruise ships, a naval station, fishing boats and yachts share the same water. Along the quays there are restaurants and bars; the tourist board singles out the lobster stew, caldereta de langosta, and the Xoriguer gin distillery on the Moll de Ponent.
History you can see from the quay. Menorca was captured in 1708 by a British and Dutch force, and the Treaty of Utrecht confirmed British possession in 1713. The British moved the capital here from Ciutadella. In 1715 they built a Royal Navy dockyard on the north shore, opposite the town; it was the Navy’s main Mediterranean base for much of the 18th century and is still a Spanish naval station. Dockyard buildings from the 1760s, including a storehouse with a clock tower, still stand on Illa Pinto. The island changed hands several times (French from 1756, British again from 1763, Spanish from 1783, British once more in 1798) before Spain kept it from 1802 (Wikipedia).
The islands. Illa del Rei is a small rocky island of about 4 ha. The British built a naval hospital on it in 1711, and it stayed in use until 1964. Restored by a local foundation, part of it opened in July 2021 as the Hauser & Wirth Menorca art centre, with gardens by Piet Oudolf. The island also holds the remains of a 6th-century Christian basilica (Wikipedia). The larger Lazareto island was a quarantine hospital from the early 19th to the early 20th century; the tourist board says two-hour guided tours run in the summer months.
The forts at the mouth. On the south side stands the 16th-century Castle of San Felipe, whose underground galleries can be visited on night tours. Es Castell has the S’Esplanada military museum. On the north side, La Mola is one of the largest fortresses built in the 19th century, commissioned under Queen Isabel II (illesbalears.travel).
Practical details
- Boat trips: tourist catamarans tour the harbour from April to September (Balearic tourist board). Operators sell trips on the quays; we could not confirm 2026 prices or departure times.
- Coves inside the harbour: Cala Llonga, Cala Rata, Cala Figuera and Cales Fonts (Cala Pedrera) line the shores.
- Anchoring: the tourist board lists four anchorage areas: Sa Colàrsega, Cala Llonga, next to Punta de Cala Rata, and by Illa del Rei.
- Toilets: OpenStreetMap shows free public toilets on the quay near the foot of the Costa de ses Voltes.
- Tourist information: OpenStreetMap places a tourist information point at the Moll de Ponent, near the bottom of the Costa de ses Voltes.
- Food and drink to try: Mahón-Menorca cheese, which takes its name from the town, and Menorcan gin. Mayonnaise is generally said to be named after Mahón too.
Accessibility and safety
The quays themselves are flat and long, so a waterfront walk works with a pushchair or wheelchair. The climb between the harbour and the old town is steep, and the Costa de ses Voltes has steps; a taxi rank (OpenStreetMap) sits at the foot of it. One of the public toilets is tagged as not wheelchair accessible. This is a working port: watch for ferry traffic, mooring lines and vehicles on the quays.
Best time to visit
For boat trips, come between April and September, when the catamarans run. For a quiet walk, go in the morning or outside July and August, when cruise ships and ferries bring the most people. The harbour is sheltered, so it remains a good outing on a windy day when the north coast beaches are rough.
Nearby alternatives
- Camí de Cavalls, 0.8 km away: the coastal path around Menorca, which passes Maó.
- Illa d’en Colom, 8 km away: the island off Es Grau in the north-east natural park.
- Binibeca Vell, 8 km away: the whitewashed holiday village on the south-east coast.
- Illa de l’Aire, 10 km away: the lighthouse island off Sant Lluís.
- Fornells, 22 km away: the fishing village on a smaller north-coast bay, known for lobster stew.
- Naveta des Tudons, 35 km away: Menorca’s best-known prehistoric tomb, near Ciutadella.
Distances are in a straight line from the ferry quay.
FAQ
How long is Mahón Harbour?
About 5 km from the mouth to the head of the inlet, and up to 900 m wide. The Balearic tourist board calls it the largest natural port in the Mediterranean.
Is there parking at the port of Maó?
Yes. OpenStreetMap shows a paid car park at Plaça de Josep Claret, about 185 m from the ferry quay, and a free 70-space car park about 270 m east on the Moll de Llevant. Spaces are scarce in summer.
Can you take a boat trip around the harbour?
Yes. Tourist catamarans run harbour tours from April to September, leaving from the quays. Check prices and times on the day.
How do I get from the airport to the harbour?
The port is about 4 km from Menorca airport. Taxis and buses run into Maó; spain.info lists bus line 11 for the port.
Maó or Mahón?
Both. Maó is the official Catalan name and the one on road signs; Mahón is the Spanish spelling and survives in the name of the cheese.
Sources and freshness
Checked 6 November 2026 · 6 sources Show
Checked 6 November 2026. Official: Balearic Islands tourist board on the port of Maó (size, ferries, forts, Lazareto tours, coves, anchorages, catamarans, Xoriguer) and Menorca’s harbours; spain.info, Maó port (distances, bus line). Background: Wikipedia on Mahón (dimensions, British period, dockyard) and Illa del Rei (hospital, basilica, art centre). Location, parking, bus stops, toilets and distances: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Photos: Wikimedia Commons, licences as credited.
This place is part of our Balearic Islands travel guide: Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera — see every town, beach and cove we have mapped on that coast.
How this page is made. CostaMap is written with an AI editorial system run by Ebizapple. This page is based on the sources listed above. Last updated 6 November 2026. Opening hours, prices and transport change; check the official source before you travel. How we work · Partner links and ads