Car Hire Menorca

With divine sandy beaches, peaceful harbours and historic cities, driving in Menorca can offer you an experience like no other. The island is very well connected by road and the main motorway which runs through the centre of the island is the Me-1. Leading from Ciutadella de Menorca to Mahon, the road offers drivers an easy way of getting across the island.

The journey from Ciutadella to Mahon takes around one hour, with regular junctions providing routes both on and off the Me-1 to nearby towns and resorts. With signposts along the way, plus astonishing views, you should be able to navigate your way down the Me-1 with ease and pleasure. As the island's main motorway reaches Es Mercadal, the Me-15 road branches off at its south side and heads to the northern coast via Ses Salines and Fornells.

Before you pick up your hire car, it's important to be aware of the speed restrictions in effect in Menorca. The maximum speed limit on the island's motorways is 55mph (90km/h), while in urban areas it is 31mph (50km/h) and in residential areas you cannot exceed 12mph (20km/h).

When it comes to driving around, you must carry the right documentation with you – including your current driving licence, the car hire paperwork and your passport (although a photocopy of this is acceptable). If you're driving a hire car, you'll need to be at least 25-years-old and have had your licence for three years. It's also illegal to drive in sandals that don't have a heel strap.

If you need to park your hire car, make sure not to park in front of garages, driveways or anywhere that has the sign 'vado permanente – gual permanent', - “keep clear" - as you could face a fine.

Just like in the rest of Spain, children under the age of 12 must not be sat in the front passenger seat and must have the correct safety belt for their age.

Renowned for its crystal clear waters and golden, sandy beaches, Menorca is a place of paradise. Although it's seen as an altogether more peaceful experience than its neighbours, the island can still offer you a fantastic time, with idyllic views and plenty of activities and attractions to keep you occupied.

Beaches, harbours and history

While it may be smaller in size than Mallorca, the easternmost Balearic island of Menorca has more beaches, which offers you plenty of choice when it comes to finding a decent spot to sunbathe.

The beach of Cala en Turqueta can be found along the island's south-west coast and is perfect for families. With pure white sands and turquoise waters, the beach also offers shady areas under the gently swaying trees. Beautiful beaches are liberally dotted along the east coast, including the popular Cala Mitjana beach, which is ideal for snorkelling.

If you don't quite fancy spending your whole trip on the beach, you could visit Mahon Harbour. As one of the largest natural harbours in the world, it is a popular tourist spot where you can relax, watching the ships and soaking up the atmosphere. The harbour comes alive at night with the restaurants and bars that surround it creating a bustling scene.

The island's largest city is a great place to entertain clients with the range of activities on offer – so many in fact that the region's bustling tourist trade is what helped restore the historic old town to its former glory, boosting the island's tourist presence even further by attracting visitors to the stunning Georgian architecture.

Menorca's west coast

On the west coast of the island, Ciutadella de Menorca is the island's former capital, packed with Italian architecture from the days of old rule. The town square, Placa des Born, is dominated by a striking obelisk.

A protected patch of wetland, S'Albufera des Grau Natural Park in the north-east is a sight to behold. Known as the nucleus of the Biosphere Reserve, the nature park has a number of trails on which to explore and take in this superb stretch of land.

Even if you're visiting Menorca with the purposes of networking, you can't help but be captivated by the architecture and attractions on show – and you'll find that hiring a car here is the best way to enjoy all that the island has to offer.