Menorca Airport, often called Mahon Airport after the island's capital, sits just a few kilometers south of Mahon on this Balearic island in the western Mediterranean, and a rental car is by far the most common way visitors explore Menorca once they land. The airport's rental desks, operated by a mix of international and local companies, handle heavy seasonal demand from roughly May through September, when the island's population swells with tourists, so booking ahead during peak summer months is genuinely worth doing rather than assuming a car will be available on arrival.
Menorca is a compact island, and driving distances are refreshingly short: Mahon's old town and harbor sit just minutes from the airport, while Ciutadella, the island's other major town on the western coast, is roughly forty minutes to an hour away along the Me-1, the main road bisecting the island. Branch roads lead off toward Menorca's many coves and beaches, some of which narrow considerably or turn to gravel near the coastline, so a smaller vehicle handles the island's back roads more comfortably than anything oversized, particularly if your itinerary includes the quieter southern coves.
Spain drives on the right, and Menorca has no toll roads, keeping the driving experience simple once you are used to the island's narrower rural lanes. Fuel stations are concentrated in and around Mahon and Ciutadella, with fewer options in between, so it is worth planning fuel stops around the two towns rather than assuming stations along the coast. Outside peak summer, the island quiets considerably, with shorter rental waitlists and lighter traffic, making spring and early autumn a comfortable alternative for travelers who prefer fewer crowds on this small, easily driven Mediterranean island.
Whichever season you visit, Menorca's modest size means a single rental car comfortably covers the whole island over a short stay, from the harbor views around Mahon to the quieter coves near Ciutadella.