Murcia & Costa Cálida with Kids: Chill Week
If you’re hunting for a simple, sun-soaked week with your kids somewhere that won’t eat your savings or your sanity, Murcia and the Costa Cálida might be exactly what you need. This corner of southeast Spain is blissfully underhyped compared to Costa Brava or the Costa del Sol—think beautiful, uncrowded beaches, playgrounds where you’re not elbowing for space, and enough tapas to keep everyone happy. Here’s how we did a chill family week there, what worked (and what didn’t), and what you’ll actually need to know to pull it off.
Why Murcia & Costa Cálida?
We were looking for a spot in Spain that ticked a few boxes: good weather, kid-friendly options, walkable towns, and no need to remortgage for a week away. Murcia is a city about 30 minutes inland, while the Costa Cálida (“warm coast”) stretches along the Mediterranean — lots of small towns, warm shallow water, and way fewer package tourists than the bigger names. The vibe is more “Spanish families on holiday” than “Brit stag party.”
Real talk: Our five-year-old loved every playground. Our two-year-old loved the sand. We loved the prices and the espresso. No one was bored.
The Simple Itinerary
- Base: Los Alcázares (for beaches and walkability)
- Beach time: Mar Menor and Mediterranean beaches
- Playgrounds: Everywhere, especially in the evenings
- Day trip: Cartagena (Roman ruins and a very cool naval museum)
- Groceries: Mercadona and Carrefour (cheap, easy, good deli stuff)
- Eating out: Tapas bars and beach chiringuitos
How We Did It (and What We’d Change)
We flew into Alicante (cheaper flights than Murcia airport), picked up a rental car, and drove 50 minutes south to Los Alcázares. It’s flat, stroller-friendly, and you can walk to most things. For families, the Mar Menor lagoon is a game changer—warm, shallow water, barely any waves. You can actually relax while your kids splash, instead of hovering like a lifeguard on Red Bull.
We booked a two-bedroom Airbnb with a kitchen and a shared pool for about €70/night in April. Groceries came to ~€50 for a week’s basics (lots of fresh fruit, bread, cheese, and Spanish ham). Tapas out for dinner ran about €25-€30 for all four of us with drinks—a round of calamari, patatas bravas, and grilled sardines is all you really need after a beach day.
Playgrounds & Parks
Every town has playgrounds, but Los Alcázares’ main park (Parque de las Peñas Huertanas) is a gem—shady, clean, and with a café for tired parents. Evenings are buzzing with local families. We ended up there almost every night so the kids could burn off energy and we could try the local ice cream (fresa for the kids, turrón for us).
Day Trip: Cartagena
It’s a 25-minute drive to Cartagena, a port city with a serious Roman history vibe. The Roman Theatre blew our five-year-old’s mind. We skipped the expensive tourist train and just walked the old town—plenty of fountains to splash in, and the naval museum is hands-on and actually interesting for kids (plus air conditioning, bless). Parking near the marina is easy and about €1.50/hour.
What to Pack and What to Skip
- Swim gear for everyone (Mar Menor is warm as bathwater, but bring rash guards—no one wants a sunburn by day two)
- Stroller (flat towns, wide sidewalks, but some cobbles in Cartagena’s old town)
- Snacks and reusable water bottles (playgrounds are everywhere, but snack bars sometimes close for siesta)
- Light jackets (evenings can be breezy in spring/autumn)
- Skip heavy beach toys — every shop sells cheap buckets and shovels
Costs: Real Numbers
| Item | Cost (EUR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flights (RT, per adult from UK) | €80-120 | Check Alicante & Murcia |
| Rental car (7 days) | €130-180 | Small car, basic insurance |
| Airbnb (2BR, 7 nights) | €450-550 | Los Alcázares or Santiago de la Ribera |
| Groceries (family of 4, week) | €50-70 | Breakfast, lunch, snacks |
| Eating out (per dinner) | €25-30 | Tapas/bar, no fancy restaurants |
| Cartagena museums | €6-9/adult | Kids often free |
| Beach gear (buckets, etc.) | €10-15 | At local shops |
Practical Checklist: 15-Minute Prep
- Book flights (Alicante often cheaper than Murcia)
- Reserve accommodation walking distance to beach/playgrounds
- Rent a car (automatic if you’re not comfortable with stick shift)
- Preload Google Maps with offline areas (cell service can be patchy in small towns)
- Make a list of playgrounds & supermarkets near your stay
- Pack light—laundromats are easy to find, and you’ll mostly be in swimwear
- Download a kids’ Spanish phrases app (locals appreciate it, even if you just say “gracias”)
Useful Links & Tools
- Los Alcázares Accommodations
- Alicante Airport to Los Alcázares
- Cartagena Puerto de Culturas (Museums & Attractions)
- Mercadona Supermarket
- Rental Cars (Kayak)
A Quick Story: The Ice Cream Test
On our last night, we let the kids pick any ice cream flavor they wanted. Our youngest chose “smurf blue” (which looked radioactive), our oldest went for mango. Both ended up sticky, sandy, and grinning ear to ear. We sat on the promenade, feeling like we’d finally cracked the code: simple days, happy kids, and time to actually enjoy the view.
Would we go again? Absolutely. It’s not the flashiest spot, but if you want a week where the biggest decision is “pool or beach,” you’ll be happy here.
Some links may be affiliate. You pay the same price, and this blog may earn a small commission.
