Murcia

DESTINATIONS spain murcia

Murcia

The ancient city of Murcia is located in the mountains, about 25 km away from the Mediterranean Sea. The region is known for agriculture and tourism but also for its charming mountain villages, traditional fishing stations, a green countryside, and unspoiled beaches.

The City

Like many other Spanish cities, the Moors founded Murcia in the 9th century; under their rule the city developed into the region's centre that it still remained until today. The region stretches from Alicante in the north to Cartagena and Lorca in the south, and towards Moratalla in the west. The Moorish influence is hard to spot in the city itself, as many of the older neighbourhoods were established only in the 18th century when the city further expanded. After centuries of industrial growth, Murcia today holds a large university and, by that, a lively buzz of a considerable student population. Murcia still remains relatively undiscovered by tourism, especially compared to other coastal towns nearby. The area is mainly provincial farmland but there are also relatively young towns founded by sun starved foreigners. The villages in the surrounding mountains are well worth a visit, and it is easy to take day trips either by rental car, train or bus. The coastal region of Costa Cálida has many interesting destinations: Lorva’s baroque buildings, the quaint village of Moratalla, the glamorous beach community of La Manga, and the medieval neighbourhoods of Cartagena and Orihuela are only a few of them.

Do & See Dining Cafes Bars & Nightlife Shopping Tourist Information

Do & See

It is easy to take day trips from Murcia, either by rental car, train or bus. The villages in the surrounding mountains are well worth a visit, and the coastal region of Costa Cálida has many interesting destinations such as Lorva’s baroque buildings and the quaint village of Moratalla. However, do take your time and experience Murcia itself.

Salzillo Museum

Sculptor Francisco Salzillo lived in Murcia in the 18th century, and christianity heavily inspired his original and colourful work. The Muzeo Salzillo displays close to 500 of his works of art, and each Easter, his art is used in the traditional parade through the …

Cardinal Belluga Square

This square is flanked by two of the city’s most interesting buildings, as opposite the impressive cathedral of Murcia is the Palacio Episcopal from the 18th century. Constructions on the Episcopal started in the 14th century, and today, its impressive tower reaches over 300 feet …

Ricote Valley

This relatively unknown valley is home to several charming small towns including Ricote, Ojós and Abáran. The landscape is dotted with leafy fruit farms, and the surrounding hills are popular for hiking and mountain …

Caravaca De La Cruz

Northwest of Murcia is the small and historic town Caravaca de la Cruz. In the 16th and 17th century, Caravaca was the political centre of a vast territory that was governed by the Order of the Temple and Order of Santiago, and the splendid castle and the renaissance Salvador church are now the town's …

Mar Menor

One of the coast’s natural attractions is Mar Menor, the largest saltwater lake in Europe. As Mar Menor means 'minor sea', the Mediterranean Sea itself is, consequently, called 'major sea'. Close to the lake are the old fishing village of Cabo de Palos, and the unexploited beaches of the Calblanque National …

Calblanque Park

The regional park Calblanque is a beautiful nature reserve with amazing sandy beaches, cliffs, and mountains. There is a small visitor centre where you can get more information about both flora and fauna, and routes for the hiking trails. Be aware, there are no facilities like cafés and restaurants here as this is a …

Cathedral of Saint Mary

The Cathedral of Saint Mary was built in 1394 and it is Murcia's most important monument. It has outstanding details, both inside and outside, with elements of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture. The bell tower is 90 meters tall and it has 24 bells, each individually …

Royal Casino of Murcia

Royal Casino of Murcia is located in the city centre just a short distance from the Cathedral and it can be described as a social club for the elite; however, this exclusive environment is open for the public during specific hours as well. The casino is a very unique building with beautiful decoration, a …

Museum of the Roman Theater

The Roman amphitheatre of Cartagena in Murcia, which was built between 5 and 1 BC, is wonderfully preserved, and the museum close by offers excellent exhibits that display interesting historical …

National Museum of Underwater Archaeology

A huge collection of underwater artefacts and old sailing and trade ships feature in this museum devoted to naval construction, navigation and ports of the Mediterranean. The museum is located in an impressive modern building and in the inside, you will find a café-restaurant that offers magnificent views over the bay of …

Castle of Lorca

For an excursion, head over to the amazing castle of Lorca. To get up to the castle, take the small road train that directly leaves at the visitor centre called Lorca centre. You will meet costumed performers who will re-enact everyday life in the …

River Rafting

Try your hand at adventure sports like river rafting or kayaking! You do not need any experience, as the trained guides and the great stability of the boats will allow you an easy start – just enjoy the beautiful scenery and the adrenaline. Family activities are also …

Cave of the Port

The cave of the port, Cueva del Puerto, is one of the largest caves in eastern Spain, located in the beautiful Sierra del Puerto Mountains. Explore beautiful underground rooms such as the Zona del Laberinto, Gran Diaclasa, Gran Bloque and Sala de los Claustros. The amazing and colourful stalagmites and flow stones stand out, …

The Spanish Civil War Museum

Learn more about the Spanish Civil War and take an emotional trip to this interesting and informative museum. Here you can experience real life bunker completed by air raid sound effects. It also provides many exhibits, oral histories, films and …

Mining Theme Park of La Unión

El Parque Minero de La Unión, the local mining park, opened in the summer of 2010 and it is a unique tourist attraction where you can learn about the city's mining history. Keep in mind that it is necessary to book your visit in advance. They also provide English speaking tour …

The Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Fuensanta

The Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Fuensanta is a beautiful monastery located among the hills in Murcia. The walk up is lovely and once you reach your destination, you will be rewarded with a beautiful view over the …

Julian Romea Square

The Carrascoy Valley Regional Park

This is a great park for a morning hike, followed by a cosy lunch either at a restaurant or with your own picnic. The nature is simply …

Santa Clara Monastery & Museum

The Santa Clara Monastery & Museum has a long and interesting history, from being an Arab palace to becoming a monastery. The museum holds an exhibition of archaeological remains and religious …

Muvit ciclogaraje

Ride or cruise around Murcia. Whether you like speed and adrenaline kicks or if you just want to experience the town from a different angle, you should visit Muvit ciclogaraje to explore the town from a new …

Museo de Bellas Artes de Murcia

This intimate museum exhibits works which span centuries of Murcian art and culture. The carefully curated collection is free to visit and prides itself on its mix of both locally and internationally renowned …

Castillo De La Asomada

At the summit of this mountain lie crumbling ruins - they're all that's left of a 12th century Arab castle fabled to have been built by the infamous "Wolf King". Explore one of several walking trails through Aleppo pine forests to the top of the mountain. While the castle is lacking in architectural features, …

Dining

The narrow alleyways of Murcia’s old town are lined with restaurants, and fortunately, they haven’t customised their menus to the tourists' food culture. Instead, they serve genuine Spanish Mediterranean fare with fresh products, smooth olive oil, delicious sausages, and, of course, fish and sea food. The region’s rice dish Paella is famous, as rice is cultivated in the nearby village of Calasparra.

Restaurante El Churra

For a modern take on Murcia cuisine, try El Churra. The restaurant offers a calm and aesthetically pleasing environment, with white table clothes and beautifully presented …

Restaurante El Chaleco

There are good restaurants in the whole region around Murcia, and one of the best is El Chaleco in Alhama de Murcia, approximately 12.5 miles south of the city. El Chaleco also was Murcia's representative during the Seville World Fair in …

Jota Ele

Jota Ele is a quaint restaurant next to Santa Isabel square that offers great food of high quality. As the cafe is open almost all day long, their menu varies from snacks over desserts to proper dishes, which are always at a reasonable price. Although the dishes are mostly Spanish , there can also …

Restaurante Bacchus

Restaurant Bacchus provides a wide range of tasty dishes with local and global influence. All dishes are well prepared with the very best ingredients and they are also of high quality. The environment can be described as pleasant and …

Restaurante Asia

If you fancy Asian food, then head over to this restaurant. The attentive staff serves quality Chinese food for a great price. However, be aware: it can get very …

La Tagliatella Murcia

La Tagliatella, is a chain of restaurants specialising in high-quality Italian gastronomy. On the menu you will find typical Italian dishes like pizza and pasta. If you are very hungry, do not worry, the portion sizes are …

Atempo Weekend Bistrot

For Mediterranean food and tapas, head over to Atempo Weekend Bistro, which is a cosy place where you will experience a culinary delight. You can easily please all your senses, as the chef only serves high quality food with a creative …

El Sordo Restaurante

El Sordo Restaurante is beautifully located in the heart of the Muricia Ricote Valley, surrounded by mountains, olive gardens and native plants. This very stylish restaurant serves a wide range of house specials and tapas, which you will enjoy, as well as their own produced …

Enso Sushi

Enso Sushi is a Japanese restaurant with high quality food. On the menu you will find a wide variety of dishes like sushi and sashimi. The atmosphere inside is cosy and intimate with curtains dividing the restaurant. The tasty food is beautifully presented and is a feast for your …

Restaurante Amapola

You will find this restaurant inside Playasol hotel Bolnuevo, and it serves high class seasonal cuisine with fresh produce from land and sea. The traditional cuisine is carefully prepared and with a modern touch, so best enjoy your food by the hotel pool under a large …

Antípodas Tavern

Antípodas Tavern is truly a gem and offers an amazing view over the port of Mazarron. Here you can enjoy fresh local produced food such as fish which is supplied directly from the bay every day. You will also find meat dishes like Iberican pork shoulder, duck breast and sirloin …

La Canela

La Canela is located in La Manga with a beautiful surrounding, a lemon grove and a riding stable. The friendly staff serves delicious food like chicken with basmati rice and prawns in a garlic sauce and steamed rice. This is truly a great authentic Spanish …

Pepe El Torrao San Juan

This restaurant is situated in the Plaza San Juan, a busy square with restaurants and bars. It offers an outside terrace where you can enjoy your tasty Spanish food. The chef's speciality is fresh fish and …

Los Zagales

For Spanish tapas with high quality ingredients, try Los Zagales, a popular restaurant among locals. This is a traditional Spanish restaurant with wooden tables and wine barrels mounted on the …

Cafes

Finding a cafe to relax at is not a problem in Murcia but choosing between all those lovely shops indeed is. All of them offer great coffee, delicious desserts and also snacks, so you can enjoy your break during sightseeing for experiencing your own Spanish Siesta.

Pastelería Bonache

The square Plaza de las Flores has several good cafes and bars to offer, and Pastelería Bonache is one of the oldest in town. The cafe serves traditional Spanish pastries and strong coffee, and they are known for also baking great tarts and …

Café de Alba

Café de Alba is a cosy cafe where you can enjoy a nice snack and a glass of wine. Although the shop is open all day long, its special atmosphere particularly spreads in the evening hours, as they always offer great entertainment. They also host different events such as concerts throughout the …

Olympic Sport Cafe

If it is sport that you are after then this is the perfect place to go to. Watch football on their big screen TV and relax with something cold to …

CafeLab

If you are craving great coffee, than head over to CafeLab, where well experienced baristas will take great care of you. Those experts are not only authentic but also helpful, as choosing from the huge variety of coffee (and cake) may be heaven for your taste buds, but potentially hell when making …

Bars & Nightlife

For its relatively small size, Murcia has a vibrant bar and club scene. The main reason for its briskly atmosphere is the student population that frequents the neighbourhoods near the university, but the old town has also some fair share of popular hot spots.

Rincón de Pepe

Now more known for its food, Rincón de Pepe serves the probably the best cocktails in Murcia, accompanied by their huge menu of tapas. The bar is located in a four star hotel, hence both interior and clientele is fairly luxurious but still …

Luminata Disco

Luminata Disco is a club where you can dance to the carefully selected music, and where you can, at some occasions, also experience different events. The place can be described as modern and it has a cosmopolitan …

La Parranda Taberna

Enjoy La Parranda Taberna´s lovely terrace on a hot and sunny day. It is located at the San José square, so it is the place for watching people while relaxing with a fabulous …

Shopping

The narrow alleys of the Old Town, the pedestrian Calle Trapería between the Cathedral and Plaza de Santo Domingo, and luxurious Calle Jabonerias, are some of the city’s main shopping destinations. Calle Traperia is also home to Murcia’s casino, for those who want to try and increase their shopping budget. Nearby, food market Mercado Veronica is worth a visit as the Murcia region is known for its fresh and tasty produce. Bargains can be made at the souvenir and flea market on Jeronimo de Roda behind the El Corte Inglés department store. The older areas of coastal town Cartagena also offer shopping options, as does the luxurious beach town La Manga. The Murcia region has a large number of wineries, many of them ecologically managed. Head for the Ricote Valley to explore some of them.