Holidays to Murcia, Spain: City Breaks and Package Deals

Murcia is a city holiday first and foremost. It is not on the coast, so the appeal is culture, food and evening strolls rather than sunloungers. Couples and friends on a long weekend get the most from it: Murcia's Cathedral, the Museo Salzillo, the Museo de Bellas Artes and the Archaeological Museum are all within about half a mile of one another, which makes it an easy place to explore on foot.

Families with older children who enjoy history will find plenty to see, from the excavated Al-Andalusian palatial complex and neighbourhood of San Esteban to the old waterwheel at Alcantarilla. Those wanting a quiet, unhurried base will appreciate how compact the centre is, while the city's size means there is always somewhere open in the evening.

Most visitors stay in Murcia itself, where the main sights are clustered. The cathedral, the Palacio Episcopal, the Palacio de San Esteban and the Palacio de los Saavedra all sit right in the centre, with the Monasterio de Santa Clara la Real, the Museo de la Ciudad and the La Condomina bullring about half a mile away. Staying central means you can walk almost everywhere.

Alcantarilla, a town of around 41,000 people some 5 miles from the centre, makes a calmer alternative. It is home to the Noria of Alcantarilla, a historic waterwheel now run as a museum, and the Convento de los Mínimos. It is also the same 18-minute drive from Murcia airport as the city, handy if you prefer to stay out of the centre and come in by car or day trip.

The best months are April, May and June, then September, October and November. Expect highs of 22°C in April, 27°C in May and 31°C in June, easing from 30°C in September to 26°C in October and 21°C in November. These are comfortable temperatures for walking between museums and sitting out on a terrace in the evening.

July and August are very hot, with highs of 35°C and 34°C and almost no rain, so plan sightseeing for the morning. Winter is mild for a city break: January still reaches around 17°C. March is the wettest month, with about 68mm over eight days, and September can bring short heavy bursts too. UK school holidays tend to push package prices up, so travelling outside them usually gives you more choice.

Two airports have direct flights from the UK. Murcia airport (RMU) is the closest, about 18 minutes by road from both Murcia and Alcantarilla. Alicante (ALC) is the alternative, roughly 53 minutes from Murcia and 59 minutes from Alcantarilla, and often offers a wider spread of departure airports and times.

On a package, your transfer from either airport to your hotel is normally arranged for you. If you would rather explore the wider region at your own pace, you can compare car hire here as well.

Package holidays to Murcia, Spain, bundle your flight, hotel and airport transfer into a single booking. When sold as a package, the trip is ATOL-protected, so you are covered if something goes wrong with the company. You choose the board basis that suits you, from room only or bed and breakfast for those who want to eat out in the city, to half board or more if you prefer meals sorted.

This page lets you compare live package deals from Jet2holidays, TUI, loveholidays and On the Beach side by side. You can also check hotel prices if you are booking flights separately, browse tours and tickets for the cathedral and museums, and compare car hire for days out.