Alcudia

Lively nights, bustling markets and Roman ruins – holidays to Alcudia bring you a beach break with extras. But with one of the longest sandy strips on Majorca, you might just want to relax.

An old favourite

Set on the north-east coast, Alcudia is one of the oldest spots on Majorca. It still wears its Roman history well with a smattering of ruins up by the old town. Down on the coast it’s a different story – there’s a marina here lined with open-air restaurants. As for the beach, you’ve got one of the longest strips on the island.

A long beach

The Blue Flag beach at Alcudia spools the coastline for 7 kilometres. It’s a sandy stretch that shelves gently into the sea, and the water here is calm and shallow. You’ll find plenty of beach bars and cafes along the front. The end nearest the town gets the lion’s share of watersports, while the Playa de Muro side is a quieter spot where the snorkellers hang out.

The old town

Up in Alcudia’s old town, a couple of gateways take you through the Medieval walls into this bustling centre. You’ll find narrow alleyways and small squares filled with quaint churches, cubby-hole restaurants and family-run shops. It’s a great place for some freestyle wandering, or the tourist office can hook you up for a 2-hour guided tour.

Easy daytrips

A 20-minute bus ride along the coast and you’re at the S’Albufera nature reserve. It’s a prime spot for twitchers, with hides getting you up close to over 200 birds. Or if you fancy some retail therapy, in less than half an hour you can be in Inca. The place is famous for leather – and you’ll find a top line-up of bags and shoes at the Thursday market here.