The Ballermann strip is the entertainment spine of S'Arenal — a kilometre or so of bars, pubs, and restaurants along and just behind the beachfront, aimed almost exclusively at German-speaking holiday-makers. It has been the dominant force in S'Arenal's character since the 1980s, when charter flights from Germany and Austria brought mass tourism to this end of the Bay of Palma.
In high season the strip is loud, cheerful, and relentless from noon to the early hours. Oompah bands, cover acts, beer in litre steins, and German-inflected pub menus dominate. It is a spectacle in itself regardless of whether it is your scene. The original Balneario 6 building on the beach has been rebuilt and extended over the decades but still operates as the symbolic heart of the area.