Roman Theatre of Cartagena (Teatro Romano de Cartagena)

As one of the most visited museums in the Murcia region, the Roman Theatre of Cartagena is featured on many a Cartagena sightseeing tour. History buffs should explore it as part of a Roman heritage tour, which brings to life other ancient landmarks such as the Punic Wall, one of the few Punic defensive constructions that have survived in Spain, and the artfully restored Case de la Fortuna, which recreates first-century Roman life.

• Information panels at the museum are in English and Spanish.

• The museum has a gift shop where you can buy T-shirts and souvenirs, as well as a coffee shop.

• The museum offers audio guides in Spanish, English, French, German, and Russian, which help contextualize the Roman ruins.

• There’s a small admission fee to enter, but you don’t need to book in advance.

• Air-conditioning throughout the museum makes it an ideal place to cool off in summer—however, there’s no shade in the ruins themselves, so take a sunhat.

Cartagena is a compact city that can be explored on foot. Depending on which part of Calle Mayor, the city’s central street, you’re on, the museum is anywhere from a 5- to 20-minute walk. The nearest bus stop is the waterside Muralla del Mar, which is served by the ALSA—L8 bus.

The Roman Theatre of Cartagena is closed on Monday but open Tuesday through Sunday. In summer between May and September, it’s open from mid-morning until late evening. It closes a couple of hours earlier in winter.

The Roman Theatre isn’t the only ancient landmark Cartagena boasts. The nearby Calle Mayor, the city’s main thoroughfare, is a veritable buffet of baroque architecture and historical buildings studded with traditional tapas restaurants and sculptures harboring local legend. You can see the city’s Roman ruins and more from Ascensor Panoramico, a glass elevator that takes you to the top of Concepción Hill.