Where to stay in Cartagena: the main areas compared

Most visitors to Cartagena choose between three areas: the walled Old City, Getsemaní next door, and the beach-and-high-rise peninsula of Bocagrande. They are close to each other on the map and very different to stay in. This guide explains what each one is like so you can pick the right base.

What is the best area to stay in Cartagena?

For a first visit, stay in or right next to the historic centre: the walled Old City or Getsemaní. You can walk to most of what you came to see, and you are surrounded by the architecture, plazas and restaurants the city is known for. Choose Bocagrande if a beach outside the door and a modern hotel matter more to you than atmosphere.

The walled Old City (Centro and San Diego)

This is the Cartagena of the photographs: colonial houses with wooden balconies, churches, plazas and the stone walls that surround it all. Together with the city's fortresses it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.

• Good for: first-time visitors, couples, short stays.
• Keep in mind: it is the most expensive part of the city, and the busiest. Streets are full during the day and lively at night.

San Diego, the northern part inside the walls, is a little calmer and more residential than the streets around the cathedral.

Getsemaní

Getsemaní sits just outside the main walls, a short walk from the Clock Tower gate. It began as a working neighbourhood and still feels lived-in: neighbours sit outside in the evening, and Plaza de la Trinidad fills with people every night. It is known for street art, small bars and a wide choice of places to eat.

• Good for: travellers who want to walk everywhere and prefer a neighbourhood feel to a postcard. Groups and families who want an apartment rather than a hotel room.
• Keep in mind: some streets are lively at night. If you are a light sleeper, choose a place set back from the street.

Our two apartments are here: The Balcony Apartment and The Mural Apartment. For more on the area, read the Getsemaní neighbourhood guide.

Bocagrande, Castillogrande and El Laguito

South of the historic centre, a peninsula of high-rise hotels and apartment towers runs along the city's main beaches. It looks and feels like a modern beach resort, with shopping centres and chain restaurants.

• Good for: beach time, larger hotels, sea views from a high floor.
• Keep in mind: you will need a taxi to reach the historic centre, and the city beaches are busy, with persistent vendors. Castillogrande and El Laguito, further along the peninsula, are quieter and more residential.

Manga

Manga is a residential island just across the bridge from Getsemaní, with a marina and some fine early twentieth-century mansions. There is little for visitors to do on the island itself, but it is calm and close.

• Good for: longer stays and travellers who want quiet evenings.

Further north: Marbella, Crespo and La Boquilla

North of the walls, the coast road passes Marbella and Crespo (where the airport is) and continues to La Boquilla, with a long beach and a growing strip of hotels and apartment buildings.

• Good for: an early flight, kite surfing, a resort stay.
• Keep in mind: it is a drive from the historic centre.

Apartment or hotel?

An apartment makes sense if you are a family or a group, if you are staying more than a couple of nights, or if you want a kitchen and a washing machine. A hotel makes sense for a short stay when you want a pool and a reception desk. Whichever you choose, air conditioning is not optional in Cartagena: it is hot and humid all year.