Alcudia Old Town

Alcudia has the best-preserved medieval walled town in Mallorca. The walls were built in the 14th century and you can walk the full 1 km circuit on top (free). The ramparts give you solid views over the rooftops and surrounding countryside, though the walk takes only 20 minutes and gets crowded by mid-morning. Start at the Porta de Mallorca gate where there's a small parking area.

Inside the walls: narrow cobblestone streets that stay cool even in summer heat, Renaissance churches worth a quick look, and restaurants on small squares where you can eat decent paella for EUR 15-18. The Sant Jaume church has impressive Gothic arches, but skip the small museums unless you're really into local history.

The entrance to the Pollentia Roman ruins costs EUR 4 and gets you access to a Roman theatre and forum from the oldest Roman settlement in Mallorca, founded 123 BC. The theatre is surprisingly intact, though the information boards are sparse. Worth 45 minutes if you like ruins, but honestly not spectacular compared to other Roman sites in Europe.

The Tuesday and Sunday markets fill the streets outside the walls with produce, leather goods, ceramics, and the usual tourist trinkets. Arrive before 10 AM for the good stuff and reasonable prices. The local oranges and olives are excellent, but most leather goods are imported. Expect crowds and inflated prices after 11 AM.

The town sits 2 km inland from the beach, which keeps it quieter than you would expect. You can easily combine this with beach time at Alcudia Bay. Allow 2-3 hours total including the wall walk and market browsing.