Ferry From Barcelona to Mallorca: Ibiza and Menorca Too

A long sea crossing is a trip in its own right, so it only pays off when the ride itself is part of what you want.

Crossing time: Barcelona ferry to Mallorca vs Ibiza vs Menorca

The Barcelona ferry to Mallorca takes roughly 6 to 7.5 hours, Menorca about 7.5 hours and Ibiza 8.5 to 9 hours, going by the operator GNV. Its route pages for the three islands show the times below. The Palma page lists 7 h 30 min out and 6 h 30 min back in its booking box, and 6 h 15 min in its text. The Ibiza page lists 9 h direct out and 7 h 45 min back, and 8 h 30 min in its text. The Menorca page lists 7 h 45 min direct out and 7 h 30 min back.

Ferries leave from the Port de Barcelona, which sits by the sea at the foot of the city. GNV's Palma page names only the ports and gives no terminal name, and the port's ferries page names no terminal or Balearic operator either, so check your ticket for the terminal. The terminal for the Mallorca ferry is not published on any official page we checked, including the port's ferries page, so your ticket is the only place to find it. Head for the Port de Barcelona and confirm the terminal on your ticket before you leave. The getting around Barcelona guide shows how to reach the port by metro or taxi. The port itself says on its ferries page that sailings from Barcelona serve the Balearic Islands, Italy and North Africa through different shipping companies.

Some sailings stop on the way. GNV's Barcelona to Ibiza page shows a version that calls at Palma de Mallorca and takes 13 h 45 min. Its Barcelona to Menorca page shows one that calls at Alcúdia on Mallorca and takes about 10 hours. Pick the direct sailing if you want the shortest ride.

Pro Tip On the Barcelona to Ibiza route, look for the 9-hour direct sailing and skip the 13 h 45 min version that stops in Palma de Mallorca, unless the lower price matters more than the extra hours.

Ticket price and boarding: Mallorca vs Ibiza vs Menorca

The cheapest fares on GNV's route pages are €15 one way to Mallorca, €25 to Ibiza and €28 to Menorca. These are starting prices with no travel date shown, so your price depends on the season, the seat or cabin and whether you bring a car. In summer and at Easter the page says prices are usually higher. GNV's Palma page shows no departure times, so it does not say whether the Mallorca crossing is overnight. It says only that cabins suit night travel. Check the time on your booking before you rely on sleeping on board. A seat is cheaper than a cabin, and a cabin is where you can sleep. The page does not list what else a fare includes, and it says prices depend on the ticket type (passenger, vehicle or pet) and extras such as a cabin or vehicle boarding. So treat €15 as the lowest fare for one person, not as a full price. A cabin, a car or a pet costs extra. For comparison, the boat trips in the last section are from €17.50, €22.50 and €20 a person, as checked on 26 October 2026, and include the skipper and the boat.

You need your ticket and an ID for everyone in your group, children included. On the Menorca route page, GNV tells foot passengers to arrive at the port in good time and show their booking and identification at the check-in desk. Each traveller then gets a boarding pass with a seat or cabin. Arrive earlier than you think you need to, since the page gives no exact minutes.

On the Menorca route, GNV describes a night crossing with an evening departure, and a cabin lets you sleep. A seat is cheaper, and the on-board bars are the only food option on that sailing. Bring a snack if you want to eat well.

Ferry vs plane: which to take from Barcelona

A plane is far quicker than any of these ferries, so choose the ferry only if the crossing suits your trip. A flight spends its time in the airport, not on the water. A ferry takes at least 6 hours even on the shortest of the three routes. The airport side of a flight trip is covered in the Barcelona airport guide.

The ferry makes sense in a few cases. You bring a car, because GNV sells vehicle tickets on these routes. You travel with a pet, because GNV's Menorca page describes pet-friendly cabins. Or you want a night crossing and a bed on the way. If none of these fits, book the plane.

The ferry is the wrong choice if you have only a long weekend. Six to nine hours each way takes a large part of a short stay, and bad weather can add to the time. We did not find an official page with plane times, so this article leaves flight times out.

Key Takeaway The shortest of the three crossings is Barcelona to Palma de Mallorca at 6 h 30 min to 7 h 30 min, which is still a half day of travel.

Other sea trips: island crossing vs a short boat ride

If the sea is what you want and not the island, a short boat ride from Barcelona's harbour gives you the water in a few hours. Boat tours Barcelona range from a one-hour sail to a longer catamaran cruise, and they start and end in the city.

Things to Do in Barcelona's count of GetYourGuide listings on 26 October 2026 found 16 catamaran cruises among the 528 Barcelona listings, from €14 a person. The catamaran cruise with optional live jazz is from €17.50 a person, lasts 1.5 hours and has 4.7 stars from 1,888 reviews, with free cancellation. It starts at Moll de Drassanes, and it is not suited to wheelchair users. For a smaller boat, the sunset sailing trip from Port Olímpic takes up to 12 people, lasts one hour and costs from €22.50 a person, with drinks and snacks included. It has 4.5 stars from 192 reviews.

If you prefer a longer trip, the daytime or sunset cruise with drinks lasts 1.5 to 2.5 hours and is from €20 a person. It has 4.7 stars from 1,303 reviews. The operator may rebook or refund you if bad weather cancels it.

Rome and Nice are different cases. We could not confirm a passenger ferry to Rome. For Nice, see the train from Barcelona to Nice, since no ferry turned up on the pages checked.

Should you book a tour or go alone? For the ferry, book direct with GNV, since a ferry is not a tour. It is not a GetYourGuide listing, so it has no rating, review count or free cancellation there. GNV's page gives no cancellation terms, so read them before you pay. The crossing takes about 6 to 7.5 hours. You need your ticket and an ID for everyone, children included, and the page names no terminal or check-in time, so check your ticket and arrive in good time. For the sea itself, a tour is the simple way: the skipper, boat and drinks are covered, and each trip below has free cancellation as GetYourGuide shows it. The catamaran is run by CATAMARAN ORSOM, the sunset sail by BDA Sailing Experience and the cruise by turturexperience. GetYourGuide shows no group size for the catamaran. Do check what is not included: the sunset sail leaves from Moll de Mestral at Port Olímpic, takes up to 12 people and does not include hotel pickup or parking. The cruise meets at Carrer de la Marina, has no pickup and does not include parking or transfers.

A short boat ride will not take you to an island. If Mallorca, Ibiza or Menorca is the goal, you still need a ferry or a plane.