Cartagena, the one in Spain not Colombia, is a small port city with a long and rich history. Its strategic location on the coast and closeness to the mineral reserves made the city an important hub for more than 2000 years. Over these years, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, and finally Spaniards, inhabited the area and each left its mark on the city. Nowadays Cartagena is full of ancient ruins, museums, and historic sites, which makes it a real paradise for history buffs.
But don’t worry if history is not your jam and you don’t feel like visiting museums. Thankfully, it’s not the only attraction city has to offer! In this post, we’ll show you many great things to do in Cartagena, Spain and you’ll choose which ones interest you most. We’re sure that among all of them, every traveler will find something for himself. Without further ado, let’s go!
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Cartagena, Spain FAQ
Cartagena is located in the Region of Murcia in Spain, on the Mediterranean coast known as Costa Calida.
Cartagena in Spain is best known for its numerous Roman ruins spread all over the city, and especially for its impressive and well-preserved Roman Theatre. Many travelers also will associate the city with Art Nouveau architecture which is filling the streets of the old town, its important naval history, and for being one of the most important harbors in Spain.
Absolutely! In our opinion, it’s one of the most interesting and beautiful places in Region of Murcia. A charming old town full of art nouveau architecture, a bustling port, a picturesque coastal setting, a warm Mediterranean climate, archeological sites, and spectacular views – all of that tempts you to see Cartagena with your own eyes.
Cartagena is a walkable city, easy to get around on foot as most of the attractions are located close to each other within a short walking distance. Also, be aware that it’s a city with some hills and stairs to climb but it shouldn’t be a problem for those who are fairly fit and don’t have any mobility issues. In case of any problems, you can use public transport or a taxi.
Cartagena is a great destination for a day trip, a weekend getaway, and even a home base for longer stays to slowly discover the Region of Murcia. We started exploring Cartagena early in the morning and without rushing we managed to see all we wanted in about 7 hours. But if you want to get to know the city even better, we recommend staying at least for 3 days.
Our travel video from Cartagena
Brief history of Cartagena, Spain
The history of Cartagena is rich, diverse and spans over two millennia. The city was founded in 227 BC by Carthaginians and called Qart Hadasht (“New City”). In 209 BC it was conquered by Romans in the second Punic War and renamed Carthago Nova, which literally means “New New City” (very original, Romans, very original).
During Roman times the city experienced a great boom and became a prosperous Roman colony. It served as an important port and trading hub. Most of the ruins that we can see in the city today date back to this period of time. Later, Cartagena was conquered by the Vandals in 435 AD, by Muslims in 714 AD, and finally by the Castilian army in 1243.
In the 18th century, the city became a leading naval port in the Mediterranean. Cartagena played a significant role as a strategic port and naval base during the Spanish Civil War and World War II. A remnant of that time is for example Bateria De Castillitos, now abandoned fairytale-looking military fortress. Nowadays Cartagena is a vibrant Spanish city with many archaeological sites, naval history, and a charming old town full of art nouveau buildings.
Things to do in Cartagena, Spain
Travel tip. If you’re interested in visiting more than two Cartagena’s sites you might want to buy one of the combined tickets which allow access to the various sites at a cheaper rate. There are several options ranging from a 16€ ticket that allows access to 4 museums to the complete voucher that gives access to all the sites for 32€ (July 2026). You can buy them online or in attractions ticket offices. For current prices please visit puertodeculturas.cartagena.es website.
Roman Theatre of Cartagena
Unquestionable number one thing to do in Cartagena is visit the Roman Theatre (es. Teatro Romano de Cartagena). It was built by Romans in the 1st century BC and could fit approximately 7000 people. The most peculiar thing about these very impressive remains is that… they were only discovered in 1988!
Why is that you might ask? Looks like for many years the Roman Theatre of Cartagena was hidden beneath the Old Cathedral, which was destroyed during the Spanish Civil War. Detailed restoration to what we can see today was completed in 2003 and was possible thanks to the fact that about two-thirds of the building materials were still on site.
A visit to the Roman Theatre of Cartagena starts in the museum, where you can learn more about the city and site history and take a closer look at archeological remains that were discovered during excavation. After passing through the museum, the star of the show will finally emerge – the impressive Roman Theatre itself. There you can freely walk on the grounds and imagine the plays being played there and how life could have been in Cartagena hundreds of years back.
Entrance to the Roman Theatre costs €7 for a normal ticket and €6 for a reduced one (July 2026). The site is closed on Monday. For current prices and opening hours, visit teatroromano.cartagena.es website.
Travel tip. If for any reason you don’t want to buy tickets but would like to take a good look at the Roman Theatre, head to Parque de la Cornisa (best via Calle Dr. Tapia Martínez), located right above the ruins. Great views without spending a cent guaranteed!
Cartagena Old Town Streets
Slowly strolling along city old town streets and getting to know its all nooks and crooks is another of the best things to do in Cartagena. While getting lost is the best idea, here are some streets and squares which you definitely shouldn’t miss.
First on the list is Calle Mayor, a pedestrian-only main city street. It’s paved with beautiful marble tiles, and filled with many Art Nouveau buildings from the early 20th century. There, you’ll also find many small shops, cafes and restaurants. Calle Mayor ends at Plaza Ayuntamiento, where the Town Hall and the entrance to the Roman Theatre are located.
Charming Plaza de San Francisco is another great spot in Cartagena, filled with some huge trees bringing relief on hot days and more great, but a bit neglected, architecture to admire.
While walking among Cartagena’s old town streets you’ll also notice some interesting pieces of street art. Some of the largest and most beautiful murals are near Museo Foro Romano Molinete.
Molinete Archaeological Park
One of our favorite places in Cartagena is Molinete Archaeological Park, a tiny and well-maintained green area located on a small hill near Roman Forum Museum. It’s a great place for admiring great panoramic views over Cartagena and its surroundings. There are also some historical remains on site, and a few benches perfect to sit down and relax for a moment in peace.
Conception Castle
Visiting Conception Castle is for sure one of the best things to do in Cartagena, Spain. It’s located on the hill which in the past was home to a Roman temple, a Moorish fortress, a medieval fortress, and a Civil War siren that warned the population of bombing raids. Most of what we can see and explore today are the remains from the 13th century.
Conception Castle is the highest point of Cartagena and you have two options to reach it: walking up the hill or using the panoramic lift. From the top, you’ll be able to admire spectacular panoramic views over the city and its surroundings.
You can also visit the castle and learn more about the area’s history, and take a closer look over the city from even higher viewpoints. The truth is that there isn’t that much to see in the castle itself but the views and great photo opportunities are worth the price.
Entrance to Castillo de la Concepcion costs €5 for adults or €6 with access via the panoramic lift (July 2026). For current prices and opening hours please visit puertodeculturas.cartagena.es website.
Palacio Consistorial de Cartagena
On Plaza del Ayuntamiento square, right in front of the entrance to the Roman Theatre de Cartagena, you’ll find one of the most picturesque buildings in the city, Palacio Consistorial. It was built in the early 20th century and has undergone several renovations and additions over the last few years.
Currently, Palacio Consistorial serves as a city town hall. Inside its walls, you’ll also find Cartagena Tourist Office. Take a moment to admire its beautiful facade from the square, and visit its interiors with a guided tour (for €1 only) if it’s something that might interest you.
Yacht Port of Cartagena
Just a few steps from the Roman Theatre and Palacio Consistorial, you’ll find Cartagena Port. It’s a perfect place for a lazy stroll along the promenade while admiring calming sea views and yachts. There, you can also give your feet a rest while sitting on one of the neatly prepared benches or eat some Mediterranean cuisine in one of the restaurants nearby.
Here, you’ll also find very interesting museum: National Museum of Underwater Archaeology and Naval Museum.
Beaches in Cartagena, Spain
Surprisingly, there aren’t many beaches in Cartagena itself. Actually, the city has only one beach! Cala Cortina is located about 3.5km from the old town. It’s a beautiful, but fairly small beach, which gets very busy on a sunny and warm day. Its waters are crystal clear, perfect for snorkeling. On Cala Cortina, you’ll find amenities like parking (small so it fills up quickly), restaurants, and toilets. You can get to Cala Cortina on foot or by car.
Car safety tip. The curbs in the parking lot are surprisingly high so watch out and don’t run over them if you don’t want to lose your car bumper. Did we do that? Maybe…
Discover more amazing places in Region of Murcia 🤩
How to get to Cartagena, Spain?
Cartagena is located about 50km from Murcia, 120km from Alicante, and 30km from La Manga. The most convenient way to get to Cartagena is by car or by bus.
Where to park in Cartagena?
If you’re traveling by car you can choose from many parking lots available in the city center. Most of them are paid. We left our car in this free parking lot located about 1.5km (15min walk) from Cartagena’s old town.
Airports near Cartagena
The closest airport to Cartagena is located in Murcia City, about 30km away. The next one is located in Alicante, about 115km away. Both airports offer bus connections to Cartagena. To learn more about connections that might interest you visit rome2rio.com website.
To Cartagena by bus
You can reach Cartagena by bus. For example, a trip from Alicante will take about 3 hours, and 45 minutes from Murcia. To learn more about bus connections that might interest you, visit rome2rio.com website.
To Cartagena by train
Cartagena has a train station so you can get there easily by train from cities like Murcia, Alicante, or Valencia. You can check out a map of available connections on acprail.com website.
Camping Cartagena
If you’re traveling by camper, places like Área Camping Camper Park Caravanas Home or Camping Caravaning La Manga might interest you. They are located close to Cartagena.
Explore local attractions
Things to do in Cartagena, Spain – Summing up
Rich history, many archeological sites, charming old town, spectacular views… There are so many great things to do in Cartagena, Spain and for sure no traveler will be bored there. We hope you found our travel guide useful and you’ll have an amazing time in the city choosing the best attraction for yourself. Enjoy your time in Cartagena!
Our opinion about Cartagena
For us, a visit to Cartagena was a day trip from La Manga, where we lived for a few weeks. We visited the city in April and during that time it was fairly quiet and without huge crowds, which was a big advantage for us. During one day we visited all places we had on our list, and it took us about 7 hours.
Overall, we really enjoyed our time in Cartagena and we think it’s a city with such a great vibe. The mix of new and old, beautiful and a little shabby was something that we really liked and found very photogenic. We really enjoyed strolling among Cartagena’s old town streets, relaxing in Cerro del Molinete Archaeological Park, admiring the views, and learning about the region’s history in the Roman Theatre museum. What we didn’t like about Cartagena? To be honest, nothing in particular comes to mind right now!
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Cartagena?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Cartagena:
