48 hours in Cartagena – Weekend Edition
Cartagena In Less Than 48 Words
Cartagena is Spain’s main naval port in the Murcia region, and has been so since the 16th century. The city, with its numerous archaeological sites and singular buildings as well as the charm and bustle of a port town, tells the story of 2,000-year long Spanish history.
Teatro Romano (Photo by Raimon Sobrino)
First 24 Hours
You can fly to the port town of Cartagena via the Murcia-San Javier Airport, which is located 30 kilometers from the city center. Unfortunately, there are no direct buses or trains linking the terminal to the city; so the usual practice is to hire a car and drive to the city center yourself. Alternatively, you can simply opt to hire a taxi to take you there, with the 20-minute journey costing you around €40.
Cartagena practically remained a walled city until the early 20th century, so you’ll find that it has a dense and compact city center, making it easy to navigate. However, you may visit its main tourist office (Puertas de San Jose, 00 34 968 506 483, website), where you can get valuable tourist information.
You can also purchase there a Cartagena Card for €18, which will allow you unlimited travel around the city using the tourist bus and harbor ferry, as well as free admission to some of the main attractions. The office is open during Mondays to Fridays from 10 am to 6 pm, and from 10 am to 1 pm on Saturdays.
CHECK IN: Get your bearings back at Cartagena’s hotels
A stay may be arranged in one of Cartagena’s excellent hotels. One of the best in the city is the NH Cartagena (Real 2 Plza Heroes de Cavite 2, 30201 Cartagena, Spain, 34.96.8120908, website). It has a convenient central location, superb rooms, and helpful staff.
NH Cartagena (Photo from Google images)
A nice alternative is Best Western Hotel Alfonso XIII (Paseo Alfonso XIII, 40, 30203 Cartagena, Spain, 34 968 520 000, website), which is a four-star hotel with large rooms and comfortable beds at value prices. You can also try out the Hotel Mangalan (Gran Via s/n Km 6 | La Manga del Mar Menor, 30370 Cartagena, Spain, 34 968 337000). It has rooms with modern designs, plus balconies with nice views of the Meditteranean.
FUERTE DE LA NAVIDAD: Let’s take a view
A popular tourist attraction in Cartagena is the Fuerte de la Navidad (Puerto de Culturas, 00 34 968 50 00 93, website). It is an 18th century fort built as the first line of defense for the Cartagena port, and is known for its cannons designed to rain a barrage of fire upon enemy ships. However, the highlight is climbing up to its top floors, where you will be rewarded with sweeping views of the city and the harbor. The site is open daily (except on Mondays) from 10 am to 7 pm, and admission will cost you €3.50 (free if you have a Cartagena Card). You can also try to scale the hill located above the fort where also you will get some nice views.
Fuerte de la Navidad (Photo from Google images)
LA CONCEPCIO CASTLE: Visit a royal castle
Another noteworthy attraction in Cartagena is the La Concepcio Castle (Calle Gisbert, opposite the Autopsy Pavilion). It is a former royal residence where you can have great views of an old bull ring built on top of a Roman gladiator arena, as well as the Cartagena harbour. The site also houses the Castle Interpretive Center, where you can learn the history of the city beginning from its settlement by Hasdrubal in 227 BC. The center is open daily (except on Mondays) from 10 am to 7 pm, and admission will cost you €3.50 (free if you have a Cartagena Card).
TEATRO ROMANO: Have a cultural visit
A nice way to experience the city’s history is to visit the ruins of the Teatro Romano (Plaza del Ayuntamiento no.9, 30201 Cartagena, 968 525 149, website). It is regarded as one of the most amazing finds in the city’s archaeology, and is a landmark. The site also houses the Roman Theater’s Museum of Cartagena, which features exhibits about the history of the ruins, its construction, its function in ancient society, and various artifacts harvested from the site. The theater is open from Mondays to Saturdays from 10:30 am to 6 pm, and on Sundays from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm.
DINNER TIME: Discover Cartagena’s restaurants
You are guaranteed a delicious dinner at the restaurants available all over the city. One of the best is El Fraile (6 Calle Santiago | Los Nietos, Cartagena, Spain, 34 968 295 071). It offers excellent food at value prices, and maintains a friendly ambience of Irish hospitality. A nice alternative is the Jose Maria-Los Churrascos (Avenida Filipinas, 13, 30366 Cartagena, Spain, 34 968136028, website), which has a very professional and friendly staff, and is run by a welcoming family who allows a tour of their wine cellars.
La Taberna Galega (Photo by Ganxó)
Have some delicious Galician dishes at La Taberna Galega (Calle La Palma 23, 968527074). It is a bistro-style restaurant that serves tapas, scrambled eggs, chorizo, and kale. You can also try out the La Tasca del Tio Andres (Paseo Alfonso XIII 44, 30203 Cartagena, Spain, 968 52 44 44), which is an award-winning restaurant frequented by locals; don’t miss their salmon and scorpion fish. A unique dining experience is also available at D’Almansa (Calle Jabonerias 53, 620 521 308, website), a Michelin-star restaurant that serves exquisite oxtail and angler fish.
Next 24 Hours
Your next 24 hours in Cartagena can be used to discover the city’s other tourist attractions. One of the best among the remaining attractions in the city is the Punic Interpretative Centre (Calle San Diego, 00 34 968 50 00 93, website). It is known for preserving the sole remaining section of the city wall that was built in 227 BC by Hasdrubal. The site is open daily (except Mondays) from 10 am to 7 pm, and admission will cost you €3.50.
You can also visit the nearby House of Fortune (Plaza Risueño). It is a site preserving the ruins of a 1st century Roman home, and you can also find various artifacts inside. It is open from Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 am to 2:30 pm, and admission will cost you around €2.50.
MUSEO NACIONAL: Have a cultural visit
Another noteworthy tourist attraction in Cartagena is the Museo Nacional de Arqueologia Maritima (Calle Dique de Navidad 1, 30201 Cartagena, +34 96 850 8415). It is one of the most popular museums in the city, and houses hundreds of artifacts taken from the ruined ships found at the bottom of the city harbor. Inside, you will find things like carved elephant tusks, gold coins, oil burners, statues, and various ship parts. The museum is also very modern, with computers featuring games that will show you life during the Roman era, as well as the feeling of a diver looking for artifacts under the sea. Admission to the site will cost you around €3.
LA MANGA CLUB: Amuse yourself
Unwind with recreational activities at the La Manga Club (30389 La Manga Club, Cartagena, Murcia, +34 968 175 000 Ext: 1666, website). It is one of the most popular resorts in the city, covering an area of around 1,400 acres and offering fun activities for the entire family, such as golf, horse riding, cycling, beaches, and a children’s club.
Poolside of La Manga Club (Photo by Jackie Clowes)
However, the most popular venue there is its tennis club, which is considered to be one of the finest outdoor facilities in Spain. You have 28 tennis courts to choose from there, and you can learn different skills at the Tennis Academy found there. After a tiring stint at its recreational venues, you can relax at its superb spas that use signature treatments inspired by ancient traditions from around the globe.
CALLE MAYOR: Shop till you drop
Calle Mayor, the shopping district of Cartagena (Photo from Google images)
Shopping enthusiasts can satisfy their shopping craze at Calle Mayor, which is the city’s main street for trade and commerce. It is home to various fashion and clothing outlets, notably Tintoretto, Bershka, Massimo Dutti, Alain Manoukian, and Oysho. You can also find there two independent bookshops, where you can buy the latest novels.
Related posts: