Neighbourhoods in Murcia

1. Tips and advice for living in or travelling around Murcia
2. Managing your money in Murcia
3. How to get to Murcia
4. Neighbourhoods in Murcia
5. Accommodation in Murcia
6. Food and restaurants in Murcia
7. Nights out in Murcia
8. Transport in Murcia
9. What to see and do in Murcia
10. Trips and days out in Murcia
11. Parties and festivals in Murcia
12. What are you looking for in Murcia?
13. Visiting Murcia for 2 days

Murcia isn't a really big city, and seen as everything is pretty central, it is easy to walk to most places, but if not, you always have the trams and buses on hand should you need them. The city is roughly divided into three main districts: the north, the south, and the city centre. As we go on, we will give you more information about each district and the facilities that you can find in each one, as well as the most well-known areas within them so that you can decide which of them you would rather visit.

There are both party areas, like Santa Eulalia and San Lorenzo, which are in the centre of the city, and areas that are calmer and more homely, such as Juan Carlos I and Juan de Borbón.

It's important to bear in mind that rent will vary depending on the area and the district; this is due to the fact that some areas are newly built. However, in general, prices usually range between 150-250 € per person.

The city centre

You're about to embark on a new adventure and start a new chapter of your life: you're moving to a new city, you're going to make new friends, live in a completely unknown place and going on trips that you never thought you would be able to. There is a world full of opportunities right in front of you, just waiting for you to go out and explore it, and as you can imagine, you will want to feel at home in your new city.

The most recommended places in the city centre are:

• San Lorenzo

• Santa Eulalia

• La Catedral

• San Miguel

There is also the neighbourhood known as 'La Fama', but even though it's cheap there and it is right alongside the 'Facultad de la Merced' (the first campus to be built at Murcia University), there are much better neighbourhoods around with better vibes around them in general. One bit of advice for you, is that although the city centre is a safe area overall, as with any other, try to avoid the streets that you don't think look extremely safe just like you would in any other city.

In the centre is where most of the partying and social gatherings take place, which means that students often look here first for a place to live. If you want to be as close as possible to the "zona de tascas", which is what the main bar strip is called here, then look for accommodation in Santa Eulalia or in San Lorenzo. In these two neighbourhoods, you will find moderately priced apartments; maybe they won't be all that modern, but the lively atmosphere throughout the central streets is what will make you fall in love with this place. In La Catedral the apartments are more modern and your budget goes up a bit more in that area, things are more expensive, but it is definitely worth paying for the type of area you are in and the views of the cathedral itself.

If you've got a sweet tooth, stop by La Colegiala, this sweet shop will leave you captivated by its desserts and pasties, it's love at first bite!

In terms of supermarkets, there are a few different ones depending on which neighbourhood you're in, but you don't need to walk too far in order to fill up the pantry.

Within La Catedral there is a Día and a Carrefour Express; the latter is great wherever you live for if you need to buy something on a Sunday or on a holiday day because it's always open.

In San Lorenzo there is a supermarket called Sangüi that overlooks the Plaza de Europa, really close to La Merced University.

In Santa Eulalia there is a supermarket called La Plaza, which is just in front of the Plaza de Toros.

In the San Miguel area, you have both the supermarket at El Corte Inglés, and Mercadona which is on the main street of Murcia, Gran Vía del Escultor Francisco Salzillo, which is more commonly known as Gran Vía; there are many shops along this street.

Don't forget to pass by the Plaza Santo Domingo, and whilst you're there you will have the Santo Domingo Church on one side, and the centennial ficus from Murcia on the other; It is a splendid place to sit on the terrace and have an ice cream or on a bench in the shade of the trees to take in some fresh air, but if you go hungry, then you'd better go and check out the menus of the many tapas bars they have to offer there.

Finally, if you see yourself as more of a film buff than a foodie, then you have the Rex cinema and Centrofama cinema in the city centre; they aren't the biggest, but they have really good film showings. In fact, Centrofama shows an original film every week, and at a really good price! If you're a student or you have a big family, don't forget to take your student card with you, so that you get discounts and the price ends up being even better.

Finally, if you are someone who prefers to go to a park and enjoy the fresh air and nature, then this is the place for you; there are many parks and gardens you can go to in the centre of Murcia, such as Jardín del Malecón or the Parque de la Fama, where they have "pipicanes", which are fenced off areas for our furry friends to do their thing and spend time with the other dogs in the neighborhood; others such as the Jardín de la Seda, where they have families of loose ducks and swans that live in the ponds, so come and meet our feathery friends!

The Northern area

In this area, the best places to go and live in terms of atmosphere and prices are:

• Vistalegre

• La Flota

• Juan Carlos I

• Juan de Borbón

There are more neighbourhoods, such as el Ranero and Santa María de Gracia, but they are less popular amongst students.

In this area, the atmosphere is a lot calmer at night in comparison to the centre, and it is one of the most important parts of the heart of the city. The advantage of this area, is that the apartments you will find are much more modern than those in the south of Murcia or even those in the centre, so it is possible that they will also be more expensive.

The neighbourhoods in this area are more residential and more family-based, and that definitely has its advantages. For example, the tram runs through this area; it goes from the Nueva Condomina and Thader shopping centres through Avenida Don Juan de Borbón to Plaza Circular and, from there, up Avenida Juan Carlos I until it reaches the Espinardo Campus. It's an ideal location, both for getting to class and for going shopping. Also in the Northern area, there are several hospitals; the Morales Meseguer Hospital and the la Vega Hospital, it's never a bad thing to at least know where they are.

As a place to live, this area is one of the safest ones in Murcia as it's more residential and further away from the busy nightlife areas, with the exception of the nightclubs that are on the Avenida de Mariano Rojas, but to be honest they are more in the Ranero zone. The further away you get from the city centre, the calmer the area will be.

If you choose to live there, you will have everything you need near by, from cafés and bars, to pharmacies and supermarkets. You can go for a walk along the green areas which are spread out along the Juan Carlos I neighbourhood, such as Fofó park, where the ducks and geese live, and you can see the Auditorio Parque de Fofó.

Lastly, it's good to know that the Zig Zag leisure centre is also in this part of Murcia. It's found in Juan Carlos I, so if you go there, you won't ever have time to get bored. In this leisure centre, there are bars, pubs and dancing clubs, a gym, a games room where you can experience virtual reality and even a climbing wall where you can test your strength and ability. When you've finished and you're all worn out, don't worry, there is every type of restaurant available there that you can imagine, where you can sit down and recharge your batteries.

The Southern area

El Carmen

The Segura River, as well as being a favourite amongst the people to go out for a run by because of how pleasant the path that runs along its shore is, also divides the city in half, leaving the Carmen neighbourhood in the Southern zone of Murcia.

In this area you will find all the facilities that you may need, they have different supermarkets (there's a Mercadona in front of El Carmen church), bus stops every few meters that will take you wherever you need to go, cultural centers, such as Centro Párraga, and libraries, and even the Murcia train station! It'll be great for you when you want to go and visit other cities, take advantage of the situation and get your tickets here, just don't forget to make sure you're well informed about the discounts that are available (ESN, Family ticket, etc. ) so that you get the most out of your stay in Murcia.

If you prefer to be out in the fresh air and you like green spaces, then go and have a look around the Jardín de Floridablanca which is next to the famous El Carmen church. These gardens are the oldest in the city, and in fact their history goes all the way back to the 19th century. Don't hesitate to go and relax in the shade of the centennial ficus' that give life to this amazing place.

Espinardo

Espinardo is a district in the North of Murcia where, despite being quite far away from the city centre, lots of students often live as they study at the Espinardo Campus or at the Catholic University of Murcia (UCAM). The rental prices in this area aren't too bad and most of the houses have been refurbished, so it's not a bad option as long as you bear in mind that you will have to depend on public transport.

Speaking of transport, the area is really well connected. There is a tram stop and there are lots of bus stops, so you don't feel like you are actually that far away from the city centre; the downside to it though, is the fact that you have to work around the bus timetables. Although, thanks to the public bike services in Murcia, a lot of people can get around the city by bike without having to actually buy one, which also contributes to the fight against environmental pollution.

As it's a district, Espinardo has many different supermarkets and everything else that you will need, from health services to bars and restaurants; it's like a little city. Also, it's beside the natural park called Terra Natura which is a zoo that you can go to if you want to visit and interact with the 50 species of animals that live there.

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