Cala Macarella is one of those beaches people look up months before they travel. It is also one of the worst to reach by car: the road is narrow, the car park fills early, and the island council has spent years steering visitors towards the bus.
This guide is the practical part only, with the figures exactly as the Department of Mobility of the Consell Insular de Menorca publishes them: when the shuttle runs, what time it leaves, what it costs and what your options are if you would rather walk.
In short
- 2026 season
- 16 June to 10 September
- Hours
- 08:05 to 20:05, Monday to Sunday, public holidays included
- Departures
- Ciutadella, Via Perimetral
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Last return
- From Macarella at 20:40
- Official fare
- €4.60 single and €8.40 return
Everything you need to get there
Timetable, fares, the coastal walk and what happens out of season.
The shuttle bus from Ciutadella
The service is called Bus Macarella and it is run by the Consell Insular de Menorca. For the 2026 season it operates from 16 June to 10 September, from 08:05 to 20:05, Monday to Sunday, public holidays included.
Departures leave Ciutadella from the Via Perimetral every 20 minutes: 08:05, 08:25, 08:45, 09:05 and so on, through to the last one at 20:05. In the other direction, the first bus back from Macarella leaves at 08:40 and the last at 20:40.
The council itself explains why the service exists: a high-frequency bus meant to save traffic jams and help preserve the natural balance of a unique beach. In high season it is far and away the simplest way to avoid gambling on a parking space.
- 2026 season: 16 June to 10 September.
- First and last: Leaves Ciutadella at 08:05; the last bus back from Macarella is at 20:40.
- Every 20 minutes: No need to build your day around one departure time.
Tip: For a quieter beach, take one of the first buses of the morning. By mid-morning there are noticeably more people.
What it costs and where to buy
The published official fare is €4.60 for a single and €8.40 for a return. The same council page adds, in its FAQ, that booking online brings the return down to €8.20, and that buying at the ticket office or directly on the bus makes a single €4.50. The gap between options is a matter of cents, so buy wherever suits you.
Discounts apply with the T-General, T-Més and T-Jove transport cards, bought in person at the Avinguda Mascaró Pasarius office.
Seats are limited, so in July and August it is worth not leaving it to the last minute if you have a particular time in mind.
- Single: €4.60 according to the official fare.
- Return: €8.40, or €8.20 booked online.
- Discounts: With T-General, T-Més and T-Jove, bought at the Mascaró Pasarius office.
Walking from Cala Galdana
The other way in is on foot, following the Camí de Cavalls, the path that rings the whole island and is waymarked as the GR-223. The stretch that starts at Cala Galdana runs along the coast through pine woods to the cove, and it is one of the most rewarding walks on this side of Menorca.
It solves two problems at once: no parking to worry about, and on this stretch the walk is worth as much as the destination. Bring water and closed shoes, because there are sections of bare rock and tree roots.
If you do walk it, leave yourself margin for the way back. You return the same way, and late in the day the light drops quickly among the pines.
- The path: Camí de Cavalls, waymarked GR-223.
- From where: From Cala Galdana, following the coast.
- What to bring: Water and closed shoes: there is rock and there are roots.
Tip: Walking in, you reach the cove from above, and that first view of the beach through the pines is the best photo of the day.
Out of season
Outside the service dates, 16 June to 10 September, the shuttle does not run. Access conditions for vehicles on the southern coves change with the time of year, so before setting off it is worth checking the state of the access roads on the island council's mobility portal.
The Department of Mobility also publishes live parking occupancy for some of the island's busiest beaches, including Son Saura, Cala en Turqueta and La Vall. It is a one-minute check that can save you a wasted trip in the middle of August.
And there is an obvious upside to going in May or October: the same cove, the same water, far fewer people.
- No bus: Outside 16 June to 10 September the shuttle does not operate.
- Before you leave: Check access conditions on the council's mobility portal.
- Live occupancy: Published for Son Saura, Cala en Turqueta and La Vall.
Macarelleta, the cove next door
Right beside Macarella, separated by an outcrop of rock, lies Macarelleta. It is much smaller and you reach it on a short path from the main beach, climbing steps cut into the rock.
Plenty of people arrive at Macarella, put down their towel and never realise there is another cove five minutes away. If Macarella is packed, it is worth a look.
- Where it is: Next to Macarella, on the far side of the rock outcrop.
- How to get there: A short path from the main beach.
- Why go: It is smaller, and many people never walk over.
And for the rest of the island, an audio guide
Macarella needs no commentary. But Menorca is not only coastline: behind Mahón lies an 18th century under British administration that explains why the city looks the way it does, and that is the sort of thing you are glad to have someone tell you while you walk.
Audio guides made by local guides in Mahón cover the city at your own pace. Buy once and listen when you get there, with no group timetable to keep to. It fits neatly around a beach day: cove in the morning, city in the late afternoon.
- At your own pace: Start when you like, with no group and no fixed time.
- For the city days: The walk covers Mahón, not the coves.
- Two languages: Available in English and Spanish.
Explore Menorca at your own pace
A self-guided audio tour walks you through Mahón at your own pace, with a local guide's voice in your ear. Buy once and listen in the app whenever it suits you.
Frequently asked questions
When does the bus to Cala Macarella run?+
For the 2026 season, from 16 June to 10 September, from 08:05 to 20:05, Monday to Sunday including public holidays. Outside those dates the service does not run.
Where does the bus leave from and how often?+
It leaves Ciutadella from the Via Perimetral every 20 minutes. The first departure is at 08:05 and the last at 20:05. From Macarella, the first bus back is at 08:40 and the last at 20:40.
How much is the ticket?+
The official fare is €4.60 single and €8.40 return. The council's website also states that booking online brings the return to €8.20, and that buying at the ticket office or on the bus itself makes a single €4.50.
Are there discounts?+
Yes, with the T-General, T-Més and T-Jove transport cards, bought in person at the Avinguda Mascaró Pasarius office.
Can you walk to Macarella?+
Yes. The Camí de Cavalls, waymarked as the GR-223, links Cala Galdana with Macarella along the coast through pine woods. Bring water and closed shoes, as there are sections of bare rock and roots.
What if I go out of season?+
The shuttle only runs on the service dates. Access conditions for vehicles on the southern coves change with the season, so it is worth checking the state of the access roads on the island council's mobility portal before you go. It also publishes parking occupancy for Son Saura, Cala en Turqueta and La Vall.