Cartagena has a railway station on the eastern edge of the centre, with regional services to Murcia and onward connections to Madrid and Alicante. Buses are often more frequent for short hops around the Region of Murcia.
By car, Cartagena is about 45 minutes from Murcia city and just over an hour from Alicante airport in good traffic. Parking near the harbour can be tight in summer, so it is usually easier to leave the car at the edge of the centre and walk in.