Alcudia, Mallorca: The Complete Guide (Old Town, Beaches, and Everything In Between)

Alcudia does something most Mallorca resorts can’t: it gives you a genuinely historic town and one of the longest beaches on the island, all within a few minutes of each other. This guide covers both sides of it, plus everything in between.

What makes Alcudia different from other Mallorca resorts

Most resorts on this island are one thing. Alcudia is two things that happen to sit next to each other.

First, there’s the old town: a walled medieval settlement with intact 13th-century ramparts, Roman ruins dating back to 123 BC, and a market square that’s been busy since the Middle Ages. Then, about a kilometer away, there’s Port d’Alcudia: a modern beach resort with a marina, a long seafront promenade, and 7 km of white sand beach stretching south.

The contrast is surprisingly good. You can spend the morning walking Roman ruins and the afternoon on one of the best beaches in northern Mallorca. Few places on the island offer that combination.

How to get to Alcudia from Palma Airport

Alcudia is in the north of Mallorca, about 55 km from the airport. The drive along the Ma-13 motorway takes around 45-50 minutes in normal traffic.

Private transfer is the most practical option if you’re arriving with luggage or travelling as a group. A private transfer to Alcudia with Janer Bus costs from €85 for up to 4 passengers. The driver meets you at arrivals and gets you straight to your hotel without any connections or waiting around.

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Public bus runs but requires a connection. Take the TIB airport bus to Palma’s Intermodal station, then the 340 or 341 line north toward Alcudia. Total journey time is around 1 hour 45 minutes, and the last buses run relatively early, so check the schedule if you’re arriving in the evening.

Car rental is worth considering if you want to explore beyond the resort. The north of Mallorca has some spectacular corners (Cap de Formentor, the Serra de Tramuntana, Pollença), and a car makes all of them easy to reach on your own schedule.

Alcudia Old Town: what to see and do

The old town is the part of Alcudia that most visitors underestimate. It deserves at least half a day.

The medieval walls

King Jaume II ordered the construction of the defensive walls in 1298, following the Christian reconquest of Mallorca. Much of what you see today is the original structure: not a reconstruction, but actual 14th-century stonework, complete with watchtowers and two main gates. You can walk sections of the ramparts for free and get views across the terracotta rooftops toward the Serra de Tramuntana mountains on a clear day.

The two main gates are the Porta de Mallorca to the south and the Porta de Xara to the north. Both are well preserved and worth a look, especially in the early morning light before the tour groups arrive.

Roman ruins of Pollentia

Just outside the town walls lie the ruins of Pollentia, one of the most significant Roman settlements in the Balearic Islands. The Romans founded it around 123 BC. What remains: the outline of the forum, the Capitol Temple, a residential quarter, and the best-preserved Roman theatre in Spain.

Entry to the site costs around €4. The adjacent Museu Monogràfic de Pollentia, just off the main square on Carrer de Sant Jaume, displays bronze figurines, ceramics, coins, and jewellery recovered from the excavation. The museum and ruins together take about 90 minutes at a relaxed pace. For anyone seriously interested in the history, budget closer to half a day.

The weekly market

Alcudia’s market runs on Tuesdays and Sundays, and it’s one of the better ones in northern Mallorca. Produce, leather goods, local ceramics, clothing, and the usual tourist items. Tuesday tends to draw the larger crowds. The market sets up in the streets around the old town center from around 8:30 to 14:00. If you’re visiting on a non-market day, the old town is still worth wandering: narrow cobbled streets, shaded cafes, and a quiet main square that feels completely different from the beach resort a kilometer away.

The best beaches near Alcudia

The beach situation around Alcudia is genuinely excellent. You have options ranging from a 7 km family-friendly stretch to a hidden cove only reachable by boat or hiking trail.

Playa de Alcudia

The main beach runs for 7 km south from Port d’Alcudia along the bay. Fine white sand, very shallow water that warms up quickly, and calm conditions that make it safe for small kids. The promenade runs parallel to the beach, with restaurants, sun lounger rentals (around €8-12 per day), and lifeguards on duty throughout summer. It’s a busy beach in July and August, but 7 km gives you room: walk 15 minutes south from the main resort area and the crowds thin out significantly.

Playa de Muro

Continuing south along the bay, Playa de Muro picks up where Playa de Alcudia ends. The sand here is slightly whiter and the water marginally more transparent. It’s less built-up than the northern section, bordered partly by S’Albufera natural park, which keeps one side of it development-free. A good choice if you want the same quality of beach with fewer sunbeds in your eyeline.

Playa de Alcanada

A quieter option about 3 km east of Port d’Alcudia, backed by pine forest rather than hotels. The beach is smaller and has fewer facilities, but the setting is prettier. From here you get a clear view of the Alcanada lighthouse, sitting on a small island just offshore. It’s a landmark you’ll recognize from boat trip photos, and it looks particularly good at sunset.

Es Coll Baix

The best beach in the area, and the hardest to reach. Es Coll Baix is a crescent of pebbles backed by towering limestone cliffs, tucked into the rocky coastline north of Port d’Alcudia. To get there you either take a boat from the marina (glass-bottom boat trips run regularly from around €26 per adult, with a swimming stop at the cove) or hike down from the road above: a 30-minute trail through pine forest that ends with steep stone steps down to the shore. The hike isn’t technically difficult, but the steps are rough, so wear proper shoes.

The payoff is a beach that doesn’t feel like it should be part of a package holiday resort. Go in the morning before the boat trips start arriving.

Quick beach comparison

Beach	Access	Crowd level	Best for
Playa de Alcudia	Easy	High	Families, all-day beach
Playa de Muro	Easy	Medium	Quieter swim, natural setting
Playa de Alcanada	Easy	Low-medium	Scenery, pine shade
Es Coll Baix	Boat or 30-min hike	Low-medium	Dramatic setting, snorkeling

Things to do in Port d’Alcudia

Beyond the beach, the port area has a marina and a seafront promenade that are worth exploring, especially in the evenings.

Boat trips

The most popular activity in Port d’Alcudia, and genuinely worth doing at least once. Glass-bottom boat trips leave from the marina and head north along the coast, passing the Alcanada lighthouse before dropping anchor at Es Coll Baix for a swimming stop. The trip takes around 2 hours and costs from €26 per adult. Operators including Alcudia Sea Trips and Coral Boats run departures throughout the day from May to October. Some operators also offer half-day trips all the way to Formentor Beach if you want to cover more coastline.

Water sports and kayaking

The calm, shallow bay is well suited to paddleboarding, kayaking, and snorkeling. Rental is available from several spots along the beach promenade. Guided kayak tours along the northern coastline stop at sea caves and quieter coves, with most trips taking 2-3 hours and costing around €35-45 per person.

The promenade

Port d’Alcudia’s seafront promenade runs the length of the beach and is at its best for an early morning walk before the heat arrives. The marina end is the prettiest section, with yachts moored alongside waterfront restaurants and a view across the bay. It gets much livelier in the evenings when the terraces fill up.

S’Albufera Natural Park

Most visitors drive straight past it on the way to the beach. That’s a mistake.

S’Albufera is the largest wetland in Mallorca, covering 1,650 hectares just south of Port d’Alcudia on the road to Can Picafort. More than 300 bird species have been recorded here, including purple herons, ospreys, Eleonora’s falcons, and western marsh harriers. Spring and autumn are the best seasons for birdwatching, when migratory populations pass through. Even if birds aren’t your thing, the flat walking trails through the reed beds are a genuinely peaceful contrast to the beach.

Entry to the park is free, but you need a free permit from the visitor center (about 1 km inside the park entrance). The park opens at 09:00. Paths are flat and pushchair-friendly. One practical note: bring insect repellent in summer. The mosquitoes are serious.

Best day trips from Alcudia

Alcudia’s position in northern Mallorca puts it close to some of the most dramatic scenery on the island.

Cap de Formentor

The most iconic viewpoint in northern Mallorca, about 25 km from Alcudia. The cape is a narrow peninsula where cliffs reach 300 meters above the sea. At the very tip, the Formentor lighthouse has been in operation since 1863.

There are two ways to get there. By car: the winding road from Port de Pollença to the lighthouse is spectacular, but note that in summer (roughly June to September) it’s restricted and you may need to take a shuttle bus from Port de Pollença. By boat: operators in Port d’Alcudia run half-day trips to Formentor Beach, the white sand beach just before the cape, which is the easier option if you don’t have a car.

We also run airport transfers to Formentor if you’re staying in that area.

Pollença

About 12 km west of Alcudia, Pollença is one of the most handsome towns in Mallorca and a very easy half-day trip. The 365 stone steps of the Calvari staircase lead to a small chapel with panoramic views over the town and the surrounding countryside. The Sunday morning market on the Plaça Major is excellent: local produce, antiques, handmade goods, and a relaxed atmosphere that feels nothing like the resort strip back in Port d’Alcudia.

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Where to eat in Alcudia

The eating options split neatly between the old town (more traditional, fewer tourists) and the port area (wider choice, more international options).

Celler Ca’n Costa in the old town is the oldest restaurant in Alcudia, family-run since 1983. This is the place for traditional Mallorcan cooking: pa amb oli, sobrassada, slow-cooked lamb, local rice dishes. The kind of portions that assume you skipped breakfast. Menu del dia around €13-15. Get there early because it fills up fast.

Can Punyetes, near the port, does excellent tapas and fresh seafood in an unpretentious setting. The fish is the thing to order here: whatever came in that morning. Reliable quality, reasonable prices, popular with locals as well as visitors.

The Wine Side is a gastrobar focused on Mallorcan wines alongside simple, well-sourced dishes. Good for a longer lunch or an evening of drinks and food. The wine list covers smaller local producers you won’t find easily elsewhere.

Miramar, on the port seafront, is the more formal option with a long-standing reputation for Mediterranean cooking. The kind of place you go for a proper dinner rather than a quick bite. Expect €25-35 per person.

For quick lunches, the old town cafes around the main square do good sandwiches, pa amb oli, and local pastries. Most restaurants on the port promenade offer a menu del dia for €12-15: starter, main, dessert, and a drink.

Is Alcudia lively? Nightlife and atmosphere

Port d’Alcudia has a nightlife strip centered around Avenida Tucán, near the beach. It’s active in July and August, with bars open late and a few live music venues. It caters heavily to British package holiday visitors, which tells you something about the energy level and the prices. It’s not Magaluf by any measure, but it’s not a quiet evening stroll either.

The old town is a completely different story: peaceful after 10pm, restaurants close up, and the cobbled streets settle into a village calm.

If you want lively evenings, base yourself in Port d’Alcudia near the promenade. If you want quiet, the old town or the residential areas south of the port are the better choice. Both are within easy walking or a short drive from each other.

Best time to visit Alcudia

May to June is our top pick. Temperatures sit between 20-27°C, the beach is fully open, most businesses are running, and the summer crowds haven’t fully arrived yet. The sea is cool in May (around 18°C) but comfortably swimmable by June.

September is arguably even better. The sea has warmed up all summer to around 24°C, everything is still open, and there are noticeably fewer people than in August. October remains warm in the first half of the month before cooling down more noticeably.

July and August are peak season: temperatures hit 30-33°C, the beaches fill up by mid-morning, and accommodation prices peak. Everything is open and the resort is at its liveliest. Just arrive at beaches early and book restaurants ahead.

Monthly reference:

Month	Average high	Sea temp	Notes
April	19°C	16°C	Cool but dry. Old town is at its best.
May	23°C	18°C	Good value. Beach season warming up.
June	27°C	21°C	Beach season properly underway.
July	31°C	24°C	Peak summer. Hot and busy.
August	32°C	26°C	Hottest month. Very crowded.
September	28°C	24°C	Our favorite month. Warm sea, fewer crowds.
October	23°C	22°C	Still warm in early October. Quieter.

Frequently asked questions about Alcudia

Is Alcudia nice?

Yes, and more so than the average Mallorcan resort. The old town is one of the better-preserved medieval settlements on the island, and the beaches are among the best in the north. It has real history alongside the beach, which most package holiday destinations here don’t.

Is Alcudia warm in April?

Pleasant rather than hot. Average temperatures sit around 17-19°C, so committed swimming is borderline. But for walking the old town, visiting Pollentia, and day trips to Formentor, April is actually a great month: clear skies, no crowds, lower prices. Most hotels and restaurants reopen from Easter onwards.

Is Alcudia warm in May?

Much more so. Average high of 23°C with around 8 hours of sunshine per day. The sea is still cool (around 18°C) but many people swim. It’s one of the better months to visit: warm enough for the beach, not yet crowded.

Is Alcudia hot in September?

Yes. Average high of 28°C with a sea temperature of around 24°C. September is legitimately one of the best months to visit, with warm conditions and noticeably fewer visitors than in August. It’s the month we’d choose if the calendar allowed it.

Is Alcudia hot in October?

Early October is still warm (average high around 23°C, sea around 22°C) and very swimmable. By the second half of the month it cools noticeably. Expect some rain in late October, but the first two weeks are generally pleasant.

Is Alcudia tacky or chavvy?

Honestly, parts of Port d’Alcudia’s bar strip fit that description: full-English breakfasts, cheap drinks promotions, souvenir shops. It’s clearly serving a specific market and doesn’t try to hide it.

The old town is the complete opposite: sandstone walls, Roman ruins, a quiet market square, proper Mallorcan restaurants. There’s a five-minute drive between the two areas, but they feel like completely different places. If the vibe matters to you, base yourself in or near the old town, or choose accommodation on the quieter southern stretch of the beach rather than the main resort strip.

Is Alcudia safe?

Very. Alcudia has a low crime rate and is a well-run, family-oriented resort. The usual common-sense precautions apply (don’t leave valuables visible in a parked car, keep an eye on bags in busy market crowds), but there’s nothing to be specifically concerned about.

Is Alcudia good for families?

One of the better family destinations in northern Mallorca. The beach is shallow, warm, and very long. The boat trips to Es Coll Baix are a hit with kids. S’Albufera is good for a different kind of day out. The old town is interesting enough for older children without being exhausting. There are also water parks within a short drive if you need to deploy that option on a rest day.