Alcudia, Mallorca – one of the best beach resorts in the Balearic archipelago. Once an ancient Roman settlement on this site, now it is a modern city that provides everything you need for an interesting and pleasant holiday.
General information
Alcudia is a small tourist town located 60 km from Palma. The total area is 58 km2. The population as of 2019 is about 20 thousand people. Being the largest resort spread out in the north-eastern part of the island, it is famous not only for its developed infrastructure, but also for its interesting entertainment program.
Looking through the photo of Alcudia in Mallorca in the tourist avenues, you can see the busy Ma-12 highway, which divides it into 2 parts-resort and historical. The same highway causes a complete absence of the usual center in our understanding, so when booking a room or looking for any attraction, you should focus on which side of the road the object of interest is located.
Currently, Puerto Alcudia, which receives tourists from all over the world, can be safely attributed to universal resorts. Here you can relax not only families with children, but also lovers of excursions, young people and even those who dream of complete unity with nature. However, in search of peace and privacy, they will have to move a decent distance from the tourist area.
Attractions and entertainment
The historical, natural and recreational attractions of Alcudia include many interesting sites that will leave you with many vivid memories. If you are completely unsure of what to see during your 1-2-day stay in the city, take note of the four most visited places.
Old Town of Alcudia
Alcudia Old Town, located in the heart of the resort, was built in the first half of the 14th century. The main reminders of those times are the ruins of the fortress wall that protected the “second gate of Mallorca” from pirate raids, the Roman theater, the Can Torro library, the Gothic church of St. Jaum, the Xara gate, the Arab quarter and a number of other equally significant objects.
What is most interesting is that the squat medieval houses of Old Alcudia are still inhabited by people – not only locals, but also numerous tourists. In addition to private properties, there are many hotels, restaurants, shops and even a huge market. All this can be viewed not only independently, but also as part of an organized excursion group.
Hydropark
Looking at the photo of Alcudia in the tourist avenues, you will see the famous water park located near the city port. Being one of the best hydroparks in its region, it has 5 outdoor pools and 15 water attractions of varying degrees of extreme (there are for adults and children). Among other things, the complex has a paintball area, mini golf courses, restaurants, playgrounds, souvenir shops, safes and changing rooms. The safety of vacationers, especially the youngest, is monitored not only by numerous employees, but also by professional rescuers. Also note that today Hidropark Alcudia is the only water amusement park located in the north-east of the island. Because of this, it is always noisy and crowded.
Location: Avenida Tucan, s / n, 07410 Puerto de Alcudia.
Official website: https://hidroparkalcudia.com.
Opening hours:
- May 1-October 31: from 10: 00 to 17: 00;
- July 1-August 31: from 10: 00 to 18: 00.
Ticket price:
- Adult – 23.50€;
- Children’s and pension-16,90€.
Port of Alcudia
The port of Alcudia, which is the second sea gate of the island of Mallorca, is a huge commercial complex that supplies coal to all local power plants. In addition to parking lots for pleasure yachts, ferries and industrial vessels, there are a lot of shops, souvenir shops, branded boutiques, restaurants and cafes, entertainment for children and other important objects.
In the heart of the port area, you can see a small fishing harbor, built in the time of the ancient Romans. Currently, there is a passenger station that provides ferry services to Menorca and Barcelona. There is a picturesque embankment and an excursion center right next to it. No less noteworthy is the huge wooden bridge, which offers a beautiful view of the surrounding area.
Cape Formentor
Among the best attractions of Alcudia in Mallorca is the protected Cape Formentor, the highest point of which is located at an altitude of 384 m above sea level. In addition to several viewing platforms connected by a steep serpentine, there is a picturesque beach with soft golden sand and turquoise water. The road to the cape, ending at the lighthouse of the same name, is difficult, but interesting. In addition, only from here you can see the entire island. More information about the cape can be found here.
Excursions
A sightseeing tour of the city’s natural and historical attractions can be arranged either on foot or by rented car. Most of the routes start from the church of Hermita de la Victoria and stretch along the riviera for several kilometers. You can also book a boat trip to Minorca, Cabrera, Formentera and other islands in the Balearic Archipelago. Pleasure ferries depart from the port of Alcudia. The fare depends on the destination and the day of return.
No less popular is the caving route, which starts in the eastern part of the resort. Its total length is about 2 km, after which you can visit the unique Del Drak caves, which are one of the main attractions of Mallorca. It should also be noted that in the immediate vicinity of this place is the Albufera Nature Reserve, which is home to up to 300 species of birds.
Beaches of Alcudia
The beaches of Alcudia, which stretch along the Mediterranean coast for about 10 km, are suitable for both family and youth holidays. The main tourist area is located near the port and the so-called “Golden Mile”. This is where Alcudia Beach, the city’s central beach, is located, with a total length of at least 3 km.
The coastline is covered with fine golden sand. The sea is clear and calm, the entrance to the water is gentle, and the depth reaches 50 meters. Conventionally, Alcudia Beach can be divided into 2 sections. The first one, located closer to the port, is full of cafes, restaurants, rental shops and other infrastructure facilities. The second one, located in the bay of the same name, is quieter and less well-equipped.
Looking at photos of the beaches of Alcudia, you can note that it has everything for a good holiday: showers, toilets, taps for washing your feet, children’s and sports grounds, wooden decks, parking lots, food kiosks, etc. In high season, rescuers are on duty, there is a medical office. A dense row of pine trees provides natural shade, but if you wish, you can rent a sun lounger and umbrella with a built-in mini-safe. Beach activities include parasailing, surfing, diving, as well as water biking, sailing boats, catamarans, bananas, SUP boards and other types of water transport. The beach itself is clean, awarded the “Blue Flag” award.
As for the other beaches of Alcudia in Mallorca, these include Cala Molinos, San Vicenc, Cap de Pinar and Cala Mesquida, popular with nudists. As a rule, these are wild or hard-to-reach places that can not boast of ideal conditions and a large number of tourists. Also in the Bay of Alcudia near the resort is one of the best and most popular beaches of the island — Playa de Muro.
Resort infrastructure
Being one of the most visited parts of Mallorca, Alcudia has a well-developed infrastructure. Most of the best hotels are located along the beach, but the prices there are much higher than in ordinary city hotels. Lovers of delicious food will also not be disappointed: in the city (especially on the embankment and near the port) there are many bars, cafes and restaurants of different price categories. In most of them you can not only taste national and European cuisine, but also listen to live music. The large farmers ‘ market is open on Tuesdays and Sundays, providing a great opportunity to buy some traditional Balearic produce.
The center of the resort’s nightlife is located on Avinguda del Tucan Street – where you can find Menta Discoteca, the island’s largest disco. If you want to play golf, go to the Alcanada, a huge sports club suitable for both beginners and experienced players. Fans of outdoor activities will also enjoy Alcudia. On its territory there are a huge number of rental points that provide equipment for water sports, and diving schools that teach you how to properly dive under water. In addition, you can rent several types of bicycles – from ordinary to mountain bikes. But those who appreciate small sightseeing trips will be able to ride on special tourist trains, the routes of which run past the main city attractions.
As for transport accessibility, during the peak tourist season, private flights fly to the island capital, connecting it with many European cities. The distance between Palma de Mallorca and Alcudia can be covered by rented car (from€ 30 per day), bus (from€ 6) or taxi (about€100). In all other cases, you will have to make an air transfer in Madrid or Barcelona. There is also a ferry from there, which costs from 70 to 160€.
Weather and climate: when is the best time to arrive?
The city of Alcudia in Spain is located in the Mediterranean climate zone, which is characterized by hot summers, mild winters and a comfortable off-season. Winter air temperatures range from 7 to 14°C, summer-from 19 to 28°C. Water remains warm almost all year round: in winter, its values do not fall below 16°C, and with the arrival of summer, they rise to 25°C.
The high tourist season lasts from July to August, although the first tourists arrive in late April and early May.
It should also be noted that a strong wind blows most of the season, creating good conditions for surfing and windsurfing. As for diving enthusiasts, they should come in September. The sea becomes calmer at this time of year, so you can easily see the rich underwater world of Alcudia.
Useful tips
Before exploring the city’s main attractions, take note of a few useful tips::
- Thanks to the children’s orientation of the resort, you can relax here even with the youngest children-there are pram rental points everywhere and various devices that facilitate everyday life.
- The average tip size is 10-15%. However, in not very popular establishments, the bill amount can be rounded up at your discretion.
- Even in the low tourist season, you can easily burn out in the sun, so be sure to use a cream with a high level of SPF.
- The photo of Alcudia beach (Mallorca) clearly shows that you can sunbathe here not only on sun beds or sun loungers, but also on your own mats. Thus, you will not only save a certain amount, but also be able to independently “adjust” the direction of the sun. With umbrellas, this is unlikely to work – each of them is attached to the post with a thick chain.
- If you decide to make a long-distance car trip, plan it so that you are on the road from 2 to 4 pm. Spaniards are used to having lunch at this time, so most drivers will stop at roadside cafes. This will allow you to avoid traffic jams and reach your destination several times faster.
- But the locals have dinner quite late – in most establishments it is served no earlier than 9 pm.
- The total length of the resort is about 10 km, so you should consider a car or bicycle as the main means of transportation.
- Regional buses will be an alternative to these types of transport. Travel is paid at the entrance, and the fare depends on the distance of the route, so don’t forget the stop you need.
- There are simply no public toilets on the island. The only exceptions are beaches, train stations, and bus stations. In all other cases, you can safely go to the first cafe or restaurant that comes across. However, if there aren’t too many visitors, you’ll probably need to order at least a cup of coffee.
- Alcudia (Mallorca) is one of the most visited tourist destinations, so you should book hotel and hostel rooms in advance (approximately 3-4 months before the trip).
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