{"id":2027,"date":"2025-05-12T08:53:19","date_gmt":"2025-05-12T08:53:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/?p=2027"},"modified":"2025-05-13T13:11:17","modified_gmt":"2025-05-13T13:11:17","slug":"spains-unknown-garden-of-europe-is-27c-in-may-fly-there-for-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/12\/spains-unknown-garden-of-europe-is-27c-in-may-fly-there-for-18\/","title":{"rendered":"Spain\u2019s unknown \u2018Garden of Europe\u2019 is 27\u00b0C in May \u2014 fly there for \u00a318"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\"Murcia\t<\/div>
Murcia is known as Spain\u2019s unknown province, but it won\u2019t stay that way for long (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Verdant landscapes and a Mediterranean climate<\/a> have earned one up-and-coming Spanish city<\/a> a beautiful nickname: \u2018The Garden of Europe<\/a>.\u2019<\/p>\n

Murcia<\/strong>, in southeastern Spain<\/a>, has been described as Spain\u2019s \u2018unknown province\u2019 \u2014 even for the Spanish.<\/p>\n

But this charming university city looks set to become a hot new city break destination, with the launch of a slate of flight deals and holiday packages to the region.<\/p>\n

From moreish tapas to sun-soaked squares, Murcia serves up everything people love about Spain, minus the crowds<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But while many of the country\u2019s most popular destinations are pushing back on tourists, Murcia\u2019s Corvera airport is receiving new flights, meaning this under-the-radar region won\u2019t stay that way for long.<\/p>\n

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@tsaveler<\/a> <\/p>\n

Murcia, a very underrated place in Spain. 3000 hours of sunshine a year, cheap and amazing food, amazing architecture and a beautiful coastline. #murcia<\/a> #murciaregion<\/a> #murciaexiste<\/a> #murciacentro<\/a> #murciacathedral<\/a> #regiondemurcia<\/a> #regiondemurcia<\/a> #spain<\/a> #espana<\/a> #explorespain<\/a> #visitspain<\/a> #placesinspain<\/a> #spaintravel<\/a> #ucam<\/a> <\/p>\n

\u266c Tamacun (Flamenco Guitar) \u2013 LucasGitanoFamily<\/a> <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tSign up to The Getaway newsletter\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
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Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration.\u00a0Sign up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Starting this month, Jet2<\/a> will run routes from Bournemouth<\/a> to Alicante, before transferring you to a three or four-star hotel as part of the deal.<\/p>\n

For four nights in the three-star El Churra in Murcia city in May, expect to pay \u00a3506. For something a little bougier, the four-star Hotel Nelva is \u00a3100 more. Or, if you prefer to travel independently, flights from the UK start from as little as \u00a318 one-way.<\/p>\n

EasyJet has also included Murcia in its latest \u2018super sale\u2019. The deal, which is currently active, includes discounts of up to 20% on flights for travel between May 19 and March 22 next year. <\/p>\n

And if you\u2019re after a last-minute getaway, Metro<\/strong> found two Ryanair flights for \u00a315 in the next two weeks.<\/p>\n

Both are from London Luton, departing at 3:55pm on May 14, and at 4.40pm on May 19.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s stopping you? Here\u2019s everything you need to know about Murcia.<\/p>\n

Things to do in Murcia<\/h2>\n

Murcia\u2019s relaxed pace of life is a world away from the hectic streets of nearby Alicante.<\/p>\n

And with stunning coastline, world-class local wine and maximalist architecture that rivals Madrid<\/a>, it\u2019s easy to see the appeal.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"A\t<\/div>
The city is a melting pot of Arabic and Spanish influence (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Catedral de Murcia is a must-see for history lovers: the exterior boasts Baroque and Gothic designs, complete with ornate 14th-century carvings.<\/p>\n

Whether you stand outside and marvel at its beauty for free or purchase tickets to see inside, there\u2019s no denying its sheer grandeur. A guided tour costs \u20ac6 (\u00a35.10).<\/p>\n

Close by, the 14th-century St. Clare the Royal is a showstopper. Founded on the ruins of a 13th-century Islamic palace, it\u2019s here that Arab influence is most obvious.<\/p>\n

The church operates as a museum, where you\u2019ll find relics of ancient Islamic art and one of the oldest Arabian pools in Spain. Admission is free.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Mercia\t<\/div>
Murcia serves up what everyone loves about Spain, minus the crowds (Picture: Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But it\u2019s not all about the past. The new Town Hall building blends perfectly with the city\u2019s historical heritage. Since its completion in 1998, the avant-garde facade has become a symbol of contemporary Murcia.<\/p>\n

If it\u2019s plaza culture<\/a> you\u2019re after, Murcia has it in spades. <\/p>\n

In the heart of the city, you\u2019ll find the Plaza de las Flores, which translates to Flower Square in English. <\/p>\n

This medieval meeting point is a sight to behold: bright\u00a0Bougainvillea surround a Baroque fountain, and palm trees sway in the breeze.<\/p>\n

Florists set up shop here too, selling bright bouquets. A day is well spent people-watching at one of the cafes around the square.<\/p>\n

A foodie heaven<\/h2>\n

Murcia grub is hearty, rich and varied.<\/p>\n

In keeping with its \u2018Garden\u2019 reputation, the region\u2019s position and climate allows you to experience the best of Mediterranean cuisine: olive oil, fruit, vegetables, pulses and fish, from Mar Menor saltwater lagoon.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t leave without trying the traditional Marinera, a tapa that combines all all the best produce \u2014 vegetables, tuna, potatoes and mayonnaise.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"The\t<\/div>
Murcia gets long, hot summers (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

TripAdvisor<\/a> has plenty of recommendations for where you should eat. Gastrobar La Barra del Quinto Elemento is a standout, with dozens of five-star reviews.<\/p>\n

One person raved about the red prawn croquettes and the chef\u2019s special montadito with \u2018spectacular sardines\u2019, but warned the prices aren\u2019t cheap.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re after something more affordable, others suggested La Ni\u00f1a Guindilla, where tasty platters range from \u20ac3 to \u20ac13 (\u00a32.55 to \u00a311).<\/p>\n

Beaches for days<\/h2>\n

The city is charming, but don\u2019t miss out on the 250km stretch of stunning coastline that frames the Murcia region. <\/p>\n

Embroidered with sandy beaches and secret coves, popular hotspots include La Llana, Gal\u00faa, and Cala del Turco.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re after a more active holiday, head to the Sierra Espu\u00f1a mountains in the Sierra Espu\u00f1a Regional Park and follow one of the many hiking trails.<\/p>\n

The area has 11 signposted tracks, just make sure you check the difficulty level before setting off.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tHow to get to Murcia\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
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If you\u2019re not booking a package break, it\u2019s still easy to reach Murcia. And you don\u2019t need to travel via Alicante.<\/p>\n

Ryanair<\/a> flies to Murcia International Airport from London Luton<\/a> for just \u00a318. The budget airline can also take you from Manchester<\/a> for as little as \u00a330. From Birmingham<\/a>, one-way fares start at \u00a350.<\/p>\n

The average flight time is 2 hours and 50 minutes.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

What\u2019s the weather like in Murcia?<\/h2>\n

Due to its location on the Segura River, Murcia enjoys a hot semi-arid climate. That means long, hot summers and mild winters.<\/p>\n

During the warmer months, temperatures can rise to 34\u00b0C, while November, December and January range between 17\u00b0C and 21\u00b0C. In spring, the weather isn\u2019t as intense, enjoying peaks of 27\u00b0C and lows of 21\u00b0C.<\/p>\n

The shoulder seasons offer the most comfortable temperatures and fewer crowds. But really, with shorts and sandals weather all year round, there\u2019s no bad time to visit Murcia.<\/p>\n

Jet2 boss Steve Heapy said the city is just one of many new cultural hotspots the company is connecting to the UK.<\/p>\n

He said: \u2018As the largest operator of European city breaks<\/a>, we know the announcement will be welcome news to customers looking to enjoy an escape to this Spanish city.\u2019<\/p>\n

You can read more Metro<\/strong> coverage of lesser-visited Spanish destinations here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tThe sunniest city in Europe is an \u2018underrated gem\u2019 \u2014 and you can fly there for \u00a350\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
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If you\u2019ve got time in the Murcia region, why not head to Cartagena<\/strong>, dubbed as the \u2018sunniest city in Europe.\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

Around 40 minutes south of the city, Cartagena boasts an impressive 283 hours of sun per month, with temperatures averaging 19.1\u00b0C and reaching a peak of 29\u00b0C during the summer months of July and August.<\/p>\n

According to Metro\u2019s<\/strong> Jessica Hamilton<\/a>, there\u2019s plenty to discover here<\/a>, too. \u2018Known for its rich history and beautiful architecture,\u2019 Jessica says Cartagena is often overshadowed by larger cities like Madrid, Barcelona or Seville.<\/p>\n

Travellers have frequently hailed it as \u2018underrated\u2019 and a \u2018hidden gem\u2019 across social media. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Murcia is known as Spain\u2019s unknown province, but it won\u2019t stay that way for long (Picture: Getty Images) Verdant landscapes and a Mediterranean climate have earned one up-and-coming Spanish city a beautiful nickname: \u2018The Garden of Europe.\u2019 Murcia, in southeastern Spain, has been described as Spain\u2019s \u2018unknown province\u2019 \u2014 even for the Spanish. But this […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2029,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2027","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2027","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2027"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2027\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2034,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2027\/revisions\/2034"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2029"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2027"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2027"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2027"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}