What to see in Cartagena Spain.
I’ve previously written about Cartagena, calling it the ugliest city I’ve seen in Spain.
But if you’re a fan of Roman ruins you may want to spend a day in Cartagena. It’s also a stop on many cruise itineraries, so you may end up here if on a cruise.
So what to see in Cartagena? I’ll tell you what to see in 1 or 2 days. I don’t honestly think there’s any reason to give Cartagena more that 2 days.
I’ll also give you some tips on how to save money on attractions
A Brief History of Cartagena
The city was founded in 227 BC by the Carthaginians (also called the “Punic people”. You’ll see some ruins such as the Punic Wall…they refer to the period of Carthaginian rule). They chose this spot because of its strategic location and the rich mineral resources in the region.
Carthaginian rule didn’t last long. In 209 BC the Romans conquered the town (in the 2nd Punic war) and renamed it Carthago Nova. Roman rule would mark the height of the city’s history, serving as important port and trading hub. Most of the ruins that you see in Cartagena today date back to the period between its conquest and the end of the 1st century AD. Following that, a sharp decline happened which coincided with the general decline of the Roman Empire.
In 435 AD the Visigoths took Cartagena followed by the Byzantines in 551. These were considered the Dark Ages of the city. In 715 AD the Moors took power and reconstructed and rejuvenated Cartagena, making it a major naval base and exploiting the mineral resources in the area.
The Reconquesta came to Cartagena in 1243 but it didn’t bring peace: the city was on the frontier between the new Catholic powers and the Muslim Kingdom (the Nasrid Kingdom) in Granada. Control of Cartagena went back and forth between the two powers. Eventually the Catholics gained control but internal feuding led to the decline of the city.
In the 18th century, the city became a leading naval port in the Mediterranean. Cartagena played a significant role as a strategic port and naval base during the Spanish Civil War and World War II.
If you want to read more about Cartagena’s history, this post covers in here in great detail.
What to see in Cartagena
The Roman Theatre
It’s easily the top attraction in Cartagena. The Roman Theatre was built during the Reign of Emperor Augustus (circa 44 AD). It seated 7000 spectators, so it’s a large theatre. Surprisingly, it was only discovered in 1987, one of the reasons being that it was hidden underneath an old cathedral. The theatre has since been unearthed and restored. It’s quite impressive.
How to see it: the entrance is on the main plaza, the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. Ticket cost 7 euros. From there you go through a tunnel which has information panels, then go up some stairs…and you suddenly find yourself in the theatre.
There’s not too much to do to be honest. You can walk among the aisles, go on the stage. As I say, it’s quite impressive.
If you want to save some money: when walking around the theatre you’ll notice there are people just above the top level of the theatre looking down. There’s a park there, Parque de la Cornisa, where you can look right down into the theatre. The views are even better than those within the theatre to be honest. And access to the park is free.
Arqueológico Cerro del Molinete Park (Molinete Hill Archaeological Park)
On top of a hill a bit further inland is this park where you can walk around (free) looking at some Roman ruins, towers and columns. There are also good views here looking over Cartagena and across to the castle (Castillo de la Concepcion. I’ll cover that a bit further on).
Molinete Roman Forum Museum
This is the only attraction we paid for and I think it was worth it.
At the base of Molinete hill, this museum holds some great Roman relics: mosaics, columns, various unearthed rooms. Part of the museum is covered (to protect the ruins) and some is out in the open. Lots of information panels to help you understand the significance of what you are looking at. We spent about an hour and found it interesting.
Castillo de la Concepcion
It’s on Cartagena’s largest hill. It used to have a Roman temple, a Moorish fortress and then a Medieval fortress called Castillo de la Concepcion. It is also said to have the best views of the city.
Really, it’s not worth seeing the castle. There’s nothing left of it. You’ll see a modern museum (not exciting), some peacocks, and partially obscured views of Cartagena’s ugly harbour. For the 5 euros (if you walk, 6 euros if you take the lift), it really isn’t worth it.
INSTEAD: the Mirador Parque Torres is on your way if walking to the castle (it’s very close to the castle entrance). There you’ll see a large mirador with views looking both towards the harbour and down towards the Roman Theatre. Great views and it’s free.
Palacio Consistorial de Cartagena
It’s the most beautiful building in Cartagena and functions as the Ayuntamiento (city hall). But you’re allowed to come it and take photo of the ground floor. On top of that, they often hold art exhibits which are free (they had an excellent pop art exhibit while we were there as well as different works of art by local artists). Very much worth a visit.
The streets of Cartagena
There are a few nice streets in Cartagena, none nicer than Calle Mayor which is a pedestrian street with some beautiful buildings. There are restaurants and cafes and it’s a good place for shopping. Plaza de San Francisco is worth seeing, a large square with a gigantic tree looming over beautiful (but faded) buildings.
Cartagena’s Port
Steps from Palacio Consistorial de Cartagena, Cartagena’s Port is worth a walk. You’ll see views of the harbour, modern statues and historical monuments, and 2 museums: the Naval Museum as well as the huge National Museum of Underwater Archaeology.
What else to see if you have more time:
- Punic walls. A museum covering the Punic Wall, dating back to Carthaginian times (around 227 BC)
- House of Fortune (Casa de Fortuna). A well preserved Roman-era home.
- Historical Military Museum
- Civil War Museum
All the above will give you lots to see in a day (or two) in Cartagena.
Related: What’s the city of Murcia like? (And comparisons to Granada)
Related: Hiking the Peñón de Ifach (Calpe, Alicante)
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