El Arenal

Arenal Majorca

Arenal is a seaside resort at the eastern end of the Playa de Palma, a four-mile stretch of sandy beach that begins at Can Pastilla in the west, beside Palma's international airport. Arenal - also known as s'Arenal and El Arenal - is very popular in summer with young German tourists looking for a lively holiday by the beach, and in the nightclubs and dance bars of the town. In the off-season Arenal attracts more Spanish, Dutch and British visitors. In the past the area was more popular with the British, and so there are many British businesses here, including several well-known British pubs along the beach front.

The three main resort areas from Can Pastilla to Arenal are joined by a wide pedestrian promenade. Much of the promenade is lined with cafés, bars and restaurants, and it is a popular place for long walks and bicycle rides beside the sea. There is also a mini-train that runs along the beach-front throughout the day, shuttling visitors to any part of the long beach that they choose. The beach is very popular, with golden sand and a gentle slope into the sea. A series of huts called "balnearios" have been built on the beach itself - these usually have toilets, a shower and a kiosk selling drinks and food. There are lifeguards stationed along the beach, as well as many operators renting out hammocks, sun loungers and sun-umbrellas, and equipment for water sports. Yachting is very popular on this side of the Bay of Palma, and there are marinas at Can Pastilla and Playa de Palma. Water-skiing, jet-skiing, windsurfing and fishing.

At night Arenal is a party town, especially in summer when it is popular with German visitors on "18-30" package holidays. There are many dance bars and nightclubs throughout Arenal, and many more in Playa de Palma and Can Pastilla just a short taxi ride away. But Arenal also also has many quieter bars and pubs, terrace cafés and romantic restaurants. Several local fiestas are celebrated along the beach throughout the year, as well as a big Carnival party in February. Away from the beach, Arenal offers explorers the opportunity for horse-riding, walking and cycling in the woods that surrounding the town. There are also two golf courses just outside Arenal, and several more in the surrounding region.

Arenal makes a good seaside base for sightseeing and shopping in Majorca's historic capital city of Palma, which can be easily reached on public transport. Regular bus services link Arenal and Palma, including the Number 23 bus that brings visitors from Palma to the Arenal Aqualand inland from the town - the largest water-park on Majorca with several large water slides. Arenal is about 20 minutes drive from the airport - a very short transfer time compared to the three hours it can take to the far corners of the island. But the location does mean that some parts of the resort can suffer from aircraft noise. In most weather the jets approach to land from over the sea to alleviate noise over the beaches.