27 Unmissable Things to Do in Alcudia Mallorca

Step Inside the Medieval Walls of the Old Town

The walled old town is the heart of Alcudia and your first port of call. Construction of the walls began in the 14th century under King Jaume II, and what remains today is remarkably well-preserved — a circuit of honey-coloured stone punctuated by towers, arched gateways and deep defensive ditches. Walking the perimeter takes around 30 minutes at a leisurely pace, but budget far longer if you intend to dip into the lanes within. The streets are narrow, cobbled and largely free of traffic, lined with shuttered townhouses, bougainvillea-draped balconies and the occasional medieval church. For a deeper orientation, our guide to exploring Alcudia Old Town covers everything from the best entry points to the architectural highlights hidden in plain sight.

Visit the Roman Ruins at Pollentia

Just outside the old town walls lie the remains of Pollentia, one of the most significant Roman settlements in the Balearic Islands. Founded around 123 BC, the site includes the ruins of a residential forum, the outline of a theatre, and a fascinating collection of streets that once bustled with Roman civic life. Admission is modest and the adjacent Museu Monogràfic de Pollentia provides excellent context with artefacts recovered during excavations. Go early to avoid the midday heat and to have the site largely to yourself.

Spend a Morning at Alcudia Beach

Playa de Alcudia is one of the finest stretches of sand in all of Mallorca — a broad, gently shelving beach with shallow, glass-clear water that makes it ideal for families and swimmers alike. The sand is fine and pale, the water shifts from jade to deep sapphire as it deepens, and the backdrop is a gentle arc of pine-fringed promenade. Sunbeds and parasols are available for hire, but arrive early enough on a summer morning and you can still find a quiet patch. For a comprehensive breakdown of the bay's best spots, read our guide to the best beaches in Alcudia.

Explore the Albufera Natural Park

The S'Albufera de Mallorca Natural Park is a UNESCO-recognised wetland reserve stretching along the coast south of Alcudia, and it is spectacular. Over 200 bird species have been recorded here, including purple herons, bitterns, ospreys and, if you're fortunate, the rare Audouin's gull. The park is free to enter, with well-maintained trails, hides and cycling paths threading through reed beds and lagoons. Bring binoculars, wear light layers and go at dawn or dusk when birdlife activity peaks.

Browse the Famous Tuesday and Sunday Market

Alcudia's market is not just a shopping event — it's a full sensory experience. Held every Tuesday and Sunday in and around the old town, it draws vendors selling Mallorcan sobrassada, fresh produce, leather goods, ceramics, jewellery and no small amount of tourist tat (easily navigated). The atmosphere is convivial and genuinely local in feel, particularly in the early hours before the tour groups arrive. Our ultimate guide to Alcudia Market tells you exactly what to buy, where to park and how to time your visit.

Kayak Around Cap des Pinar

The Cap des Pinar headland, which marks the northern boundary of Alcudia Bay, is a protected military zone accessible only by boat or kayak. Paddling around its sea cliffs reveals hidden coves, sea caves and water so clear you can watch the seabed 10 metres below. Several operators in Port d'Alcudia offer guided kayak tours of two to four hours, often including snorkelling stops. It's one of the most viscerally Mallorcan experiences available — dramatic, wild and largely uncrowded.

Climb to the Cap Ferrutx Lighthouse

For panoramic views across the entire Bay of Alcudia and towards the Serra de Tramuntana mountains, the walk to Cap Ferrutx lighthouse is worth every step. The trail passes through pine and scrubland, and the lighthouse itself sits on a rocky promontory above the sea. It's a moderately demanding walk — bring water, decent footwear and sun protection. The reward is a 360-degree perspective that puts Alcudia's geographical drama firmly in context.

Take a Boat Trip to the Blue Lagoon

The lagoon at Formentor peninsula and the sheltered bays accessible only by sea represent Mallorca at its most pristine. Glass-bottomed boat tours and private charter vessels depart from Port d'Alcudia regularly throughout summer, heading north along the coastline to spots including Cala Murta, Cala Figuera and the famous Cala en Gossalba. Many tours include snorkelling equipment and a barbecue lunch aboard. Book through Visit Balearic Islands or directly with port operators for the best value.

Try Stand-Up Paddleboarding on the Bay

The sheltered, calm waters of Alcudia Bay make it an ideal environment for stand-up paddleboarding. Multiple hire points operate along the seafront promenade, and lessons are available for beginners. Even novices find their feet quickly here — the bay's gentle conditions are forgiving, and the experience of standing above the clear water while watching the old town shimmer in the distance is genuinely memorable.

Dine in a Courtyard Restaurant in the Old Town

Eating well in Alcudia requires almost no effort. The old town is home to a clutch of seriously good restaurants serving Mallorcan cuisine in settings that feel unchanged from the 17th century. Look for frit mallorquí (a robust offal-based fry-up with vegetables), pa amb oli (bread rubbed with tomato and good olive oil, topped with cured meats and cheese), and fresh seafood straight from the bay. The courtyard dining experience — shaded, unhurried, accompanied by local Binissalem wine — is one of the great pleasures of the Mallorcan summer.

Visit the Church of Sant Jaume

The Church of Sant Jaume dominates Alcudia's old town with its imposing Gothic façade and rose window. The interior is cool and atmospheric, with notable altarpieces and a peaceful cloister. Adjacent to the church is a small but worthwhile diocesan museum housing religious art and artefacts connected to the town's long ecclesiastical history. Entry is inexpensive and the church provides a useful counterpoint to the beach-heavy activity around the bay.

Cycle the Bay Promenade to Can Picafort

A dedicated cycle path runs the full length of Alcudia Bay from Port d'Alcudia south to Can Picafort — approximately 10 kilometres each way, flat throughout and largely separated from traffic. Hire bikes from any of the numerous outlets near the port, pack water and snacks, and pedal south at your own pace. The route passes beach bars, pine groves and the edge of S'Albufera, making it as scenic as any cycling route on the island. It's an effortless way to see more of the coastline without the constraints of a tour.

Snorkel the Posidonia Meadows

The Bay of Alcudia is home to extensive underwater meadows of Posidonia oceanica, the endemic seagrass that supports an extraordinary range of marine life. Snorkelling above these meadows — particularly around the northern reaches of the bay near Cap des Pinar — reveals sea bream, octopus, sea horses and occasionally the vivid flash of a painted comber. The clarity of the water here, thanks in large part to the Posidonia itself, is exceptional.

Watch the Sunset from the City Walls

As the afternoon light softens and turns amber, the ramparts of Alcudia's old town become one of the finest vantage points on the island. The walls face west towards the Mallorcan interior, and on clear evenings the Serra de Tramuntana mountains catch the last light in shades of violet and copper. Find a perch near the Porta de Xara or walk the elevated section near the Torre Major and settle in. Bring something cold from a nearby bar and take your time.

Take a Day Trip to the Serra de Tramuntana

The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Serra de Tramuntana mountain range lies within easy reach of Alcudia by car. The drive itself — winding through villages like Pollença, Campanet and Lluc — is half the attraction, with vertiginous road edges and mountain views that demand frequent stops. Hiking trails of varying difficulty lace the range, and the monastery at Lluc makes for an excellent midpoint. For detailed recommendations, our guide to day trips from Alcudia covers the best routes and planning tips.

Visit the Cap de Formentor

The northernmost tip of Mallorca, Cap de Formentor, is a landmark that should appear on every itinerary. The road from Port de Pollença winds dramatically along cliff edges with heart-stopping drops to the sea below, passing the photogenic Mirador des Colomer and the lighthouse at the very end of the peninsula. Access by private vehicle in summer is now restricted on certain days, but a regular bus service operates from Port de Pollença — check the TIB Mallorca transport authority website for current schedules.

Try a Local Cooking Class

Mallorcan cuisine draws on centuries of Mediterranean influence — Moorish, Catalan, Aragonese — and it rewards deeper investigation. Several local operators in the Alcudia area offer hands-on cooking classes covering everything from sobrassada-making to ensaïmada (Mallorca's iconic spiral pastry) and traditional arròs brut (a hearty rice dish with game and vegetables). It's the kind of experience that pays dividends long after you've returned home.

Explore Coves Campanet

Located a short drive inland from Alcudia, the Coves de Campanet are among the most beautiful cave systems in Mallorca — and considerably less crowded than the more famous Drach caves near Porto Cristo. The guided tour (approximately 45 minutes) passes through chambers of remarkable stalactite and stalagmite formations, illuminated to theatrical effect. The cave maintains a constant temperature of around 18°C, making it a welcome escape from the summer heat.

Spend an Evening in Port d'Alcudia

The port area has undergone significant transformation in recent years and now offers a genuinely appealing mix of restaurants, bars and waterfront promenades. The marina is lined with boats of every size, and the sunset views across the bay are best enjoyed from one of the terrace bars along the seafront. The atmosphere is relaxed and cosmopolitan — families, cyclists, serious sailors and day-trippers from across the bay all share the same agreeable space.

Take a Horse Riding Excursion

The landscape around Alcudia — coastal pines, open farmland, mountain foothills — makes it ideal riding country. Several stables in the area offer guided rides of one to two hours suitable for beginners through to experienced riders. Early morning excursions, before the heat builds, are especially atmospheric as the light filters through the pines and the bay glitters in the distance.

Hire a Pedalo or Electric Boat

For something more casual than a sailing charter but more interesting than lazing on the beach, hire a pedalo or small electric boat for a couple of hours. These are available from concessions along the main beach and allow you to explore the bay at your own pace, ducking into shallow coves and spotting the underwater world below. No licence required, no fuss — just the bay and the afternoon sun.

Visit the Alcudia Aquarium

Situated in Port d'Alcudia, Hidropark Alcudia and the surrounding marine facilities provide a family-friendly afternoon option, with exhibits covering the marine ecosystems of the Balearic Sea. It's particularly worthwhile for younger visitors who've been snorkelling and want to identify what they've seen.

Walk the Boquer Valley

The Boquer Valley, a short drive from Alcudia near Port de Pollença, is one of Mallorca's great short walks. The trail cuts through a gap in the mountains and descends to a remote cove, passing through scrubland rich in birdlife — Eleonora's falcons are frequently spotted overhead in late summer. The valley's geological character is dramatic, the crowds are minimal compared to Alcudia's beaches, and the sense of wilderness is extraordinary given how close you are to resort infrastructure.

Watch a Performance at the Roman Theatre

Alcudia's Roman theatre — discovered beneath local farmland and now partially excavated — occasionally hosts open-air performances and cultural events during the summer months. Check the local Ajuntament website for programming, as the experience of watching theatre in a 2,000-year-old structure under a Mallorcan night sky is singular.

Sample Mallorcan Gin and Local Wines

Mallorca has a growing and increasingly impressive wine industry, centred on the Binissalem DO denomination in the island's interior. Several bodegas offer tastings and tours, and Alcudia's restaurants and wine bars stock a strong local selection. The island also produces its own herbal liqueur, hierbas, available in sweet and dry varieties — it's the definitive digestif of the Balearic summer and makes for an excellent, lightweight souvenir.

Join a Guided Night Walk Through the Old Town

After dark, Alcudia's old town takes on a completely different character. The floodlit walls glow against the night sky, the streets empty of daytime crowds, and the sound of cicadas replaces the hum of foot traffic. Several local tour operators offer guided evening walks through the medieval streets, combining history with atmosphere. It's one of the most romantic and underrated ways to experience the town.

Watch the Weekly Processions and Local Festivals

Alcudia's calendar is punctuated by Mallorcan festivals of real colour and community spirit. The Festa de Sant Jaume in late July is the town's most significant celebration, featuring processions, live music, traditional dance and fireworks over the bay. Smaller religious processions and local food festivals occur throughout the year. Timing your visit to coincide with one of these events adds an entirely different dimension to the Alcudia experience.

How to Make the Most of Alcudia

Alcudia rewards visitors who resist the urge to stay purely within their hotel's orbit. The town's genuine distinction lies in the combination of its layers — Roman history, medieval architecture, outstanding natural environment and a bay that genuinely lives up to its billing. Base yourself centrally enough to walk the old town before breakfast, hit the beach by mid-morning, explore the hinterland in the cooler late afternoon and return for dinner as the church bells mark the hour. Hire a car or bike for at least a couple of days to unlock the trails, coves and mountain villages that make northern Mallorca the most compelling part of the island. The things to do in Alcudia are plentiful enough to justify a fortnight, varied enough to keep the most restless traveller engaged, and rooted in a sense of place that most Mediterranean resorts have long since traded away.