Cáceres deserves, in my opinion, a day and a half to leisurely see all the main sights without feeling overwhelmed or exhausted. If you’re planning to spend more than two days in Cáceres and use the city as a base to explore Extremadura, this article will come in handy.

Here, you’ll find seven ideas for day trips from Cáceres. I’ve divided my suggestions into several categories: half-day trips, full-day trips and combined trips. To help you make the most of your day trips from Cáceres without spending too long on the road, I’ve only selected places you can reach by car within an hour.

Day trips from Cáceres_featured

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Monumento Natural Los Barruecos

This natural area is located less than 20 kilometres from Cáceres’ city centre. The Monumento Natural Los Barruecos features large granitic rocks and two small reservoirs, and is home to one of Europe’s biggest colonies of white stork. Choose one or more of the five walking routes available, depending on your preferences, where you’ll see be able to spot some tombs, shepherd huts, and several strange art pieces. Finish your visit at the quirky contemporary art Vostell Museum, located in a former wool-washing house (closed on Mondays). If you’re a Game of Thrones fans, you may like to know that the ‘Loot Train Attack’ battle scene was filmed here.

 

Los Barruecos

Distance from Cáceres: 18.4km
Cáceres-Monumento Natural Los Barruecos car journey duration: 30min

Alburquerque 

Situated in the Lácara-Los Baldíos area of Badajoz province, not far from the Portuguese border, Alburquerque features one of Extremadura’s most notable medieval castles (Castillo de Luna). Other highlights include a large Gothic quarter (Villa Adentro), a lovely main square and nearby promenade, churches aplenty and a huge ‘hanging’ granitic rock (Piedra del Berrocal). Alburquerque is well known as an Ibérico ham and meats-producing place, exporting nationally and internationally. During the summer months, Alburquerque hosts Indie pop music Contempopránea and a Medieval Festival.

 

Alburquerque
Distance from Cáceres: 70,8km
Cáceres-Alburquerque car journey duration: 58min

Full-day trips from Cáceres

Mérida

Extremadura’s capital is a World Heritage City of Roman origins, with an Archaeological Ensemble comprising 22 excellently preserved remains ranging from public buildings, to private architecture, religious buildings and engineering works. Seeing all the Roman architecture sights in Mérida can easily take two days, but if you only have one day in the city, make sure to prioritise the theatre, the amphitheatre, the Roman Bridge, and the citadel. If time allows, head to the Roman Circus and stop by La Antigua neighbourhood on the way to see some amazing street art.

Mérida

Distance from Cáceres: 74km
Cáceres-Mérida car journey duration: 55min

You can also travel from Cáceres to Mérida by train or coach.

Cáceres to Mérida by train: morning train journeys to Cáceres Mérida take 37 minutes (Alvia and Media Distancia services); evening train journeys (after 5pm) from Mérida to Cáceres range between 37 minutes (Media Distancia and Alvia services) to 39 minutes (Media Distancia and Regional Exprés services). Check train times and buy tickets

Cáceres to Mérida by coach: morning coach journeys from Cáceres to Mérida range between 55 minutes to 1 hour and 16 minutes; evening coach journeys (after 5pm) from Mérida to Cáceres range between 55 minutes and 1 hour. Check coach times and buy tickets

Trujillo

The small town of Trujillo is one of Extremadura’s main tourist destinations, easily reachable from Cáceres by car in just over half an hour. Known as the birthplace of conquistador Francisco Pizarro, Trujillo features one of Spain’s most beautiful squares and an old town full of fine historical buildings. Visit Castillo de Trujillo (another GoT filming location), a castle originally dating back to the ninth century which combines old Moorish elements (the main bailey, towers, two cisterns and a horseshoe arch) with later additions (enclosing bailey, a sixteenth-century hermitage). Aim to be there just before sunset to enjoy the incredible views of the surrounding area in the most amazing evening light.

Trujillo
Distance from Cáceres: 45.6km
Cáceres-Trujillo car journey duration: 32min

​Plasencia​

Situated by the river Jerte and generally considered the gateway to the northern valleys, Plasencia is a city with a population under 40,000, a rather vibrant cultural and nightlife scene for its size, and a walkable city centre with a unique two-in-one cathedral, city walls, some interesting civil architecture, an aqueduct, and a charming porticoed main square. Recommended for a full-day trip or an overnight stay. Don’t miss: the beautiful Parador de Plasencia, set in a fifteenth-century former convent, and the view of the city from the viewpoint in Rambla de Santa Teresa (across the river).

Plasencia

Distance from Cáceres: 79.9km
Cáceres-Plasencia car journey duration: 49min

Alcántara​

Situated in eastern Cáceres, province, Alcántara is a village known for its magnificent Roman Bridge over the river Tagus. Other highlights include a former convent (Conventual de San Benito), which hosts an annual Classic Theatre Festival in August, several churches and palaces, and a viewpoint by the nearby dam, offering some fantastic views of the bridge and the surroundings. If you need a place to eat (or to stay overnight), check out the Hospedería Conventual de Alcántara. If you are a wild swimming or birdwatching lover (or both), head out to the quarry (cantera), where you’ll be able to swim while contemplating vultures flying over you.

Alcántara

Distance from Cáceres: 69.6km

Cáceres-Alcántara car journey duration: 55min

Combined day trips from Cáceres

Montánchez + basílica de Santa Lucía del Trampal​

​​Montánchez, a village of just over 1600 inhabitants halfway between Cáceres and Mérida, is mainly known for its Iberian ham and local wines. Located at over 700 metres over sea level, Montánchez features steep streets and amazing views from its castle which have earned it the nickname ‘Extremadura’s balcony’. The medieval castle standing today was a large extension made to an earlier Moorish fortress which was, in turn, built from earlier Visigothic remains. It’s made up of two enclosures – an inner residential enclosure including a bailey, the keep and the former chapter house, and an outer including a cistern and a seventeenth-century church. The nearby cemetery, built on terraces on the slopes of the castle hill, affords outstanding views and is another unmissable place to see in Montánchez. ​

Montánchez
Distance from Cáceres: 69.6km
Cáceres-Alcántara car journey duration: 55min

Santa Lucía del Trampal is an unusual little church still unbeknown to many extremeños. Located in the middle of the countryside south of the small town Alcuéscar, seventh-century Santa Lucía del Trampal is the only Visigoth structure still standing in the southern half of mainland Spain. It features a central nave flanked by two very narrow aisles, a seven-bay crossing with three crossing towers and an unusual east end with three independent and non-connected apses. The nearby visitor centre (a bit of an eyesore in such pretty natural surroundings) provides more information about the history of the church.

Santa Lucía del Trampal

Opening hours (church and nearby visitor centre): (from October to May) from Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 2pm and from 4pm to 7pm and Sundays from 10am to 2pm; (from June to September): from Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 2pm and from 5pm to 8pm and Sundays from 10am to 2pm. Mondays closed. Free admission.

Distance from Montánchez: 17km
Montánchez-iglesia de Santa Lucía del Trampal car journey duration: 23min

 

Distance from Cáceres: 51km
Cáceres- iglesia de Santa Lucía del Trampal car journey duration: 45min

Tip: Santa Lucía del Trampal can be reached by car from Alcuéscar (3.5km) via a single-track road. Despite the signposts, from experience I know that finding your way around Alcuéscar to reach the single-track road can prove tricky. Use the street Calle Fuente del Castaño as a reference point; or, if you want to avoid the centre of town, use the local funeral parlour (tanatorio) as a reference instead. Coordinates: lat. 39.15304458476331, long. -6.22257403340206. Alternatively, if time allows, you can walk there along the single-track road.

Day trips from Cáceres on a map

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Irene Corchado Resmella

Irene Corchado Resmella

Hi! I’m Irene (/ee-REH-neh/). Long since settled in the UK, I explore my Spanish home region of Extremadura with an inquisitive mind, a sharp eye, and the duality that comes with being both a local and a visitor. Then I write about it here to help you discover this beautiful yet overlooked part of Spain. If you have any questions after reading this article, submit a comment below! Read more about me.

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