Looking for the best things to do in Badajóz in 2 days for your next trip to Spain? Look np further! We just spent some weeks in the city and loved it so much.
There are so many things to do in the city, yet most visitors just go on a day trip to Badajoz. I think it’s worth a lot more than that, but with 2 days in Badajoz, you’ll get enough time to see the top attractions and also enjoy the vibrant vibe between the historical walls.
From visiting Spain’s largest Alcazaba fortress to sipping coffee in the picturesque Plaza Alta, here are my top tips for what to do in Badajoz if you only have two days in the city.
I’ve also included some travel tips at the bottom to help you plan your Badajoz itinerary best possible.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase through one of those links, I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Hi, I’m Linn Haglund, the face behind Brainy Backpackers. I’ve been based in Spain for the last 10+ years, and travel locally and abroad whenever I have a chance. I’m passionate about responsible travel, slow and off the beaten path travel, and outdoor activities, especially hiking. I’m currently slow traveling in my van Persistence (Persi among friends) with my fiancée Mohammed and rescue puppy Atlas. I’m excited to help you explore this planet responsibly!
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Things to do in Badajoz – Day 1
Cross Puente de Palmas
If you, like me, travel through Spain in a campervan, you’ll probably park in the caravan park or near the river on the opposite side of the old town.
That’s a great place to start the first day in Badajoz, as you’ll get to cross the historical bridge, Puente de Palmas, which dates back to the late 15th century to the early 16th century.
You can also walk down to the park area by the river to get a great picture of the bridge. With this view, I already knew it was a great idea to visit Badajoz, with the historical bridge, Puerta de Palmas, and the view of the clock tower and the Alcazaba in the old town.
See the views from Puerta de Palmas
At the end of Puente de Palmas, you’ll come across another top attraction in Badajoz. Puerta de Palmas was part of the city’s defence system, and the twin watchtowers were once part of the city wall.
You can visit the towers, which include a museum about the history of Puente de Palmas and the Puerta de Palmas.
But my favorite part was climbing to the top of the towers for the best views of Puente de Palmas. Besides, it was completely free to visit.
Snap a picture of La Giraldilla and the Tres Campanas Hotel
Next, head to Plaza de la Soledad, where you’ll find three interesting buildings.
First, Ermita de la Soledad, a church built around a small hermitage dedicated to señora de la Soledad, which is Badajoz’s patron saint. I still haven’t seen the church open when I’ve passed it.
Next to the church, there’s a boutique hotel which is beautifully decorated in a carnival theme on the outside of the entrance, which made me believe it was a theater the first time I walked past.
And finally, the Giraldilla de Badajoz. The tower is built as a smaller replica of the Giralda Tower in Seville, but the one in Badajoz is painted red, like the rest of the building it’s part of.
The trio of buildings makes for a beautiful corner of Badajoz that you should not miss out on.
Walk through Calle Manuel Cancho Moreno
Among all the cute streets in Badajoz, we totally fell in love with Calle Manuel Cancho Moreno. It’s a narrow street with a lovely Arab-inspired fountain in the corner of it, a cute café with some outdoor tables, and another Arab-inspired café further up.
The walls are decorated with pot plants, and lights light up the alley in the evenings, giving it a warm feel.
Grab lunch at Plaza Alta
Visiting Plaza Alta is one of the best things to do in Badajoz. The 15th-century square has been used as a marketplace since medieval times.
Even today, the city’s flea market takes place on the square on Saturdays.
What I love the most, besides the deep red and white colored part, which without a doubt is the most eye-catching, are the ancient porticos. There are also some writings on some of the pillars that indicate what produce was sold at the market back in the day.
The square is connected to the Alcazaba, and is said to be built on top of former Arab houses.
Today, there are a couple of cafés on the square which are perfect for enjoying a coffee and soaking in the surroundings.
Visit Badajoz’s Archaeological Museum
The Archaeological Museum of Badajoz is set within the Alcazaba walls, but I recommend visiting it before you explore the rest of the fortress, so you don’t miss out on the opening hours.
It’s free to enter, and it’s got a lot of interesting artifacts like pottery, arrows, and coins, but also mosaics, statues, and rock carvings from between prehistoric times and Moorish rule.
Explore the Alcazaba
Walking around the walls of the Alcazaba is truly one of the best things to do in Badajoz. In fact, it’s the biggest Alcazaba in all of Spain, and the walls are in very good condition.
It dates back to the 9th century, though it was improved and enlarged during Almohad rule in the 12th century.
I loved that there are several information signs both in Spanish and in English throughout the grounds explaining the use of the different towers, parts of the walls, and its history.
Inside the Alcazaba, archaeological excavations started in 2015 and revealed the remains of houses, mosques, and churches.
Snap a picture of Torre de Espantaperros
The Torre de Espantaperros is connected to the Alcazaba walls. When you enter through the big gate next to Plaza Alta, walk the wall to the right, and you’ll see the hexagon-shaped tower with an older square tower on top.
This was constructed in the 12th century, during Almohad rule, and was built outside the existing Alcazaba wall, connected with another short wall.
Today, there’s a locked gate blocking people from walking into the tower from the Alcazaba wall, but you can easily take a photo through the gate.
Recommended for dinner: Carmen Gastro Bar Gin Club
What to do in Badajoz on day 2
Visit Badajoz Cathedral + Climb the Clock Tower
On your second day in Badajoz, start with visiting the cathedral. I recommend purchasing the complete ticket, which includes the cloister and the clock tower.
Our visit started with the clock tower, which has 3 floors. The first floor is where the bell ringer used to live. Interestingly enough, the last bell ringer moved out in 1970.
You can read more about the history of the bell ringing on several information signs throughout the former apartment in both Spanish and English.
On the second floor, you can see the last mechanical clock that was used in the church, and read more about its importance.
And finally, there’s the top floor where the bells are (careful when sticking your head under the giant bells so you don’t go deaf from the bell going off!) and also the best views of Badajoz.
After visiting the clock tower, we saw the inside of the cathedral, before the lady in the ticket office guided us to the cloister courtyard.
The courtyard felt rustic and alive. Not the typical tourist-prepared courtyard, but the one that you could imagine being there over centuries, witnessing generations of nuns walking through its columns, fetching water from the well, and picking fruit from its citrus trees.
Inside the cloister, there is a large museum with paintings and religious artifacts.
Grab a coffee at Plaza de España
The cathedral is located on Plaza de España, which I think is a nice square worth slowing down a bit on.
There are a few bars and restaurants where you can grab a coffee or a bite to eat while taking in the cathedral and the Town Hall.
Walk through Plaza Minayo
Plaza Minayo is a nicely groomed square where you find the Teatro López de Ayala, dating back to the late 1800s.
Right around the corner from the Parroquia de San Juan Bautista church (which I didn’t find very interesting inside), the wall is covered in beautiful, tiled pictures depicting Badajoz through history.
I suggest taking a peek before heading to Plaza San Francisco, which is located on the right corner exit by the theater.
Head to Plaza San Francisco
Plaza San Francisco is a lovely, historical square with a central gazebo. But more interestingly, there are two old newspaper stands, one on each side of the square, which, at least I think, are really cool.
There are several benches you can sit on to take in the local life, with colorful tilework depicting historical events, like the death of Francisco Pizarro and Cortés’s entourage into Mexico.
Plaza de San Francisco is also a great place to grab a drink at one of the bars.
Stroll along the Guadiana River and snap a picture with the Badajoz sign
End the day with a leisurely stroll along the Guadiana River. I love how the locals use the area actively on every weekday.
Whether it’s cycling on the bike path, walking their dogs, or letting their children play. There are also several football, beach volleyball, and basketball courts where people of all ages play on the other side of the river.
Watch the sunset from Puente de Palmas
The sunsets from Puente de Palmas get pretty magical! We walked across the bridge several times at sunset, and it always gave this calm feeling, as if the world slowed down in a way only a sunset can do.
At the same time, the pedestrian bridge was always busy with people walking their dogs, others running, and groups of friends and families chatting ahead. Reminding you that you’re in Spain.
Recommended for dinner: Caesura Gastro-sala
Best time to visit Badajoz
Badajoz is a fantastic destination most of the year. However, as an inland city, it gets very hot in the summer, and there aren’t any beaches nearby.
The river is also not a safe place to go for a dip, not only because it’s dirty.
According to the locals, there are plants under the surface that people have gotten tangled up in and tragically drowned throughout the years. So while it used to be a safe swimming spot back in the day, it’s not anymore.
So I recommend going between mid-September and mid-June. The shoulder seasons are most comfortable with mostly nice weather and sunny days, like most places on the peninsula.
Winter can be rainy, and temperatures drop to 3-4 degrees at nighttime with 13-16 degrees during the day. However, sunny days feel a lot warmer.
I’ve been wearing a t-shirt in the winter in Badajoz and have been warm. But don’t underestimate the temperature drops once the sun goes down!
How to get to Badajoz
Badajoz is located right next to the Portuguese border at only 2.5 hours from Lisbon in the west and 2.5 hours from Seville in the south.
It’s a great stop on any road trip in Spain and Portugal if you’re interested in exploring Portugal and Spain off the beaten path. It’s also easy to park for free both for cars and campervans just across the Puente de Palmas bridge.
But Badajoz also has its own airport, Aeropuerto de Badajoz, that you can fly directly to. However, there are no public transport options between the airport and the city.
You can book an airport transfer to your hotel here. It’s only a 14-kilometer journey, so it’ll still be fairly affordable.
There are also buses to Badajoz from Seville that take 2.5-3 hours. Check available times and prices here.
Where to stay in Badajoz
Finally, you’ll need a place to stay, and there are many fantastic options in Badajoz. Here are my top picks, including where to find the caravan park if you travel by campervan.
LUXURY: NH Gran Hotel Casino de Extremadura – Fantastic 5-star hotel located on the other side of the river from the old town, yet a beautiful, short walk across the Palmas Bridge to get there. A big plus for being pet-friendly! They offer paid parking at the hotel, but there are also plenty of free parking spaces below it by the river park.
MID-RANGE: Hotel Las Tres Campanas – Set on the Plaza de la Soledad, this boutique hotel is located on Plaza de la Soledad next to Ermita de la Soledad and the picturesque Giraldilla tower. A better location is hard to find. But the boutique hotel is also incredibly beautiful inside and easily one of the top stays in Badajoz.
BUDGET: Pensión Galicia – A fantastic budget option across the river from the old town, but it’s only a few minutes’ walk across Puente de Palmas. The service is outstanding, and they serve a great breakfast, which makes it the best value for money among the budget options in Badajoz.
If you travel by campervan, there’s a caravan park right next to the Puente de Palmas, on the opposite side of Puerta de Palmas. There, you have grey water emptying and water available for free. You can park up to 72 hours according to Spanish law, but note that camping activities are illegal, like taking chairs and tables outside of the van.
It does fill up quite rapidly, though, so if you don’t find space, you can park for free on the right side of the bridge. There, you’ll find several large parking spaces where you can also fit larger vehicles in some places.
Summing up what to do in Badajoz in 2 days
Summing up, there are a lot of lovely things to do in Badajoz that you can fit into a 2-day itinerary while still slow traveling and taking in the local life.
As I mentioned above, we stayed a few weeks in Badajoz because we loved it so much, and it’s a strategic base for different day trips within Spain, like Cáceres, Merida, and Zafra.
But it’s also close to Portugal, making it easy to take a day trip to unique destinations in Portugal, like the walled town of Elvas, and experience the bone chapel in Évora.
Our stay in Badajoz gave us enough time to truly spend time in the city, while also exploring the surrounding destinations, like some of the above-mentioned.
No matter how long you stay, I’m positive this Badajoz itinerary will make you fall in love with the city, too.
Happy travels!