Autumn in the Region of Murcia offers you the chance to see the south with new eyes. As the heat of the summer subsides and the golden light envelops the landscapes and villages, this generous land reveals all of its charms.
It’s the perfect time of year to explore the region without a care in the world, to enjoy its nature, succumb to the temptations of its seasonal cuisine and soak up the local culture. And you can do all this in mild temperatures, under clear skies, with fewer tourists around.
Golden paths and nature as you like it
Autumn turns Murcia’s natural spaces into a spectacular sight. Its green lung, the Regional Park of Sierra Espuña, has a network of clearly signposted paths crossing forests, gullies and peaks. Routes such as Collado Mangueta and Pozón de la Nieve are easy to negotiate and wonderfully scenic. The more adventurous may opt for Barranco de Gebas, with its semi-desert landscape of badlands, like scenes from another planet.
If cycling is your thing, you could try the Vía Verde del Noroeste (Northwest Green Way) a disused railway line converted into a cycle route that connects Murcia with Caravaca de la Cruz through vineyards, orchards and pretty little towns. Ideal for completing in sections, with your partner or as a family.
And if you’re a bit of a thrill seeker, autumn is the ideal season for kayaking or rafting on the Segura River, especially on the Cieza and Blanca sections, where the water flows between leafy canyons and orchards.
Seasonal cuisine and traditional wineries
At this time of year, the pantry of Murcia is bursting with intense, authentic flavours. At the markets and restaurants you’ll find dishes such as rice with rabbit and snails, olla gitana (Gypsy stew) or michirones (a spicy bean stew), just what you need as the weather cools down. Seasonal mushrooms, pumpkins and Mollar pomegranates feature in both traditional and contemporary recipes.
Autumn is also wine season. The Jumilla, Yecla and Bullas wine routes offer guided tours of wineries, with informative tastings and experiences such as grape treading or vineyard picnics. In Bullas, make sure you visit the Wine Museum, housed in a 19th century winery, as well as enjoying the festive atmosphere of its wine tourism events during October and November.
Thermal waters, wellness and winding down
After an active day, nothing beats relaxing in a natural setting. At the Balneario de Archena spa, beside the Segura River and surrounded by vegetation, you’ll find medicinal mineral springs that for centuries have been emerging from the ground at a temperature of over 50ºC. You can enjoy the thermal circuit, massages or treatments aimed at relieving stress or relaxing your muscles.
We’d also recommend the thalassotherapy sessions in the Mar Menor area.
Towns full of soul and culture
Autumn is also an excellent time of year to explore the region’s most interesting towns. Caravaca de la Cruz, a Holy City, welcomes pilgrims all year round, but in autumn you can enjoy it more peacefully. Visit its Basílica de la Vera Cruz, take a walk around its old town and stroll through its steep narrow streets.
In the Ricote Valley, towns such as Ojós, Ulea, Blanca and Abarán still show signs of their Moorish heritage in their architecture, the terraced farmland and in the peaceful air that invites you to wander aimlessly. In Cieza, don’t miss the archaeological site of Medina Siyâsa, one of the best preserved Islamic settlements in Europe.
Numerous traditional festivals and food markets are held during the autumn months, such as the Tapas Trail in Cartagena, the Wine Festivals in Jumilla and the fungi events in Sierra Espuña. Take a look at the calendar of events at turismoregiondemurcia.es to make sure you don’t miss out on anything.
Because Murcia is best savoured in autumn
Murcia in autumn is the ideal destination for those seeking an authentic break, without the crowds, where each day offers something new: exploring the mountains, enjoying a rice dish by the sea, visiting a family-run winery, relaxing at a spa surrounded by orange trees, or watching the sun go down over a vineyard. A place to be savoured slowly, at the unhurried pace of autumn.
