Travel guide to the region of Murcia Spain see also hotels to stay at in Murcia

Despite being one of Spain ’s lesser known regions, the historic province of Murcia has plenty to attract visitors – historic towns and cities, several spectacular castles and even some prehistoric cave paintings. The region is also well known for its colorful festivals, including the unique Carthaginians and Romans festival, held in Cartagena in September.

View of ancient fortification in Cartagena, Murcia Spain

Murcia ’s beaches may not be as well known as the Costa Brava or Costa del Sol , but the Costa Calida stretches for around 200 miles and is a great place to enjoy world class golf, various watersports and pleasant year round temperatures. The stretch of coast has all the usual amenities for visitors and has been developed in recent years, but you can still find some deserted coves and picturesque fishing villages such as Cabo de Palos and La Azohia.

San Javier is about a thirty minute drive from both Cartagena and Murcia . The resort boasts some of the area’s best beaches, several of which have earned the prestigious Blue Flag award for cleanliness. An easy excursion from the town is by boat to the island of Tabarca , a protected nature reserve. San Javier is also a major gateway for Murcia and the Costa Calida as it has the area’s only international airport.

La Manga is a large resort that stretches along a narrow strip of land and offers just about everything for an exciting holiday – luxury hotels, spa resorts and plenty of bars and discos. The resort is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea on one side and by the spectacular Mar Menor on the other side – Europe ’s largest saltwater lake. The huge lake is a great place for swimming, jet-skiing and snorkeling.

Several cultures have left their mark on Cartagena over the centuries – in fact, the city is one of the oldest in the world - and today Cartagena is both a melting pot and a busy fishing port. The city boasts a fascinating naval museum as well as plenty of restaurants where you can take a break from sightseeing and sample some of the freshest seafood on the coast.