Imagine booking a sun-soaked getaway to Spain, dreaming of tapas, flamenco, and laid-back beach days—only to touch down and find yourself surrounded by bratwurst, German techno, and a sea of black-red-gold football shirts.
That’s exactly what’s happening in one unlikely corner of Majorca, where British tourists are discovering they’ve accidentally landed in a little slice of Germany.
Welcome to S’Arenal: Not Quite the Spain You Expected
S’Arenal, a beach resort just a five-minute drive from Palma Airport, has become known for its wild nightlife, huge clubs, and easy beach access.
But if you’re expecting traditional Spanish charm, you may be surprised.
Locally dubbed “the German Magaluf,” this area now caters almost entirely to German tourists.
From the signage to the food, the strip is bursting with German influence—menus in German, shops selling Deutsch novels, bratwurst on every corner, and music that feels more Berlin rave than Balearic breeze.
British Tourists Left Stunned by the Culture Shock
When MailOnline visited S’Arenal recently, they only found a handful of Brits—many of whom had no clue they were heading into a German enclave.
Take Afia Adjei and Chiara Yeboah, both 18, for example.
The pair had just finished school and booked their first girls’ trip, thinking they were about to experience a beachy Spanish escape.
Instead, they arrived to find everyone speaking German and eating schnitzel.
“We were so shocked,” they said. “We honestly thought we were going to have the Spanish experience, but we haven’t even had any Spanish food. It’s all kebabs and bratwurst!”
A Resort That Feels More Like Munich Than Majorca
Walk down the S’Arenal strip in the evening and it really does feel like Munich during Oktoberfest.
Young Germans pour out of the beer halls, most of them already several drinks deep, singing loudly as police officers look on.
And despite local laws banning street drinking, enforcement seems to be hit-or-miss in this part of the island.
Some German tourists even joked with reporters: “Why are you here? This is German central!”
Brits Accidentally Book German Holidays
One British couple told MailOnline they’d booked their trip on a whim that morning and had “no idea” the area was so German.
“We thought it would be a mix of people, but it’s really not.
We just had Italian food because we couldn’t find a Spanish place nearby.”
German Tourists Are Taking Over More Than Just S’Arenal
It’s not just S’Arenal that’s seen this German transformation.
Nearby spots like Peguera are now referred to as “Little Germany,” and many Germans have bought homes in upscale towns like Deià and Pollensa.
According to 2023 data, Germans made up the largest tourist group in Majorca, with more than 4.2 million visitors—nearly double the number of Brits.
One Remaining British Pub and a Lot of Frustration
Gerry Herriot, a Glasgow native who runs the only surviving British pub on the strip, says the shift has been dramatic over his 42 years on the island.
“It used to be a mix—Brits, Germans, Spanish—but now it’s almost all German,” he said.
“There used to be 30 or 40 British bars here. Now, it’s just mine.”
He doesn’t mind the Germans per se, but says the atmosphere has changed.
“The Germans get too drunk, and there’s no respect. They treat the place like Disneyland.”
Locals Say the Rules Don’t Apply to Germans
One major complaint? The double standard in how rules are enforced.
Locals say German tourists get away with things—like street drinking or public disorder—that would land British tourists in trouble, especially in places like Magaluf.
“There’s a drinking ban here, but look around—beer cans everywhere,” said Gerry. “The Spanish police just turn a blind eye.”
Even Germans Admit: This Place Feels Like Home
German holidaymakers themselves admit S’Arenal doesn’t feel Spanish.
“This is Germany,” said Max Hubmayer, a German expat who’s lived in the area for a decade.
“Everything here—food, music, bars—it’s all German.
British people wouldn’t enjoy it; they wouldn’t understand anything.”
Others described it as a “culture space” for Germans abroad.
While many acknowledged the rowdy drinking culture, they insisted it’s still less chaotic than the British-fueled antics in Magaluf.
Mega-Park: The Crown Jewel of German Nightlife Abroad
The biggest party hotspot in the area is Mega-Park, an open-air nightclub that charges around £35 for entry and regularly flies in big-name German performers.
For British tourists, the entire experience can feel alien. But for young Germans, it’s a dream.
A group celebrating a birthday said they come to S’Arenal specifically to drink and party.
“This place is perfect for that,” they said. “There are barely any Brits, and the music is 100 per cent German.”
Locals and Workers Caught in the Middle
A local security guard summed it up best: “For work, the German side is easier.
For partying, the Brits are more fun—but also more trouble.”
Even locals who support tourism say it’s the behavior—not the visitors—that’s the issue.
“The problem isn’t that they’re German,” Gerry explained. “It’s that they don’t treat this place with any respect.”
As one tourist joked, “This isn’t Spain, it’s Germany with better weather.”