Getting to Cartagena is relatively easy you will most likely arrive into either Alicante or Murcia airport, Murcia is only a 20 minute drive to Cartagena, Alicante is a little longer taking just over an hour to reach the city.

Cartagena is the perfect place for hiring a car, there are many different places to visit. The Costa Calida has recently had it’s road networks upgraded making it easier to drive around. Cartagena is connected to both the A-7 motorway and the N-332, both run along the coast as far as you are likely to want to travel. The motorway is the quickest way of reaching most places in Cartagena, there are some beautiful sandy beaches a few miles from both motorways making Cartagena ideal for tourists as well as business men and woman.

Cartagena is only a couple of hours from the town of Granada, it makes a nice day out of the city. Granada is full of history as well as energetic activities, an extended two day excursion to Granada from Cartagena could mean that you get to see the magnificent Alhambra palace; during winter months it’s even possible to get to some great Ski resorts.

Car rental in Cartagena is a great way of seeing everything the city has to offer and the surrounding places. Public transport in the area is very limited there isn’t much in the way of busses and trains connecting the area so car rental may be a good idea if you really want to explore, it is a lot cheaper in Spain than in the UK.

The history of Cartagena is mostly found in the buildings, however a recent rainstorm in the last few years unearthed a beautiful arena which was found under the current bull ring. It is being worked on at the moment to reopen it and make it available to the public.

The main historical features of the city have been improved over the years allowing them to become a public attraction, there are several museums, of different subjects, churches. Cartagena offers a fantastic range of holidays, there are resorts just outside the city and hotels which are situated in the heart of the city. It is personal preference of which you prefer.

Cartagena city is only 20 kilometers from La Manga del Mar Menor along the twisting scenic coastal motorway, and 70 kilometers from Murcia which retains some of the area’s most interesting historic sights. Being this close to 2 major cities makes the perfect day trips to make in your hire car. Cartagena is a must for any naval enthusiasts, being home to Spain’s current principal port and the vast majority of their naval fleet. The port itself also makes a nice day out, it is set back with a cove but on both rocky peninsulas forts Galeras and San Julian. stand guard over the harbor.

The history of this natural port dates back to the fifth century BC when it was used by the Greeks and Phoenicians as a natural shelter. The city boasts a lively mixture of modernist architecture interspersed with Roman sites, buildings and monuments. It has all the charm and character of a local Spanish city along with an interesting history.

The Conception Castle is a modern building which stands square and dominating it has a panoramic glass lift which offers by far the best views of the town. From the top of this lift you can see the Roman theatre, which happened to be found completely by chance. Up until recently much of this city’s Roman heritage lay buried and un-disturbed. In 1988 a few blocks were uncovered by heavy rain on the hill side, unfortunately almost an entire neighborhood had been built over the top of the theatre once residents had been happily relocated the painstaking excavation and re-construction of the theatre began; now a must see structure you can even observe the restoration work taking place.

Still today even more history is still being discovered, who knows you may find the next Ancient Roman Coliseum during your trip to Cartagena!