Alcúdia
Alcúdia's seven-kilometre beach shelves so gently you can wade out a hundred metres, and the promenade behind it is pure pushchair country.
- Best forFamilies · Beach lovers · Couples
- In March17°C · 10 rainy days
- Ideal stayA week
- Approx. flying time~12h 20m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyEUREuro
- LanguageSpanish
- Local time13:111h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType C / FBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+34
Why go
The north east corner of Majorca is flatter, greener and gentler than the island's south, and the bay bends round several kilometres of shallow, pale sand. The water shelves so slowly that you can walk a long way out and still be waist deep. Behind the beach runs a pine backed promenade, and a couple of kilometres inland sits a walled town of narrow streets and a busy Sunday market.
A week suits it, and it works across a spread of ages, which is rarer than it sounds. Wetlands, cycling routes and the Tramuntana mountains are all close, and boat trips run to quieter beaches around the cape. May, June, September and October give warm sea without the July heat. Anyone after a party strip or a sophisticated dining scene is on the wrong side of the island.
- Ideal stay
- A week
- The vibe
- Shallow water, pine shade, easy
From our guides
Teenagers peel off to the Hidropark water park, paddleboard rentals or bike rides along the wetlands, while the walled old town supplies atmospheric dinners. It's the north of the island, too — greener and calmer than the party south.
Featured in Ten sunshine spots where toddlers and teenagers are equally happy
Things to do
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Playa de Muro
The southern continuation of the bay is backed by dunes and pine, with the same shallow water and a fraction of the crowd.
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The walled old town
Medieval walls, markets on Sundays and Tuesdays and the Roman remains at Pollentia sit a short ride inland from the beach.
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S'Albufera natural park
The island's largest wetland has flat paths, hides and a good chance of herons, egrets and marsh harriers, and it is easily cycled from the resort.
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Cap de Formentor
The road out to the lighthouse climbs to a viewpoint over the cliffs. In summer access is restricted to buses, which is the calmer option anyway.
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Coll Baix
A steep walk down through pine leads to a pebble and sand cove on the cape, with no facilities and almost nobody on it.
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Cycling the flatlands
The plain behind the bay is a spring training ground for professional teams, with quiet lanes running between Alcúdia, Pollença and Muro.
Getting there
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Fly to
Palma de Mallorca (PMI)
Nearest airport to Majorca, about 47km away as the crow flies.
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Then
To Alcúdia
About an hour by car or coach transfer from Palma (PMI), north across the island on the Ma-13 motorway.
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On the ground
Getting around
The resort, beach and walled old town are all within a flat walk or a short bus hop, and bikes are the local currency for the wetlands and promenade.
Public transport: Island buses link Alcúdia with Palma, Pollença and the north coast, and a summer service runs along the bay.
Flights
Los Angeles Majorca, Spain
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Roughly 12h 20m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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When to go
Daytime highs run from about 15°C in January to 30°C in August. Driest in July; wettest in September, with rain on about 10 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
March17° · rain 10 daysCool with rain most weeks.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Highlighted months are warm and mostly dry — June to August. Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Big family beach hotels and aparthotels, many all-inclusive, plus villas and fincas in the countryside behind. The old town has a few small boutique places.
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Best base overall
Port d'Alcúdia
Directly behind the long shallow beach, with the promenade, restaurants and buses all on foot. Frankly built-up and package-holiday in character, but nothing else puts you this close to the sand.
Find stays in Port d'Alcúdia -
Best for couples
Alcúdia old town
Inside the medieval walls, a mile inland, with a Tuesday market and proper Mallorcan restaurants. You will need the bus or a bike to reach the beach each day.
Find stays in Alcúdia old town -
Best with children
Playa de Muro
The southern continuation of the same beach, backed by the S'Albufera wetlands rather than shops. Calmer and greener, with fewer places to walk to for dinner.
Find stays in Playa de Muro -
Best value
Can Picafort
Further round the bay, cheaper and plainer, with the same gently shelving water. The resort itself is dated, and it is a longer trip to the old town.
Find stays in Can Picafort
Worth knowing before you book: Half the resort closes from November to April. July and August sell out by spring, and the better all-inclusives price cheapest booked as a package from the UK.
Search everything else in Alcúdia by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Timing
- The bay is busiest from mid July to late August. Either side of that, the sea is still warm and the resort half empty.
- With kids
- The shallow shelf and long promenade make this straightforward with pushchairs and small children. Natural shade is limited, so bring your own.
- Driving
- A hire car opens up the mountains and the coves, but old town parking is difficult and the Formentor road closes to cars in high season.
- Pack this
- Water shoes for the rockier coves and a windbreak. The bay catches an afternoon breeze that suits sailing more than sunbathing.
- Getting there
- Palma airport is around an hour by road, with direct buses running through the summer season.
Similar places
Nearby destinations
Mallorca
Spain · 34km away →
Sa Coma
Mallorca, Spain · 40km away →
Sa Calobra
Mallorca, Spain · 47km away →
Deià
Mallorca, Spain · 49km away →
Cala Macarelleta
Menorca, Spain · 70km away →
Menorca
Spain · 80km away →Elsewhere in Spain
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Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Alcúdia?
For warm, mostly dry days, June to August. That means highs of 20–34°C with rain on six days a month or fewer. Daytime highs run from about 15°C in January to 30°C in August. Driest in July; wettest in September, with rain on about 10 days.
How long should I spend in Alcúdia?
Our suggestion: a week.
How do I get to Alcúdia?
About an hour by car or coach transfer from Palma (PMI), north across the island on the Ma-13 motorway.
Do I need a car in Alcúdia?
No. Island buses link Alcúdia with Palma, Pollença and the north coast, and a summer service runs along the bay.
What currency and language are used in Alcúdia?
Currency: Euro (EUR). Language: Spanish. Plugs: type C and F.
Who is Alcúdia best for?
Best for families, beach lovers and couples. In a phrase: shallow water, pine shade, easy.