With over 2000 years of history, Cartagena in the autonomous region of Murcia in southeast Spain has a rich history to discover. Cartagena is a warm and welcoming naval city located directly on the shores of the Mediterranean sea. It is a perfect hub for art, culture, nature, festivals, music, and sports, with a privileged location for enjoying year-round. Cartagena is waiting for you, with plenty of beaches, protected natural areas, sunny weather, and remnants of several civilizations who have inhabited the area for millennia. Many accommodations fit your needs and budget, always close to something unique.
Our recommendations on which areas to stay
- For a luxury experience in this city, you can stay near the Roman Theatre of Cartagena, close to the city ports, where you can stay and enjoy the views of the Mediterranean sea sunset. Or stay close to the Columnata Romana in the heart of the city’s historic center, with its beautiful architecture and history.
- Plan your family trip around the Ensanche area, near Los Juncos Park, where you can be close to the historic center but in a more relaxed and residential environment, close to amenities like markets, parks, shopping malls, and restaurants.
- If you are looking for cheap accommodations, you can look for options outside the historic center, close to all the main attractions, and well connected by public transportation and walkable areas.
These are our recommendations on accommodations in Cartagena, Spain, in 5 categories:
Room with a view
Luxury
Family travel
Budget
Hotels
Harbor of cultures on the Mediterranean coast
Due to its long history, Cartagena is a great spot to learn and discover the history of Spain and Europe. That’s why it is known as “El Puerto de las Culturas” or The harbor of cultures. The historic center is a walkable space full of historic landmarks like the Roman Forum or the medieval hilltop castle of the Castillo de la Concepción with great views of the Port of Cartagena.
You can walk from the Plaza de la Merced and see the old roman street of Decumano Maximo. Walk through Calle San Diego, discover the MURAM (Museum of Modern Regional Art of Cartagena) and the Interpretation Center of the Punic Wall, and learn from its 2000-year history. Enjoy the afternoon eating traditional Spanish tapas near the Muralla del Mar and watch the sunset on the Mediterranean sea in front of the city’s port, or take a hike to Monte Galeras, a neoclassic-style castle from the 18 century on a hill that rises over 219 meters over the city, to watch the view.
Cartagena has a rich cultural legacy, beautiful geography, and an ideal climate, which makes it a worth-visiting spot on the Mediterranean coastline. You can enjoy different things to do in this city, from visiting the museums and attending festivals to water sports in its harbor or just having a relaxing day on the beach of Cala Cortina.
A luxury look at the past
Enjoy a luxury glimpse into the past by staying in a unique accommodation in the heart of the city. From Roman time theaters to medieval castles and plenty of neoclassical architecture, you can feel like time-traveling in Cartagena. The Buildings of the roman empire era and the views of the harbor will take you to other times. Feel yourself in the early XX century near the Ayuntamiento (town hall), where the city gained its industrial era importance for the Murcia region.
You can enjoy discovering the Old Cathedral of Cartagena and have a nice meal at the several restaurants nearby. Experience the luxury of the former Casino of Cartagena, now a cultural center, and be amused by the festivals of this city, one of them being the International Film Festival of Cartagena in November.
We recommend staying close to the city center, so you don’t miss the views of the city harbor at night. If you want great views of the sea, stay close to the coastline, and also you can rent a boat to keep discovering the Mediterranean sea or the Mar Menor.
Areas to stay as a family
Cartagena is a relaxing destination with several good options for stays and plenty of things to do. Our recommendations are:
- Stay within a walkable distance of Parque Sauces. This park has spaces newly designated for kids, with models of different dinosaurs and playgrounds in one of the biggest parks of this kind in the city. Also, this park is close to the Illusion Sports Center, an open-air sports complex with weekly activities for the whole family.
- Cartagena offers a diverse variety of museums for everyone to learn about its history in a fun way. The neighborhood of Ensanche is between the Municipal Archaeological Museum of Cartagena and the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology. These museums are accessible either by public transportation or by car.
- If you plan your trip for May, you cannot miss the Night of the Museums or Noche de Los Museos, where the city’s museums have special programs and activities for all ages, especially children.
- This neighborhood has plenty of amenities like restaurants, coffee shops, markets, shopping malls such as Mercadona and Cartagena Cenit Mall, and health centers like Hospital Centro Medico Virgen de la Caridad and Instituto Médico Andreo.
A trip on a budget
You can visit Cartagena inexpensively. There are several accommodations around the city for every budget, and you can still enjoy Cartagena and everything this city offers its visitors. Stay anywhere around the city and use public transportation to visit free museums and festivals of this great city, or walk and enjoy the scenery surrounded by castles and the sea. Try hiking up the hill of Castillo de Despeñaperros, or for more difficulty; you can try the Castillo de San Julian over 290 meters above sea level.
