Murcia is a city where you don’t necessarily need a car. Buses will take you from the airport to the city in about 20 minutes. Once you’re in the centre, it’s quite walkable, and there are buses to nearby towns such as Cartagena and La Manga. But if you plan on more exploring, it’s worth picking up a hire car. You can easily travel to the quieter beaches, and even spend the day in Alicante or Benidorm if you feel like seeing more of the coast.