# A weekend in Mérida and Cáceres, three and three-quarter hours from Madrid

You leave on Friday afternoon and sleep two nights in Mérida: a whole day for the Roman city and, on Sunday, monumental Cáceres on the way back.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/extremadura/merida/itineraries/two-nights-with-caceres-from-madrid

Dónde: Mérida

Mérida is about 340 km from Madrid, close to three and three-quarter hours along the A-5 without stops. It is a lot for one day but perfect for a weekend: all of Saturday for Roman Augusta Emerita, a World Heritage Site, and on Sunday, on the way back, a morning in Cáceres, which is an hour away and on the road home via Trujillo.

## Where to sleep?

AccommodationWhereWho for

Parador de MéridaConvento de Jesús, next to the Plaza de EspañaFor sleeping in a Baroque convent above the forum, with a pool and archaeological garden

ILUNION Mérida PalaceOn the Plaza de EspañaFive stars with a rooftop pool, triple rooms and pets accepted

Nova RomaCalle Suárez Somonte, 450 m from the theatreA practical three-star, with parking and close to the station

## How to get there from Madrid?

Take the A-5 to Mérida, passing Navalmoral de la Mata and Trujillo. If you leave on Friday at 16:00, you arrive in time for dinner. On the way back, on Sunday, take the A-66 to Cáceres and from there the A-58 to Trujillo and the A-5 to Madrid: it is about three hours twenty from Cáceres. There is also a Renfe train from Madrid to Mérida, but to do Cáceres on Sunday the car is more convenient.

## And with children?

It works very well. In Mérida, under-13s with their family do not pay for the combined ticket and under-18s do not pay for the museum; the amphitheatre and the Roman circus are what they like most. In Cáceres, the Torre de Bujaco and the family visit to the Golfines, free for under-12s. The ILUNION has triple rooms and so does the Nova Roma.

## And in summer?

In July and August midday goes above 35 °C. Change the order: theatre first thing, museum in the hot hours and Alcazaba at dusk. In return, the Classical Theatre Festival fills the nights at the Roman theatre.

## El plan

### Friday · 20:00 · Arrival and dinner
You arrive in Mérida and have dinner at the Parador restaurant, from 20:30 to 23:00, in a Baroque convent above the forum. Afterwards, a walk to the illuminated Temple of Diana.

### Saturday · 9:00 · Theatre and amphitheatre
At opening time, before the groups. Buy the combined ticket, €17: it includes the Alcazaba, the Casa del Mitreo, the circus and the rest of the Consorcio's monuments.

### Saturday · 11:00 · National Museum of Roman Art
Opposite the theatre, €3; on Saturdays it is free from 14:00. If you would rather have everything explained, swap the morning for the “Mérida al completo” tour from Activa Tours, with guide and tickets.

### Saturday · 14:00 · Lunch at Tuétano
Holm-oak embers next to the Alcazaba, with Roman remains under a glass floor. Afterwards, its rooftop looks over the wall.

### Saturday · 16:30 · Alcazaba, Roman bridge and aqueduct
The Moorish fortress with its cistern, the bridge over the Guadiana on foot and, in the last light, the pillars of the Milagros Aqueduct.

### Sunday · 10:00 · Monumental Cáceres
An hour along the A-66. Climb the Torre de Bujaco, enter through the Arco de la Estrella and take the guided visit of the Golfines de Abajo palace, at 11:00 or 12:00, for €3.

### Sunday · 13:30 · Lunch and the drive back
Lunch at the Parador de Cáceres restaurant, inside the walls, and set off for Madrid: you arrive around 19:30.

## Un consejo más

If you can, leave on Friday at midday: that way you can have dinner without rushing and stroll through illuminated Mérida.

## Cuándo no ir

Leaving the Golfines palace for Sunday afternoon: that day there are only morning visits.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How long does it take from Madrid to Mérida?
About three and three-quarter hours by car, some 340 km along the A-5.

### Is it worth combining Mérida and Cáceres?
Yes. They are an hour apart and Cáceres is on the way back to Madrid.

### Where to sleep in Mérida?
At the Parador, at the ILUNION Mérida Palace on the Plaza de España or at the Nova Roma, near the theatre.

### Do I need to book tickets?
In Mérida, no: there is no capacity limit. In Cáceres, it is wise for the Golfines, because the visits are for small groups.

## Dónde dormir if you're driving
- **Parador de Mérida**: The convent over the Temple of Concord
The Parador de Mérida is at Calle Almendralejo 58, in the centre, over the old Roman praetorium and the ruins of the temple dedicated to the Concord of Augustus. The building is the Convent of Jesús, built in 1725 to meet the need for convents and hospitals in a time of epidemics and wars with Portugal: classicist Baroque, topped by two bell gables. It was one of the first paradores in the network.
Inside it keeps a cloister with Roman columns and the old chapel, which is now the main lounge. In the convent's former orchard is the Garden of Antiquities, with Roman, Visigothic and Mudéjar archaeological pieces among fountains, ponds and lots of greenery; that is where the restaurant puts its terrace.
Within walking distance of everything
From the door you reach Plaza de España in two minutes and the main Roman monuments in about ten on foot, including the theatre and amphitheatre. The Temple of Diana is even closer. The train station is a quarter of an hour's walk. By road, the parador is about 60 km from Badajoz, 70 from Cáceres and 200 from Seville.
The parador has its own car park for cars and coaches. The website only says it is given free to those booking events, subject to availability; if you are going to stay with a car, ask when booking whether there is space and how much it costs.
Rooms, pool and breakfast
There are three room types: standard double, superior double and suite. Services include the outdoor pool, gym, sauna and solarium, wifi and electric car charging points.
Breakfast is served from 7:30 to 11:00 on weekdays and from 8:00 to 11:30 on Saturdays and Sundays. The café is open from 11:00 to 24:00. The parador restaurant serves lunch from 13:30 to 16:00 and dinner from 20:30 to 23:00 every day, and in the same building is La Alacena del Foro, a gastronomic space with a more informal menu.
The website does not detail this parador's pet policy or check-in and check-out times: ask on 924 313 800 or at merida@parador.es.
- **ILUNION Mérida Palace**: A palace on Plaza de España
The ILUNION Mérida Palace occupies a historic building at number 19 Plaza de España, Mérida's main square, the same one as the town hall. It is a five-star hotel of the Ilunion chain and holds the UNE 170001-1 Universal Accessibility certification.
From the door, the Temple of Diana is a few steps away; the Alcazaba and the Roman bridge, about 500 metres; the theatre and amphitheatre, about ten minutes' walk, and the Los Milagros aqueduct, 1.2 km. The train station is 600 metres away, about ten minutes on foot, and Badajoz airport 41 km, under an hour by car.
Five room types
The standard doubles are 25 m², with a 2 × 2 metre bed or two 1 × 2 beds, and can be exterior or interior. There are 25 m² singles designed for business travel, 30 m² triples with three beds or one double and one single, which suit a family with one child, and 45 m² junior suites with a sitting area and desk. Two rooms are accessible, with turning space for a wheelchair, an adapted bathroom and Braille labels.
Rooftop pool and restaurant
On the roof there is a pool-solarium with views over the city. It is only open in season and is not accessible for people with reduced mobility. There is also a gym and sauna. The hotel restaurant works with regional produce and traditional cooking; the website gives a price of €17 without making clear whether it is a set menu. It has nine rooms for meetings and celebrations, with capacity for up to 150 people.
Car, dog and bookings
For the car, the hotel has a valet parking service for €30 (the website does not make clear whether that is per day); to get it back, give half an hour's notice. Pets are accepted: ask about the conditions when booking.
To book, the Ilunion central line is on 911 081 396 and the hotel on 924 383 800 or at reservasmeridapalace@ilunionhotels.com. The website does not publish check-in and check-out times; it allows online check-in.
For dinner without taking the car, Tuétano is a couple of minutes away, beside the Alcazaba.
- **Nova Roma Hotel**: Suárez Somonte, the street that runs down towards the museum
Nova Roma is a three-star city hotel at Calle Suárez Somonte 42, inside Mérida's historic centre. Its selling point is distance: the National Museum of Roman Art is about 300 metres away, the theatre and amphitheatre 450, the Alcazaba 500, the train station 800 and the Los Milagros aqueduct 1.4 km. Everything you come to see in Mérida can be covered on foot from the door.
It also works as a stop en route. Mérida is on the A-66 motorway, the Ruta de la Plata, and the hotel presents itself to those travelling it who want to break the journey with a night in the centre.
Three room types
It has 55 air-conditioned rooms, of three types: 17 m² doubles, designed for couples; doubles for single use, for those travelling alone; and triples, for small families or friends. There are facilities and rooms adapted for reduced mobility. Wifi is free throughout the hotel.
Check-in is from 14:00 and check-out until 12:00. Reception is open 24 hours, useful if you arrive late from the motorway or leave early.
Breakfast and parking
Breakfast is a buffet, served at the hotel itself. The hotel manages a car park for guests, subject to availability; the website does not publish its price or location, so ask when booking and confirm before you arrive, because parking on the street in the historic centre is not easy.
The website says nothing about pets: if you travel with a dog, check before booking.
Midweek discount
The hotel publishes an offer for over-55s: 10% off the best rate for accommodation and breakfast, Sunday to Wednesday, except public holidays and subject to availability. To book, the phone number is 924 311 261.
For dinner nearby, A de Arco, beside the Arch of Trajan, is a stroll through the centre.

## Dónde dormir without a car
- **Parador de Mérida**: The convent over the Temple of Concord
The Parador de Mérida is at Calle Almendralejo 58, in the centre, over the old Roman praetorium and the ruins of the temple dedicated to the Concord of Augustus. The building is the Convent of Jesús, built in 1725 to meet the need for convents and hospitals in a time of epidemics and wars with Portugal: classicist Baroque, topped by two bell gables. It was one of the first paradores in the network.
Inside it keeps a cloister with Roman columns and the old chapel, which is now the main lounge. In the convent's former orchard is the Garden of Antiquities, with Roman, Visigothic and Mudéjar archaeological pieces among fountains, ponds and lots of greenery; that is where the restaurant puts its terrace.
Within walking distance of everything
From the door you reach Plaza de España in two minutes and the main Roman monuments in about ten on foot, including the theatre and amphitheatre. The Temple of Diana is even closer. The train station is a quarter of an hour's walk. By road, the parador is about 60 km from Badajoz, 70 from Cáceres and 200 from Seville.
The parador has its own car park for cars and coaches. The website only says it is given free to those booking events, subject to availability; if you are going to stay with a car, ask when booking whether there is space and how much it costs.
Rooms, pool and breakfast
There are three room types: standard double, superior double and suite. Services include the outdoor pool, gym, sauna and solarium, wifi and electric car charging points.
Breakfast is served from 7:30 to 11:00 on weekdays and from 8:00 to 11:30 on Saturdays and Sundays. The café is open from 11:00 to 24:00. The parador restaurant serves lunch from 13:30 to 16:00 and dinner from 20:30 to 23:00 every day, and in the same building is La Alacena del Foro, a gastronomic space with a more informal menu.
The website does not detail this parador's pet policy or check-in and check-out times: ask on 924 313 800 or at merida@parador.es.
- **ILUNION Mérida Palace**: A palace on Plaza de España
The ILUNION Mérida Palace occupies a historic building at number 19 Plaza de España, Mérida's main square, the same one as the town hall. It is a five-star hotel of the Ilunion chain and holds the UNE 170001-1 Universal Accessibility certification.
From the door, the Temple of Diana is a few steps away; the Alcazaba and the Roman bridge, about 500 metres; the theatre and amphitheatre, about ten minutes' walk, and the Los Milagros aqueduct, 1.2 km. The train station is 600 metres away, about ten minutes on foot, and Badajoz airport 41 km, under an hour by car.
Five room types
The standard doubles are 25 m², with a 2 × 2 metre bed or two 1 × 2 beds, and can be exterior or interior. There are 25 m² singles designed for business travel, 30 m² triples with three beds or one double and one single, which suit a family with one child, and 45 m² junior suites with a sitting area and desk. Two rooms are accessible, with turning space for a wheelchair, an adapted bathroom and Braille labels.
Rooftop pool and restaurant
On the roof there is a pool-solarium with views over the city. It is only open in season and is not accessible for people with reduced mobility. There is also a gym and sauna. The hotel restaurant works with regional produce and traditional cooking; the website gives a price of €17 without making clear whether it is a set menu. It has nine rooms for meetings and celebrations, with capacity for up to 150 people.
Car, dog and bookings
For the car, the hotel has a valet parking service for €30 (the website does not make clear whether that is per day); to get it back, give half an hour's notice. Pets are accepted: ask about the conditions when booking.
To book, the Ilunion central line is on 911 081 396 and the hotel on 924 383 800 or at reservasmeridapalace@ilunionhotels.com. The website does not publish check-in and check-out times; it allows online check-in.
For dinner without taking the car, Tuétano is a couple of minutes away, beside the Alcazaba.
- **Nova Roma Hotel**: Suárez Somonte, the street that runs down towards the museum
Nova Roma is a three-star city hotel at Calle Suárez Somonte 42, inside Mérida's historic centre. Its selling point is distance: the National Museum of Roman Art is about 300 metres away, the theatre and amphitheatre 450, the Alcazaba 500, the train station 800 and the Los Milagros aqueduct 1.4 km. Everything you come to see in Mérida can be covered on foot from the door.
It also works as a stop en route. Mérida is on the A-66 motorway, the Ruta de la Plata, and the hotel presents itself to those travelling it who want to break the journey with a night in the centre.
Three room types
It has 55 air-conditioned rooms, of three types: 17 m² doubles, designed for couples; doubles for single use, for those travelling alone; and triples, for small families or friends. There are facilities and rooms adapted for reduced mobility. Wifi is free throughout the hotel.
Check-in is from 14:00 and check-out until 12:00. Reception is open 24 hours, useful if you arrive late from the motorway or leave early.
Breakfast and parking
Breakfast is a buffet, served at the hotel itself. The hotel manages a car park for guests, subject to availability; the website does not publish its price or location, so ask when booking and confirm before you arrive, because parking on the street in the historic centre is not easy.
The website says nothing about pets: if you travel with a dog, check before booking.
Midweek discount
The hotel publishes an offer for over-55s: 10% off the best rate for accommodation and breakfast, Sunday to Wednesday, except public holidays and subject to availability. To book, the phone number is 924 311 261.
For dinner nearby, A de Arco, beside the Arch of Trajan, is a stroll through the centre.