Region of Murcia · Spain
Cartagena travel guide
Cartagena is a city in Region of Murcia, Spain, home to about 221,000 people.
- Best months
- March to June and September to November
- Nearest airport
- RMU26 km · Region of Murcia International Airport
- Currency
- EUReuro
- Time zone
- Europe/Madrid
- Language
- Basque, Catalan, Galician
About
About Cartagena
Cartagena is a city in the Region of Murcia in Spain. As of 2024, with a population of 219,235, it is the second most populated municipality in the Region of Murcia.
Dirty and very polluted in the past (due to the nearby refinery), the new redevelopments (like the initiative "Cartagena, Port of Culture") and restorations have turned it into a major tourist destination, and is a frequent disembarkation point for numerous cruises. Its wide municipal territory also include part of the famous holiday resort La Manga del Mar Menor, part of the Mar Menor coast and several protected areas of natural beauty near the coast.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Cartagena to stay in
There is a naturist family beach at El Portus some 12 km southwest of Cartagena with a family naturist camping site where there are bungalows and apartments to rent.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Cartagena
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Cartagena are March to June and September to November. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 31 °C; October is the wettest, with about 44 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Cartagena: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Region of Murcia International Airport (RMU), about 26 km from the city centre in a straight line; Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport (ALC, 84 km) and Almería Airport (LEI, 149 km) are also within reach.
Getting around
Municipal buses are subcontracted to ALSA. There is a commuter rail that goes from the center of the city all the way to Los Nietos, a neighborhood in the East End of Cartagena operated by Renfe.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
RMU · Region of Murcia International Airport
ALC · Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport
LEI · Almería Airport
Questions
Cartagena: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Cartagena?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Cartagena are March to June and September to November. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 31 °C; October is the wettest, with about 44 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Cartagena?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Region of Murcia International Airport (RMU), about 26 km from the city centre in a straight line; Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport (ALC, 84 km) and Almería Airport (LEI, 149 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Cartagena?
euro (EUR).
Nearby
Destinations near Cartagena
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.