A CITY in Spain with nearby beautiful beaches, hot October weather, and fewer crowds than other Spanish cities is fast becoming a popular spot among holidaymakers looking for an autumn break.
Murcia, in south-eastern Spain, has a Mediterranean climate meaning is has hot summers, mild winters and low chance of rain.
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In October, it reaches average temperatures of 24°C, making it one of the hottest places in Europe.
And the Spanish city has a lot of other things going for it too.
Nicknamed the ‘garden of Europe’, it has over two million square metres of parks and gardens.
Among the most popular parks is Floridablanca Gardens. During Murcia’s scorching summers, city residents head for this cool oasis on the other side of the river.
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It has colourful flower gardens and plenty of shaded areas, and its most stunning inhabitants are the old ficus trees.
It’s also the city’s oldest public park, open since the mid-19th century.
Other parks include La Seda, a garden with a raised deck, water features, and wildlife, and a park behind El Corte Inglés, with a pond, ducks, and a walled garden.
Also the name of the region, Murcia’s coast, Costa Cálida, is known as the ‘warm coast’ because of its consistently warm temperatures.
It’s 250km of coastline has a number of Blue Flag beaches, including hidden coves and golden sand.
The Mar Menor, a small sea, is located in the La Manga area and is Europe’s largest saltwater lagoon.
Other Murcia attractions include Sanctuary of la Fuensanta, one of the region’s most important places of worship.
It features an image of the city’s patron saint and offers panoramic views of the city and its orchard.
El Valle y Carrascoy Regional Park is a 17,000-hectare park known as the ‘green lung’ of Murcia, featuring woodland and scrub-land paths.
The park has a number of trails and rock climbs as well as viewing points with 360 degree views of the city of Murcia and the surrounding mountain peaks and valley.
Rafting on the Segura River is a popular activity when visiting the city.
Rapids and stretches that offer different levels of difficulty, and if rafting isn’t your thing, people also take banana boats out on the water.
Despite the allure of beachfront luxury, Murcia remains affordable compared to more tourist-heavy destinations in Spain.
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Many 5* hotels offer cheap deals, including Ona Mar Menor – Golf Resort & Spa, where prices start from £60 a night in October and November.
Flights are also good value – easyJet flights from London Gatwick to Murcia start from £38.99 for one way.
Places in Europe with temperatures over 20C in October
- Limassol, Cyprus – average temperature 26°C
- Seville, Spain – average temperature 26°C
- Crete, Greece – average temperature 24°C
- Lisbon, Portgual – average temperature 22°C
- Malaga, Spain – average temperature 25°C
- Valletta, Malta – average temperature 25°C
- Kos, Greece – average temperature 25°C
- Dalyan, Turkey – average temperature 25°C
- Puglia, Italy – average temperature 22°C
- Madeira, Portugal – average temperature 24°C
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