But that is just the start. After the Spanish navy moved out of this magnificent deep-water Murcian port, the archaeologists moved in.
Murcia San Javier airport 1 is only 20km north of Cartagena. You can fly in on easyJet ; easyJet. There is no direct bus from the airport to Cartagena. The main Murcia-Cartagena highway, which is served by bus, is 3km away. If the fares to Murcia look too high, then consider Alicante and Madrid as alternative gateways; public transport from both is good, and you will arrive at either the handsome old railway station 2 or the distinctive bus station 3 , topped with a tower that resembles a lighthouse.
Wrapping around the old city are the broad Paseo de Alfonso XIII to the north, a strip of parkland and crooked avenue to the east, the seafront and cruise terminal to the south and the former naval docks to the west. The western tourist office is part of the City Hall 5 on the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, Both open 10am-2pm and pm daily except Sundays with the lunch break beginning at 1.
The property brings boutique touches to an old naval building. Check availability. Calle Mayor and its continuations, Puerta de Murcia and Carmen, extend for barely more than a kilometre north-west from the Plaza de Ayuntamiento, but are full of interest. La Chinata 14 , just back along Calle Carmen at number 33, is a delicatessen with a strong suit in extra virgin olive oil and sidelines in cosmetics.
The main produce market, Mercado Gisbert 17 , is on Calle Gisbert. While it closes on Sundays, many other stores are open on the Sabbath so long as a cruise ship with more than passengers is tied up in Cartagena. You could assemble a picnic and enjoy it in one of the lovely squares, such as the Plaza de La Merced The layers are only slowly being peeled back, with some superb new attractions opening in the past decade.
