- Murcia
Lois Weeterings
Content
The region of Murcia in Spain is a hidden gem and is still fairly unknown as a vacation destination. So you quickly ask yourself what can you do and experience in Murcia? We would like to give you a detailed answer to that! Discover beautiful natural parks like Parque Calblanque and Sierra Espuña, visit the unique salt lakes of San Pedro del Pinatar and wander the historic streets of Cartagena. Murcia is the ultimate destination for those looking for a mix of experience and tranquility during their vacation.
The region of Murcia in Spain
Murcia is both a city and a province in Spain. But where is Murcia actually located and what can you do there? The region can be found in the southeastern part of the country. To the west and south of the province lies the well-known region of Andalusia, to the north and west lies the region of Castile-La Mancha, to the northeast the region of Valencia and to the east the region of Murcia borders the Mediterranean Sea. Many tourists know their way around the region of Andalusia where the well-known cities of Seville, Málaga and Marbella are located, as well as the city and province of the same name, Valencia. But far fewer tourists are familiar with the beauty and cities of the region of Murcia. And let there be a lot to discover there, too!
What to do in Murcia? These are our tips!
Murcia is an authentic and unspoiled region. You will find several nature reserves, exceptional cultural heritage, cozy mountain villages, vast wine regions and a beautiful coastline. The Costa Cálida is one of the Spanish Costas and is located in the region of Murcia. This Costa is located in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula with the main place on the coast being the port city of Cartagena. Curious about what you can do in Murcia? These are our tips!
1. Visit the Spanish port city of Cartagena
The city of Cartagena, an important port city in the region of Murcia, is a beautiful city with a rich history. You will find several impressive archaeological excavations, many nice stores on the atmospheric Calle Mayor and a beautiful promenade along the port. But that, of course, is not the only thing. Cartagena is also the perfect place to sample local tapas and delicacies. Want to know more? Then quickly check out our article full tips for visiting the port city of Cartagena in Spain.
2. Explore the protected natural area of the Mar Menor
The Mar Menor is unique. Not only in Spain, but in all of Europe. And the great thing about it is that you find this spot in the Spanish region of Murcia. But what exactly is the Mar Menor?
It is Europe's largest saltwater lagoon separated from the Mediterranean by a narrow strip of land called La Manga. Because the lagoon is shielded from the sea, it is the ideal place in Murcia for a relaxing beach day. The water there is almost always calm and a few degrees warmer than the salty sea water. This also makes The Mar Menor a popular spot for water sports such as kayaking, sailing, supping and much more.
The protected natural area contains even more unique spots, including the Parque Regional de las Salinas y Arenales de San Pedro del Pinatar about which you will read more in point 3. But be sure to check out point 4, because this special place also belongs to The Mar Menor!
3. Admire nature in Parque Regional de las Salinas y Arenales de San Pedro del Pinatar
If there is one place where you can actually feast your eyes, it is in the Parque Regional de las Salinas y Arenales in San Pedro del Pinatar. A mouthful, so let's abbreviate it to the Natural Park Salinas de San Pedro. A natural park and protected area of no less than 850 hectares.
The natural park is special not only because of the unique color of the salt lakes, but also because of its location. This is because here the Mediterranean Sea meets the Mar Menor lagoon. The salt lakes, which range from pink to deep red, are a feast for the eyes. Did you know that the color depends on the concentration of salt and algae in the water?
Salt extraction has taken place at this site since the time of the Romans, and to this day it is an important place for the Spanish economy. The salty sea water flows through channels into the lakes where it is evaporated by the heat of the sun. What is left behind is the salt.
In addition to the economic benefits of salt mining, there are also ecological benefits. The salt lakes are an important ecosystem and therefore attract many diverse species of birds, including flamingos.
The nature park has several hiking trails you can follow. Walk on the wooden decks, spot birds and relax on the beach. At the last tip of the nature park you will find a harbor. Here locals are often fishing, but you can also often find food trucks. Always fun to take a look!
4. Smear yourself with the mud from the mud baths Las Charcas
Next to the pink salt lakes you will find the mud baths Las Charcas, a place where you can rub yourself with healing mud. Ideal to combine while you are in the area, and fun to do!
The mud from these baths has therapeutic effects for rheumatism, osteoarthritis, gout and other skin diseases, among other things, due to its high salt content and minerals.
The Mar Menor has a special climate that has caused mud to be deposited in Las Charcas. Consequently, it has been used here for centuries. The mud itself and the grains of sand in the mud contain the healing powers. By applying the mud to your skin, the minerals are absorbed, the acidity of your skin is neutralized and the healing process is stimulated.
It's best to bring a bucket so you can fill it with mud. There are several decks you can rub yourself on. The best time to take a mud bath is on a hot day in the sun. Lather up, let it dry and then rinse off with salt water from the Charcas de las Salinas. Good to know is that the mud baths are always accessible and completely free. Some locals even visit the mud baths once a week!
5. Visit the capital of the same name, Murcia
If you enjoy traveling off the beaten path and choosing destinations that are not so obvious, consider the Spanish city of Murcia. This city is totally unlike any Alicante, Valencia or Málaga, but then that is precisely what makes this city so attractive to visit. You can expect to experience authentic Spanish city life here.
The historic city center offers some wonderful sights such as the Cathedral of Murcia, Puente de los Peligros and many beautiful Spanish squares. Want to know more about the city of Murcia and what to do in the area? These are our tips for the city of Murcia!
6. Discover the most beautiful beaches of the Costa Cálida
The Costa Cálida is one of the less known Costa's of Spain, but you will be amazed by the beautiful beaches you can find there. Because where the beaches on the well-known Costa's, such as the Costa del Sol and Costa Brava, are packed with beachgoers, many beaches on the Costa Cálida are still unspoiled and not so crowded at all.
The Costa Cálida has many beaches, but where can you find the most beautiful gems? We figured it out for you and wrote out our top 4 for you. These are the most beautiful beaches of the Costa Cálida in Spain.
7. These are the highlights of the Sierra Espuña Natural Park
The region of Murcia is known for being very dry and arid, but to everyone's surprise, in the middle of the region you will find the heart-stoppingly green Sierra Espuña Natural Park. It is an incredibly large forest area where you can make beautiful walks, as well as cycling and climbing. There is also no shortage of cute mountain villages and the necessary dose of history. Sierra Espuña is a wonderful place to immerse yourself in nature and local culture. Curious about the highlights of the natural park? This is how you can experience Sierra Espuña at its most beautiful.
8. Wine tasting in one of Murcia's wine regions
That you can drink fine wines in Spain is no secret. But did you know that the region of Murcia, among other things, is also known for its wine regions? You probably didn't. So here we give you another reason to travel to this Spanish region.
There are three wine regions in Murcia known for the quality production of wines, these are: Jumilla, Yecla and Bullas.
The most famous wine region is Jumilla. This is where mainly powerful red wines come from that are made from the Monastrell grape. This thrives well in the warm and dry climate that is characteristic of Murcia.
Yecla is another beautiful wine region to visit, and here too the Monastrell grape is predominant in the wines. What makes Yecla special is that it has Denominación de Origen (DO) status, which means that this wine region is known for the high quality of its wines.
The least known wine region in Murcia is Bullas. Because of its mountainous terrain, it has a cooler climate than Jumilla and Yecla, making this region known more for its crisp white and rosé wines.
9. Take a refreshing dip in the water springs of Salto Del Usero
The Bullas region is popular not only for its wines, but also because of some wonderful hiking trails. One of these hiking trails will take you through the Salto Del Usero nature reserve. A beautiful place where natural water sources come together in the river Mula. You can hike along the gorge and see the water cascading into different pools. There are even some springs where you can take a refreshing dip.
In the summer months, it can get very crowded here, mainly because of the popularity of this spot on TikTok. Therefore, from June through September, you must make reservations online to visit Salto del Usero. You can via this link (website is only in Spanish), you pay €1 per person for this.
Tip: If you navigate to Aparcamiento Salto del Usero you will arrive at the first parking lot, from here it is a 1.5 km walk to the springs. You can also drive further and park at the second parking lot. Keep in mind that at this parking lot you pay €5 per car.
What is the best way to travel to the Murcia region?
Murcia has an international airport, but unfortunately it is not yet flown to from the Netherlands. So do you want to make a road trip through the Murcia region, go on a city trip to Cartagena or spend a week on the Costa Cálida? Then your best bet is to fly to Alicante.
Several airlines fly to Alicante International Airport from the Netherlands. Personally, we always look first at the flight offers of Skycanner, since it flies from Rotterdam The Hague Airport. Nice and easy and fast. Of course, Transavia also flies from Amsterdam, Eindhoven and Brussels to Alicante.
Another airline flying to Alicante is Vueling (only from Amsterdam), and in high season RyanAir from Eindhoven.
What is the best way to travel through the Murcia region?
To get from place to place, it is advisable to have a rental car. Traveling by public transport in Spain is certainly possible, but not always punctual. With a rental car you are free to go wherever you want, and get from A to B with ease.
A fine and reliable car rental company is SunnyCars, the party where we ourselves always book our rental car. The region of Murcia is easy to reach from Alicante, where the nearest international airport is located. The selection of rental cars at Alicante Airport is large. There are even shuttle buses running back and forth between the airport and the car rental companies.
Are you going to travel through Spain for a long time? Then you can also consider driving your own car from the Netherlands to the Murcia region. It's quite a drive, but the roads are good and you do have the comfort of your own car.
Plan a fun road trip through the Spanish region of Murcia with our tips
In this article full of tips for the Spanish region of Murcia, we have by no means highlighted everything you can do and experience there. Murcia is a destination full of surprises and will undoubtedly capture your heart if you make the decision to travel here. Therefore, the best way to explore the region is to take a road trip, and let us help you do just that!
Take a road trip through Murcia
On a road trip through Murcia, you will discover the region's versatility. Drive along breathtaking coastlines, explore historic cities and enjoy quiet moments on secluded and hidden beaches. From the impressive salt lakes of the Mar Menor to charming Cartagena, your road trip through Murcia will be full of surprising stops. Request your personalized travel proposal now and we will put together an itinerary that fits your needs perfectly!
Lois Weeterings
A dreamer and adventure seeker, always on the lookout for new experiences. But also a hard worker with a thousand ideas racing through my mind. As a personal travel consultant and travel blogger, I share my passion for faraway destinations, thrilling adventures, and winter sports. With deep knowledge of places like Namibia, Colombia, the ABC Islands, and the Middle East, I’m here to help you craft a trip you’ll never forget. Through my personal stories and expert tips, I aim to inspire you to explore the world your way. Always with my camera in hand, I’m determined to capture every magical moment and share it with you.
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