Ferry: Barcelona - Menorca: everything you need to know before you travel

Among the most popular ferry routes from Barcelona are those heading to Balearic Islands. Next to ferries to Mallorca or Ibiza tourists most often go to the island as well Menorca. 

The Hypatia de Alejandría ferry from Balearic Islands, which can accommodate almost 900 people and 600 cars

If you also want to visit Menorca by ferry, read this article in which I summarize everything you need to know before your trip.

Summary of ferry information on the Barcelona - Menorca route

• It sails from the port of Barcelona
• You can go any day of the week
• You can sail lightly, or with any luggage or animal
• You can also board a car or motorbike
• The fastest way to get to Menorca from Barcelona is in 3 and a half hours
• Boarding tickets start at €45 (search for a ferry ticket)

Where to buy a boarding pass for the Menorca ferry?

Just like the other Balearic Islands, Menorca is also sailed from Barcelona several shipping companies (Baleària, Trasmediterránea a GrandiNaviVeloci).

The easiest way is to buy a ferry ticket on one of the portals, which, like Booking brings together all ferry operators in one place.

I personally recommend it ferry hopper, where you just need to enter the starting and final destination and then just choose from the available offers. Of course, you can easily make a reservation online in a few minutes. So you don't have to stress about having to buy your boarding pass on the spot at the port with an unclear result.

A few of my tips for buying a boarding pass

• A one-way ticket is usually more expensive than a return ticket; so it's easier to buy a return ticket (instead of two separate ones) if you have a fixed return date
• By default, you see the ticket price without any additional charges. You can purchase additional services in the next steps. 
• Unlike plane tickets, the price of the ticket does not change fundamentally as the sailing date approaches. You can buy a ticket with peace of mind at the last minute. 
• If you will be traveling overnight, consider purchasing a stateroom so you are fresh in the morning. It will cost you something, but at least you'll get some rest. 
• Do not buy different cancellation insurances for your ticket, they are quite useless in my experience. Personally, a similar situation is covered by my credit card travel insurance. 
• But what can be nice is a package including dinner or breakfast
• If you will be boarding with a car, it is better to check the license plate number several times; if you enter a different one by mistake, you will not be allowed on the ship! 

Where to travel or what are the ports on the island of Menorca?

If you buy your boarding pass online, you will need to enter your destination in addition to your departure point. You can leave the generic "Menorca", or you can specify one of the two ports you will find in Menorca:

1. Maó-Mahón – a port located in the capital of Menorca on the eastern edge of the island. An interesting fact is that the port is one of the largest in Europe and is approximately 5 km long (for comparison: Barcelona is 7 km). Thanks to this, it is a frequent target of even the largest ships. 
2. Ciutadella - Port de Ciutadella – Menorca's second port on the western part of the island is much smaller than Maó-Mahón. It is known for its narrow entrance, which gradually widens into a picturesque bay surrounded by historic buildings. 

Both harbors are well accessible by transport, and no matter if you anchor at any of them, if you have a car, it's no problem to get where you need to be in a few hours: from the eastern to the western part of the island it is about 2 and a half hours.

Ciudad de Granada ferry bound for Menorca

How long is the ferry ride to Menorca?

The fastest from You can reach Barcelona in Menorca in 3 hours and 30 minutes by high-speed ferry from the Baleària shipping company. So if the length of the cruise is your criterion, look at Ferryhopper after a ship named Margarita Salas.

The Margarita Salas high-speed ferry takes you from Barcelona to Menorca in a beautiful 3 hours and 30 minutes

But keep in mind that the faster the cruise, the more euros the trip will cost you. 

If you want to get to Menorca by ferry as cheaply as possible, prepare yourself for roughly double the sailing time: slower ships cover the sea route in approx. 8-9 hours. 

How much is the ferry to Menorca?

The cheapest one-way ticket for 1 person on the ferry route Barcelona - Menorca se can be purchased for around €45. This price is valid for the more distant port of Maó-Mahón. 

In terms of prices, day tickets are also more expensive than night tickets, so if you don't mind sailing overnight, you can save a lot. 

If you would also like to board the ferry with a car, you will pay an extra charge of approx. €60 for a normal-sized car. 

The price for two people with a car will be €150 for the Barcelona - Menorca ferry. 

Example price for the ferry Barcelona - Menorca. 2 people and 1 car, search for a ticket >>>

What affects the price of the ferry: 

• ferry sailing date – if you use the ferry in season, be prepared for higher prices than in the off-season (statistically, the most expensive tickets are in July and August).
• sailing time – if you sail during the day, expect a higher price than if you sail at night
• ferry operator – Baleària is on average more expensive than Transmed or GNV
• ship type – some ships are faster, more modern, nicer; you will naturally pay extra for all these things; such is the case of the super fast ferry Cecilia Payne
• ticket type – just like on an airplane, here too you can choose which type of boarding pass you buy. The cheapest option is only a seat on board, if you want more comfort, it makes sense to get a cabin (either separate or shared) - this can be especially useful if you sail overnight...

Operating hours of ferries

• Ferries on the Barcelona - Menorca route operate every day. 
• Most one faster ship departs in the afternoon, then another at night, most often between 21:00 and 22:00 so that you reach your destination in the morning (if you sail from Menorca back to Barcelona, ​​it's the other way around - the ships depart in the morning)

What is the ferry route from Barcelona to Menorca?

The ferry route is uncomplicated: the ship shuttles between the port of Barcelona and the two ports of Menorca. This map will tell you more.

Where do ferries from Barcelona to Menorca depart from?

All ferries from Barcelona from Baleària, Trasmed and GNV depart from port of barcelona, specifically from terminals F1 and F2 (arrival from Moll de Sant Bertran street). See more departures and arrivals to the port. 

In Barcelona, ​​ferries dock near the World Trade Center building

I strongly recommend studying the conditions of individual carriers regarding check-in, boarding, luggage, etc., because each of them has it a little differently and the information is also different for pedestrians and for cars... In addition, most ferries leave at night and sometimes there can be a bit of confusion at the port, therefore it is good to prepare.  

Boarding information: Baleària, Trasmed, GNV

What are the services on board the ferry?

The ferries from Barcelona to Menorca are definitely not small boats. On average, almost 1000 people and 200 cars sail on one route, for which the operators are well prepared. As a passenger, you can shorten your cruise with an activity:

• visiting a restaurant, cafe or bar
• shopping in one of the shops
• children can use the playroom or use the facilities for families with children
• swim in the pool on board (on the route to Menorca, for example, Ciudad de Granada has)
• use the on-board wifi and watch, for example, favorite series

You can swim in the pool on the GNV Ciudad de Granada ferry

See also overview of other ferries from Barcelona. 

Don't forget your travel documents

To travel by ferry from Barcelona to Menorca, you only need a valid ID (if you are from the European Union). If you are not from the European Union, you need another document such as a passport. 

Would you like to go from Barcelona to Menorca by ferry? 

Search for a ferry and find out the prices >>>