Why Europe's sunniest city should be your next holiday destination

Telegraph

11-05-2025

The coastal city of Cartagena, in southeastern Spain's Murcia region, has been found to receive more sunshine than anywhere else in Europe.
Why it should get a few hours more than, say, Alicante, just up the coast, or Malaga on the Costa del Sol, I'm not entirely sure. Then again, it is on the Costa Cálida, the 'Warm Coast', as this stretch of Murcia is called, so maybe there is something in it.
After crunching World Weather Online data, covering the period 2009 to 2025 and looking at European cities with populations above 200,000, Holidu, an accommodation platform, found that Cartagena gets an average of 283 hours of sunshine a month.
Thirteen of the top 30 cities in the survey are in Spain, with not much between them, but while the likes of Seville, Granada and Madrid are top city-break choices, Cartagena flies largely under the radar.
Most of its British visitors are either arriving on the cruise ships that dock in its large port or popping down from the resorts of the nearby Mar Menor to do a spot of shopping.
But it is deserving of more attention. There is a lot of history to get your head around here, as Cartagena was founded in 227 BC and is one of the oldest cities in Spain. It was from here that Hannibal set off with his elephants in 218 BC to cross the Alps and invade Italy. Although much of the city was destroyed in the Spanish Civil War and earlier conflicts, you are constantly coming across vestiges of its rich past as you walk around.
If you whizz up in the swish lift to the observation point by the castle, you'll understand why this strategic location was so attractive to numerous rulers over the centuries. From the vantage point of the hilltop, you see that the city curves around a natural harbour that is sheltered in a crinkly inlet, a bit like Plymouth. The port sprawls around the waterfront, while immediately below you a Roman theatre is tucked into the hillside.
To learn more about it and get a closer look, stroll down to the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, the sparkling square that showcases the splendid town hall. Opposite is the Museo del Teatro Romano, designed by Rafael Moneo, where you can soak up as much or as little background as you like before emerging in the theatre itself.
It's astounding that no one even knew it was there until 1988, as the structure lay buried under layers of ruined buildings – including a cathedral. It was only discovered because this prime yet derelict bit of land was being cleared with a view to building a centre to promote the Murcia region's traditional crafts. A plan that was dropped, obviously.
Since then, remains of Roman Cartagena have been gradually coming to light, including the forum, where there is also now a museum, the Museo del Foro Romano Molinete. It's one of those places, like Malaga, where every time a digger breaks up a pavement some sort of relic is revealed.
All that history and heritage can be a bit exhausting – particularly in that relentless sunshine. In the summer months, the temperature in Cartagena is actually more conducive to sitting around doing as little as possible. Just as well then that the city has no shortage of café terraces with shaded tables.
I always like to get in the swing by ordering an asiático, a punchy local concoction with layers of coffee, brandy, Licor 43 (a liqueur made in Cartagena) and condensed milk and served in a covetable chunky tumbler – resist the temptation to slip it into your bag though as the glasses have become one of Cartagena's most popular souvenirs and are easily available to buy. An asiático is guaranteed to pick you up, although your cultural agenda may slip a bit afterwards.
From the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, follow the throng of people walking up the Calle Mayor, which is not only lined with shops and bars but also features several ornate modernista buildings – the form of art nouveau architecture that will be familiar to you from Barcelona and Valencia. The style flourished in Cartagena at the turn of the 20th century when wealth generated from the mining industry was used to build lavish residences.
You could start a second day down at the port, where there are two museums that are essential to understanding Cartagena's maritime importance. The Museo Naval, where there is a section on Isaac Peral, who designed the first electric submarine in the late 19th century.
I remember seeing the submarine on the waterfront, where it was displayed for many years, exposed to the elements, and was in a bit of a sorry state. Fortunately it was transferred indoors to the museum in 2012 and has been restored to its former glory. A stroll along the waterfront brings you to the ARQVA, the Museo Nacional de Arqueología Subacuática, where you delve into an underwater world of fascinating finds from Phoenician times up to the present day.
Back outside, the aroma of the freshest of fish being fried is likely to lure you into one of the quayside restaurants. Varadero, in the fishing harbour, is a great spot to try arroz de caldero, the Murcian rice dish which is made in a hefty iron pot rather than a paella pan, a tradition devised by local fishermen.
Woozily sipping another asiático after your lunch, under the almost eternally blue sky, you'll probably be thinking that Cartagena is pretty much perfect for a city break.
How to do it
The nearest airport is Murcia International, to which Ryanair and EasyJet fly from London and several regional airports. The Sercotel Alfonso XIII is a good central base; doubles from £82, room only. For something fancier, the Grand Hyatt La Manga Club Golf & Spa is a 30-minute drive from Cartagena; doubles from £330, including breakfast.