Opening hours Cartagena museums throughout the year
Cartagena has a good selection of monuments and museums which can be visited in combination with exhibitions, trips out or concerts.
The long and varied history of Cartagena has attracted a succession of different cultures, each leaving its own trace in the monuments which are spread across the city, traversing time from prehistory to the Civil War.
Some of these are free of charge, others are paid entry.
Museo Arqueológico Municipal, Municipal Archaeological Museum Cartagena
Tuesday-Friday 10am-2pm and 5pm-8pm.
Saturday and Sunday 11-2pm. Mondays closed.
Cartagineses y Romanos ( During the period of fiestas only): Tuesday to Friday 10am to 2pm and 5pm to 8pm.
Saturday and Sunday 11am to 2pm.
When there are temporary exhibitions, free guided tours are given on Sunday mornings in Spanish, usually at 11 and 12.30.
Bank Holiday closed
Free entrance
This is the main municipal archaeological museum and is built around a 3rd to 7th century burial necropolis. It contains a comprehensive collection of artefacts recovered from sites throughout the extensive municipality of Cartagena from prehistory to the point at which the Moorish occupation of this area concluded in 1243 and the Christian forces of the Reconquist assumed control. The museum is slightly outside of the main tourist centre, being a taxi ride or a good walk ( 20 minutes) from the portside.
Click for more information: Museo Arqueológico Municipal, Municipal Archaeological Museum
Muralla Púnica/Punic Wall interpretation centre
From the 1st July to the 15th September.
Monday-Sunday 10am -2.30pm and 4pm -8.30pm.
From the 16th September to the 1st November.
Tuesday- Sunday 10am to 7pm. From the 2nd .
From the 16th March to the 30th June.
Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 2.30pm and 4pm to 7.30pm
From 2nd November to the 15th March.
Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5.30pm
Entry Fee: Standard 3.50 Reduced 2.50
This centre contains part of the original walls built to surround the original settlement prior to the invasion of the Romans. The museum is on the edge of the Casco Antiguo and could be combined with a visit to the MURAM modern art museum.
Click for more information: Punic Wall Interpretation Centre Cartagena
Casa de la Fortuna/The House of Fortune
High season (1st July to 15th September) – Tuesday to Sunday 10.30 to 15.30.
Mid season (15th March to 30th June and 16th September to 7th January) - Saturdays and Sundays 10.30 to 15.30 (from Tuesday to Sunday during Semana Santa, or Easter Week).
Low season (8th January to 14th March) – Saturdays and Sundays 10.30 to 15.30. On other days of the week only group visits with prior reservation are catered for.
The Casa de la Fortuna is closed on 1st and 6th January and 25th December (and opens only in the afternoon on the days preceding these dates according to the official website).
Normal Entry 2.50 euros
Discounted (Pensioners, Groups, Under 12s) 2 euros
The Casa de la Fortuna lies buried beneath the streets of the city and offers an intimate insight inside the ruins of a former Roman Domus, or town residence likely to have belonged to a wealthy family. Could be combined with visit to the Augusteum and Roman Forum district in one morning.
Click for more information: The House of Fortune, Cartagena
Augusteum/Augusteum
High season (1st July to 15th September) – Tuesday to Sunday 10.30 to 15.30.
Mid season (15th March to 30th June and 16th September to 1st November) - Saturdays and Sundays 10.30 to 15.30 (from Tuesday to Sunday during Semana Santa, or Easter Week).
Off season (2nd November to 14th March) – Saturdays and Sundays 10.30 to 15.30.
Reduced fee 2 euros (online bookings, under 12s, pensioners, students up to the age of 25, unemployed, disabled, large families, groups of 20 or more)
Children aged 3 or under are admitted free of charge.
The Augusteum is on the edge of the Roman forum district, the nerve centre of Roman Cartagena and is believed to have been a combinational of educational building (collegium) and temple dedicated to the worship of the divinity of the Emperor Augustus. It is easy to visit the Casa de la Fortuna or Roman Forum district in the same morning out.
Click for more information: The Augusteum, Cartagena
Barrio del Foro Romano/The Roman Forum District
From the 31st of March to the 30th of June:Tuesday to Sunday:10am to 7pm
Easter week: Monday to Sunday 10am to 7pm.
From the 16th September to the 4th of November:Tuesday to Sunday: 10am to 7pm. (open Mondays during September and on festival days)
From the 5th of November to the 30th of March: Tuesday to Sunday:10am to 5.30pm (open on Bank Holiday Mondays)
Individual 5€
Reduced 4€
Free entry for children aged 3 and below.
This is a large scale site, still under excavation and is part of the former district which surrounded the Roman Forum. It comprises two semi-public buildings, a thermal spa complex and a building used for the celebration of religious banquets.
Click for more information: The Roman Forum District, Cartagena
Molinete Park
Tuesday to Saturday: 10.30am to 1.30pm.
This is behind the Roman Forum district ( also called the Molinete) and offers views across the northern part of the city. This is just behind the Roman Forum district and contains remains directly linking to the archaeological site below.
Entry free
Muralla Bizantina/Byzantine Rampart
Calle Dr Tapia Martínez nº2.
Tuesday to Saturday: 10am to 1.30pm. Sunday and Bank Holiday closed.
This building houses part of the original structure of the Roman Theatre complex and is an art gallery, open for public visits.
Entry free
Click for more information: Muralla Bizantina, Cartagena
Museo del Teatro Romano/Roman Theatre Museum
10am to 1.30pm and from 5pm to 8.30pm from Tuesday to Saturday.
During the Cartagineses y Romanos fiestas at the end of September:Tuesday to Saturday: 10am to 1.30pm.
Sunday and Bank Holiday closed.
The Roman Theatre is the singularly most important monument in Cartagena and if time is short, is the best place to visit. The museum is well laid out, concluding inside the Roman Theatre itself.
Entry fees
Single entry 6 euros
Discounted, 5 euros
Click for more information: Roman Theatre Museum, Cartagena
Arqua- Museo Nacional de Arqueología Subacuática/Arqua-National Museum of Underwater Archaelogy.
15th April-15th October: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-9pm Sundays and Festival days 10am -3pm Closed Mondays, 1st and 6th January: 1st May, 24th, 25th and 31st December
16th October to14th April: Tuesday-Saturday from 10am- 8pm Sundays and national holidays from 10am-3pm Closed Mondays.
The ARQUA houses a collection of archaeological remains recovered from the various sub-aquatic sites lying off the Murcia coastline, and is an interesting place in which to learn about sub-aquatic archaeology. It is also home to the haul of coinage salvaged from the wreck of Nuestra Señora del Mercedes, subject of an acrimonious battle between the Spanish government and Odyssey salvage company.
Entrance fee
3 euros, reduced fees 1.50 euros for groups of more than 5 people.
Free entry for under 18s and over 65s, plus disabled, unemployed, students, large families, tourism guides and personnel of any other museums.
Free Entry. Saturdays after 2pm, Sundays, 18th May, International Museums Day, 6th December and 18th April
Click for more information: Arqua-National Museum of Underwater Archaeology, Cartagena.
Museo Naval/Naval Museum
Free entrance.
Monday to Friday: 9am to 2pm. Sunday and Bank Holiday closed
The Naval museum has a collection of naval relics and equipment, including a submarine hall which houses the Isaac Peral, formerly in front of the cruise ship dock. It is close to the ARQUA and Roman Theatre museum, alongside the waterfront.
Click for more information: Naval Museum
Museo Militar/Military Museum
Plaza López Pinto, s/n. Tel: 968 501300
Free entrance
Monday to Friday 9am to 2pm.
Monday to Saturday: 10am to 1.30pm. Sunday and Bank Holiday closed
The Military Museum has a vast collection of military equipment and machinery, lovingly assembled and cared for by volunteers, ranging from military models to full sized tanks, set in an important military building. Well worth a visit if you enjoy military history.
Click for more information: Military Museum, Cartagena
Fuerte de Navidad/Christmas Fort
From 31st March to 30th June, Tuesday to Sunday, tourist boat departures 11am to 3pm.
From 1st July to 15th September, Monday -Saturday 11-3pm and 4.30-8pm. Sunday 11am to 2pm.
From 16th to 4th November, Tuesday to Saturday: 11am to 5.30pm. Sunday: 11am to 3pm. From 4th
November to 9th December, Tuesday to Friday 11 to 2pm, Weekend and Festival days: 11am to 4pm
The Fuerte de Navidad can be accessed either via tourist boat or by car, and is a fun trip across the bay if choosing the boat option and an interesting drive around the headland if travelling by car. Either way, it’s well worth a visit, a historical fort which formed part of the vast network of military installations protecting Cartagena.
Admission Charges.
Arrival by car, Adult 3.50, Children, pensioners, 2.50 euros
Arrival by tourist boat, including return boat trip, Adults 8 euros, children and pensioners 6 euros.Takes about 2 hours
Click for more information: Fuerte de Navidad, Cartagena
Museo de Arte Moderno/ Regional Modern Art Museum
Free entrance
The regional modern art museum houses a good collection of modern art, with a variety of temporary exhibitions ensuring a constantly changing collection for visitors to view.
Tuesday-Saturday 11am- 2pm and 5pm to 8pm.
Sunday and Festival days, 11am-2pm
Closed: 1st January, 25th December, Holy Friday, Day of the Romans and Carthaginians. 24th and 31st December 11am to 2pm.
Click for more information: Regional Modern Art Museum, MURAM Cartagena
Palacio Consistorial/Town Hall
From Tuesday to Friday : Mornings 10am to 1.30pm and evenings 5pm to 7pm
Saturdays : Mornings 10am to 1.30pm and evening 5pm to 8pm
Sundays : Mornings from 10am to 1.30pm and closed in the evening.
Mondays: Closed
This is a visit taking visitors inside the impressive town hall building which dominates the pedestrian entrance to Cartagena.
Free entrance
Click for more information and entry charges: Palacio Consistorial, Cartagena
Museo Refugio de la Guerra Civil/Civil War Shelter Museum
C/ Gisbert, nº 10.
High season (1st July to 15th September)
Every day of the week from 10.00 to 20.00.
Mid season (15th March to 30th June and 16th September to 1st November)
Tuesday to Sunday 10.00 to 19.00 (open all week during Semana Santa).
Low season (2nd November to 14th March)
Tuesday to Sunday 10.00 to 17.30.
The museum closes on the holidays of 1st and 6th January and 25th December and opens only in the afternoons on the days preceding them.
Note: groups with prior reservations will be given preference at the entrance.
The Civil War Air Raid shelter focuses on the devastation inflicted on Cartagena during the conflictive years of the Spanish Civil War and is interesting to visit as it covers a subject rarely touched on in this area of Spain. From here it is easy to take the panoramic lift up to the castle above and then walk down into the city, via the back of the Roman Theatre Museum.
Entry Fee
Admission is priced at 3.50 euros, or a reduced rate of 2.50 euros for under-12s, students up to the age of 25, Carné Joven holders, the unemployed, pensioners, the disabled, families of at least 2 adults and 2 children and groups of 20 or more. Relevant documentation is required in order to justify the application of the reduced rate.
Click for more information: Civil War Air Raid Shelter Museum, Cartagena
Panoramic Lift
From 31st March to 30th June, Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 7pm.
Semana Santa, Monday to Sunday 10am to 7pm.
From 16th to 30th September (Cartagineses y Romanos) Tuesday to Sunday: 10am to 7pm.
From1st October to 4th November , Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 7pm.
From 5th November to 30th March, Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5.30pm.
From 1st July to 15th September, Monday to sunday 10am to 8pm
Click for more information: Lift-Gangway
Entry fee: 2 euro, 1 euro for reductions.
This takes visitors up to the Parque Torres, the highest point in Cartagena, with the best views of the city. From here it is possible to either visit the castle or simply walk down through the park and down behind the Roman Theatre ( which can be seen from above).
Castillo de la Concepción/Concepcion Castle
Strategically built to control the city from above, the castle contains good audiovisuals and has fabulous views.
From 31st March to 30th June, Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 7pm.
Semana Santa, Monday to Sunday 10am to 7pm.
From 16th to 30th September (Cartagineses y Romanos) Tuesday to Sunday: 10am to 7pm.
From1st October to 4th November , Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 7pm.
From 5th November to 30th March, Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5.30pm.
From 1st July to 15th September, Monday to sunday 10am to 8pm
Entry fee: 3.75 or 2.75 euros. A combined ticket for both is 4.25 euros/ 3.25 euros
Mirador Parque Torres/Esplanade Torres Park
Tel.: 667 72 07 44
This is the park area above the city, surrounding the Castillo de Concepción, and can be reached either via the panoramic lift (small fee) or walking up the hill( free, but a bit of a walk). There are great views of the city from here, and the Roman Theatre can be seen from above walking back down from the top of the park and veering right, rather than walking back down the road. This route brings visitors down behind the old cathedral, concluding at the entrance to the Roman Theatre Museum.
Park Open Monday to Saturday: 10.30 am to 1.30pm and 5pm to 7pm. Sunday: 10.30am to 1.30pm.
Free entrance
Tourist Boat
From 6th January to 28th February, Technical break- service closed.
From 1st to 16th March
Tuesday to Friday 11:00-12:00-13:00 and 2pm
Weekends and Festival days 11:00-12:00-13:00-14.00-15:00-16:00
From 17th March to 31st May
Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00-12:00-13:00-14.00-15:00-16:00-17:00
Semana Santa Holy week, Easter
Mon-Sunday, 11:00-12:00-13:00-14.00-15:00-16:00-17:00
From 1st to 30th June
Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00-12:00-13:00-14.00-15:00-16:30-17:30 6.30pm
From 1st July to 15th September
Every day, -11:00-12:00-13:00-14.00-15:00-16:30-17:30 6.30pm, 7.30pm
From 16th September to 4th November
Tuesday to Sunday, -11:00-12:00-13:00-14.00-15:00-16:30-17:30.
From 5th November to 5th January
Tuesday to Friday 11:00-12:00-13:00 and 2pm
Weekends and Festival Days 11:00-12:00-13:00-14.00-15.00-16.00
Ticket Prices: Individual 5.75/Reduced 4.75
Combined ticket, Boat and Fuerte de Navidad: Individual 8 euros/Reduced 6 euros
Departs from the port
Click for more information: Tourist Boat
Tourist Bus
From 1st July to 15th September,
Tuesday to Sunday: 10am, 11am, 12am, 1pm, 4pm, 5pm, 6pm and 7pm.
From 16th March to 30th April,
Tuesday to Sunday: 10am, 11am, 12am, 1pm, 4pm and 5pm
Easter,
Monday to Sunday: 10am, 11am, 12am, 1pm, 4pm and 5pm
From 1st May to 30th June,
Tuesday to Sunday: 10am, 11am, 12am, 1pm, 4pm, 5pm and 6pm
From 16th September to 9th December:
Monday to Sunday: 10am, 11am, 12am, 1pm, 4pm and 5pm
From 10th December to 15th March,
Open only for group bookings.
Entry Fee: 7€ Standard/ 6€ Reduced
Centro de Interpretación Mina Las Matildes/The Mina Las Matildes
Open only on the second and last Saturday of every month from 10am to 2pm or by phone appointment for groups.
Tel: 968 540 344 - 628 073 482.
www.fundacionsierraminera.org
The Matildes Mine is a good journey outside of Cartagena city centre and can only be reached by car. It is well worth visiting as it is a remnant of the mining past of both Cartagena and La Unión, and is an important survivor of this era, as most of the other sites have been allowed to fall into a condition from which it will be difficult to recover them. The other mine well worth visiting is slightly further out at La Unión, and is a substantial mining complex.
Click for more information, Mina Matildes
Click for more information: La Unión Parque Minero
