Alcúdia: The Best Things to Do in Mallorca’s Oldest Town

Alcúdia is located in the north of Mallorca and as the oldest town on the island, it’s bursting with history. But even if you’re not a history buff, you’ll love it here: The small old town of Alcúdia is just too pretty!

What you need to do:
➜ Be sure to take a walk along the city wall
➜ People-watching at Plaça de la Constitució
➜ Visit one of Mallorca’s largest markets
➜ Enjoy art & culture, such as the Roman excavations or the Museo Sa Bassa Blanca just outside the city

1. Porta de Sant Sebastià

The old city wall makes the old town of Alcúdia so unique. Two large gates are still preserved; one of them is the Porta de Sant Sebastià, also called Puerta de Mallorca. Once through, you’ll find yourself almost in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the small old town.

2. Alcúdia Old Town

The Old Town is not particularly large, but it’s maintained and well preserved. The narrow main streets are lined with small stores and bars. For the most part, the Old Town is a pedestrian zone.

Mainly, the stores here have adapted to the huge amount of tourists in summer and are selling mainly souvenirs. Still, I think the selection here is more appealing than elsewhere, so if you’re looking for tasteful souvenirs, you’ll definitely find them here!

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3. Plaça de la Constitució

Plaça de la Constitució is the central point in the old town. The small spot is lined with numerous cafés and restaurants: perfect for a break in the middle of things. However, most of the places here are real tourist traps and I would only stop here for a drink at most.

In the side streets, you’ll find a few small cafés and restaurants off the beaten track where you can enjoy the atmosphere. For coffee, cakes and snacks, I recommend Süss, which is a little hidden along a small square. Come here to enjoy great coffee and fresh bocadillos!

4. Porta del Moll

Once you’ve crossed the old town from the Porta de San Sebastian, you’ll eventually end up at Alcúdia’s second major city gate. The Porta del Moll is also called Puerta de Xara and is a popular meeting place in the old town!

5. Alcúdia Market

The Paseo Mare de Déu de la Victòria runs towards the Porta del Moll: the farmers’ market of Alcúdia takes place here twice a week. On Tuesdays and Sundays, you can stroll along the various stalls on the paseo and buy just about anything from vegetables, cheese, food, clothing and souvenirs. Alcúdia’s market is one of the largest on the island!

6. City Wall of Alcúdia

In Alcúdia, you should definitely go up to the city wall! It dates back to the 14th century and is really well preserved. From here, you’ll not only have a great view of the roofs of the old town, but you can also see the Serra Tramuntana on the other side. You can’t walk all the way around the old town, but you can still walk along the wall near the Porta de Sant Sebastià!

7. The Roman Excavations

The history of Alcúdia actually goes back over 4000 years. This makes Alcúdia the oldest town in Mallorca! Archaeological finds suggest that there were already Talaiotic settlements on the site of today’s Alcúdia. Phoenicians and Greeks then landed here until the Balearic Islands were conquered by the Romans in 123 BC. were conquered by the Romans. The Romans called their settlement “Pollentia”, which became the capital of Mallorca and the province of the Balearic Islands.

However, the Roman Pollentia was robbed and destroyed by the Vandals in the 5th century; so a few kilometers away a new settlement was built, today’s Pollença.

With the arrival of the Moors and Arabs in the 10th century, Alcúdia finally got its present name, derived from the arabic word “Al-Qudya” (the hill).

At the end of the 13th century, the construction of the city wall was begun to protect Alcúdia from the many pirate raids. Unfortunately, this was not entirely successful and a number of epidemics caused the population to decline even further. The port of Alcúdia was built in 1779, but Alcúdia only really regained its importance in the last century with the construction of an important power station (no longer in operation today) and the rise of tourism on the island.

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8. Playa de Alcúdia & Playa de Muro

Alcúdia is blessed with some of the most beautiful stretches of beaches on the island. The sea here is wide and open in many places. Especially among kite- and windsurfers, the north of Mallorca is very popular. But the flat sloping beaches are also a dream for families with children .

Playa de Alcúdia Centrally located, yet a very nice beach and popular with families

Playa de Muro Super long, white sandy beach, definitely worth a trip! The jetty, which extends far into the sea, is a popular photo spot!

Playa de Alcanada Less touristy. Mainly located under pine trees and with a rather rocky entrance to the water, Playa de Alcanada is a popular beach for extensive picnics, especially among locals!

9. Port d’Alcúdia

The port of Alcúdia is rather touristy. On the long beach promenade there are numerous cafes and restaurants, but also some stores – even a Mango branch can be found here.

10. La Victória Peninsula

If you are already in the area, I also recommend a side trip to the Ermita de la Victoria. The former hermitage is a popular destination for excursions. Here you can also go hiking or visit somewhat rougher beaches such as Playa S’Illot.

You can also find pure nature in the Albufera National Park.

If you are interested in art, the Museo Sa Bassa Blanca is certainly something for you. The private museum is located in the middle of the peninsula La Victória and is a real insider tip! Get your ticket here*

Where to stay in Alcúdia

Especially along Alcúdia’s beaches in Las Gaviotas and Ciudad Blanca, you will find one hotel complex after another. However, it is not quite as built up here as in other tourist areas.