Cartagena: how to get there and around
Airports, stations, ports, where the hotels are and what the numbers say, from public data rather than a brochure.
Cartagena is a city of 213,943 people in Spain (Murcia), 1 m (3 ft) above sea level. The nearest large airport is Region of Murcia International Airport (RMU), 26 km (16 mi) from the centre.
Key facts
Daylight in Cartagena runs from about 9 h 37 min a day in late December to 14 h 49 min in late June (computed for 37.6° latitude), which matters more than the forecast when a day is built around one flight or one crossing.
Getting there
Cartagena is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Region of Murcia International Airport (RMU), 26 km (16 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 9,842 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft. The alternatives are Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport (ALC, 84 km).
Flights to Cartagena: every airport, routes and times
Buses to Cartagena · Driving and car hire
Nearby cities, and how to get between them
- Madrid, 391 km — flights · buses · car rental
- Algiers, 373 km (Algeria) — flights
- Valencia, 215 km — flights · buses · car rental · tours
- Oran, 214 km (Algeria) — flights
- Málaga, 320 km — buses · car rental
- Oujda, 335 km (Morocco)
- Murcia, 45 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Palma, 384 km
- Al Hoceïma, 372 km (Morocco)
- Alicante, 94 km — buses · car rental · tours
Common questions
Which airport serves Cartagena?
Region of Murcia International Airport (RMU), 26 km (16 mi) from the centre, plus 1 other airport with scheduled flights within 100 km.
How big is Cartagena?
About 213,943 people live in Cartagena (GeoNames).
What time zone is Cartagena in?
Europe/Madrid, currently UTC+2.
What currency is used in Cartagena?
The Euro (EUR). Traffic drives on the right.
Which cities are near Cartagena?
Madrid (391 km), Algiers (373 km), Valencia (215 km), Oran (214 km), Málaga (320 km).
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.