S'Arenal Beach

The sun goes down over the bay in front of the sand, and the port and the water hold their colour for a while after it has gone. That is the moment to be here.

S'Arenal is a long run of sand in the middle of town, with a promenade along its back, so the evening follows on without a car: walk the promenade round the bay towards Café del Mar and Café Mambo and end the day there. By day the water is clear and turquoise and the beach stays clean. Parasailing, banana boats, glass-bottom boats, sunset cruises and party boats all set out from the beach or the port beside it. Bars and restaurants sit right behind the sand.

• Toilets and a free drinking-water fountain stand about 530 m away in a straight line.
• The beach suits children: sand, clear water and a promenade for pushchairs.
• Boat trips, cruises and water sports are sold on the beach and at the port beside it.
• Bars, restaurants and clubs are right behind the beach, so food and drink are never far.
• Outside high summer the beach is quiet, and the nightlife crowd thins with it.

S'Arenal lies in the centre of Sant Antoni de Portmany, and most people reach it on foot from their hotel or the streets behind it. The bus stop H. Arenal is about 120 m away in a straight line, and the nearest car parks about 210 m away. From either you step onto the promenade, which runs the length of the sand. Follow it round the bay and it carries on towards Café del Mar and Café Mambo, the walk to take at sunset.

Best: late afternoon into sunset; in the year, May, September and October.

Avoid: midday in July and August.

The sun sets over the bay and the colours of the port and water linger after it, while in May the beach is peaceful, in September quiet and in mid-October still uncrowded — whereas at the height of summer the resort town fills and the open sand takes the full midday sun.