Same name, new script: Mediterranean edition
Cartagena, Spain – not Colombia. Zero Escobar, loads of history. Think harbour cruises, honey-stone streets and museum-hopping between plates of caldero and cheeky asiático coffees. Start on Calle Mayor, a sweep of Modernist façades leading to the superb Roman Theatre Museum. Ride the panoramic lift to Castillo de la Concepción for wraparound bay views, then drop into the Naval Museum to meet Peral, the pioneering submarine.
When it’s beach o’clock, protected Calblanque Natural Park is a short drive with wild dunes and clear coves, while La Manga brings marinas, watersports and long sandy stretches. Back in town, a harbour boat tour strings together clifftop batteries, lighthouses and sea caves.
Tapas time? Order local marinera, grilled fish and that caramel-kissed asiático. Time your trip for the Carthaginians and Romans Fiesta (later September) or Holy Week to see the city dial up the spectacle. Sunshine, easy day trips and stacks of culture – this port city nails the balanced Mediterranean escape. Love the drama, skip the cartel – this is the Cartagena you can binge in real life. No need to fly to Colombia for the name; the plot twist here is the high quality of that tapas.
Explore our map of Cartagena