//
Municipality in Balearic Islands, Spain
Photo: Henning.Schröder at German Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Maó (Spanish Mahón) is the capital city of Menorca. It has a fine natural harbour, one of the best in the Mediterranean, which was why the British made it the capital following their occupation of 1708. In 2021 it had a population of 30,000, almost a third of the island's total.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
RC church built from 1748. The interior is neo-classical. The stonking great organ was completed in 1810.
RC church built in the 1750s in neoclassical style, originally part of a Carmelite convent.
This 15th-century former Franciscan monastery covers the island's prehistory, Roman and Byzantine eras and Muslim Menorca into modern times.
Destilerías Xoriguer
This gin distillery was established in the 18th century and also makes liqueurs. The guided tour includes a tasting. The shop is open all year.
On this islet the first quarantine station was built in the 1490s. It was superseded by Llatzeret around 1810.
Fortalesa Isabel II
The British and French reinforced this position by the harbour outlet, but the present fortress was built by the Spanish in the 1850s. Artillery advanced in that era faster than castle-building, so although it could serve as a military base and gunnery position, the fortress could not have withstood fire. Nobody did fire on it so it's in good condition.
Hospital Island
It has a 6th century basilica, but the mosaics have been taken to Maó town museum. A hospital was built by the British in 1711 and remained in use until 1964 when one was built in town. It's been restored and now hosts an art gallery (Galería Hauser) and botanic garden. Get there on the yellow catamaran from the harbour.
A talaiòt is a stubby stone tower, the characteristic feature of Menorca's prehistoric villages, built early Iron Age around 1000 BC. There are some 300 on the island and Dalt is one of the best.
Teatro Principal de Mahón
The oldest opera house in Spain, built in 1829.
A coffee shop rather than a bar, a relaxing place for breakfast.
Restaurant, jazz club and cocktail bar.
Mostly good reviews, some found facilities tired. The "mirador" is a view of grubby industrial dockland, go for a pool view.
Spacious modern hotel 1 km west of centre.
Charming central upmarket hotel in a 19th century townhouse.
Basic but clean and central.
Smart efficient hotel overlooking the harbour.
Simple place east edge of city.
Menorca Airport (MAH) is 5 km southwest of town in Sant Lluís. It has flights from Mallorca and Ibiza, from Barcelona, and by budget airlines from Britain, see Menorca#Get in.
Read in the guideExploring the old town is best done on foot. Streets are traffic restricted, camera-enforced.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Mahón (Maó) · International · MAH
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Maó and Spain.
Travel tipsUnderstand travel insurance for a Schengen visa in 2026. Learn mandatory €30,000 medical coverage, zero deductible rules, and embassy-approved policies.
7 min read
Travel tipsEstimate your Europe trip cost for 2 weeks in 2026. Compare realistic budgets for lodging, Eurail trains, dining, and sightseeing across three styles.
8 min read
Travel tipsFind the cheapest countries to fly to from the US and UK in 2026. Compare realistic round-trip flight deals, budget airlines, and prime booking windows.
8 min read
InspirationExplore the best places to visit in November across autumn foliage, mild desert warmth, southern spring blooms, and off-peak travel bargains.
6 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.