How to take a revitalising workation in Alcúdia, Mallorca

Working remotely on a Mediterranean island surrounded by art, history and stunning coastal scenery. How would that compare to your everyday office at home? Welcome to Alcúdia, a historic town and beach port on the peaceful north side of Mallorca. With its sandstone-walled historic old citadel, stretches of unspoiled golden sand, and a backdrop of clifftops and mountains, Alcúdia is perfect for combining work and leisure. In this complete guide to taking a workation in Alcúdia, we explain all you need to plan your remote work escape.

This site contains links to travel services we recommend, from which we may make commission at no extra cost to you. We were hosted in Alcúdia with assistance from Ajuntament d’Alcúdia, who arranged complementary accommodation and experiences, and remunerated us for content production and expenses. Our opinions are our own, and we always give honest travel recommendations.

Why Alcúdia is perfect for a wellness workation

Taking a workation is a wonderful way to reinvigorate your mind. If your job perks give you the opportunity to work from anywhere, then how about using that freedom to spend a week or two somewhere close to beautiful nature, where you can also connect with a rich local culture and history? A workation in Alcúdia brings incredible wellness benefits.

Alcúdia provides an environment that combines all the elements we look for in a wellness workation destination, and much more! Firstly, the surroundings are breathtaking, nestled on the north side of Mallorca skirted by mountains that peer over spectacular concealed bays.

Mallorca is well known as a beach holiday destination, but Alcúdia is a place that makes you realise there is a lot more to this sun-kissed island than all-inclusive resorts. Just inland from the beach, Alcúdia’s medieval old town is encircled by sandstone walls and woven together with romantic alleyways that seem frozen in time.

And if beaches and sunshine are your thing, there’s plenty of that in Alcúdia as well. Kilometres of white sand stretch down from its port area, lined with Mediterranean restaurants and specked with sun-loungers. Midway along the beach, a jetty stretches out onto the deep blue water, where you can meditate in the calmness of the bay’s surroundings.

When it comes to accommodation, Alcúdia is home to some of Mallorca’s most beautiful hotels, both in the old town or along the coast, from elegant boutique treasures to contemporary resorts. Many of Alcúdia’s hotels are equipped for working remotely, with spaces to work or desks in bedrooms. Later in this guide we pick out some of our personal favourites.

If you crave human connection in your work environment, you can hire a desk for the day in a local coworking space within metres of the beach.

And when you have leisure time, whether a free afternoon or a full day off, there’s a rich variety of activities to try in Alcúdia. Imagine beginning your work day with a cruise at sunrise to see dolphins, or ending it with a horse ride into the countryside and tasting Mallorcan wines. If you like exploring art – a great way to stir your creativity while on a workation – you can take a ride up a scenic mountain road to the stunning museum and gardens of Sa Bassa Blanca.

When is the best time to take a workation in Alcúdia?

With a Mediterranean climate of hot summers and mild winters, Alcúdia is gorgeous to visit at any time of year. For a remote working trip, we prefer to visit outside of the high summer season (June to August), when the temperature can soar over 30°C and the area gets busy.

I took a workation in Alcúdia in April, with springtime in the air and flowers blooming on the trees. The climate is pleasantly warm at this time of year, and the pace of life is much calmer and more relaxed before it gets busier in summer.

Our first visit to Alcúdia was in November, when the air is a bit cooler and the streets are even quieter. Late autumn is a sweet spot for a serene wellness workation in Alcúdia. You might have the entire beach to yourself for a sunrise walk, or wander the dimly lit cobbled streets of an almost deserted old town after dark.

During winter, some hotels and restaurants close down, and visitor attractions scale down their running hours. This is the quietest time to visit Alcúdia, and prices are typically much lower.

Where to stay in Alcúdia for a workation

Alcúdia has a range of great places to stay for a remote work escape, from elegant boutique hotels with work desks in the heart of the old town, to resort complexes that offer a full spectrum of facilities. In our guide to hotels in Alcúdia for remote work we explore three recommended hotels in detail.

I was hosted for a workation at Alcudia Garden Aparthotel, a lovely resort less than 100 metres from the beach, combining spacious serviced apartments with an all-inclusive setup. You can stay here in your own private apartment, with a secluded garden or a balcony overlooking the outdoor pool, and plenty of space to work both inside and out. The complex also has an indoor pool, gym, sauna, restaurant, bar and 24-hour service – everything you need around the clock.

Inside the sandstone walls of the medieval old town, you can stay at Fonda Llabrés Boutique, an intimate hotel overlooking the main square. When you’ve finished your day’s work here you can head up to the panoramic rooftop terrace and enjoy the most stunning view for miles around. The 360 perspective stretches from the old town streets below to the picturesque bays either side, and beyond to the mountains in the distance.

Right next door, the adults-only Forum Boutique Hotel & Spa is one of the most beautiful hotels in the old town. All of its 16 luxurious rooms are equipped with a comfy work desk. When you want to unwind during your downtime you can book treatments in the spa, relax in the pool or jacuzzi, or head up to the secluded sun terrace with views across the rooftops.

Working remotely in Alcúdia: coworking by the beach

If you want a change of scenery from working in your hotel or apartment, or you’d like to connect with people on your workation, you can hire desks by the day at CoCowork Alcúdia Beach. Set 50 metres back from the beach and next door to a Mediterranean restaurant, there’s a relaxed vibe here with a diverse community of about a dozen coworkers. The space is in a hotspot with 1GB fibre broadband, so you can be sure of strong connectivity.

The coworking space is run by Verónica and José, a couple of digital entrepreneurs who wanted to create a shared workspace environment as a base for their own business. José showed me around, and you can read more details about the setup in our review of coworking in Alcúdia by the beach.

7 amazing Alcúdia activities while on workation

There are many ways you can make the most of your leisure time when you take a workation in Alcúdia. You might just want to relax and enjoy the Mediterranean surroundings, or make the most of your hotel’s facilities. But if you want to get out and about, these are some of our favourite ways to explore the local culture and the coastal landscape.

Begin your day with a sunrise beach walk (or run)

Alcúdia Beach is a glorious stretch of sand that extends 3 kilometres around the bay from the port. Turquoise waters lap along the fine white sand, and a promenade lined with palm trees hugs the edge of the beach. And as the beach is eastwards-facing, you can witness stunning sunrises across the water every day.

On my workation in Alcúdia I made the most of the opportunity to take sunrise walks before beginning my day’s work. If a morning run is part of your routine, the setting is truly stunning. You will open your laptop afterwards feeling fresh and focused.

Take a dolphin-watching sunrise boat tour

The Mediterranean waters around Mallorca are home to various species of dolphin, and the best time to see them is at daybreak. If you don’t mind an early start, you can book a sunrise dolphin boat tour that sets off from Alcúdia port. Not only do you get to see these playful creatures close up in their natural habitat, but the tour also gives you the chance to see an unobstructed perspective of the mountainous landscape of the north Mallorcan coast.

When I took this tour, we set off at 6am and arrived back just before 9am. You can be back in time to check your morning emails, or just relax if you’re taking the day off.

It takes about an hour to reach the dolphin viewing spot. On the way you cruise around the coastline, past the iconic Cap de Formentor, Mallorca’s northernmost point. Make sure you wrap up warm, as the sea breeze can bite! You can sit in the warmth of the lower deck, but if you go upstairs to the open upper deck you can enjoy the best of the views as the sun rises, casting an orange glow over the scenery.

At the viewing area, the boat’s engine is switched off, and you have around half an hour to watch packs of dolphins leaping and frolicking. I was amazed how close they swam to the boat, coming and going in packs. One dolphin leapt a good three or four feet out of the water, drawing gasps from everyone on the boat.

Breakfast is served on the lower deck as you cruise back to the bay, and this time you can watch the landscapes drift past in a different perspective of full daylight.

Try horse riding and wine tasting at Ranxo Ses Roques

You can connect with nature and get to know the local food culture on your workation in Alcúdia by trying a horse riding and wine tasting experience, organised by Ranxo Ses Roque, a local family-run ranch and farm.

The first part of this experience will introduce you to the local countryside in one of the most traditional ways: riding on the back of a Mallorca horse! The friendly team at the ranch will help you get kitted up and pair you with a horse that suits your level of experience.

As a complete beginner, I needed a gentle ride, and so the team paired me with a charming old steed called Pirata (Pirate). He went at a lovely relaxing pace as we traversed with the group around woodlands at the base of the mountain.

When you arrive back at the ranch, there is some free time to look around and say hello to the resident animals. Then, it’s time for wine! The selection of organic Mallorcan wines you try is paired with various local delicacies – cheeses, pates, breads, sausage, all freshly prepared.

Miguel, the ranch owner, first created this experience through a desire to show visitors what Mallorcan culture is really all about – much more than just beaches and resorts. He took us on a journey through the tasting experience, bringing every sip to life as he passionately explained the stories behind each wine.

We tried two whites, a rosé and a red, finishing off with a local herbal spirit made with a secret special ingredient. Every wine was accompanied with delicious local produce to match.

This tour will give you a fun and friendly introduction to local traditions. It is typically run at 3:45pm, a perfect way to get outdoors and refresh your mind at the end of the day if you finish work at mid-afternoon. Alternatively, you could try a longer horse ride up into the mountains, which sets off at 5pm.

You could even spend your entire workation at the ranch with a stay at Villa Ranxo Ses Roques. There’s plenty of space in the villa to work, with nature and wine right on your doorstep.

Have a delicious African fusion dinner at Malgache

With fish fresh from the sea and organic produce directly from the farms, there is an amazing variety of food to try around Alcúdia. On my workation I enjoyed a three-course meal at Malgache, a restaurant with a creative menu that blends African influences with international cuisine.

This restaurant is a real hidden gem, tucked away on a road just behind the beach near Alcudia Garden Aparthotel. You might not notice it walking past, but once you step inside you are met with a wonderful ambience and subtle decor to match the African theme. On a warm spring or summer evening you could treat yourself to a meal here after a day’s work and then walk it off with a sunset stroll along the beach afterwards. What could be better?

I chose the cod loin and prawn ceviche to start. Lisa and I have eaten ceviche in restaurants in Peru, Mexico, Chile and Spain, and this was as good as any we’ve tried. You can tell the fish is fresh from the sea, and prepared beautifully with herbs and citrusy flavours.

For my main I couldn’t resist a taste of steak, and so I ordered the Moroccan-style Café Hanout entrecôte. In other words, a rib-eye steak with a north African twist! The meat was cooked perfectly to my liking and served with hand-cut chips. The staff, ever friendly and attentive, were happy to recommend a wine to accompany the steak; I had a lovely smooth glass of Matarromera Melior tempranillo.

The menu is full of innovative dishes mixing ingredients and flavours that you don’t often see. This creativity is reflected right down to the dessert options, from which I ordered a cream-filled mango cannelloni with a pineapple confit, caramelised sesame seeds and coconut foam. It was a sumptuous taste of the tropics, and the sesame seeds added a subtle extra dimension that helped to bring out the exotic flavours.

Finally, I capped off my meal with one of the specialist house cocktails. The cocktail menu is every bit as original as the food offerings. I tried a Trembo, a Madagascan blend of rum, mango, vanilla and juice. It was the perfectly refreshing cocktail for a warm evening, presented with an artistic touch, just like every dish.

Explore Alcúdia old town and walk on the medieval walls

Just a 20-minute walk inland from the beach, the medieval Alcúdia old town is like a storybook citadel, encircled by sandstone walls. Alcúdia has its roots in Roman times, and just outside these walls you can see the wonderfully preserved ruins of the Roman settlement of Pollentia.

A walk along the narrow streets of the old town is like a journey back in time. The walled citadel dates back to the 13th century, and the architectural footprint of the Middle Ages still lingers on. For the best view of it, you can climb a stairway up to the top of the walls and walk around the fortifications, enjoying a breathtaking vista across the old town rooftops and the surrounding mountainous landscape.

The roads spilling out from the main old town square are dotted with charming cafés, shops and restaurants with concealed courtyards. You could spend hours getting lost in this setting on your days off, stopping for a drink in the sunshine.

If your workation in Alcúdia coincides with a Tuesday or Sunday, you can visit the weekly market at Porta del Moll, a 14th century gate at the eastern side of the walls.

There are lots of events around the old town too. Just outside the walls is a former bull-fighting ring that has been repurposed into a concert and festival venue. For a wider variety of creative events, you should also check out Biblioteca Can Torró, the old town library, which has been transformed into a cultural space.

Finally, make sure you pay a visit to the old town’s most impressive piece of architecture, the huge sandstone Church of Sant Jaume, which blends into the walls on the south side. Originally built in the 14th century, the church you see today was reconstructed and opened in 1893.

Dine in an old theatre converted into a restaurant

It is impressive how many superb places to eat can be found within such a small area in Alcúdia old town. You can barely walk around a corner without encountering a boutique Mallorcan restaurant serving great local food.

My guide for a tour of the old town recommended Restaurant Celler Ca’n Costa. The cod fillet with garlic and honey is a house speciality here, and is paired perfectly with a glass of Mallorcan white. Fish and wine have been at the heart of the local economy for eight centuries, so you can’t go wrong combining the two!

If you’re looking for a cheaper eat at lunchtime, try the menu of the day at Ca´s Capellà, also known as the Angel Bar, because of the array of angel sculptures spread across its walls. I had a tasty three-course meal with a drink at remarkable value here for €11. The cheesecake for dessert was especially impressive in its size!

If you have just one spare evening to dine out in Alcúdia, then take the chance to experience the magnificent Satyricón, set within a repurposed old theatre. Step inside, gaze around, and you will see the balconies and galleries of the old auditorium encircling above and a spectacular fresco mural on the ceiling.

Satyricón also has a courtyard to the rear, in front of another beautiful fresco depicting the old Roman city. At lunchtime you can relax out here with a coffee and cake. I even brought my laptop for a change of working scenery for a little while.

See the mesmerising art collection and gardens at Sa Bassa Blanca

Museo Sa Bassa Blanca is not only the home to one of the world’s most stunning art collections, it also has a jaw-dropping location to match, perched on a headland overlooking the sea next to Alcúdia.

This sprawling gardens and series of art galleries and displays is the creation of Ben Jakober and Yannick Wu, a world-renowned artist couple who lived in Mallorca for more than three decades. Now in their 90s and 80s respectively, they are still active and continue to build and enhance their collection.

As a descendant of displaced Austrian Jews myself, I was fascinated to learn about Ben Jakober’s story. Born in Vienna in 1930, he fled from Nazi persecution and escaped to England, as my own grandmother did. He went on to travel all over the world and eventually moved to Sa Bassa Blanca in 1980 with Yannick Wu. By then, they had been married for 8 years.

In the time since, the couple have continued to travel while amassing a collection that sees obscure African and aboriginal artworks intertwined with works of famous western artists. The main building at the complex was built by an Egyptian architect and resembles a white fortress overlooking the sea.

Inside, each room features a carefully curated display, bringing together works that are often greatly separated in time and distance, but linked through colour, meaning and themes.

Around the estate you can walk through sculpture gardens and see unique installations. One garden has 99 different types of rose, incredible to see when in bloom. And concealed among these scenes are more galleries and exhibitions to explore.

An underground water reservoir has been transformed into an exhibition space, where you can see an evocative and often haunting display called “Nins”. Translating to “children”, it collates portraits of high-society children from various European countries between the 16th and 19th centuries.

Another roomy underground space, the Sokrates Gallery, houses a thought-provoking display of contemporary art juxtaposed with prehistoric artefacts.

You could spend an entire day at Sa Blassa Blanca and still not cover it all. Exploring art is such a great way to stimulate creativity on a workation, and this place is guaranteed to do that.

How to get from Palma Airport to Alcúdia

Palma de Mallorca Airport, the only international airport in Mallorca, is about a 45-minute drive from Alcúdia. The easiest way to get from the airport to Alcúdia is to take a taxi. We usually book our airport transfers with Welcome Pickups, which is good value and easy to use.

You might prefer to hire a car, which is what we did on our first trip to Alcúdia. We use RentalCars to find and compare the best deals on car hire in Mallorca. This is a great option for a workation in Alcúdia as it gives you more freedom to explore the stunning coastlines beyond the town. Make sure you take a drive up to the lighthouse at Cap de Formentor to see the most photographed landmark in Mallorca.

If you prefer to go back to basics and use public transport, you can take a bus from Palma Airport to Alcúdia. The A32 bus departs from the airport approximately once every hour until midnight, and take about 60 minutes to get to Alcúdia.

Have you taken a workation in Alcúdia? Let us know about your experiences in the comments below.

Want more ideas for a remote working escape in the Balearics? You can also read our original guide to taking a workation in Palma de Mallorca.

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