Badajoz is a city in Extremadura on the western border of Spain, looking across into Portugal. Its sprawling surrounds are industrial and residential, with a population of 151,565 in 2011, but the old city centre has many places worth seeing, such as its Moorish citadel Alcazaba. Badajoz is a good place to break a journey between Madrid and Lisbon.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
Badajoz has been inhabited at least since 4000 BC; it was settled by Romans as Civitas Pacensis, then by the Visogoths. In the 8th century it was captured by the Moors, eventually becoming capital of their small kingdom or Taifa of Baṭalyaws. After the Christian reconquista, this area was disputed between Spain and Portugal, changing hands several times until a treaty of 1715 assigned it to Spain. Badajoz fell to Napoleonic forces during the Peninsular War, but in 1812 the future Duke of Wellington captured it after a costly siege, and began to roll back the French from across Spain.
Tubasa is the local bus company. Bus LC2 runs from city centre north to the railway station and the retail park next to the bypass. See their website for map and schedules of their 20-some city routes.
1 Alcazaba de Badajoz. This Moorish citadel was built in the 9th century, though what you see now is the 12th century Almohad fortifications. It's walled, with 8 towers: greatest of these is the 30 m Torre de Espantaperros - "scare-dogs tower", named for the effect of its bell on the dogs lazing in the plaza below. After the Almohads were ousted the citadel's mosque became the cathedral until St John's was built. The ducal palace La Galera has been city hall then a prison and now houses the Archaeological Museum, with finds from the Visigoth, Roman, and other periods.
Teatro Lopez de Ayala on Plaza Minayo is the city's main performing arts venue. Baños Baraka are Moorish baths on Plaza Soledad. AquaBadajoz is a water amusement park at the west edge of the city, near the junction of A5 and BA20. Football: CD Badajoz play soccer in Primera División RFEF, the game's third tier; they were re-founded in 2012 after the original club went bust. The other local club AD Cerro de Reyes has folded. Feria de San Juan, the Festival of St John, is held over a week in June. The next is probably 17-25 June 2022.
Town centre south of the river has Papabuey, Casa Rosendo, Mesón El Chozo, and La Tasquita de Bere. South riverbank has Masumi Convento, La Mafia, and El Chiringuito del Parra. 1 Juan Martinez Gomez, Calle Francisco Pizarro 9, Badajoz, ☏ +34 924223271. Small outentic pastry shop where you can buy lots of deferent sweats. low price not touristic and the pastry taste amazing (updated Sep 2024) North bank places along Av Adolfo Díaz Ambrona are Lugaris, El Vivero and Miradore del Guadiana within NH Gran Hotel Casino Extremadura.
D.O. Ribera del Guadiana is the local wine marque. Lots more wines or beer if that doesn't suit.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
In Sep, Badajoz typically sees ~30°C daytime highs and 1 rainy days.
Cheapest destinations travellers searched recently — refreshed daily.
Flight prices are real fares travellers found in the last 48 hours, refreshed daily — the booking site confirms the final price. Train, bus and ferry fares are shown on the operators' booking sites. Weather data by Open-Meteo; exchange rates: ECB reference. Data updated 2026-09-29. Some links earn Stayonomy a commission at no cost to you.
stayonomy