A couple of weeks ago I was talking to one of our guests at the end of their holiday in Los Alcazares. She said they had a great time and had caught the bus to both Cartagena and Murcia. However they were very disappointed with Cartagena as couldn't find anything to do - or any shops. I was really surprised to say the least, as it is my favourite destination to take friends and family - both for days out and shopping expeditions. 
I'm now wondering whether it is perhaps not very obvious where you should go in the city when you leave the bus station - it is easy to end up in a back street suburb in any city. To avoid this I suggest that before you take a trip to Cartagena you pop into the tourist information centre in Los Alcazares and ask for a map of the city. If they don't have one, contact us - we always have a spare one lying around. Then you will see the main areas to visit - as I told our recent guest there are loads of Roman sites to visit, a tourist boat and a sightseeing bus. There are some great shops in the main street too and lots of lovely waterfront cafés and bars.To give you a flavour of places to visit I've copied out a list of cultural sites that were published in our local newspaper, The Costa Calida Informer. I think it's helpful as it shows you just how much there is to see in the city. I've linked the streets to Google Maps so you can quickly get a sense of location. Please let me know what you think if you visit any of these attractions.
Municipal Archaeological Museum
Calle Rámon y Cajal
Tel: 968 539 027
Open: Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 to 14:00h and from 17:00 to 20:00h.
Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 to 14:00h.
Closed: Mondays and Fiesta days.
Centre for the Interpretation of the Punic Wall
Calle San Diego, 25
Open: Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 14:30h and 16:00 to 20:30h.
The House of Fortune
Plaza del Risueño, s/n
Open: From Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 14:30h and 16:00 to 20:30h.
Augusteum
Calle Caballero, No 2-4
Open: From Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 14:30h
Decumanus (Roman Road)
Plaza de los Tres Reyes,s/n
Open: From Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 14:30h
Byzantine Rampart (Historical Centre)
Calle Doctor Tapia Martinez no 2
Tel: 968 50 79 66
Open: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:30 to 13:30h and from 18:00 to 20:30h.
Closed: Mondays, Sundays and Fiesta days.
Roman Theatre Museum
Plaza de Ayuntamiento no 9
Tel: 968 52 51 49
Open: Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 to 20:00h. Sunday and Fiestas 10:00 to 14:00h.
Conception Castle. The Centre for the Interpretation of the History of Cartagena.
Parque Torres
Open: Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 14:30h and 16:00 to 20.30h.
National Museum of Underwater Archaeology "ARQIVA"
Carretera Faro de Navidad
Open: From Tuesday to Thursday from 10:00 to 21:00h. Friday and Saturday from 10:00 to 22:00h. Sunday and Fiestas from 10:00 to 15:00h.
Arts and Crafts Centre
Calle Honda No 16
Tel: 968 52 46 31
Open: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 14:00h and from 16:00 to 20:30h. Closed on Sunday, Monday and Fiestas.
Military Museum (Artillery Headquarters)
Plaza General López Pinto s/n.
Tel: 968 50 13 00
Open: Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 13:00h. Saturdays, Sundays and Fiestas closed.
Christmas Fort
Algamenca Road
Open: Monday to Sunday from 10:30 to 14:00h and 15:30 to 20:00h.
Aguirre House - Regional Museum of Modern Art
Plaza de la Merced 16.
Tel: 968 50 16 07
Open: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00h. Sunday 10:00 to 14:00h.
City Hall
Plaza de Ayuntamiento s/n.
Tel: 968 128 950
Open: Tuesday to Friday from 10:30 to 13:30h and from 17:00 to 19:00h.
Sunday from 10:30 to 13:30h.
Civil War Shelter Museum
Calle Gisbert, No.10
Open: Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 14:30h and 16:00 to 20:30h
Panoramic Lift
Calle Gisbert, No.10
Open: Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 14:30h and 16:00 to 20:30h
Naval Museum
Calle Menendez Y Pelayo, 8.
Tel: 968 12 71 38
Open: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 13:00h
Tourist Boat
Paseo de Alfonso XII
Departure from Monday to Sunday 10:30 then every hour.
Sightseeing Bus
Puertas De San Jose
Departure from Tuesday to Sunday every hour.
Please remember that times listed here may vary depending on season so check with tourist information if you want to be sure the attraction will be open.
