Plaza Mayor of Trujillo
45 minEveryoneDog-friendlyAll year
Walk · 45 min · Free · The square of palaces, Pizarro's statue and the arcades, the starting point for everything
From CáceresAbout 40 min along the A-58
From MadridAbout 2 h 45 along the A-5
Minimum time1 day
Best timeMar – May · Oct – Nov
What to do
What to do in Trujillo
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
Trujillo Castle and Its Cisterns
1 hEveryoneAll year
Visit · 1 h · €2 · Granite fortress on top of the hill, with two cisterns from the Muslim alcazaba and the wall-walk above the plain
From €2
How to do it
Pizarro House-Museum
45 minAdults and older childrenAll year
Museum · 45 min · The family home of the conqueror of Peru, next to Santa María, with his life told over two floors
Itineraries
Itineraries that pass through
Days and weekends already planned out, with how to get between each stop and who to book with.
Plan the trip
Trujillo, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Trujillo
In spring, with the countryside green and the kestrels breeding on the roofs, from February to July. In October and November the light is good and it is not hot. In July and August, midday scorches: stone in the morning and the castle at sunset.
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How you travel
Trujillo your way
Choose how you're travelling and we'll tell you where to stay, how to get around, where to eat and which services you'll need. We only show the ways of travelling that make sense here.
The Base for Cáceres, Monfragüe and Guadalupe
Trujillo is at the junction of the A-5 and the A-58: 48 km from Cáceres, 90 from Mérida and 255 from Madrid. With a car, the town is seen on foot and the car serves for the HABLA winery, the museum at Huertas de Ánimas and as a base towards Monfragüe, about 50 km away, or Guadalupe, 80.
70–120 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepParador de Trujillo, with a…
- Getting aroundLeave the car outside the…
- Where to eatMesón La Troya, in the…
- ServicesTourist office in the Plaza…
Where to sleep
- Parador de Trujillo, with a garage and paid parking
- Eurostars Palacio Santa Marta, parking at €10 a night
- Hostal Emilia, at the lower entrance, without going into the old town
Getting around
- Leave the car outside the historic centre: the streets of the medieval town are narrow and cobbled
- Bodegas HABLA, about ten minutes along the A-5, exit 259
- Huertas de Ánimas, 5 km away, for the ethnographic museum
Where to eat
- Mesón La Troya, in the Plaza Mayor, no reservations
- Espacio H, at the winery, Thursday to Sunday
Services
- Tourist office in the Plaza Mayor, open every day
By Bus from Cáceres or Madrid
Trujillo works well without a car: Avanza has buses from Cáceres and on the Madrid – Badajoz line, and once here everything is on foot. The station is in the lower part, a quarter of an hour's walk from the Plaza Mayor. What you miss without a car are the winery and the museum at Huertas de Ánimas.
60–100 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepHostal Emilia, near the station…
- Getting aroundOn foot: from the station…
- Where to eatMesón La Troya, in the…
- ServicesAvanza bus station, on Avenida…
Where to sleep
- Hostal Emilia, near the station, in Plaza del Campillo
- Eurostars Palacio Santa Marta, next to the Plaza Mayor
- Parador de Trujillo, 200 metres from the square
Getting around
- On foot: from the station to the Plaza Mayor, about fifteen minutes
- Morning guided tour with tickets included, so as not to waste time at ticket offices
- Kestrel walk on your own, from February to July
Where to eat
- Mesón La Troya, in the Plaza Mayor
- Hostal Emilia restaurant, home cooking
Services
- Avanza bus station, on Avenida de Miajadas
- Tourist office in the Plaza Mayor
Sleeping in a Convent or at the Casa de Orellana
Trujillo has two ways of sleeping inside history: the parador, in the 16th-century convent of Santa Clara, with a cloister and pool, and Casa de Orellana, five rooms in the birthplace of the discoverer of the Amazon, inside the wall. Add a visit with a paired menu at the HABLA winery.
From €180per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepCasa de Orellana Boutique Hotel…
- Getting aroundOn foot through the medieval…
- Where to eatParador restaurant, in the convent's…
- ServicesParador garage, paid
Where to sleep
- Casa de Orellana Boutique Hotel, five rooms, garden and pool
- Parador de Trujillo, four stars, Renaissance cloister
Getting around
- On foot through the medieval town
- Private tour with Turismo Trujillo, priced for the group
Where to eat
- Parador restaurant, in the convent's former church
- Habla Duende, visit and paired tasting menu, on Saturdays
Services
- Parador garage, paid
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights3
Who you're with
Trujillo for whoever you're with
A trip with a toddler is not the same as one with a teenager. Pick yours to see what works and what to bear in mind.
A Castle, a Square and Falcons on the Rooftops
Trujillo is compact and done on foot, with a proper castle at the top and a big square below to run around in. The problem is the cobbled slopes: a baby carrier is better than a pushchair.
- What works bestThe castle: cisterns, towers and…
- Where to sleepParador de Trujillo, with a…
- Where to eatMesón La Troya, children's menu…
- Bear in mindKeep an eye on them…
What works best
- The castle: cisterns, towers and wall-walk for €2
- The kestrel walk, from February to July, with binoculars
- The ethnographic museum at Huertas de Ánimas, with its school of old, €1.50 for children
- The morning guided tour: free for under-11s
Where to sleep
- Parador de Trujillo, with a seasonal pool
- Hostal Emilia, no slopes from the station
Where to eat
- Mesón La Troya, children's menu at €8
- Restaurante Emilia, home cooking
Bear in mind
- Keep an eye on them on the castle wall-walk: it is narrow
- In July and August the heat bears down at midday: castle in the morning or late in the day
- The Huertas de Ánimas museum opens by appointment
What to do as a family
Conquistador History, Told in the Street
For a teenager, Trujillo comes through its stories: Pizarro, who conquered Peru, and Orellana, the first to sail down the Amazon, were born here. Better with a guide than with display labels, and better at sunset than at midday.
- What works bestThe sunset visit up to…
- Where to sleepEurostars Palacio Santa Marta, with…
- Where to eatMesón La Troya, in the…
- Bear in mindChurches without a guide are…
What works best
- The sunset visit up to the castle, €6 for children
- The castle on your own, with the wall-walk and the cisterns
- The morning guided tour, €10 for ages 12 to 14, with four tickets
Where to sleep
- Eurostars Palacio Santa Marta, with a rooftop pool
- Parador de Trujillo
Where to eat
- Mesón La Troya, in the Plaza Mayor
Bear in mind
- Churches without a guide are boring: leave them for those who ask
- One afternoon of castle and square is enough; with more days, Monfragüe is an hour away
What to do with teenagers
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're drivingwithout a carin style
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
© ParadoresHotelParador de Trujillo
Why we like it: Four-star parador in the 16th-century convent of Santa Clara, 200 metres from the Plaza Mayor, with a Renaissance cloister and a seasonal pool.
Casa de Orellana Boutique Hotel
Why we like it: Five double rooms with breakfast in the 15th-century birthplace of Francisco de Orellana, next to Santa María la Mayor, with a garden and pool.
Eurostars Palacio Santa Marta
Why we like it: Four-star hotel in a 16th-century palace next to the Plaza Mayor, with 50 rooms, a summer pool and a buffet breakfast.
Hostal Emilia
Why we like it: Family-run hostal since 1929 in Plaza del Campillo, with a home-cooking restaurant, outward-facing rooms and services for birdwatchers.
Services for this trip
Areas, for any way of travelling
| Area | Who it's for | Average night |
|---|---|---|
| Plaza Mayor | Restaurants, hotels and tourist office | |
| Medieval town | Fortified houses, castle and hotels with charm | |
| Plaza del Campillo | Guesthouses and bus station, no slopes |
Where to eat
Where to eat in Trujillo
From set lunch menus to Michelin stars. We mark the price level and what to order at each place.
Mesón La Troya
What to order: the house menu, which includes bread, water and wine, with lamb caldereta as the main course; à la carte, Extremaduran migas and a half portion of torta del Casar
Hostal Emilia Restaurant
What to order: Extremaduran migas or scrambled desert truffles to start, and Iberian presa or lamb caldereta; for dessert, tocinillo de cielo
Espacio H, the Bodegas HABLA Gastrobar
What to order: a glass or a bottle of the house wine at the shop price with tapas; if you come to eat, arrive before 16:00, when the kitchen closes
© ParadoresTrujillo Parador Restaurant
What to order: tomato soup with cumin and figs, Extremaduran zorongollo and Retinta beef sirloin with torta del Casar sauce; for dessert, the melted cheese ice cream with Villuercas e Ibores honey
Map
Everything on the map
The places to stay and services on the map are the ones for the way you travel. Turn on the layers you want and tap a point to see its details.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Nearby
Near Trujillo
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
39.47° N · 6.37° W
Cáceres
By carCar-freeLuxury
39.85° N · 6.03° W
Monfragüe National Park
By carOn foot
39.45° N · 5.33° W
Guadalupe
By carOn foot
38.92° N · 6.34° W
Mérida
By carCar-free
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Go up to the castle at the last minute
The sunset light over the plain is the best thing about Trujillo. The sunset guided visit leaves at 16:30 from November to February.
- 2Get the tickets with the visit
The Turismo Trujillo morning visit, for €18, includes the castle, Pizarro's house, the church of Santiago and the Centro de los Descubridores.
- 3Firm-soled shoes
The cobbles of the medieval town are slippery in the rain and tiring going down.
Local tip
Sleep a night. Trujillo at sunset and first thing, without the day-trippers, is a different city.
We'd skip it
Midday in July and August on the climb to the castle: stone, slope and no shade.
Trujillo is a granite city on a boulder field, in the middle of the plain between Cáceres and Mérida. Below, an enormous Plaza Mayor, sloping and ringed by palaces; above, the walled medieval town and the castle. From here came Francisco Pizarro, who conquered Peru, and Francisco de Orellana, the first to go down the Amazon, and the money that came back from America can be seen in every coat of arms on the façades. It is covered on foot in a day. With a night, you see it at sunset too, which is when it looks its best.
How do you get there from Cáceres?
By car, along the A-58 motorway: it is 48 km and about 40 minutes. From Mérida, 90 km along the A-5, a little over an hour. From Madrid, 255 km along the A-5, about two hours and three quarters without stops; from Badajoz, an hour and three quarters along the same motorway. Trujillo is at the junction of the two motorways, so you arrive without minor roads.
You can also go without a car. Avanza has buses from Cáceres and stops at Trujillo on the Madrid – Badajoz line, as well as services to Huelva and Lisbon. The station is on Avenida de Miajadas, in the lower part: a quarter of an hour's walk from the Plaza Mayor. Check the day's timetables on the Avanza website or app before going.
Where to park?
Outside the historic centre. The streets that climb to the medieval town are narrow, cobbled and sloping, and the Plaza Mayor is not a car park. Leave the car on the streets of the lower part, around the Plaza del Campillo or Avenida de Miajadas, and walk up. If you sleep at the Parador or at the Eurostars Palacio Santa Marta, both have paid parking; at Casa de Orellana ask when you book.
How much time do you need?
A full day is enough for the essentials: the Plaza Mayor, the climb to the medieval town via Santa María la Mayor and the Casa-Museo de Pizarro, the castle and a long lunch. If you can, stay a night. The guided visit at sunset goes up to the castle in the last light, and in the morning the square is empty and the stone freshly lit. With two nights, Trujillo works as a base for Monfragüe, about 50 km away, or for Guadalupe, 80 km.
What to see in a day?
Start in the Plaza Mayor. Walk round it slowly: the Palacio de la Conquista, with its corner balcony; the Palacio de los Duques de San Carlos, with the eagle granted to them by Charles V; the Casa de las Cadenas; the church of San Martín and the equestrian statue of Pizarro. In the square itself is the tourist office, open every day, and under the arcades the Turismo Trujillo guided visit leaves every morning at 10:30, which includes four entrance tickets.
Then climb to the medieval town. On the way are the church of Santa María la Mayor, with the altarpiece painted by Fernando Gallego around 1490, and the Casa-Museo de Pizarro, which tells the conqueror's life on two floors. At the very top, the castle: seventeen granite towers, two cisterns of the Muslim alcazaba and a wall-walk from which you see the plain as far as the sierra. The ticket costs €2.
In the afternoon, if it is spring, do the kestrel route: the historic centre is a protection zone for birds, with up to 120 pairs of lesser kestrel breeding at San Martín, the Palacio de San Carlos and the Torre del Alfiler from February to July. If it is Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday, the HABLA winery, ten minutes along the A-5, opens for visits with a tasting.
When to go?
In spring and autumn. From March to May the plain is green, the temperature is kind and the kestrels are on the roofs. October and November bring clear light and mild afternoons. July and August are very hot: the stone stores up the sun and midday is unbearable on the slope up to the castle, so start early and leave the climb for sunset. In winter it is cold, but the city is quiet and the monuments open all the same.
What do I combine it with?
With Cáceres, 40 minutes away, for a weekend of two monumental cities. With the Monfragüe National Park, less than an hour away, to see vultures and eagles at the Salto del Gitano. With Guadalupe, 80 km away through the Sierra de las Villuercas, for the monastery. And with Mérida, an hour away, for the Roman theatre.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get from Cáceres to Trujillo?
About 40 minutes by car, 48 km along the A-58. There is also an Avanza bus.
What is there to see in Trujillo in a day?
The Plaza Mayor, the church of Santa María la Mayor, the Casa-Museo de Pizarro and the castle, with a lunch in the square in the middle. If it is spring, the kestrel route.
How much does it cost to enter Trujillo castle?
€2 per person. It is open every day, morning and afternoon.
Can you go to Trujillo without a car?
Yes. Avanza comes from Cáceres and from the Madrid – Badajoz line. The station is a quarter of an hour's walk from the Plaza Mayor.
Where do you park in Trujillo?
Outside the historic centre, in the lower part, and walk up. The Parador and the Eurostars have paid parking for their guests.
Can you go with children?
Yes. They like the castle and the square, the guided visit is free for under-11s and the ethnographic museum of Huertas de Ánimas is 5 km away. With a pushchair, the cobbled slopes are hard going.