15 WONDERFUL THINGS TO DO IN CÁCAERES, SPAIN.
When I was planning a recent walk through Extremadura on the Vía de la Plata, I came across Cáceres. If I’m honest, I had never heard of the city, which now feels surprising.
It happened to be one half of the Lotus Eaters Travel team’s birthday while we were walking, so I planned our route to arrive in Cáceres on the day and stay a couple of nights. That turned out to be one of the best decisions of the trip.
Cáceres is a beautiful historic city where the past feels incredibly close. Its old town is packed with landmarks, the food scene is excellent, and the atmosphere is unlike anywhere else we visited in Spain.
In this guide, I’ll explain exactly why Cáceres is worth visiting and share the best things to do when you’re there.
Why is Cáceres worth visiting?
When I first looked at Cáceres on the map, I was struck by how many historic sites were packed into such a small space.
Walking through the city for the first time, I genuinely felt like I had stepped onto a film set. The architecture is beautifully preserved, the streets are quiet and atmospheric, and there is a sense that every door hides a juicy secret behind it.
Extremadura as a region is often overlooked. Some people assume it is flat, rural and not especially interesting. In reality, it is full of history, culture and incredible food. We visited Mérida first, which completely surprised us, and Cáceres impressed us even more.
15 wonderful things to do in Cáceres
1/ Fine Dining
Cáceres has a reputation for excellent food (there are six restaurants in the Michelin Guide). If you are celebrating something special, this is a great place to book a memorable meal.
Atrio Cáceres is the most extravagant, with three Michelin stars. Whilst Miga, has an iconic location, high up overlooking Plaza Mayor. It offers a seven course tasting menu for €55. Whilst Restaurante Madruelo, offers four course menus for €36.
2/ Visit the Cathedral
Cáceres Cathedral is one of the most important landmarks in the city and well worth visiting. Entry costs 7 euros, or 5 euros for concessions, and includes an audio guide and access to the tower.
Inside, look out for the carved crests set into the floor. Climbing the bell tower is a highlight, with excellent views over the rooftops. I almost jumped out of my skin when I was up there alone and the bells suddenly chimed! So best be prepared for that.
3/ Spend time in Plaza Mayor
Plaza Mayor is the heart of Cáceres and one of the most impressive squares in Extremadura. The first time you step into it, the scale and setting are striking.
It is the perfect place to relax, have a drink and take in the vibe at any time of the day or evening. A few of the bars around the plaza don’t have great reviews, and we found that they were a little too keen to get us through the door.
Our go to spot for a quiet drink became Taberna El Rincón, which has a lovely view of the whole square, but sits a little away from it all.
4/ See Arco de la Estrella
Arco de la Estrella is the main gateway into the historic centre of Cáceres.
On one side you have the busy Plaza Mayor, and on the other, a maze of cobbled streets and medieval buildings. It is one of the most iconic spots in the city.
5/ Historic walking tour of the city
Cáceres is best explored on foot. Wander the cobbled streets of the old town and you’ll discover hidden palaces like Palacio de los Golfines de Abajo. Beyond the cathedral, churches such as Iglesia de Santiago and Iglesia de San Francisco Javier offer striking architecture.
If you’d rather, you can also book a walking tour (available in Spanish only.)
6/ See street art
Although Cáceres is known for its historic architecture, there are also modern touches scattered throughout the city.
I really enjoyed spotting small pieces of street art tucked between ancient buildings. The contrast adds another layer of character and makes wandering the streets even more interesting.
7/ Enjoy Jamon Iberico
Extremadura is known for Jamon Iberico, and as such, Cáceres is a great place to sample it in tapas, or buy some to take home. Throughout Cáceres, you’ll find the most spectacular looking “ham showrooms”, they are too tempting to ignore. And, you can also expect to see Jamon on the menu at most tapas bars in the city.
8/ Go on a tapas crawl
Cáceres is ideal for a relaxed tapas crawl. The old town is compact, so it is easy to move from one place to another and try different dishes.
At the fancier end of things, we liked Tapería Yuste, Restaurante La Minerva and BOS tapería-restaurante.
For more lowkey, we enjoyed a few bites at Restaurante Tapería 8º Arte and Tapería Los Ibéricos. There are also the popular ‘student hangouts’ of 100 Montaditos and Bokatines.
9/ Stay in a Palace
If you want to go one better than just visiting a palace, instead you can spend the night in one. A few palaces in the city have been converted into hotels.
Two great options are Palacio De Godoy Caceres -a 5 start choice with fantastic spa facilities. It is close to Plaza Mayor. Alternatively, NH Collection Cáceres Palacio de Oquendo, which is found on quieter Plaza San Juan and connected to Tapería Yuste.
10/ Visit Museo de Arte Contemporáneo Helga Alvear
The Museo de Arte Contemporáneo is a quite spectacualr building in Cáceres. As I’m sure you would expect, it’s very modern. It is free to enter and enjoy whatever art exhibitions are on at the time.
When we visited, we saw the quite memorable exhibiotn – Thomas Hirschhorn: My Atlas # Our Atlas. I must admit, I found this interpreation quite moving. In particular, the artist’s interpreations around modern terchnology and AI.
11/ See the Cáceres Museum
The Cáceres Museum is located in a historic palace and covers archaeology, fine art and local history.
Unfortunately, it was closed during our visit, which was disappointing. If it is open when you are in the city, it is worth including in your itinerary for a deeper understanding of the region.
12/ Walk a little of the Via de la Plata
The Vía de la Plata is one of the Camino de Santiago routes and follows an ancient Roman road through Cáceres.
If you want a short walk, a good option is the route to Casar de Cáceres, around 12 kilometres to the north. The town is known for its local cheese, Torta del Casar, and even has a small cheese museum. You can walk one way and return by bus if you prefer.
13/ Eat cheesecake
While Cáceres isn’t widely known as a cheesecake destination, we were genuinely surprised by how many places served their own version and how good they were.
Many are made using local cheeses from Extremadura, this gives the cheesecakes here a slightly deeper, more savoury flavour compared to the classic versions you might be used to.
We enjoyed the version served at Bruncheria Zeri’s, as well as in our hotel (Palacio de Godoy.) But you can find it on many menus in the old town.
14/ Take a day trip
If you have extra time, Mérida is one of the best day trips from Cáceres. The journey takes around 40 minutes by train or about an hour by bus.
Mérida is known for its Roman heritage, including a large amphitheatre, the Roman Theatre, the Temple of Diana and the National Museum of Roman Art. It also has a lively centre with plenty of places to eat and drink, making it a great addition to your trip.
Other popular options include Trujillo, or nearby wineries.
15/ Climb Torre de Bujaco
Torre de Bujaco is one of the most iconic landmarks in Cáceres, located in the heart of Plaza Mayor. The tower dates back to the 12th century and was originally part of the city’s defensive walls.
Today, it offers panoramic views over the old town. It costs €3 to enter and has limited opening hours, so check ahead.
Where to stay in Cáceres
One of the things we loved about Cáceres, is that there are absolutely loads of fantastic boutique hotels, all within the confines of the old town area of the city. Here are a few of our top picks:
BUDGET: Soho Boutique Casa Don Fernando has an enviable location on Plaza Mayor. This hotel is super clean, rooms are well appointed the staff are lovely. We also loved the coffee machine in the room.
MID-RANGE: NH Collection Cáceres Palacio de Oquendo is a charming hotel on the laid-back Plaza de San Juan. Ideal if you want a quieter location but still close to the main attractions.
LUXURY: Palacio De Godoy Caceres is part of the Hilton Curio collection. We loved the gorgeous communal spaces, location and private spa area.
How to get to Cáceres
- By train: Direct trains run from Madrid and take around 3.5 to 4 hours
- By bus: Regular services connect Cáceres with Madrid, Seville and Mérida
- By car: Driving is a great option if you want to explore more of Extremadura. Look for a hotel with parking included.
Both the train and bus stations are located just outside the historic centre. You can take a short taxi ride or walk into the old town in around 20 to 30 minutes.
Written by Emma
Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.
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