Car Hire Murcia Airport, Spain: Pick-Up and Driving Guide

For the city itself, probably not every day. Murcia's Cathedral, the Palacio Episcopal, the Archaeological Museum, the Palacio de San Esteban and the Al-Andalusian palatial complex of San Esteban all sit in the historic centre, and the Museo Salzillo, the Museo de Bellas Artes and the Plaza de toros de La Condomina are only about half a mile further out. Those days are best done on foot.

Where a car earns its keep is getting in and out, and the short trips beyond the centre. Alcantarilla, around five miles away, has the Noria of Alcantarilla and the Convento de los Mínimos, while the archaeological site of Cabecico del Tesoro lies about four miles from the city. Car rental in Murcia, Spain also gives you freedom if you arrive at Alicante rather than RMU, which is close to an hour's drive.

If you would rather not drive at all, airport transfers to Murcia are the alternative, and many package holidays include them in the price; you can compare package deals and transfers on the site alongside car hire.

The obvious pick-up point is Murcia airport, RMU, which is the one people mean when they search for car hire at Murcia International Airport. With direct flights from the UK and a drive of around 18 minutes to the city or Alcantarilla, it keeps the time between landing and arriving at your accommodation short.

Alicante airport, ALC, is the other direct option from the UK. It is about 53 minutes to Murcia and 59 minutes to Alcantarilla, so collecting a car there makes sense if flight times or routes from your local airport suit you better. Either way, the comparison on this page shows the car hire options for Spain and Murcia side by side.

Distances are modest. Murcia and Alcantarilla are about five miles apart, and the city's key sights cluster so tightly that you will want to park once and walk rather than drive between them. The longest drive most visitors make is the airport run from Alicante, just under an hour.

Heat is the main thing to plan for. July averages highs of 35°C and August 34°C, so a car with working air conditioning matters, and a vehicle left in the sun will be very hot on return. Rain is generally scarce, but March and September are the wettest months, with around 68mm and 64mm respectively, so allow extra care on those days.

If you are travelling with your own car by ferry, the nearest port in the facts is Dénia, about 90 miles away.

Choose a full-to-full fuel policy where you can: you collect the car with a full tank and return it full, paying only for what you use. Check the excess carefully and decide in advance whether you want cover to reduce it, rather than deciding at the desk after a flight.

If you are travelling with children, reserve child seats when you book, as they are not always guaranteed on arrival. Anyone hunting for cheap car hire at Murcia airport in Spain is best served by booking early for school holidays and the warmer months, when demand rises; the live comparison here lets you check current prices from several suppliers at once.