Murcia Holiday Guide

Murcia airport is small but expanding rapidly now that six different airlines, many of which are low-cost, fly to it from the UK. Airlines including Ryanair, bmibaby and British Airways jet in from nine different regional UK airports with flights taking around two and a half hours. You can also fly with BA indirectly via Madrid to Heathrow, which makes the tenth airport.

The local bus service is unreliable and unless your package includes an airport transfer, hiring a car is the best way to explore the region.

With 250 kilometres of coastline, the Costa Calida, or Hot Coast, is not short of beautiful beaches. The best-known area is La Manga, a skinny, 22-kilometre stretch of land that protects the salty Mar Menor lagoon from the Mediterranean Sea. Here you can choose whether to bathe in the warm lagoon, which is ideal for families, or the cooler Med.

Out of more than 200 beaches in the region, 23 have attained Blue Flag status, meaning they've been checked for clean waters and good facilities, making them great holiday spots. These include El Espejo in popular Los Alcazares, El Mojon and La Llana Las Salinas in San Pedro del Pinatar – which has the added advantage of being adjacent to a protected wetland area where more than 100 bird species have been spotted.

There are historic sites around every corner in the regional capital, Murcia City, and the nearby Roman city of Cartagena, plus both towns are compact enough to walk around. Murcia City was founded by the Arabs in AD 831, and you can still see remnants of the city walls in places. Visit the impressive Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque cathedral, which was started in the 14th century, and numerous churches. Pop your head into the ornate 19th-century casino and visit the impressive Salzillo Museum.

Cartagena, or Carthage as it was named by the Carthaginians more than 2,500 years ago, is an archaeologist's dream, with ruins such as the Roman Villa and Casa de la Fortuna. Visit the medieval Concepcion Castle atop the hill for spectacular views of the city and port. A cruise out of the harbour, meanwhile, offers a different perspective.

Drive south and visit the less touristy spots of Mazarron, which has an attractive old town, and Aguilas, which is renowned for its dive spots and picturesque scenery.

Or head into the hills to the relaxing thermal spas of Archena or Fortuna, where people have been soaking in the therapeutic mineral waters since Roman times. At Archena, there are even parts of the original Roman aqueducts to prove it.

In the 9th century, Arab invaders devised a complex irrigation system to cope with the lack of rainfall which is still used today, making Murcia one of Spain's principal vegetable producers. Fresh fish is in abundance thanks to the area's thriving fishing communities and specialities include caldero (tasty rice, fish and garlic mayonnaise), Mar Menor prawns and grilled pilchards.

Cheeses, wine and typical Spanish tapas are also popular. Head to Calle de los Apostoles or Las Flores Square in Murcia, or Plaza del Ayuntamiento in Cartagena. If you're on the Mar Menor, there are plenty of authentic local eateries in Los Alcazares, as well as a selection of international eateries at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in La Manga.

Murcia City is a lively university town with plenty of late-night bars and clubs. The areas around the pedestrianised Plaza Romea and Plaza Santo Domingo, as well as in the Calle de la Traperia, are packed with small bars and pavement cafes.

In Cartagena head to the harbour area, while if you are staying in the Mar Menor, you'll be spoilt for choice in lively bars, many of which are English-run.

In Murcia City, the Craftsmanship Centre on Calle Francisco Rabal 8 exhibits a huge array of local crafts, including brightly coloured pottery, paintings, glassware and rugs. Calle de la Traperia and its adjacent pedestrianised streets are full of shops ideal for browsing round.With its calm waters, numerous beaches and array of water sports ideal for active kids, the Mar Menor is perfect for families on holiday. If you stay at the plush Hyatt Regency, activities such as golf and tennis are on the menu, while the kids can enjoy themselves at Camp Hyatt.

There's a water park in Torrevieja (Aquopolis) on the nearby Costa Blanca, or explore the picturesque natural interior with a walk in the Cabo de Gata or Sierra Espuna National Parks.