Car hire Mahon

Introduction

Mahón (in Catalan: Maó) is the capital of the Spanish Balearic Island Menorca. The old, walled part of the town is situated on a magnificent and deep natural harbor. In the eighteenth century Menorca was placed under British government and this is still visible by the typical British architecture in the harbor, for example the old customs office and the so-called Golden Farm where Admiral Nelson once stayed.

Population

Almost 30,000 people live in Mahón.

Location

Mahón is located on Menorca's east coast, on a deep five kilometers long bay which forms a natural harbor. The nature reserve S’Albufera des Grau lies just north of Mahón.

Economy

Mahón is the commercial heart of Menorca. The harbor plays an important role in this. There are ferries to the other Balearic Islands and to mainland Spain. Menorca is known for the production of jewelry. Each year the jewelry and accessories fair Eurobijoux is held in Mahón. The island also produces a cheese, named after the capital: Queso de Mahón. And, mayonnaise was invented in Mahón! The sauce was originally called Salsa mahonesa.

Airports

Menorca's airport is situated just southwest of Mahón. Aeroport de Menorca is easily reachable by rental car. From the city center you take the Me-12.

Public Transport

Menorca has good public bus transportation. From the main bus station in Mahón busses run every hour to the beaches on the east coast. There is also a bus connection across the island, between Mahón and Ciutadella on the west coast.

Traffic and Parking

A rental car is an ideal means of transportation to explore Menorca and the remote beaches. You must pay for street parking in larger cities and it's prohibited to park next to a continuous yellow line on the curb.

Hotels

Mahón offers several accommodations, but most hotels and holiday resorts can be found along the beaches, at for example Es Grau, Platja de Punta Prima and Son Bou. Although Menorca is less busy than Mallorca, we recommend booking your hotel room well in advance, especially if you want to visit the island in summer months. In winter most hotels are closed.

External Sources

For more information about Mahón we recommend Google and the following sources:

• Wikipedia, Mahón
• Official website Mahón (multilingual)
• Tourist Information Menorca (multilingual)