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Cruises make up a significant segment of tourism, even in Europe, and hold a lot of influence in giving destinations an audience. Even though I’m not a cruise-goer, I’ve found myself in more than a few destinations that see plenty of them. One such destination was the city of Cartagena, on the south-east coast of Spain, and is often the case I had no idea it was a major tourist port. But having seen what you can do with one day in Cartagena, it actually makes a deal of sense.
Now, my reason for going to Cartagena had nothing to do with cruises. Part of me simply wanted the novelty of having been to both Cartagena in Spain and Cartagena in Colombia. But what made it worth visiting Cartagena to me was the city’s historical attractions, and the city really delivered on that front. So if you find yourself with a shore excursion in Cartagena on your next cruise, here are some of the things you can do while you’re there.
Port City of Cartagena
Rather than dive right into what to do in Cartagena, let’s first look at the city itself. Once you understand Cartagena a little, the attractions there immediately make sense.
Cartagena is a moderately large city, roughly the same size as Vigo on the far coast. It’s one of the main cities in the region of Murcia, a small region wedged between big names like Andalusia and the Valencian Community. This means that despite its relative size, it tends to get overlooked by most international tourists. That is except for cruise-goers, who tend to overrun the city come summer.
You see, the most prominent features of Cartagena are its naval base and port, a port large enough to accommodate cruise ships of all sizes. Cruises from all over stop here as they travel down Spain’s coast or through the Mediterranean. Why Cartagena works as a cruise port, beyond its facilities, is the city’s deep history with ties to ancient Carthage and Rome. Any guesses then what there is to see in Cartagena?
Cartagena Old Town
The main focus for pretty much every visit to this city is going to be the Old Town of Cartagena. I never really ventured beyond it because there was never any need. The Old Town is where you’ll find the city’s main attractions, as well as the port where so many visitors will arrive.
Walking through Cartagena Old Town you’re bound to sense two main themes. One is the city’s love of embellished and eclectic Art Nouveau architecture, which gives it a sense of grandeur.
But what contrasts with that is the unpolished feeling you get away from the big squares. Down the side streets, you’ll spy empty lots, scaffolding and hollow facades. It’s hard not to see these two sides of the city as a before and after shot, with clear efforts being made to revitalise and preserve its historical character.
Teatro Romano
There’s no question at all what the main attraction in Cartagena is. The Teatro Romano, the city’s amphitheatre, is an obvious highlight for tourists and honestly the main reason I visited the city. Spain is quite a good destination for ancient sites like this, having personally been to the Roman ruins in Cordoba and the amphitheatre in Tarragona.
Visiting the Teatro Romano starts at the museum with an in-depth look at the ancient history of the city. But the exhibits also pivot to the centuries after Roman rule when full neighbourhoods were built over the ruins. In fact, it was only in the 1990s that this monument from 4-5 BC was properly recovered.
What’s cool about this museum is how it actually takes you under the city streets to the ancient site. You enter off the Plaza Ayuntamiento and emerge a block away right among the ruins, ready to explore. I always enjoy walking up into these ancient theatres to see what they would have felt like in the day. An added benefit here is the attached remains of the Church of Santa Maria la Vieja, which help show how the site was once covered over.
Book your tickets to the Teatro Romano in advance to save time.
Parque Torres and Castillo de la Concepción
While the views from the top of amphitheatre are good, it is possible to get even higher in Cartagena. Simply follow the hillside up from the Teatro Romano and you’ll reach Parque Torres. This hilltop park has some nice panoramic views of the city, not to mention the Castillo de la Concepción at its peak.
So long as you haven’t had your fill of history museums, it’s well worth going inside the Castillo de la Concepción. The castle museum is a great place to learn about the different periods in Cartagena’s medieval history, from its Islamic history to the conquest of the city by Prince Alfonso of Castile.
Besides the exhibits, the castle is also interesting for its unusual mix of old and new elements. And even if the history doesn’t interest you, the roof of the castle is the ultimate viewpoint for city views. You can visit solo or get a guide to show you around.
Plaza Heroes de Cavite
Walking through the Old Town of Cartagena you’ll come across a few city squares and parks. But I’d argue that the most scenic and interesting I came across is Plaza Heroes de Cavite.
Found just over the road from the port, this square is full of palm trees and centres on a war memorial from the Spanish-American War. But around the plaza, you’ll find some great Art Nouveau architecture, like that of the Palacio Consistorial de Cartagena.
Cartagena Port
The Cartagena Port may be the entry point for some visitors, but it’s also an interesting place to walk around. The promenade along the port has clearly been renewed in recent years and is home to several statues and sculptures.
Following the waterfront, you’ll have the town walls on one side of you, and all sorts of cruise ships and yachts on the other to look at. It’s in this area that you’ll also find the city’s Naval Museum, which I didn’t visit but it is extremely well-reviewed.
Punic Wall Interpretation Centre
One last small museum worth mentioning is the Interpretation Centre of the Punic Wall. This little museum focuses on the history and remains from the city’s days as part of ancient Carthage. Before the Romans took the city, Carthage or Qart-Hadast as it was called then, was the main Carthaginian city in modern Spain.
While there’s plenty of information to read about this slice of history, it won’t take you long to look around the museum otherwise. What is bound to catch your attention is the funeral crypt here which is a little creepy, but fascinating.
All of this makes it a good alternative to yet another, but larger, Cartagena museum – the Molinete Roman Forum Museum (which I didn’t have time for).
Tips for Visiting Cartagena in Spain
If you’re coming to Cartagena on a cruise, then I don’t have much advice beyond possibly organising a full-day shore excursion. But if you’re adding the city to your travels through Spain, then there are some things to bear in mind.
People who only spend the day in Cartagena can store their luggage while they go sightseeing. Meanwhile, you’ll find a surprisingly generous selection of accommodation in Cartagena, given how many day trippers it sees. For my visit, I stayed at Hotel Los Habaneros, a fairly comfortable three-star hotel in a good location. Other highly-rated options include:
Then there’s the matter of getting there. Your main options are either to get to Cartagena by bus or by train. Most buses come through Murcia from bigger destinations like Alicante and Benidorm.
As for the trains to Cartagena, they too mainly pass through Murcia, with the occasional intercity connection from further north. It’s not the best-connected destination in Spain, but the trip to Alicante for example is still pretty easy.
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Have you ever done a shore excursion to Cartagena while on a cruise? If you’ve been, what are your recommendations for things to do in Cartagena Spain? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
