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Cartagena in Spain, one of the most important port cities on the coast, is a very charming city. With a rich history dating back to ancient times, this city offers a unique blend of culture and architecture. From the imposing Roman ruins and atmospheric squares to the cozy streets full of colorful facades and local tapas bars, there is plenty to discover here. The impressive Teatro Romano is the highlight of the city, but there is much more to see. Curious about the best things to do in Cartagena? We share our favorite tips for this fun city!
A little history of Cartagena
The most fascinating thing about the city of Cartagena in Spain is that there is another city beneath the current city, a city that predates Christ. It is believed that the city was founded around 300 BC as Carthage. Due to its strategic location on the Mediterranean Sea, the city quickly grew into an important port. The Romans conquered the city around 200 BC. Cartagena continued to grow and, under the name Carthago Nova, became an important trading city and administrative center of the Romans. Traces of this era are still visible in the city.
Throughout the Middle Ages there have been different rulers, but one thing remained the same. And that is that as a port city, Cartagena remained an important military and maritime hub. This was further strengthened in the 18th century when it became Spain's most important naval base. Something you can still see today.
The best things to do in Cartagena, Spain
Meanwhile, Cartagena is an incredibly cozy and charming city with many cafes and restaurants, a beautiful promenade and many special attractions. The surroundings of Cartagena are also impressive and offer much to see and experience. So consider Cartagena as a destination for a varied city break!
1. Visit the Teatro Romano
Until a few years ago, no one knew that today's city was built on the foundation of a former Roman center. Similarly, I will always remember our local guide, Luis, telling us while visiting Teatro Romano that during his teenage years he used to drink beers with his buddies in the same place. But a few floors up, or on the ruins of Teatro Romano. In fact, the theater was only rediscovered in 1988!
Meanwhile, excavations in Cartagena are well advanced but more is also still being discovered and restored. Teatro Romano, as its name suggests, has been a theater, which can be seen in the semicircular shape of the rows of seats. This is very typical of a Roman theater. The theater also served as a market hall for many years. You will learn all this while visiting Cartagena's most famous landmark.
Admission to the Teatro Romano costs €7 per person. You can buy a ticket on the spot. The entrance can be found opposite Cartagena City Hall (Museum of the Roman Theater of Cartagena).
2. Go shopping on the Calle Mayor
What's really good to do in Cartagena? That's shopping! Although the city is not as big as a Malága or Alicante, you will find a lot of nice boutiques, fashion stores, jewelers and souvenir stores.
The Calle Mayor is the city's most iconic shopping street. It is a wide and car-free street that runs right through Cartagena's historic center. The street is surrounded by modernist buildings; you'll feast your eyes on the beautiful facades.
One thing Cartagena is known for is its local crafts. Think handmade jewelry, ceramics and, of course, typical Spanish delicacies and souvenirs. A tasty local delicacy is turrón (nougat), and in addition you'll also see many different types of wine, olive oil and honey. The nicest boutique shops with local items can be found mainly in the side streets of Calle Mayor.
Another thing we are always fans of is visiting a local market. In Cartagena, that's the Mercado de Santa Florentina where you can score fresh produce, Spanish delicacies and many more goodies.
3. Explore the port of Cartagena
The port of Cartagena is of historical value and still a very important port on the Mediterranean. In the bit about the city's brief history, we already shared that the port has been an important trade and maritime center over the years. And so it is still the gateway for international trade and transportation of goods. The port of Cartagena has a commercial function, but it is also a tourist destination. Especially in the summer months, many cruise ships and luxury yachts enter the port here.
Walking along the boardwalk
Along the harbor, on the city side, runs a wide boardwalk. Here you can rest on the benches and enjoy the view of the boats bobbing in the water. Of course, you'll also find nice restaurants and cafes, including the Licor 43 restaurant (the liqueur originally comes from the region of Cartagena!).
A boat ride through the port of Cartagena
A boat leaves from the boardwalk several times a day to take you along the highlights of Cartagena's port. The Barco Turístico sails in 45 minutes along the maritime port where you can see submarines, but also briefly goes out into the open sea. From here you have a good view of the ancient castles perched atop the rocks of Cartagena Bay.
A boat trip with Barco Turístico costs €8 per person and can be purchased locally at the kiosk on the boardwalk.
4. Take the panoramic elevator to the Conception Castle
Want to go to the highest point of the city for a panoramic view of both city and sea? Then you must be at the foot of the Castillo de la Concepcion. Here you will find a beautiful plateau and park with insane views.
The hill is one of the five hills found around the city of Cartagena. It was the most important hill at the time because it provided protection and shelter for the port and the city. You can hardly imagine it now but before, this hill was almost completely surrounded by the sea.
Today you will find the Parque Torres. A nice place for a walk and where you will find the remains of the former fort. It is now a museum that you can visit. To get into the park you can take the panoramic elevator. This is a glass elevator that takes you to the top within seconds. The cost for this is €2 per person. Once at the top, you'll feast your eyes!
5. Stroll across Muralla del Mar
The Muralla del Mar is the only city wall you can still find in Cartagena and therefore fun to walk along or over. The city wall is the separation of the port and the historic city center. And as we wrote before, it is hard to imagine that this is where the sea used to crash against the wall. Originally, therefore, Muralla del Mar is a defensive wall.
6. Delicious food and drink in Cartagena
If you stroll through the streets of Cartagena you will come across a tapas bar or other nice restaurant on every corner. But where is the best place to sit down? We've gathered our best tips for you!
CafeLab for a great cup of coffee (from a simple black to coffee to a flat white and chai latte)
La Piripi for tapas in a modern twist (our favorites are the burrata salad and the ceasar salad)
Saona For an evening of "luxury" dining out. Opt for the tasting menu where you get 5 appetizers to share, 1 main course per person and 3 desserts to share (for less than €20 per person!).
At Nuestra Tradición you can taste an awful lot of different types of ham, all from the region.
7. Various museums in Cartagena
I find it incredible that in such a small and cozy city center like Cartagena you can find so many different types of museums. Super nice though if you want to delve more deeply into the history of the city or learn more about a specific topic. Like, for example, the maritime value of Cartagena or how people lived in times of the Romans. These are some different museums you can visit in Cartagena that we personally find worthwhile:
National Museum of Underwater Archeology
Museo Naval
Molinete Roman Forum Museum
Museo de la Guerra Civil
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How to get to Cartagena?
If you are traveling to Spain from the Netherlands and want to visit the Spanish city of Cartagena, Alicante is the closest airport to fly into. The flight time from the Netherlands to Alicante is about 2.5 hours. You can fly with Skycanner from Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Eindhoven. But I would also be sure to check out the offerings of Vueling.
Once at Alicante Airport, it is best to rent a car. We always like to do this ourselves through SunnyCars. From the airport, you can drive to the city of Cartagena in Spain in 1.5 hours. Having a rental car is a good idea anyway if you want to visit Cartagena as a city break or vacation destination. You will find in the vicinity of Cartagena namely the most beautiful beaches of the Costa Cálida.
Don't have parking at your hotel in Cartagena? Then you can go to this location in Google Maps navigate. After all, this is where you park for free.
Where to stay in Cartagena?
The city of Cartagena is the second largest city in the region of Murcia, but the real city center is small and cozy. If you book accommodation in the city center you can easily reach everything on foot, which is ideal. A nice place we would therefore like to recommend is La Casa de las Flores. The building is a sight in itself with its cheerfully decorated facade full of greenery and flowers. The decor is also fantastically nice. And the biggest advantage: you are within 5 minutes on Calle Mayor.
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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