Extremadura
Spain
- Countryside
- Wild, wild west
- Country life
- Muchas siestas
The sunshine state in a land that gets plenty, this uncrowded rural region gets fantastic weather when much of Europe is still shivering.
The lack of coastline has kept mass tourism at bay: this is a part of Spain where donkeys plod through quiet olive groves, and life passes slowly with the changing of the seasons. Sleepy fortified towns overlooking the Portuguese borderlands bear traces of Roman, Moorish and mediaeval glory and are graced by Conquistador mansions paid for with plundered Aztec and Inca gold. Today, the treasure troves of Pizarro and Cortés are matched by an El Dorado of regional delicacies to tempt a new breed of explorer.
Pictured: Hospedería Convento de la Parra
Boutique hotels in Extremadura
Our round-up of the hippest hideaways and boutique hotels in Extremadura
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Getting there
Planes, trains, automobiles, or maybe even helicopter – we tell you the best way to go.
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Worth getting out of bed for
Highlights the best Extremadura has to offer, from art and culture to fun-packed activities; we've even found the most inspiring place to enjoy the views from.
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Eating, drinking & dancing
We've tracked down the best cafés for people-watching, the bars with the coolest cocktails, the most accomplished restaurants and the liveliest local nightlife in Extremadura.
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Smith Maps
Our interactive map of Extremadura uses the latest mapping technology to help you find your way around this region of Spain.
moreLocal knowledge
- Taxis
- Best to ask your hotel to order one.
- Tipping culture
- Ten per cent is normal. Be aware: in ‘local’ places the waiters often do the sums in their head and you won’t get a written bill.
- Siesta and Fiesta
- You’ll need to embrace siesta in the summer heat. Some larger shops stay open but many close between 13h and 17h.
- Packing tips
- The strong sunshine means it’s wise to bring a hat.
- Recommended reads
- The Broken Spears: The Aztec Account of the Conquest of Mexico by Miguel León-Portilla; Don Quixote by Cervantes.
- Cuisine
- Extremadura’s cooking is almost mediaeval: roast suckling pig, game (especially in autumn), and wild frog all feature on menus in the region. There’s also a good range of local gazpacho recipes, sheep’s-milk cheese and cured ham, including jamón de bellota, made from acorn- and herb-fed pigs. Yemas (candied egg yolks) and licor de cereza (cherry liqueur) are delicious if you have a sweet tooth. Ribera del Guadiana whites are the region’s most famous wines.
- Currency
- Euro.
- Dialing codes
- Country code for Spain: 34. Badajoz: 924.
- Do go/don't go
- You get really good weather from April to October – July and August are not crowded (because everyone has headed for the sea) but might be too hot for some people. Winters are generally mild with some snow in the hills.
