Best areas for students in Murcia

The centre of Murcia

The neighbourhoods that make up the city centre are some of the best student neighbourhoods in Murcia. These include La Fama, Santa Eulalia, La Catedral, and San Lorenzo, for example. Each neighbourhood within the downtown area has its own atmosphere, but it tends to be the liveliest area of ​​Murcia to live in.

Living in this area is ideal especially for students who are going to go to La Merced Campus of the University of Murcia, which is between the neighbourhoods of La Fama and San Lorenzo.

To differentiate a little bit between each neighbourhood, you should know that in La Catedral the cost of rent is usually higher than in the others, while in Santa Eulalia and San Lorenzo it’s cheaper, and in the latter are most of the bars (“tascas”) affordable for students.

In the centre there’s a great variety of interesting cultural sites to visit, like:

• The Cathedral
• The Royal Casino of Murcia
• The Romea Theatre
• The City Museum
• The Archaeological Museum of Murcia

As spaces to enjoy sunny days and good weather outdoors, gardens such as the Malecón Botanical Garden (where some events are held) and the Glorieta de España. Also, in the beautiful Silk Garden (Jardín de la Seda) there’s an outdoor gym and a duck pond, and the path along the Segura river is ideal for walking and exercising.

The centre of Murcia is very well connected through bus lines, and you can get almost everywhere by walking in a short amount of time.

Vistalegre

Vistalegre is on the other side of the Ronda de Levante regarding the centre of Murcia, towards the north. It’s a quieter and more residential neighbourhood, from which you can quickly reach the liveliest areas of the city.

An advantage of living in Vistalegre is that the apartments are usually much more modern than those in other areas of the city. However, this also means that its cost may be higher.

Despite being a more residential area, from here you can access cafes, bars, restaurants, and even some nightclubs that are in nearby neighbourhoods (such as those on Avenida del Rocío, in the area known as “Atalayas" which is very frequented by students).

The Garden of Las Chuanicas is ideal for having a picnic, and in the Garden of Juan Alcolea events are held throughout the year.

In Vistalegre, in addition to being able to use the bus lines, you can take several tram lines to get to places like the Espinardo Campus of the University or the Thader Shopping mall, which is on the outskirts of the city.

El Carmen

This neighbourhood is located in the southern part of Murcia, on the other side of the Segura river with respect to the centre. It has a quieter environment than the other areas we mentioned, but it’s one of the best neighbourhoods for students in Murcia who prefer to live in a relaxed area with easy access to the nightlife.

El Carmen has a lot of restaurants, some of them offering international cuisine. However, as it’s a quieter neighbourhood than the others, it has few bars for a night out.

There are two sites of cultural interest that stand out in El Carmen: the Museum of Science and Water (Museo de la Ciencia y el Agua) with its scientific exhibits and planetarium, and the Aquarium of the University of Murcia, which is located in the former Artillery Barracks.

As for green spaces, in this neighbourhood there’s the Floridablanca Garden, dating back to the 18th century and featuring huge trees and walking paths. From El Carmen you can also enjoy walks along the Segura river.

The bus stops in this neighbourhood are mostly located on its main streets, such as Canalejas Avenue and Floridablanca Street. Here, you’ll also find the Murcia del Carmen train station.

Espinardo

Living in Espinardo is ideal for those who want to be near the Espinardo Campus of the University of Murcia, which is the main one. Also, despite being a quieter neighbourhood, it’s very close to the nightclub area of Mariano Rojas, another one of the most frequented by students for nightlife.

The restaurants and bars that are located in Espinardo are, for the most part, in the Calle Mayor or in its surroundings.

When it comes to green spaces and parks to enjoy the outdoors, this neighbourhood stands out for its Desert Garden (Jardín del Desierto). It also has Terra Natura Murcia, although you have to pay an entrance fee to see the zoo and aquatic centre.

Espinardo is very well connected to the centre of Murcia through bus and tram lines. It also has several stations of the public bicycles of the city, called “Muybici”.

FAQ about neighbourhoods in Murcia