Cartagena packs more than 2,000 years of history into a compact, walkable city centre on Spain’s southeastern coast. The city was founded in 227 BC by the Carthaginian general Hasdrubal and later became a major Roman colony called Carthago Nova. Today its layered past is visible everywhere, from a remarkably preserved Roman theatre to 18th-century military fortifications and modernist architecture from the early 1900s. Beyond history, Cartagena has a growing tapas scene, a working naval port, and the Mar Menor lagoon 20 minutes away. Here are the best things to do in Cartagena, organised by category. For more, read our Cartagena travel tips guide.
Things to Do in Cartagena: Ancient History and Archaeology
Roman Theatre Museum
Cartagena’s Roman Theatre, discovered by accident during construction in 1988, is one of the largest in Roman Hispania with a capacity of 6,000 spectators. Built between 5 and 1 BC under Emperor Augustus, the theatre was buried for centuries beneath the city’s Old Cathedral. The attached museum, designed by Rafael Moneo, guides visitors through a tunnel under the ruined cathedral before emerging into the restored cavea (seating area). Entry costs 6 euros, with reduced rates of 5 euros for students and seniors. It opens Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00 (until 19:00 in summer) and Sundays from 10:00 to 14:00. Closed Mondays. The museum is on Plaza del Ayuntamiento, a 5-minute walk from the cruise port. Allow 90 minutes for a proper visit. For more, read our where to stay in Cartagena guide.
Roman Forum District and Molinete Archaeological Park
The Molinete hill (Cerro del Molinete) rising behind the Town Hall contains the excavated remains of the Roman forum, including thermal baths, a temple to Isis, and the Atrium Building used for religious banquets. Entry costs 5 euros and includes access to the Roman Forum Museum on Calle Honda. The site also preserves a section of the 16th-century city wall and fragments of the Punic wall from the 3rd century BC. Open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 17:30 (extended summer hours). The hilltop gives good views over the Old Town. For more, read our Cartagena neighborhoods guide.
Punic Wall Interpretation Centre
This small museum on Calle San Diego protects a 30-metre stretch of the original Carthaginian defensive wall built in 227 BC. The centre explains Cartagena’s foundation by Hasdrubal and the city’s strategic importance as a Mediterranean port. Entry costs 3.50 euros. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 17:00. The glass-floored walkway lets you look directly down onto the original stonework from over 2,200 years ago. Allow 30-40 minutes. For more, read our Cartagena events and festivals guide.
Things to Do in Cartagena: Naval and Military History
Naval Museum (Museo Naval)
Cartagena has been Spain’s primary Mediterranean naval base since the 18th century, and the Naval Museum on Paseo Alfonso XII tells that story in detail. Exhibits cover shipbuilding, navigation instruments, model ships, uniforms, and the history of the Spanish Armada in the Mediterranean. The highlight is the Sala Isaac Peral, housing the world’s first fully functional electric submarine, designed by Cartagena native Isaac Peral and launched in 1888. Entry is free with a suggested 3 euro donation. Open Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 to 14:00, closed Sundays and Mondays. The museum is in a historic naval building on the waterfront. For more, read our best time to visit Cartagena guide.
Castillo de la Concepcion
The Conception Castle crowns the hill at the centre of Cartagena, offering 360-degree views over the port, the Roman Theatre below, and the surrounding mountains. The castle’s foundations date to Roman times, but the current structure is 13th-century with later additions. The easiest way up is the Panoramic Lift on Calle Gisbert, which costs 4 euros for a round trip including castle entry. The lift ride itself is an attraction, cutting through the hill in a glass-walled elevator. The castle houses a small interpretation centre covering Cartagena’s history from Carthaginian times to the 20th century. Open daily 10:00 to 19:30 (until 20:30 in July and August). Budget 60-90 minutes. For more, read our Cartagena weather by month guide.
Civil War Air Raid Shelter Museum
Cartagena was a Republican stronghold during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) and the last city to fall to Franco’s forces. The air raid shelter on Calle Gisbert, carved into the hillside, could hold 5,500 people during bombing raids. The 45-minute guided tour (3.50 euros) takes you through the dimly lit tunnels past original benches, latrines, and an infirmary. Informative panels explain daily life during the bombardments. Open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 17:30. The entrance is near the Panoramic Lift.
Things to Do in Cartagena: Architecture and Streets
Calle Mayor and Modernist Buildings
Calle Mayor is Cartagena’s main pedestrian thoroughfare, lined with early 20th-century modernist buildings that reflect the wealth generated by the mining boom. Key facades to look up at include the Casino (1897), the Gran Hotel (1916) with its zinc dome, the Casa Llagostera with painted ceramic panels, and the Town Hall (Ayuntamiento, 1907) with its distinctive triangular pediment and clock tower. The Cervantes House and Casa Dorda are also worth noting. Pick up a modernist route map from the tourist office on Plaza del Ayuntamiento. Most buildings are concentrated within a 10-minute walk along Calle Mayor and adjacent streets.
ARQUA: National Museum of Underwater Archaeology
Spain’s national museum of underwater archaeology sits on Cartagena’s waterfront at Muelle de Alfonso XII. The collection includes Phoenician ivory tusks, Roman amphorae recovered from Mediterranean shipwrecks, and a replica of a 7th-century BC Phoenician trading ship. The star exhibit is the treasure of the Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes, a Spanish frigate sunk by the British in 1804 carrying over 500,000 gold and silver coins. Entry costs 3 euros, free on Saturdays after 14:00 and all day Sunday. Open Tuesday to Saturday 9:30 to 20:00, Sundays 10:00 to 15:00. Closed Mondays. Budget 90 minutes.
Things to Do in Cartagena: Beaches and Coast
Cala Cortina
Cartagena’s closest beach is Cala Cortina, a 250-metre sandy cove just 3km east of the city centre. It’s reachable by a 10-minute taxi ride (about 8 euros), the L8 city bus, or a 35-minute walk along the coastal path. The beach has golden sand, calm waters, a beach bar (chiringuito) open in summer, showers, and lifeguards from June to September. The bay is sheltered by headlands on both sides, keeping the water calm. Parking is limited in summer, so take the bus if visiting in July or August. Free entry.
Mar Menor and La Manga
The Mar Menor is Europe’s largest saltwater lagoon, separated from the Mediterranean by the 22km sandbar of La Manga. The shallow waters (average depth 4 metres) heat up faster than the open sea, reaching 28°C (82°F) in August. La Manga is a 25-minute drive from Cartagena via the RM-12 motorway. Public buses run from Cartagena bus station to La Manga for about 3 euros each way. The lagoon’s calm, warm water is ideal for families with small children and water sports like windsurfing and kitesurfing. Mud baths at Lo Pagan, on the lagoon’s northern shore, are a local spa tradition where people cover themselves in mineral-rich black mud.
Cabo de Palos
About 30km east of Cartagena, Cabo de Palos is a fishing village turned diving destination. The waters around the cape form a marine reserve with some of the best scuba diving on the Spanish Mediterranean coast. The landmark lighthouse, built in 1865, stands on a rocky headland. Several dive centres in the village offer guided dives and PADI courses. The village itself has a small beach, seafood restaurants along the harbour, and a Sunday morning market. Reachable by car in 25 minutes or by infrequent regional bus.
