What is the Location of Cartagena?
Cartagena is situated on the Costa Calida in the South East territory of Spain. It is situated to the south of Murcia, Torrevieja, Orihuela, Alicante, and Elche. Some of the surrounding towns or villages include Mazarrón, La Unión, Torre Pacheco, San Javier, Totana, Fuente Álamo de Murcia, and Los Alcázares. The best airports to use to come into this region are the ones that Alicante and Murcia. Distances are given below.
Airport Distances from centre of Cartagena
Murcia Airport Distance in Kilometres: 30.5 km Drive Time: 26 minutes
Alicante Airport Distance in Kilometres: 115.9 km Drive Time: 1 hour and 12 minutes
Almeria Airport Distance in Kilometres: 181.9 km Drive Time: 1 hour and 55 minutes
Granada Airport Distance in Kilometres: 314.6 km Drive Time: 3 hours and 19 minutes
Cartagena accommodation
You can stay in many different places here including guest houses, Murcia hotels, self catering lodging, and camping amenities. You are guaranteed to find Murcia accommodation to suit all finances.
One hotel that has some nice reviews is the Hotel Cartagonova which is located on Calle de Marcos Redondo, 3, 30202 Cartagena. The hotel has a total of 100 rooms all with satellite TV, Internet access, and air conditioning. There is a fitness centre in a hotel, and you can also have a massage, a sauna, Jacuzzi, or indulge yourself in the Spa and Wellness Centre.
“Firstly I did not stay in this Hotel. I asked my works hotel booking service to book this hotel as i was attending a meeting\conference in this Hotel. Instead they booked the NH Cartagena instead as no one at the Hotel spoke English. I thought I would mention this as this hotel is displayed on here as having multilingual staff. I can only go on my own experience of the four days i spent in the hotel at the meeting it was very difficult speaking to the Staff and we would have had a problem without our Spanish colleagues.
To be fair the reception areas and conference rooms were all of a good standard.”
Or you might like to stay in the Hotel Carlos III, which is located on Calle de Carlos III, 49, 30203 Cartagena.
“My husband and I recently returned from an Argentinean Tango festival in Cartagena, Spain. We were recommended to stay in Hotel Carlos III and we were not disappointed. This 3 star Hotel is situated in a quiet side road in the centre of town and we had the luxury of walking to most places. The staff were polite, very helpful and spoke reasonable English.
The hotel has about 150 rooms, a small business centre and restaurant. Being a light sleeper I requested a room in a quiet location and was not disappoint as our next door neighbor was a cleaning cupboard! We were allocated a large double room. All rooms have ensuite facilities and are very clean. Our bathroom was reasonably sized and had a bath and shower.
Breakfast is buffet style with a selection of fruit, yoghurts, cold meats, hot dishes and bread. Shame there was no cereal and we felt the fruit was not as fresh as it could have been. At 11 Euros each we felt it was a little expensive. There are lots of cafes in the locality so you can have a modest coffee and toast for 3 Euros if you prefer.
The hotel has a paying garage if you have a car. Otherwise taxis are reasonably priced and reliable.
Cartagena is a small, characterful town with lots of old architecture. If you are not staying there for a purpose it makes a good trip from Alicante (one hour by road). San Javier airport is nearer, about 15 minutes by road.” Reviews from tripadvisor.com
Car rental in Cartagena
Renting a car is virtually essential in this locale since there is no municipal transport to speak of. If you don’t plan to move any distance, Cartagena is very well apportioned in terms of restaurants, shops, bars. But there is a great deal to see in this region and by using a Murcia car hire you will be able to get pleasure from the neighboring areas. A Car can be hired from a number of companies in the locale or at one of the airports in the region.
A Bit about Cartagena
According to the 2009 senses, the population of the municipality is 211,986 inhabitants. There is a density of 379.7 per square kilometer. The highest elevation is 50 m and the lowest elevation is sea level.
Cartagena History
There has been proof that settlements have existed around the town of Cartagena since the prehistoric times. By the coastlines are remains of ships from the Iberian and Phoenician eras. In relation to the origins of the town itself, the earliest evidences date back to 227 BC with the Carthaginian General Hasdrubal the Fair, who built the city of Qart Hadasht in order to gain control of the various mineral deposits in the area. It is currently an autonomous region under the community of Murcia. During the latter parts of the 20th century, the town initiated several important developments. These were mostly with regards to shipbuilding, energy and the production of fertilizers.
Architecture of Cartagena
With visiting the municipality of Cartagena, there are several architectural landmarks worth seeing before exploring other parts of town. For a brief look into the archaeological history and treasures found within the town and the surrounding areas, visit the Archaeological Museum. Opened in the year 1982, this museum was constructed over the 4th century tomb of San Anton. The museum takes pride in having the greatest number of important inscriptions in the country.
Another ancient construction is the rampart. Initially uncovered in 1989, this finding has its origins from as early as 227 B.C. These defensive structures were designed in the ancient Hellenist style. The Punic Rampart surrounded and defended the city, offering the only entry point into the area.
An interesting site is Cartagena’s City Hall which has three distinct facades. This unique looking structure was initially built in the shape of a triangle. Although exhibiting a more eclectic style of construction, it is actually used for more official businesses. Inside the structure are numerous Modernist paintings as well as some additional architectural details.
Tourist Attractions of Cartagena
The beaches in Cartagena draw crowds of tourists yearly. There are numerous beaches located within the city alone. Tourists have a greater option of which beach to spend time in during their stay. Some of the busier beaches include the Isla Plana, the Cala del Pino and the Isla Menores which are near other tourist destinations. These beaches also offer the convenience of being accessible for those who have issues with mobility. There are also more secluded beaches which allow staying tourists more privacy. More isolated beaches include the Cala Cortina and Calblanque.
What to do in Cartagena
When in Cartagena, tourists are advised to see and experience as much as they can during their stay, whether it is a brief amount of time or for a more indefinite period. To make the experience more complete, travelers are invited to visit during one of several local festivities. One of the most vital in Cartagena is their Holy Week celebrations. In comparison to other areas, Cartagena celebrates the occasion for a total of ten days. It begins with the Dolores Friday, occurring the Friday before Palm Sunday, up until Easter Sunday. There is much merriment happening during this time. A number of colorful processions are performed throughout the municipality, complete with decorated costumes and accessories. There are several floats carrying some of the more important religious characters involved with this event.
Sport in Cartagena
As a town endowed with wonderful weather and a varied selection of terrain and landscapes, there is no limit to what sports and activities can be performed while staying in Cartagena. With numerous beaches, swimming, surfing, sailing and diving are common. Hiking is recommended using the various named pathways in and around town. There are also several riding clubs where tourists can try riding horses.
Golf Courses near Cartagena
Cartagena golfing is like the icing on the cake. The town has its own golf course. Known as the La Manga Club, it is situated in Los Belones. With luscious putting greens, tourists will surely enjoy playing at least a few holes during their stay.
What can you eat in Cartagena
The fare in this province is a mixture of Spain, England, Germany, Holland, China, India, Canton, and hungry, and I am certain if you search hard enough you will find other luscious national cooking. So you will in no way be stuck for something to devour. Good reviews were given to El Fraile restaurant which is located on 6 Calle Santiago, Los Nietos, Cartagena display serves up Irish cuisine. ” We had just arrived in Los Nietos after a late flight into Murcia San Javier (MJV). We really needed something to eat. The waitress said that the restaurant was closed but she would see what she could do. She excelled – It was simple but none the less really good. Chili con Carne with rice and pan fried Bass with chips and salad. The Restaurant was packed for a special night. The bar was almost shoulder to shoulder but the waitress found us a table in a corner to sit at and was extremely attentive.
We could not have asked for anything better to suit our needs.”
” We visited El Fraile while on holiday in the La Manga area. We came upon Los Nietos by chance and stopped at El Fraile for a coffee. We were so impressed, we went back nearly every night of our holiday and enjoyed fantastic food at excellent prices, and we were made very welcome by all the staff and locals. The atmosphere was incredible! It made our holiday – we’ll be back.”
” We visited Los Nietos in September when the majority of the local businesses had closed for the season. Luckily we found El Fraile which had just been taken over by 2 Irish couples. In spite of our best efforts to try eating elsewhere, the chef, Hugh always managed to coax us back each night to sample his next “special”. We enjoyed, fresh wholesome food, extremely generous portions and great value for money. Friday’s cod & chips was magnificent and Sunday roast was superb. The Guiness was also very good and the breakfast special was aptly named “the gut buster”. We were priveleged to be invited to El Fraile’s grand official opening during our stay and were treated to discounted drinks, complimentary food, cabaret, then a medley of tunes on the bagpipes from the multi-talented chef. Hope to return to see these guys again and confident their venture will be well supported by local Spanish and British ex pat customers.” Reviews from tripadvisor.com
The weather conditions in Cartagena
The weather conditions in Cartagena are generally sunny, just like it is all over the Costa Calida. The summer weather conditions are usually hot with the winter temperatures usually being fairly temperate. Rainfall does not show its face frequently but it is well established that it does rain now and again. It can often signify an invigorating respite from the invariable heat.
Directions to Cartagena
Directions from Murcia Airport to Cartagena
Directions from Alicante Airport to Cartagena
Directions from Granada Airport to Cartagena
Directions from Almeria Airport to Cartagena
Maps of Cartagena
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