Murcia for under £100 a night: this lesser-known Spanish city is worth a visit for the food alone
Murcia, Spain’s seventh largest city, is home to a vibrant gastronomic scene
Nicknamed ‘Europe’s Orchard’ thanks to its production of fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers, Murcia is home to a simmering gastronomic scene.
Flat and walkable, Spain’s seventh largest city is worth a visit for its restaurants alone, all of which serve reasonably priced regional dishes.
WHERE TO STAY
Catalonia Conde de Floridablanca Hotel
Despite an extensive renovation, this hotel has retained some of its old-world charms, such as the coat of arms that depicts the villages of the region. Double rooms are modern and airy. The pool is a bonus. Room only doubles from £52 (cataloniahotels.com).
If you’re planning a trip to Murcia, consider staying at the Catalonia Conde de Floridablanca Hotel, where rooms are priced from just £52. Above is a bird’s eye view of the city
Sercotel Amistad Murcia Hotel
About five minutes’ walk from Murcia’s central Gran Via shopping area, you will find this affordable, simple 4-star hotel.
The wood-panelled rooms are slightly old-fashioned but spacious. Large TVs, wifi and air con.
Room only doubles from £65 (sercotelhoteles.com).
Hotel Hesperia Murcia Centro
In the heart of the city, this hotel is bright and modern, with white leather headboards and smart TVs that you can link to your Netflix account. There is also a gym.
Room-only doubles from around £56 (hesperia.com).
Hotel Cetina Murcia
The contemporary and fresh Hotel Cetina Murcia is located near the decorative Catedral de Murcia (photo)
Just 100 meters from Murcia’s famous cathedral, Hotel Certina is well placed for exploring the city. The interior is contemporary and fresh with lots of color and huge smart TVs.
Room only doubles from £51 (cetinahotels.com).
WHAT TO SEE AND DO
Plaza hop
Admire the grandiose Episcopal Palace (above), located in one of Murcia’s many squares
Murcia is all about square hopping. Start at ornate La Glorieta, home to the city’s rose-hued City Hall and grandiose Episcopal Palace (Palacio Episcopal). Stroll past the towering cathedral through Plaza de los Apostoles. Then head to the flower-strewn Plaza de las Flores.
Visit the tower at Catedral de Murcia
Murcia’s decorative cathedral was built on the site of an old Arab mosque – the Moors founded Murcia in 825 AD. A mix of Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance styles, the cathedral has a 95-meter tower that visitors can climb for five euros (£4.50). Two daily tours to be booked in advance, but be sure to request English. It is worth a visit for views of the city (catedralmurcia.org).
Tapas with the locals
Have lunch at the Mercado de Correos, above, a modern food market in an old post office
Mercado de Abastos de Veronicas and Mercado de Correos are very different markets. The first is a traditional fish, meat and vegetable market where locals do their shopping.
The latter is a modern food market in the old post office. You will find a range of options from tapas to Chinese, Italian or international dishes.
Visit the Real Casino de Murcia
Upstairs is the French-style neo-baroque ballroom in the iconic Real Casino de Murcia
Founded in 1847, the iconic Real Casino de Murcia is perhaps the city’s finest architectural showpiece. A mix of 19th and early 20th century style, it houses an elaborate Arabic courtyard and a French-style Neo-Baroque ballroom. Entry costs £4.30 (realcasinomurcia.com).
WHERE TO EAT
Pura Cepa
On the edge of an unassuming square, Pura Cepa is the place to have lunch (or dinner) outdoors. The little corner restaurant serves a range of reasonably priced tapas, from red prawn croquettes (£2.40 each) and succulent Iberian pork belly (£14.70) to the best baked cheesecake in Murcia (£6, puracepamurcia.com).
Alma Matter
Enjoy a Michelin-starred meal for a fraction of what you’d pay in the UK at AlmaMater (above)
Recently awarded its first Michelin star, AlmaMater offers gastronomic experiences at a fraction of what you would pay in the UK. Dishes are packed with innovative flavours, such as grilled fish with kaffir lime soup, coconut and lemongrass (£20). This quality restaurant is worth a splurge (almamatermurcia.com).
Alborada
Not much from the outside, but Alborada food is fantastic. Try creamy Jamon croquettes (€1.70 each), cod salad (€13.90) and rice with vegetables (€14.70), a dish from Murcia. Don’t miss the dessert: milk flambé (£5.20) (alborada restaurante.com).
Street food in Murcia. The town is worth a visit for the restaurants alone, all of which offer reasonably priced regional dishes
Los Zagales
This typical tapas bar, whose walls are adorned with cupboards, azulejo tiles and oak barrels, is where you go for cheap, simple food. For less than £2, try Murcia’s classic tapa, marinera Murciana – a glorified breadstick topped with Russian salad and an anchovy (barloszagales.com).
HOW TO GET THERE
EasyJet flies direct from London Gatwick to Murcia for around £139 return (easyjet.com).