Useful practical information for visiting Badajoz

​Travel planning is a joy for some travellers, and a chore for others. I personally think that too much planning takes the fun out of travelling and leaves no room for flexibility, but a total lack of planning will likely result in disappointment and missing essentials. A basic level of planning is, in my opinion, needed.

In this article, aimed at independent travellers at the trip planning stage, I share some useful practical information to consider when planning (but not overplanning) your trip to Badajoz.

Transport in Badajoz

Getting to Badajoz

Badajoz can be easily reached by car from Madrid, Seville and Lisbon, and also from other main Extremadura destinations such as Cáceres and Mérida. The roads are good, well maintained and (generally) not too busy, compared to those in other parts of Spain.

You can also get to Badajoz by train from Mérida and Madrid, and by coach from different places in Extremadura, from Madrid, Seville, and Lisbon. Read my articles below to decide which mode of transportation will suit you best:

Badajoz Train Station is located in Avda Carolina Coronado, s/n. From this bus stop by the roundabout outside the station you can catch several local buses (L18, LC1) which will get you across the river to the centre of Badajoz.

Badajoz Bus Station is located in Calle José Rebollo López, about twenty minutes away on foot from the city centre.

Getting around Badajoz​

Most places of interest are located within (or near) the historic centre, with the exception of Fuerte de San Cristóbal and the train station. If you’re staying in the city centre, all the main sights will be within walking distance (under 20 minutes on foot). You will not need to use public transport at all. In fact, local buses do not go into the city centre, but around it.

If, by any chance, you need to use public transport, you can download the app for local buses below:

Badajoz Bus App for Android
Badajoz Bus App for iPhone

Parking in Badajoz

Finding a good place to leave your car in a new city is not always easy.

For an overnight stay, I would personally try to book accommodation in Badajoz which includes parking.

If parking isn’t included or you’re just stopping in Badajoz for the day, choose a secure car park. My personal experience with car parks in central Badajoz has not been fantastic. You may want to check whether Parking Plaza Conquistadores suits you and your vehicle (I have not parked there myself, but it’s the best-reviewed 24-hour car park in Badajoz and is only 10-12 minutes away on foot from the historical centre).

When to go to Badajoz

Many travellers planning to visit Extremadura worry about the heat. Finding Badajoz too hot will depend on where you’re coming from and the type of weather you’re used to.

For example, I was used to the very dry, very hot Extremadura summers until spending some four or five full years abroad. As a long-term UK resident, I now struggle, not only with the forty plus degrees in July, but also with the thirty-five plus degrees from early June to mid-September.

Visiting Badajoz involves a fair bit of walking outdoors, and I personally think that summer (late June to mid-September) is not the best season to go, if you are concerned about the heat.

October is probably my favourite month to visit central Extremadura in general. It’s shoulder season, so it’s not as busy or as hot as it is in summer. You can expect maximum temperatures of 20-25 in October.

January is probably the quietest month in terms of tourism. The city starts going back to normal after the end of the Christmas celebrations (on 6 January). But February is a busy month, when the city holds its famous Carnival celebrations for a week – great for party-loving travellers, not so great if you prefer a quiet environment.

Every season has pros and cons for visiting a place. Your best time to go to Badajoz will depend on your personal circumstances and preferences, so start planning your trip by listing your priorities and that will help you decide when to go.

How long to stay in Badajoz

Despite being the largest city in Extremadura, Badajoz is not really a large city. Generally speaking, you won’t need more than two days in Badajoz. Two full will give you plenty of time to see absolutely everything there is to see, including museums. If you’re not planning to see every museum, one day and a half would be about right to see most sights and enjoy the evening, too.

Tourist Information Centres

The local tourism authority should be the first point of contact for practical tourist information. You can reach them by email or phone, or on social media, but my experience so far has not been great (they’re not particularly responsive). It’s best to pop by one of its two centrally located tourist information centres on your first day, request all the latest information and fine-tune your plans accordingly.

Oficina de Turismo de Badajoz

The main tourist information centre is located in Plaza San José, just off the iconic Plaza Alta, in the historic centre.

Address: Plaza San José, nº 18

Phone: +34 924 201 369 / +34 649 77 47 10 (WhatsApp)

Email: [email protected]

Oficina Municipal de Turismo

You’ll find the other tourist information centre very on Calle San Juan Bautista, very close to Plaza de España.

Address: Calle San Juan Bautista, s/n

Opening hours: (according to Google Maps) Monday-Saturday from 10am to 2pm, and from 5.30pm to 8pm; Sundays from 10am to 2pm.

Phone: +34 924 224 981

Email: [email protected]

Sights in Badajoz

Sights in Badajoz include a citadel, gardens, towers, pretty squares, a fort, churches, and several interesting museums. If you only have one day in the city or you don’t know where to start, read my article on places not to miss in Badajoz.

Tickets and prices

Badajoz sights and monuments are free to visit.

Opening hours

The best option to know the current opening hours of at least some of the main sights in Badajoz is to follow Turismo Badajoz on social media. That (and not the website) is where they post about the general opening hours for the current season as well as the opening hours for specific holidays and events. But bear in mind that the details are generally published very last-minute. For example, the ‘autumn’ opening times were published on 2 October.

According to the latest available information, the monuments below open Thursday-Friday from 6pm to 8pm; Saturday-Sunday from 10am to 2pm and from 6pm to 8pm.

• Torre de Espantaperros
• Torre de Santa María
• Torre de los Acevedo
• Puerta del Alpendiz
• Edificio de la Galera
• Tramo yacimiento Galera Alpendiz
• Puerta de Palmas
• Fuerte de San Cristóbal

The citadel (alcazaba) is open from Monday to Thursday 24 hours, Fridays until 11pm, Saturdays from 7am to 23pm, and Sundays from 7am to midnight.

For more details and the latest updates, follow Turismo Badajoz on Facebook or Instagram.

Closures

The main key dates to bear in mind when it comes to holidays and closure of museums and sights are 1 January, 6 January, Carnival Tuesday (variable), 24 June, 25 December, and 31 December.

Museums in Badajoz

MUBA – Museo de Bellas Artes de Badajoz

The Fine Arts Museum is located in a nineteenth-century building right next to La Giralda. Its collection focuses mainly on Extremadura-born painters from the sixteenth to the twentieth centuries, but also includes sculptures, drawings and painting works from other artists and eras.

Museo Arqueológico Provincial

Badajoz Province Archaeological Museum hosts a permanent exhibition about the history of Badajoz province from the Palaeolithic period up to the sixteenth century through art objects displayed in chronological order. On the Museum’s website there’s a free audio guide available in multiple languages.

Museo de la ciudad Luis de Morales

This museum focuses on audiovisual, interactive and informational elements to explain the history of the city from ancient times to the present day. One of its rooms is dedicated to the acclaimed sixteenth-century painter Luis de Morales.

Address: Plaza de Santa María s/n
Opening hours: Monday-Tuesday from 9am to 2pm, Wednesday-Friday from 9am to 2pm, and from 5.30pm to 7.30pm, Saturday from 10am to 2pm, and from 5.30pm to 7.30pm, Sunday from 10am to 2pm; (July-August) from Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 2.30pm, Saturday-Sunday from 9.30am to 2.30pm. Closed on 1 January, 6 January, Carnival Tuesday, 1 May, 22 May, 24 June, and 25 December.
Free admission
Social media: (Facebook) @museoluisdemorales

Museo Extremeño e Iberoamericano de Arte Contemporáneo

This museum, built on the site of an old prison, outside the historic city centre, displays contemporary artworks mostly by artists from Extremadura, Spain, and Ibero-America.

Address: C/ Museo, s/n
Opening hours: Tuesday-Saturday from 10am to 2pm and from 5.30pm to 8pm, Sundays from 10am to 2pm, holidays from 10am to 3pm. Closed on Mondays, 1 January, 6 January, 24 June, 25 December and 31 December.
Free admission
Social media: (Facebook) @MuseoMEIAC, (Instagram) @museomeiac