Can Picafort Mallorca: Beach, Seafront Promenade and Things to Do
Can Picafort is the resort at the southern end of the Bay of Alcúdia, with 4 kilometres of fine sandy beach and a seafront promenade. The Alcanada Islet with the Aucanada Lighthouse can be made out from the shore on clear days.
Can Picafort is the main resort at the southern end of the Bay of Alcúdia, in the municipality of Santa Margalida. Its long sandy beach, seafront promenade, wide choice of accommodation and abundance of services have made it one of the most popular holiday destinations in northern Mallorca. It is touristy and lively, and there is no point pretending otherwise.
Many visitors staying in Can Picafort head to the Port of Alcúdia for boat trips. The distance is about 16 kilometres, and from the boat you can see the outline of Can Picafort beach during the cruise around the bay.
Where it is
Can Picafort lies at the southeastern end of the Bay of Alcúdia, in the municipality of Santa Margalida.
Coordinates: 39°45'34" N, 3°09'05" E
| Port of Alcúdia | 16 km (~20 min) |
| Son Serra de Marina | 5 km (~8 min) |
| Artà | 30 km |
| Palma | 58 km |
| Airport | ~65 km |
Quick facts
| Name | Can Picafort |
| Municipality | Santa Margalida |
| Type of settlement | Resort with full services |
| Beach | Long, fine sand, regular Blue Flag, full facilities |
| Facilities available | Hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, bike hire, water sports |
| Main access | Ma-12 from Alcúdia or Artà; Ma-13A from Palma |
| Public transport | Buses to Alcúdia, Palma and other towns in the north |
| Distance from Alcúdia | 16 km |
| Best way to visit | Independently, as an accommodation base or a beach day out |
Is it worth visiting?
If you want a convenient base with a beach, a seafront promenade and every service you need for a holiday, Can Picafort fills that role perfectly. It is one of the most practical destinations in northern Mallorca for staying and getting around the island.
It is less suitable if you are looking for authenticity, local atmosphere or historic character. Can Picafort is a resort developed in the second half of the 20th century, with no notable old town. For that, visit the village of Santa Margalida (12 km inland) or Alcúdia's old town.
What the place is like
The resort revolves around the seafront promenade, where hotels, apartments, restaurants and shops are concentrated. The beach is the true centre of local life in summer: long, with fine sand, sun loungers, lifeguards, water sports services and easy access from the accommodation.
The atmosphere is lively in high season, with mainly European tourism.
What to do
Beach: long, comfortable, with full facilities. Regular Blue Flag.
Seafront promenade: restaurants, cafés, shops, bike and beach equipment hire.
Water sports: from the beach you can hire kayaks, paddleboards and jet skis.
Cycling: a bike lane runs around the Bay of Alcúdia from Alcúdia to Can Picafort. For anyone wanting to move between towns without a car, it is a good option.
Necropolis of Son Real: a few kilometres to the north. The Talayotic site of Son Real can be visited on foot from Son Bauló (20 min) or by car. Free entry.
How it fits into an itinerary around the area
Can Picafort is a good starting point for exploring northeastern Mallorca by car.
To the east: Son Serra de Marina (5 min), Colònia de Sant Pere (13 min), Betlem (22 min), access to the Llevant Natural Park.
To the north: the Port of Alcúdia and all our boat trips (20 min).
History: the Necropolis of Son Real, next to Son Bauló just north of Can Picafort.
When to go
Can Picafort is at its busiest between June and September. Out of season, part of the tourist offering closes, although the atmosphere is much quieter. May and October usually strike the best balance between available services and smaller crowds.
Practical tips
For our boat trips from Can Picafort, drive to the Port of Alcúdia (20 min). Leave with time to spare for parking.
Public transport between Can Picafort and Alcúdia: there are buses, with better frequency in high season.
Can Picafort from the sea
Can Picafort marks the southern end of the Bay of Alcúdia. From the water, the resort appears as a long strip of hotels, apartments and seafront promenade at the water's edge: the most recognisable image of an established tourist destination, in contrast to the undeveloped coastline that begins beyond Son Serra de Marina to the east.
The Coves and Caves boat trip crosses the bay with Can Picafort visible on the southern shore before continuing towards Son Serra de Marina, Colònia de Sant Pere and the wild coast of the Llevant Natural Park. Our Private Boat Trips allow you to explore the bay with more flexibility.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do in Can Picafort?
A beach with full facilities, the seafront promenade, water sports, bike hire. A few kilometres away, the Necropolis of Son Real.
Does it have a good beach?
Yes. Long, with fine sand, full facilities and a regular Blue Flag.
Is it a good starting point for visiting coves?
For the coves of the Llevant Natural Park, yes. Son Serra de Marina and Colònia de Sant Pere are a few minutes away.
How do you get to our boat trips from Can Picafort?
Departures are usually from the Port of Alcúdia, a 20-minute drive away. Check our website for available boarding options.
When is it busiest?
In July and August. Outside those months, considerably quieter.
Is it worth it as an accommodation base?
Yes, if you want a base with full services and a beach on foot. For more character or peace and quiet, Colònia de Sant Pere or Alcúdia are alternatives.
Betlem is a quiet coastal settlement in the municipality of Artà, in northern Mallorca. No town beach, but a rocky coastline and access to the Llevant Natural Park just a few kilometres away.
Artà is a municipality in northeastern Mallorca with an inland old town and an unspoilt coastline. It is not a beach town but a gateway to the Llevant Natural Park and the wildest coves of the east coast.
The Necropolis of Son Real is one of Mallorca’s most important archaeological sites, with 143 Talayotic tombs on the coast of the Bay of Alcúdia. It sits just metres from the sea and can be seen from our boat trips.
The Llevant Natural Park protects the most unspoilt stretch of Mallorca’s northeastern coast, with cliffs over 200 metres high, sea caves and coves with no road access. It is the destination of our Coves and Caves boat trip.
150 metres from Alcanada beach lies a 4-hectare islet covered in pines and crowned by the Aucanada Lighthouse, in service since 1861. The water around it is among the clearest in the Bay of Alcúdia, thanks to the posidonia meadows.
The Port of Alcúdia is the departure point for all our boat trips and also a destination in its own right: seafront promenade, restaurants and direct access to the beach. In July and August the parking fills up before 10:00.