Capital of the region of Murcia and exceptionally located, Murcia has a wide range of culture and gastronomy. An ideal destination for a weekend getaway, discover all there is to see in the city of Murcia Spain and all the opportunities offered by the capital’s surroundings.
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Things to do in the city of Murcia
Murcia Cathedral
The most iconic monument in Murcia and one of the best examples of Baroque architecture in Spain is the Cathedral of Santa María, located in the Plaza del Cardenal Belluga. Murcia Cathedral is a key piece of Spanish Baroque architecture. It is one of the most important buildings in the city and, of course, in the whole region.
It stands out for its amalgam of architectural styles ranging from Gothic to Neoclassicism. Although its construction began at the end of the 14th century, the façade had to be modified and the space enlarged in the 16th century, so the style of the main façade ended up being Baroque.
The Real Casino of Murcia
In the heart of the historic centre of the city, the Real Casino de Murcia is an architecurally unique building. Located in a symbolic place in the capital, Trapería Street, it has become its identifying feature. Its construction began in 1847, a mixture of the different artistic movements that coexisted in the second half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century in Spain. It was then declared a national historic-artistic monument in 1983.
Sanctuary of La Fuensanta
A sanctuary where you can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the city and the orchard. The temple has the image of the patron saint of the city. The name comes from the fountain that flowed at its feet, and the people attributed healing properties to its water.
The sanctuary is a traditional Murcian Baroque temple, consisting of three naves; a larger central nave and two side naves with chapels.
Plaza de las Flores
It is one of the most lively urban spaces in the old town. The Plaza de las Flores is located in the centre of one of the city’s main tapas and restaurant areas. Take a stroll around its adjacent streets and the squares of Santa Catalina and San Pedro, and have a beer or a “marinera” (a kind of sailor’s drink). Iconic and always crowded, beautiful and busy, charismatic and fun. It’s the hallmark of the Murcian restaurant scene.
In the Plaza de las Flores you can also enjoy a wide variety of bars and cafés, almost all of them with outdoor terraces, and every weekend there is a very festive atmosphere. Murcia’s cuisine is famous for its appetizers and typical Murcian tapas, and this place is the popular spot in the city to enjoy varied and quality tapas.
Santa Clara Museum
The building that houses the museum was the palace of Muslim emirs in the 12th and 13th centuries. It then became the fortress of Castilian monarchs, and later the royal monastery of the Poor Clare nuns from 1365 to the present day. A building that is an iconic confluence of eras and cultures, such as Islamic, Gothic and Baroque.
Santa Clara has a large collection of Andalusian archaeology, with architectural remains that include carved and decorated woodwork, plinths with interesting arabesque work, carved and painted plasterwork, as well as the remains of a muqarnas roof.
Verónicas Market
The Verónicas market is located in the Plano de San Francisco and is one of the most important places in the city, where hundreds of shoppers come together every day in search of the best products. Just strolling around its stalls is a luxury in itself.
The Veronicas Market dates back to the early years of the 20th century and has the region’s best products. In addition, you can eat the market’s own products in some of the bars that line its corners.
Romea Theatre
The Romea Theatre is one of the most important cultural landmarks of the city and stands in the Plaza Julián Romea, a famous Murcian actor considered one of the greatest glories of national theatre.
With 150 years of history, the theatre has undergone several refurbishments due to the fires suffered in the 19th century. The Romea Theatre, one of the most important theatres on the Spanish circuit, is highly popular among spectators and artists alike, given its beauty, comfort and extraordinary acoustics.
Streets of Trapería and Platería
Trapería and Platería are two of the most famous and historic streets in the capital, located very close to the Cathedral. One of the most best areas to wander around on a day of shopping. Calle Trapería is one of the most traditional and busy streets in Murcia, and also serves as an example of how the city was organised in medieval times. It was the site of the wall that separated Christians from Muslims in the 13th century.
Calle Trapería is a narrow, pedestrianised street that is worth strolling down, admiring its richness and urban bustle. La Platería is named after the place where silversmiths worked in medieval times and is another of the main thoroughfares in the old quarter of Murcia. It connects the area of the Plaza de Santa Catalina with the axis of Trapería street, where together with San Cristóbal street, when cutting across the Trapería, they form “Las Cuatro Esquinas” (The Four Corners).
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
Things to see around Murcia Spain
Playa de la Llana
The salt flats of San Pedro del Pinatar occupy the northern end of the sandy bar of La Manga del Mar Menor. They are the most important wetland in the whole region and as such were declared a regional park in 1985.
The seafront of this protected area overlooking the Mediterranean is known as the Playa de la Llana beach. Although it is actually three natural beaches in a row, Las Salinas, Punta de Algas and Barra Quemada, which extend for three kilometres of beautiful, wild sandy beach as far as the gola de los Punchosos, one of the natural channels that joins the Mar Menor to the Mediterranean.
Puntas de Calnegre
Located in Lorca, Puntas de Calnegre is a kilometre-long area of coves, pebble beaches and small cliffs between Mazarrón and Águilas, where the only inhabited nucleus is the small fishing village of Puntas de Calnegre. A solitary, beautiful coastline, with a certain air of old-fashioned nostalgia, which has managed to save itself for the moment almost miraculously from the bricks and mortar.
Things to do in Murcia in one day?
If you travel to Murcia for a day, you will be able to discover the most emblematic and important places in the city. Here is a possible one-day tour of the city of Murcia, Spain.
- Murcia Cathedral
- Real Casino of Murcia
- Sanctuary of la Fuensanta
- Plaza de las Flores
- Museum of Santa Clara
- Verónicas Market
- Romea Theatre
- Trapería and Platería Streets
Things to do in Murcia in two days?
With two days in Murcia, as well as discovering the city’s must-see sights, you’ll be able to discover some of the most idyllic beaches in the surrounding area. Take a look at this two-day tour of Murcia and its surroundings.
Day 1:
- Playa de la Llana
- Murcia Cathedral
- The Real Casino of Murcia
- Plaza de las Flores
Day 2:
- Verónicas Market
- Romea Theatre
- Trapería and Platería streets
- Puntas de Calnegre
How to organise what to see on your trip to Murcia?
- Get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers.
- Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
- Add the spots you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organise your itinerary by days and according to their location (you can take inspiration from the routes presented in the post).
- Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make the necessary modifications and you are ready for your trip.
- Finally, share your experience. Upload photos of each of the places you have visited to the app so you can inspire other users.
If you have any doubts about how to plan your itinerary, you can read our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.
Frequently asked questions about a trip to Murcia
By plane: The international airport of the Region of Murcia is 20 minutes from the centre of Murcia and is connected by motorway and special bus and taxi services.
Train: The Renfe Murcia station (El Carmen) has long and medium distance services that connect with various points in Spain.
In addition, the city is well connected by road and bus with daily routes to different Spanish cities.
Murcia is a city which, due to its size, climate and orography, is ideal for getting around on foot or by bike. But to get around beyond the city centre it is best to use the extensive public transport network that covers the entire metropolitan area.
Murcia’s gastronomy is one of its great attractions. Take a look at this list of some of the best restaurants in the city.
– Salzillo
– Torremolinos
– Restaurante El Churra
– Real Casino de Murcia
– El Pasaje de Belluga
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