Bagintravel
Download
Cartagena

Spain travel guide

What to see in Cartagena

A Roman theatre by the harbour, modernista buildings and the story of Carthaginians and Romans.

Updated 19 October 2026 · How we make our guides

Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0

Cartagena highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

  1. Roman Theatre

    Restored, next to the castle.

  2. Harbour and Arsenal

    The marina and the Peral submarine.

  3. Castillo de la Concepción

    A panoramic view of the harbour.

  4. Cabo de Palos

    A lighthouse and diving (day trip).

Where to stay in Cartagena

The handiest areas for getting around and going out.

  • Recommended areas

    Centre · Harbour · Calblanque

Day trips from Cartagena

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them, Bagintravel may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

When to travel to Cartagena

Any time of year is good to travel to Cartagena: our data shows no months with weather, closure or crowd warnings.

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb no warnings
  3. Mar no warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May no warnings
  6. Jun no warnings
  7. Jul no warnings
  8. Aug no warnings
  9. Sep no warnings
  10. Oct no warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec no warnings

Typical food of Cartagena

The dish you have to try there and how to make it at home, to whet your appetite before the trip (or to go back to Cartagena from your kitchen).

Café asiático
Photo: P4K1T0 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Café asiático

Cartagena’s coffee, with condensed milk, brandy, Licor 43, cinnamon and lemon peel, served in its own special glass.

  • Serves 1
  • 5 min

Ingredients

  • 1 espresso
  • 1 tablespoon of condensed milk
  • 1 dash of brandy
  • 1 dash of Licor 43
  • Cinnamon stick and lemon peel
  • Coffee beans

How to make it at home

  1. Put the condensed milk, brandy and Licor 43 in the glass.
  2. Add the cinnamon, the lemon peel and a few coffee beans.
  3. Warm the liqueur slightly (carefully) and make the coffee.
  4. Pour the coffee over the mixture and serve without stirring.

The trick: It’s served in layers: the milk at the bottom and the coffee on top.

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: the neighbourhood taberna. The dishes you can’t miss are in the Spain guide.

Frequently asked questions about Cartagena

What to see in Cartagena?

Roman Theatre, Harbour and Arsenal, Castillo de la Concepción and Cabo de Palos.

What to see in Cartagena in one day?

Don’t miss Roman Theatre, Harbour and Arsenal, Castillo de la Concepción and Cabo de Palos. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

Where to stay in Cartagena?

The handiest areas to stay are Centre, Harbour and Calblanque.

What’s the best time to travel to Cartagena?

Any time of year is good to travel to Cartagena: our data shows no months with weather, closure or crowd warnings.

What day trips can you take from Cartagena?

Roman Theatre of Cartagena and Cartagena Puerto de Culturas.

What is the typical food of Cartagena?

Café asiático. Cartagena’s coffee, with condensed milk, brandy, Licor 43, cinnamon and lemon peel, served in its own special glass.

Bagintravel · We travel together

Shall we plan your trip to Cartagena?

Tell us where and in under a minute you’ll have your day-by-day route, with places to stay, transport, expenses and tips. And we go with you in your pocket, offline too.

The app is currently available in Spanish.

Download Bagintravel See how it works

More in Spain

Guide reviewed 19 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.