Travel
Murcia: An Alternative Spanish Resort Poised to Surprise
While it is well known as a holiday hotspot for groups of youngsters looking to party hard, it seems Murcia has a lot more to offer than great bars and clubs. This south eastern city is the seventh largest in Spain and boasts hot summers and very mild winters, which makes it a great place to visit all year round. The area has been inhabited since 825 AD, so there’s also a rich history waiting to be discovered.
Flights to Murcia are pleasingly affordable and there are some attractive online deals out there. Visitors touch down in Murcia San Javier Airport, which is right on the edge of Mar Menor; a large, salty lagoon, popular with water sports enthusiasts. In the city, the grand Cathedral de Santa Maria makes for a stunning focal point, enjoyed by everyone, whether of a religious ilk or not.
![]() |
Murcia Cathedral, Image by Morini33 |
It’s possible to get a feel for the city from here, perhaps stopping to watch the world go by in the square just in front of the cathedral before getting lost amidst the narrow, winding streets that branch away from it, stumbling upon one of the numerous tapas restaurants that are dotted within.
![]() |
Bar Tapas in Murcia, Photo taken by Grey World |
It’s safe to say Terra Natura is a world away from the Murcia rave scene: more popular with families and the young at heart, it’s self-proclaimed as “a new generation wildlife park”. An immersive zoo experience that lets you get up close and personal with the animals without the usual restrictive barriers, Terra Natura’s 300 animals including some which are very close to extinction. Also attached to the franchise is Aqua Natura, a huge water park with tons of pools and slides, with live sea-lion shows that will keep the whole family entertained.
Golfers will also be pleased to hear that Murcia is home to the world-famous La Manga Golf Club, which has been voted the top European course for a number of years. Even those bored by the prospect of golf can head over towards neighbouring Benidorm. Another Spanish resort that has more up its sleeve than falling asleep on the beach, the local Terra Mitica theme park has white-knuckle rides a-plenty.
So if you’ve already dismissed Murcia as a boozy holiday capital, it may be time to take a closer look. The nightlife may be very much alive in the student neighbourhoods and down on the sands, but the mixture of daytime attractions and the picturesque Rococo facades of the old town are poised to surprise even the most doubting of visitors…
Freddy Darren is a long-term traveller and journalist with a penchant for dispelling popular tourist myths.
-
Business7 months ago
Current Trends in Business That Every Entrepreneur Should Work Towards Achieving
-
Business9 months ago
Temperature Controlled Transport: What is it?
-
Business8 months ago
Why Buy A Business, Rather Than Start One
-
Business8 months ago
Top 10 Simple Health Changes To Boost Your Well-Being
-
Health7 months ago
The Way We Have Exercised Has Changed
-
Business7 months ago
Employee Training and Development Becomes One of the Most Disruptive Megatrends That Is Shaping the Future of Work
-
Travel12 months ago
Yacht charter in Barcelona, the comfort and privacy you can’t get on land
-
Health9 months ago
Digitisation of medicine: better digital medical devices