Extremadura Itineraries: 3, 5, and 7 Days
Three road-trip plans for Extremadura, from a short Roman and medieval break to a full week of cities, nature, and villages.
These itineraries assume you have a car, which is the easiest way to move around Extremadura. Distances between the main stops are usually one to two hours, so you can see a lot in a few days without long drives.
3 days: Roman and medieval highlights
- Day 1 - Mérida: the Roman Theater and Amphitheater, the National Museum of Roman Art, the Temple of Diana, and the Roman Bridge. See our quick guide to Mérida.
- Day 2 - Cáceres: the medieval old town, then Los Barruecos in the afternoon. See our quick guide to Cáceres.
- Day 3 - Trujillo and Monfragüe: the Plaza Mayor and castle of Trujillo, then an afternoon in Monfragüe National Park.
5 days: cities, nature, and villages
- Day 1 - Mérida: the main Roman monuments.
- Day 2 - Around Mérida: the Cornalvo Natural Park, the Proserpina reservoir, and the Roman baths of Alange.
- Day 3 - Cáceres and Los Barruecos.
- Day 4 - Trujillo and Monfragüe.
- Day 5 - Plasencia and the north: the old town of Plasencia, then the Jerte Valley or La Vera.
7 days: the full region
- Day 1 - Mérida.
- Day 2 - Around Mérida: Cornalvo, Proserpina, and Alange.
- Day 3 - Cáceres and Los Barruecos.
- Day 4 - Trujillo and Monfragüe.
- Day 5 - Guadalupe and Villuercas: the Royal Monastery of Guadalupe and the Villuercas-Ibores-Jara Geopark. See the World Heritage cities.
- Day 6 - Plasencia and the Jerte Valley.
- Day 7 - La Vera, or head south to Badajoz and Olivenza if you prefer cities.
Practical notes
- Two bases work well: Mérida or Badajoz for the south, and Cáceres or Plasencia for the north.
- In Mérida, buy the combined ticket for the monuments.
- Remember that many shops close in the early afternoon, and restaurants serve dinner late by northern European or American standards.
- Book accommodation ahead in spring and during festivals.
Where to stay…
Find hotels and rural houses along your route