What to see in Murcia on a three-day stay:
In spite of its small size, the Region of Murcia has lots of places worth seeing, including both historic monuments and natural attractions. In this article, we suggest a basic itinerary to see Murcia in three days.
From historic Cartagena to virgin beaches, by way of the city of Murcia, with only small travelling distances between the places. Read on to find out what to see in Murcia in three days.
Itinerary day 1
16.30 - 20.00
Mazarrón
From Lorca, it takes barely half an hour to reach the coast. We suggest you spend the evening in Mazarrón, visiting the famous mines and the “enchanted city” of the Gredas de Bolnuevo [gredas = erosions], a natural landscape sculpted by the action of the wind and water — before ending the day watching the colourful sunset over the Mediterranean.
12.30 - 16.00
Lorca
Lorca is another Murcian town with a plethora of historic monuments. This small town has been declared a Site of Historic and Artistic Interest, and is well worth visiting. Its main monument is the castle which no visitor should miss, followed by a stroll through the old Jewish section as well as the streets of its historic quarter which are dotted with Baroque-style buildings. You can save a little time by using the tourist train to tour the town.
10.00 - 12.00
Aledo
For your third day in the Region of Murcia, we suggest a little tour of some of the area’s most famous towns. Our first stop will be Aleda, one of Murcia’s prettiest towns, located about 45 minutes from the city of Murcia. Aledo is a fortified town perched on a hilltop. Its outstanding feature is the imposing keep of its castle.
Itinerary day 2
10.00 - 11.30
Roman Theatre
The first stop we recommend in Cartagena is its Roman Theatre, an impressive amphitheatre dating from the first century B.C., discovered in 1988 and subsequently restored. It is currently the most visited historic monument in the entire region. It once had capacity for around 7,000 spectators, making it one of the biggest amphitheatres in Roman Spain. Nowadays we can admire part of its structure, as well as a large number of archaeological finds on display in the museum.
9.00 - 10.00
Trip to Cartagena
We will spend the second day of our three-day stay in Murcia in Cartagena, the region’s historic city, where we will find a historic port and an impressive Roman and military heritage. The two cities are barely 50 kilometres apart, so it is an easy journey to undertake during the daytime.
11.45 - 13.00
Naval Museum
Another of Cartagena’s claims to fame is its military and naval construction industry. The Naval Museum [Museo Naval] offers a fascinating tour of the industry’s history, but for visitors, the star attraction is the Sala Peral [Peral Room], which houses the original Isaac Peral submarine, the first in the world powered by electricity. A technical miracle wrought by a native of Cartagena.
13.30 - 16.00
Cartagena’s historic centre
Cartagena’s historic quarter offers a host of attractions, as it is dotted with historic sites and buildings including castles, ancient city walls, temples and Roman ruins. But on this short, three-day visit, we recommend you at least go for a stroll through the city’s historic quarter, where you will find a splendid collection of Modernist buildings, including outstanding examples such as the Gran Hotel, the Casino, the Palacio de Aguirre and the Casa Maestre. You will find some of these in elegant Calle Mayor, and in the Plaza de San Sebastián. If you adopt this plan, you can take the opportunity to have lunch in some of the best bars you’ll ever find, such as La Uva Jumillana or La Bodega La Fuente, both in the historic quarter.
16:30 - 19:30
Beaches on the Costa de Calblanque
As you are on the coast, you could take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the early evening on one of the many beaches scattered along the shore between Cabo de Palos and the Batería de Castillitos. One excellent option is to travel to the Costa de Calblanque, a protected natural park which is home to several almost virgin beaches, surrounded by virtually desert terrain.
Itinerary day 3
21.00 - 23.00
Dinner in the Plaza de las Flores
After a full day’s sightseeing, it’s time for a refreshing break in the hotel before going out for dinner. If you’re staying at the Occidental Murcia Siete Croronas, you could go to the hotel’s superb bistro with its outdoor terrace, and enjoy the Murcian sunset.
15.30 - 17.30
Calle Trapería and Calle Platería
After lunch could be a good time for an easy stroll through Murcia’s centre, in the area between the Cathedral and the Romea Theatre. We recommend you start out from the cathedral itself since on one of its sides, you will find Calle Trapería, one of the provincial capital’s best known and most popular streets. Calle Trapería has some significant buildings, including the Casino, the Sociedad de Cazadores and the Alegría de la Huerta, all of which display Modernist influences. You could also wander through the neighbouring streets, such as Calle Platería [Silversmiths’ Street] or Calle Jabonería [Soapmakers’ Street], named after the old trades that were once practised there. Today, this area is still home to traditional, local businesses, with small boutiques, jewellers, and small hotels.
12.15 - 13.15
Salzillo Museum
Take a tour of one of Murcia’s finest museums, dedicated to local artist Francisco Salzillo, one of Spain’s greatest Baroque sculptors. The museum has a strong leaning towards religious art, and is home to Salzillo’s nativity scene, with 556 figures.
10.00 - 11.30
Murcia’s Cathedral
Start your visit to Murcia at its most important monument: the cathedral. A Baroque jewel that contains the tomb of Alfonso X The Wise, and several chapels that are true works of art. Before you leave, have a look around the museum, to see the archaeological remains from the cathedral’s foundations. Outside, you can admire the impressive main façade, and don’t forget to have a look at the Episcopal Palace and Cardenal Belluga square.
19.15 - 21.00
A break on the terrace of the Occidental Murcia Siete Coronas.
After a full day’s sightseeing, it’s time for a refreshing break in the hotel before going out for dinner. If you’re staying at the Occidental Murcia Siete Croronas, you could go to the hotel’s superb bistro with its outdoor terrace, and enjoy the Murcian sunset.
11.45 - 12.00
The Town Hall and Puente Viejo
Almost next door stands Murcia’s Town Hall, built in a neo-Classical style, and the river Segura. Here you can see the Puente Viejo [the Old Bridge], the city’s oldest bridge, and then the Puente Nuevo [New Bridge] which, despite its name, is Murcia’s second-oldest bridge.
17.30 - 19.00
Convento de Santa Clara
Calle Trapería leads into Plaza de Santo Domingo, virtually opposite another of Murcia’s iconic buildings, the Convento de Santa Clara, which stands on the site of the former Moorish fortress, the remains of which are preserved inside the convent. We recommend you visit the Convento de Santa Clara to explore its gardens and its museum, where you can see more of the archaeological artifacts discovered here, as well as learning more about the convent’s Islamic past.