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Sant Francesc d'Assís near S'Arenal, Mallorca

Sant Francesc d'Assís

Sant Francesc d'Assís here refers to the church and monastery near S'Arenal, the coastal resort on the Bay of Palma also known as L'Arenal or El Arenal. The religious building offers a different perspective on a place usually associated with its beach, promenade, and nightlife. This contrast makes it particularly interesting for travelers who also want to discover the everyday and religious side of S'Arenal.

The precise location is important: for a dedicated visit, it is advisable not to search only for “Sant Francesc” in the navigation system, but to add S'Arenal or L'Arenal as the location. This ensures that the destination on the coast is unambiguous.

The site is best suited as a peaceful cultural highlight during a day in S'Arenal. As no reliable visiting hours or admission policy have been recorded, access should be checked immediately before traveling.

Getting There and Parking

From Palma to S'Arenal

From the center of Palma, the route follows the Ma-19 to S'Arenal. The road distance to the coastal resort is 15 kilometers, and the journey takes around 23 minutes. These details explicitly refer to S'Arenal rather than the church entrance. For the final part of the journey, the full name “Sant Francesc d'Assís” and the location S'Arenal or L'Arenal should therefore be entered into the navigation system. Before setting off, it is worth briefly checking the displayed destination, as the route must lead to the coast at S'Arenal and an unambiguous destination entry is more important here than usual.

From the Airport to S'Arenal

The road distance from Palma Airport to S'Arenal is 9 kilometers. Allow around 12 minutes for the journey. Here too, the measured route ends within the resort; the final section to the church depends on the specific navigation option selected. No road number has been recorded for this airport connection and it should therefore not be inferred from another route.

The short journey makes Sant Francesc d'Assís a possible stop at the beginning or end of a stay in the S'Arenal area. However, you should first confirm whether access is possible at the intended time. Without confirmed opening, it makes more sense to combine the visit with time already planned in the resort rather than traveling there solely for the church.

By Bus

The nearby stops served are 281-Can Xoroll, 302-Can Xoroll, 952-es Pil·larí, and 947-es Pil·larí. Which one is most convenient for a particular journey depends on the direction of travel, the route, and the current timetable. As the stop information only covers the surrounding area, the remaining distance to the church should be checked on a map before getting off.

The same applies to the return journey: the stop number and direction of travel should be checked together, as Can Xoroll and es Pil·larí each appear with different identifiers. Current departure times are particularly important when combining the church visit with the beach or a walk around the resort and planning to return later in the day.

Getting there by bus

  • 281-Can Xoroll · 0.2 km as the crow flies

    • 31Sant Jordi - Sindicat · 08:00–08:00 · Daily
    • 32s'Arenal - Sindicat · 08:00–08:00 · Daily

  • 302-Can Xoroll · 0.2 km as the crow flies

    • 31Sant Jordi - Sindicat · 08:00–08:00 · Daily

  • 952-es Pil·larí · 0.2 km as the crow flies

    • 31Sant Jordi - Sindicat · 08:00–08:00 · Daily
    • 32s'Arenal - Sindicat · 08:00–08:00 · Daily

  • 947-es Pil·larí · 0.2 km as the crow flies

    • 31Sant Jordi - Sindicat · 08:00–08:00 · Daily
    • 32s'Arenal - Sindicat · 08:00–08:00 · Daily

  • 280-Can Rubert · 0.4 km as the crow flies

    • 31Sant Jordi - Sindicat · 08:00–08:00 · Daily
    • 32s'Arenal - Sindicat · 08:00–08:00 · Daily

  • 397-Can Rubert · 0.5 km as the crow flies

    • 31Sant Jordi - Sindicat · 08:00–08:00 · Daily
    • 32s'Arenal - Sindicat · 08:00–08:00 · Daily

  • 409-Son Perera · 0.6 km as the crow flies

    • 31Sant Jordi - Sindicat · 08:00–08:00 · Daily

  • 196-Son Perera · 0.6 km as the crow flies

    • 31Sant Jordi - Sindicat · 08:00–08:00 · Daily

  • 402-Can Reviu · 0.8 km as the crow flies

    • 31Sant Jordi - Sindicat · 08:00–08:00 · Daily

  • 396-Can Reviu · 0.8 km as the crow flies

    • 31Sant Jordi - Sindicat · 08:00–08:00 · Daily

  • 948-Can Fullaní · 0.8 km as the crow flies

    • 31Sant Jordi - Sindicat · 08:00–08:00 · Daily

  • 949-Can Fullaní · 0.9 km as the crow flies

    • 31Sant Jordi - Sindicat · 08:00–08:00 · Daily

Timetable data: official GTFS feeds (TIB/EMT), no real-time — check with the operator before travelling.

Nearby Attractions

S'Arenal and Its Old Town Center

Anyone walking through S'Arenal after visiting the church will encounter a place whose present appearance bears little resemblance to its modest beginnings. S'Arenal was first documented in 1887 and was then a small fishing village. The construction of the railway line between Palma and Llucmajor in 1914 brought a significant boost to its development. Railway workers settled here, although the village initially remained small.

It was only with the growth of tourism from the 1950s onward that S'Arenal changed fundamentally. Hotels and guesthouses were built, the coast became a vacation destination, and the former fishing village developed into a densely built-up resort. Traces of the older settlement history are mainly associated with the town center. Sant Francesc d'Assís is therefore best combined with a walk through this part of S'Arenal: not as a search for individual monuments, but as a way to understand the historical layers of a place that grew rapidly within a short time.

Beach and Promenade

The long sweep of Playa de Palma begins or ends along the coast here. S'Arenal beach is an urban resort beach with fine sand and gently shelving access to the water. Hotels, cafés, and other tourist facilities line the promenade, where pedestrians and cyclists share the lively public space.

This setting forms a striking contrast to the church. Few itineraries reveal the character of S'Arenal as clearly as combining a religious site with a subsequent walk to the busy coast. However, the beach is not a destination for solitude during the main travel season. Anyone seeking peace should therefore approach the visit as a walk around the resort rather than expecting a secluded bathing cove.

Two Names for the Same Coastal Resort

Several spellings appear on maps and signs: S'Arenal is the Catalan form, while El Arenal is common in Spanish; L'Arenal is also used. When planning a trip, these names all refer to the coastal resort on the Bay of Palma. The change in name therefore does not indicate different destinations.

Local insider tips

  • Combine It with the Town Center

    After visiting the church, it is worth walking through the older part of S'Arenal. This provides a clearer perspective on its transformation from a fishing village first mentioned in 1887 into the vacation center of today.

  • A Coastal Contrast

    Combine the visit with the promenade and S'Arenal beach. Moving from the religious site to the lively vacation coastline reveals two very different sides of the same place.

The place it belongs to

S'Arenal (L'Arenal) in the place guide
28°C S'Arenal (L'Arenal)
What is Sant Francesc d'Assís near S'Arenal, and why is it worth visiting?
Sant Francesc d'Assís is a church and monastery near S'Arenal or L'Arenal on Mallorca. It is particularly interesting for travelers who want to experience the coastal resort as more than just its beach, promenade, and nightlife. The religious building adds a cultural highlight to the heavily tourism-oriented townscape. A visit can be combined with a walk through the older part of S'Arenal, whose history as a small fishing village extends back to its first documented mention in 1887. The subsequent walk to the lively coast also emphasizes the contrast between the religious site and the modern vacation center.
What are the opening hours, and is there an admission fee?
No reliable opening hours or confirmed admission policy are currently recorded for Sant Francesc d'Assís near S'Arenal. Providing specific times or prices would therefore be misleading. Respectful behavior during ongoing religious events should go without saying. Before traveling, you should directly confirm whether the church will be accessible at the intended time. Without confirmed access, it is advisable to combine the visit with a walk through S'Arenal that is already planned rather than making the church the sole destination of the journey.
How do you reach Sant Francesc d'Assís from Palma and the airport?
From the center of Palma, the route follows the Ma-19 to S'Arenal. The road distance to the resort is 15 kilometers, and the journey takes around 23 minutes. From Palma Airport, the road distance to S'Arenal is 9 kilometers, requiring around 12 minutes. Both sets of details apply to the coastal resort rather than the exact church entrance. For the final section, “Sant Francesc d'Assís” should be explicitly selected in the navigation system together with S'Arenal or L'Arenal so that the route leads to the coast at S'Arenal.
How much time should you allow for Sant Francesc d'Assís?
It is not possible to give a reliable fixed duration for visiting Sant Francesc d'Assís because neither a standard tour nor permanently accessible exhibition areas are documented. It therefore makes sense to plan the visit flexibly and combine the church with a walk through S'Arenal. Anyone wishing to spend time there quietly after confirming access should also remember that a church is not an ordinary tourist exhibition space.
Can Sant Francesc d'Assís be reached by public transportation?
The nearby bus stops are 281-Can Xoroll, 302-Can Xoroll, 952-es Pil·larí, and 947-es Pil·larí. Which stop is most suitable for a particular journey depends on the route, direction of travel, and current timetable. The stop information refers to the surrounding area and does not replace navigation for the subsequent walk to the church. Before traveling, both the correct identifier and the remaining distance should therefore be checked, particularly because the names Can Xoroll and es Pil·larí are each listed twice.
What can be combined with a visit nearby?
The most obvious option is a walk through S'Arenal. The settlement was first documented in 1887, developed from a small fishing village, and grew following the construction of the railway connection between Palma and Llucmajor in 1914. From the 1950s onward, tourism increasingly shaped the townscape. Afterward, you can visit the coast with S'Arenal beach and the promenade. The lively, urban vacation atmosphere there forms a clear contrast to the religious destination.