Platja Arenal d'en Castell

White-sand beach curving round an almost circular bay on Menorca's north coast, with a gently shelving shore

Arenal d'en Castell is a white-sand beach on the north coast of Menorca, in the municipality of Es Mercadal. The sand runs in a long curve around an almost round bay, with cliffs at either end and hotel buildings on the slopes above. The shore shelves gently into water that runs clear when the sea is calm, and the beach draws many families with children. Bars, restaurants and a supermarket stand close by in the resort.

Beach

Entrance: Free. Sunbeds and umbrellas are hired separately.
Accessibility: The beach lies below street level, and reaching the sand means a walk down that is hard going, with the same climb back up.
Parking: Two car parks, about 160 m and 350 m away; the nearer one is free. Both fill up quickly, with street parking further out.
Difficulty: The only effort is the walk down from the street to the sand and the climb back, hard going unless your hotel sits right above the beach.
Transport: Bus stop about 80 m away; the stop A. Castell 4 - Avda d'Es Passarells - (H. Aguamarina) is about 420 m away.
Advance booking: Not needed.
Hours: Open at any time.
Address: Platja Arenal d'en Castell, Carrer Poblado Marinero, 118, 07740 Arenal des Castell, Illes Balears, Spain

What makes it special

On a calm day the water in the bay turns clear enough to watch fish swimming around your legs. The sand bends almost all the way round, so the beach feels enclosed, and the seabed slopes in gently, which is why so many families with children come here. On the right-hand side as you face the sea, the rocks under the cliffs draw fish close in, the place to bring a mask.

There is plenty of room on the sand, with sunbeds and umbrellas for hire and pedalos with slides out on the water. The street above looks straight down over the bay, and the view from there is worth a stop even if you do not swim.

The setting is built-up. Hotels crowd the slopes, boats sit in the bay, and when the weather turns the water loses its clarity.

Good to know

The water changes with the weather: clear and warm on calm days, murkier and colder once the wind gets up.
There is a public toilet near the beach, but no showers.
No drinking-water fountain nearby; the bars, restaurants and supermarket in the resort sell drinks.
The walk down from the street is hard going unless your hotel sits right above the beach.
Both car parks fill up quickly, and the fallback is street parking further out with a longer walk.

Getting there

Arenal d'en Castell sits in the resort of the same name on Menorca's north coast. Two car parks serve the beach, one about 160 m away and the other about 350 m away. Both fill up quickly, and the fallback is a space on the street further out, which adds to the walk.

By bus, there is a stop about 80 m away, and the stop A. Castell 4 - Avda d'Es Passarells - (H. Aguamarina) about 420 m away.

The beach lies below street level, so the last stretch is a walk down to the sand. It is hard going for anyone not staying in the hotels directly above, and the same climb waits at the end of the day.

Best time to visit

Best: calm summer days, arriving early. Avoid: days of wind and rough sea.

The bay opens to the north, so wind from that side clouds and cools the water and can wash jellyfish in, while in summer the car parks fill up quickly and early arrival is the way to get a space.

Sun & daylight

Beach

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Binimel-La