HOME > MURCIA MAR MENOR & CARTAGENA > CARTAGENA

Cartagena Today

The city of Cartagena

Cartagena is a city of contrasts, its rich cultural and military history merely a backdrop for the industrial and commercial activity which supports the second largest city in the Region of Murcia.

Its natural strategic port has offered shelter to traders for thousands of years, and the rich mines of the Sierra Minera provided a reason for the frequent wars which were fought in order to possess it, Cartagena still being a major naval base today, as well as boasting a rich military heritage of patrimony. The history of Cartagena charts its development and the cultures which have shaped it today.

The city has developed a lucrative tourism industry based on the number of historical places which tourists can visit and enjoy, including the RomanTheatre Museum, ARQUA, MURAM, Casa de la Fortuna, Cartagena Municipal Archaeology Museum, the Augusteum, the Molinete and other well preserved Roman buildings and museums.

In addition there has been major investment in the creation of a new market for cruise ship tourism.

Cartagena

These days the port remains a major focal point for commercial activity, and the Escombreras industrial area has attracted major businesses including the Repsol refinery, SABIC petrochemicals and Holcim concrete plants within a concealed industrial zone. Cartagena is also the home of the regional parliament building of Murcia.

The Campo de Cartagena is a major source of agricultural employment, copnsisting of flat and fertile irrigated areas where salad crops, peppers, potatoes and courgettes are grown, while non-irrigated crops include olives, carobs and almonds.

The more mountainous outlying districts of Cartagena boast extensive areas of beaches, stretching around the coastline from Isla Plana in the west to Cabo de Palos in the east. Here, the spit of La Manga del Mar Menor encloses the Mar Menor, giving Cartagena an extensive offering of prime sandy beaches with safe bathing conditions in Europe's largest saltwater lagoon.

This in turn creates a varied leisure industry, with watersports, a motor racing circuit, some of the best diving facilities in Europe and one of Spain's most prestigious golf and residential complexes, La Manga Club, all creating leisure and tourism opportunities for local businesses.

Cartagena has a rich cultural offering, with important Semana Santa and Romans and Carthaginians fiestas, Carnival, the Mar de Músicas and Cartagena Jazz festivals. The El Batel auditorium and congress centre enhances an already rich cultural programme.

LOCATION

Click for map, Cartagena Spain

There is often confusion on map searches as there is another Cartagena in Columbia. Cartagena Spain is located in the south of the region of Murcia and is a major port and industrial centre.

The municipality of Cartagena covers an area of 558 square kilometres, with a population of 218,000 making it the second most populated municipality of the 45 in the Region of Murcia.

It shares boundaries with Torre Pacheco, Los Alcázares, La Unión, Mazarrón and Fuente Álamo.

SELECT A SUBJECT OR READ THE LATEST TOWN ARTICLES BELOW

Whats On Cartagena Cartagena Local News Places to visit Cartagena City Places to visit outlying districts Where to Eat Cartagena Semana Santa, Fiestas, Traditions History of Cartagena Cartagena Cartagena beaches Medical Info, Doctors and Hospitals Police, Town hall, Useful Info Public spaces and cultural venues Monuments, churches and plazas Locations with Military Connections Tourist Information and Parking Cartagena Cruise Ships Shopping and markets Cartagena Property Cartagena municipality

CARTAGENA

17 rescued from La Manga waters after red flags ignoredSeveral people were caught by strong currents over the weekend, with some rescued hundreds of metres from the shore Seventeen people had to be rescued from the sea in La Manga on Sunday August 16 after entering areas marked with red flags warning.. 18/08/2026

Murcia fashion firm Liwe shuts 36 more Inside stores as it battles €69 million debtThe Murcia-based company has closed 136 stores since the start of 2025 and now has around 200 Inside outlets still operating as it works to restructure its finances The Murcia-based company behind fashion chain Inside has closed another 36 shops.. 18/08/2026

50 heat-related deaths recorded in Murcia this summerThe estimated death toll has more than doubled in a year as Murcia experiences one of its most extreme summers on record The health impact of this summer's exceptional heat is becoming increasingly clear, with 50 deaths in the Region of Murcia.. 18/08/2026

Rail works disrupt Murcia to Alicante line with buses replacing trains for over a weekMore than 56,000 seats have been arranged on replacement buses as engineers upgrade the Torrellano to Crevillente stretch Anyone travelling by train between Murcia and Alicante over the coming days will need to swap the railway for the road as engineers.. 18/08/2026

Cartagena set for a busy fortnight as 11 cruise ships bring more than 22,000 passengersMajor ships including Sky Princess Britannia Queen Anne and Norwegian Sky will call at Cartagena between August 16 and 29 Cartagena is in for a particularly busy couple of weeks, with 11 cruise ships scheduled to call at the port between Sunday August.. 17/08/2026

Murcia begins the week with 6 red flags as sea conditions turn roughLa Manga has a complete swimming ban while beaches in Águilas Cartagena Lorca San Javier and San Pedro del Pinatar are under yellow warnings Anyone heading to the beaches of the Region of Murcia this week should check the flags before getting.. 17/08/2026

Murcia's countryside is stealing some of the summer spotlightRural accommodation reached 83% occupancy in July and is expected to hit 93% in August, properties with swimming pools are already fully booked Beaches might be one of Murcia's biggest attractions, but this summer there's another part of.. 17/08/2026

Murcia is quietly becoming one of Spain's most sought-after filming destinations, and Hollywood has noticedFrom Fast & Furious to The Walking Dead, the region is attracting major productions and aiming for 75 in 2026 alone Stand in the Mahoya desert near Abanilla on any given day and you might find yourself on the border between Mexico and the United States.. 17/08/2026

Homeless people struggle to escape Murcia's extreme summer heatMore than 500 people are estimated to be living on the streets across the Region this summer as temperatures regularly climb towards 40C For most people, getting through a hot day in the Region of Murcia means finding some shade, turning on the.. 17/08/2026

Could you spare a few hours to volunteer with HELP Murcia Mar Menor?Even a few hours a week could help the long-running charity raise more money for local good causes Could you spare a few hours a week and fancy doing something useful for your local community? HELP Murcia Mar Menor is looking for new volunteers to.. 14/08/2026

Cartagena is already planning its Three Kings Parade for 2027, and yes, it's still only mid AugustWhile the rest of us are focused on the beach, the Ayuntamiento is quietly getting Christmas sorted It's mid August. The beaches are packed, it's gloriously hot and the last thing on most people's minds is Christmas. And yet, while everyone.. 14/08/2026

Join the Simply Spanish Homes team and build your career in Spanish propertyThe growing estate agency is looking for an organised and motivated candidate to work between its Roldán and Los Alcázares offices If you're looking for a new career opportunity in the Spanish property market, Simply Spanish Homes.. 14/08/2026

Roman Theatre in Cartagena lays on extra activities for the August bank holidayThe museum is running extra activities throughout August, including two night time tours The Roman Theatre Museum in Cartagena is running an expanded programme of activities throughout the August bank holiday weekend, with guided tours, family activities.. 12/08/2026

Murcia photo of the month August 2026Here’s the August image of the month taken by the Los Alcázares Digital Camera Club (LADCC) “Expressing Feelings” was the title put forward to the LADCC members in this month’s competition. Feelings are often.. 11/08/2026

17 Murcia beaches now offer free assisted bathing this summerCartagena has four beaches offering the highest level of accessibility, while three beaches have specially adapted bathing areas in the sea People with reduced mobility have more options for enjoying the sea this summer with 17 beaches across the.. 10/08/2026

Ever wondered what happens on Cartagena's beaches after the sun goes down? Quite a lot, as it turns outThe Ayuntamiento has revealed the scale of its round-the-clock summer cleaning operation, which removed more than 120 cubic metres of waste from beaches in July alone Most people enjoying a morning swim or an afternoon on the sand along Cartagena'.. 10/08/2026

Linea Directa 290 A-L RIGHT COL CAR INSURANCE