Getting around Cartagena is simple enough, with its many car hire and taxi options, but it is generally agreed that the best way to truly experience this Spanish jewel is on foot. In fact, tourists won't be able to appreciate all that this city has to offer if they dont take the time to view Cartagena at their leisure by putting on those walking shoes.



Cartagena is a walkers paradise in terms of weather. It is never too hot or too cold and stays dry virtually throughout the year, although the best time of the year to visit is the spring or the fall. When you have such reliable weather, planning your walking trips around this small port city should be a breeze. You dont need to worry about unexpected rain showers or blazing heat. You dont need to pack rain jackets or umbrellas. Just pack those shoes and you're ready to go!

The biggest advantage of seeing Cartagena on foot is that the city is arranged in such a compact and user-friendly way. All the city's main attractions are within comfortable walking distance of one another. Meander from museum, to shop, to restaurant without the need to deal with car hire, finding parking, working out cab fair and budgeting for transportation.

One of the best things about walking about Cartagena is the fact that you can enjoy the gems that this little city has hidden around town. Cartagena's plazas and landscaped squares are so beautiful that visitors can spend literally hours sitting on a bench and enjoying the exquisite views around them. A popular pastime among locals and tourists alike is to grab a delicious Spanish snack and enjoy eating it in one of the squares dotted around Cartagena.

There are many interesting historical and cultural buildings that visitors can enjoy on their walks around Cartagena. As a walled town, Cartagena had and still has a fabulous harbor that is defended by forts along the coastline. Also around the city's port, walkers can find a number of monuments dedicated to important naval personalities and missions throughout the town's maritime history. Interesting monuments that should not be missed are those dedicated to the heroes of Santiago de Cuba, as well as the first submarine that was ever launched in the history of the world.

While walking through Cartagena, it is possible to take in the city's many archaeological sites, such as the ruins of the temple dedicated to Melqart, the Phoenician god. In the center of Cartagena, visitors can also find a number of interesting museums that tell the story of the city's rich history, including several fascinating Roman ruins. The old city boasts several styles of architecture from a number of periods in time, including a Byzantine rampart and the Roman theater.

Several walking tours of Cartagena are available and visitors are encouraged to check in with the city's tourist department or find a reliable company on the internet who will be able to take them to see the city's highlights.

Of course, you may want to take a day excursion from Cartagena to the nearby resort of La Manga or the little picturesque villages dotting the coastline. While obviously you can't walk all the way, there is an easy-to-use and reliable bus service that reaches all these destinations, making Cartagena a central location to all that this great part of Spain has to offer.