Arenal is situated on the eastern side of the Bay of Palma in Mallorca. Also known as S'Arenal or El Arenal, this resort is popular with German holidaymakers, especially during the high season, although it also gets its fair share of British, Dutch and Spanish visitors. Arenal may not be as well known as many other holiday destinations on Mallorca, but it does boast a lovely tree-lined beach of white sand which slopes gently into the calm, shallow waters of the bay. There is also a good choice of restaurants, bars and discos.

Arenal's beach stretches for about 4 miles (6km) as far as the neighbouring resort of C’an Pastilla to the north. Alongside the beach, which is cleaned every morning, is a recently rebuilt promenade lined with an assortment of apartment blocks and hotels. The promenade is flat and wide, so it is ideal for cyclists and wheelchair users. If you are feeling a little lethargic, there is also a mini train that runs along the path between Arenal and C’an Pastilla. Dotted along the beach are over a dozen bathing stations known as 'Balnearios'. Reminiscent of beach huts, these balnearios contain showers, toilets and usually a kiosk selling snacks and drinks.

At nighttime the coastal strip comes to life, as the restaurants and bars all compete for custom. With the lights of Palma de Mallorca visible across the bay, the seafront is a lovely place to come for an evening drink. Many of the bars are geared towards German customers, but there are also several British establishments. One of the best known is the Sportsman, situated close to Arenal marina, which offers live football and good food. Other popular British bars include Beachcombers and Hole in the Wall. If you want to find something a little more Spanish, there are several local bars in the back streets behind the seafront.

Mallorca's biggest water park, Aqualand, is situated on the outskirts of Arenal close to the motorway. This popular park offers a variety of slides, chutes and wave pools with names like Grand Canyon, Tsunami and Devil's Tail. There are enough attractions at Aqualand to keep all age groups happy. Small children will enjoy the mini zoo and parrot shows, while older teenagers will get their thrills on rides like the Kamikaze. The park also has landscaped gardens in which to relax, plus a variety of cafes and restaurants. Golf Fantasia is another of Arenal's popular attractions. This highly enjoyable mini golf course has 54 holes, all within a Jurassic Park-themed setting.

Arenal is situated about 6 miles (10km) from the capital, Palma de Mallorca, and just 4 miles (6km) from the airport. There are frequent and very reasonably priced buses between Arenal and Palma. Taxis from the airport to Arenal should cost around 12 euros, although that can vary according to the time of day and number of suitcases. Arenal's tourist information office is situated on Placa Reina Maria Cristina. It is open from April to October only.

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For more advice and tourist information about Mallorca please see Mallorca