Playa de Palma & S'Arenal

The Playa de Palma is Mallorca's longest continuous city beach: 6 kilometers of fine sand from Can Pastilla in the west to S'Arenal in the east, numbered into 15 Balnearios (beach sections). It is the most visited beach on the island — and one of the most polarizing places in the entire Mediterranean.

Yes, here lies the Ballermann. The Balnearios 5 to 7 at the eastern end (S'Arenal) are the zone everyone knows: Bierkönig, Megapark, Schinkenstraße. German Schlager music, sangria buckets, party excesses. The headlines write themselves. Those looking for this will find it here in concentrated form — those who want to avoid it should steer clear of this section.

But the Playa de Palma is much more than the Ballermann. This is often forgotten. The western sections around Can Pastilla and Ciudad Jardín (Balnearios 1–3) are surprisingly quiet, well-maintained, and family-friendly. Here, locals stroll, families spread out their blankets, and there are decent restaurants instead of cheap pubs. The city of Palma has massively invested in the upgrading of the beach promenade in recent years: new bike paths, green spaces, better lighting.

The beach itself is — regardless of the section — excellent: fine, light sand, gently sloping water, lifeguards, barrier-free access, showers, toilets. The infrastructure is first-class. Sun loungers cost about 8–10 € each, umbrellas similarly.

The bus connection is practical: Line 25 (EMT Palma) runs every 10–15 minutes from Playa de Palma to the center of Palma (about 20 minutes, 2 €). The airport is also only 5 minutes away by car — perfect for the last beach day before departure.

The Balnearios 8–10 (middle) offer a good compromise: lively but not overcrowded, some nice beach bars, and the wide bike path on the promenade invites you to cycle. Bike rental is available at several locations (about 8–12 €/day).