Car Hire In Murcia

About Murcia

Murcia is the capital of the Autonomous Community of Murcia and the seventh-largest city in Spain with 442,573 inhabitants. It is located in the southeast of the country on the Segura River. Murcia is the perfect place to relax, both for those who enjoy walking around the city and sightseeing and indulging in the excellent cuisine and for those who like a more active vacation. Everyone can find something for themselves here. As in many other Spanish cities, Murcia hosts various festivals that are well worth a visit. The most famous festival takes place in spring, namely the Fiestas de Primavera.

Thanks to the favourable climatic conditions, it is possible to visit Murcia almost all year round, as there are hot summers and mild winters with little rainfall. You can visit the city on your own, but there are also plenty of guided tours you can book. Besides exceptional architecture like the many baroque churches, there are also buildings in which you will recognize the rococo, Moorish gardens ... In addition, Murcia is also rich in museums that have very rich collections worth seeing. Among the places of interest that you should not miss are: San Pedro del Pinatar, Cartagena, Águilas, Los Alcázares, Archena, Cabo de Palos, Caravaca de la Cruz, Santiago de la Ribera, Lorca, Mazarrón, Murcia, La Unión.

The Segura River divides the city into two parts, the older northern part and the more modern southern part of the city. Silk is still produced in the northern part of the city, a tradition that dates back to Moorish times. Murcia is also known for the cultivation of vegetables, fruit, wool, leather, furniture ...

Of course, we must not forget the Costa Cálida, as the coast of Murcia is called, with long sandy beaches that offer many activities for enterprising tourists. And an interesting fact: Murcia has more than 3000 hours of sunshine a year. However, one of the most popular places on the coast is La Manga del Mar Menor.

Basic info and car hire in Murcia

• Location: South-eastern Spain
• Population: 447,182
• Official language: Spanish
• Currency: Euro
• Weather:   hot summers and mild winters with little rainfall
• Internet coverage: Hotels, bars, restaurants, and cafés offer Wi-Fi.
• Road conditions:  Most roads in Murcia are in good condition.
• Car hire in Murcia:  The most common pick-up point for vehicles in Murcia is Murcia airport. Please note that prices vary frequently. It is best to book a car 3 to 8 weeks in advance of your desired pick-up date - this will ensure you get the cheapest rental rate. Alternatively, it is also possible to find cheap last-minute car hire. Find the best deal on car hire in Murcia!

 Driving in Murcia

To drive a car in Murcia, you must be 18 years old, have a valid driver's license, and show valid proof of insurance for the vehicle you are driving. In Murcia, vehicles drive on the right-hand side of the road. The speed limit on the motorway is 120 km/h (75 mph). On normal roads the speed limit is 90 km/h (75 mph), on urban roads, it is 50 km/h (50 mph), and on all other through roads, there is a speed limit sign.
It's good to know that Spain has strict drink-driving laws, allowing only 0.5 milligrams of alcohol per millilitre of blood - stricter than in the UK, where the limit is 0.8. Novice drivers are effectively banned from driving under the influence with a very low limit of 0.1 mg/l. Seatbelts front and rear are compulsory everywhere.

One thing: for those not used to roundabouts: There are a lot of them in Spain! And the following rules apply: The driver who is already in the roundabout has the right of way unless there is a traffic light at the roundabout that regulates the flow of traffic. Before leaving the roundabout, you should put on your right turn signal to indicate that you are leaving the roundabout.

The Spanish law on the use of indicators on motorways is strictly enforced. You risk a fine if you fail to signal before overtaking and after overtaking if you move back into the adjacent lane. Traffic coming from the left always has the right of way. If you see a solid white line in the middle of the road, do not cross it. Continue until you either see a dotted white line or look for a sign that says "Cambio de Sentido" where you can safely and legally turn around.

• Age limits: The minimum age to drive a car in Spain is 18 years. However, most car rental companies require you to be at least 21 to rent a car and at least 25 years to avoid paying an additional young driver fee. 
• International Driving Permit:  Yes, if you are a non-EU licence holder.  
• Additional papers:   Identification(passport), a valid driving licence, and valid proof of insurance. (It is advisable to buy insurance at the car hire agency in case your policy doesn't cover you while driving in Spain)
• Additional requirements:  Glasses (in case you need glasses, you must always have a spare pair in the car), light bulbs (are usually already in the car and are provided by the car rental company), warning triangle (2 are required for all vehicles registered in Spain and 1 if coming from abroad), high visibility vest (recently made compulsory)- First aid kit (not compulsory, but we strongly recommend you have it with you, just in case).
• Children in the car:  If you are travelling with children under 12 or less than 135cm tall, you are required by law to have a child seat in your car. If you do not have your own, most car rental companies will provide one for a fee. However, it is advisable to request such a seat before collecting the vehicle, otherwise one may not always be available.
• Driving side of the road: Right
• Lights:  Check that all lights are working, clean, and correctly aimed.
• General speed limits:  The speed limit is 50 km/h in cities, 90 km/h on rural roads, and 120 km/h on the motorway.
• Parking suggestions:  Parking is prohibited in Spain in all areas where the curbs are marked yellow. The parking spaces marked in blue usually have a parking meter and you must buy a parking ticket to park in these spaces. You will usually find a machine nearby where you can purchase your parking ticket. Most of these blue areas have a parking limit of 2 hours, but this is displayed on the machine.

What to see in Murcia

Church of San Nicolás de Bari

It is in the Baroque style and dates from the Muslim period. It stands on the site of a mosque, which was converted into a church after the reconquest. The new building was begun in 1736 under the direction of the architect Fray Antonio de San José. The church has the plan of a Latin cross, with side chapels and two doors. The main façade is a jewel of Baroque art, thanks to the diagonal arrangement of the pilasters and the arching of the cornice and cornices.

The Cathedral of Murcia

Murcia Cathedral has many Renaissance and Baroque elements, although its interior is essentially Gothic. It was built in 1394 on the site of a former mosque. The interior is Gothic. The facade is Baroque and was built to a design by Jaime Bort. The 95-meter-high tower was built over more than two hundred years with the help of many different architects. 

Archaeological Museum of Murcia

The museum houses one of the most complete collections of Iberian archaeological finds from various sites in the Murcia region. The permanent exhibition consists of a total of 16 rooms that offer a journey through prehistory, from the Palaeolithic Age to the Bronze Age. In addition, there are numerous examples of Iberian art. The visit is complemented by a temporary exhibition space on the theme of archaeology and educational workshops that are open all year round.

Monteagudo Castle

After the foundation of the city of Murcia (825), it served not only as a fortress but also as a prison and granary for the peasants. It had huge underground reservoirs that allowed the garrison to last for a long time. The walls are made of massive layers of mortar and the ground plan adapts to the topology of the terrain, extending over two terraces at different heights.

Floridablanca Garden

The Floridablanca Garden is located in one of the most typical neighbourhoods of the city. The garden is a result of the romantic style of the 19th century, the last remnants of which are the large ficus specimens that line the central path. The garden is now an avenue that leads from the entrance closest to Camachos Square to the statue of José Moñíno, Count of Floridablanca, a work by the Italian S. Baglietto, erected in its current location in 1849.

Best restaurants in Murcia:

El Pilon de la Negra

The Agus Gastromusic

Cosafina Gastrobar

Restaurante Torremolinos

SteakBurger Murcia

Wakea Poke Burger Murcia