Cáceres Holidays: Old Town Palaces and Extremadura Day Trips
Provincia de Cáceres · Extremadura · Spain · 96,068 residents
Cave of Maltravieso
Cáceres Cathedral
old town of Cáceres
Museum of Contemporary Art Helga de Alvear
Palacio de CarvajalCáceres is an inland city of about 96,000 people in Extremadura, set 441 metres above sea level. Its protected old town packs a cathedral and a run of palaces, among them the Palacio de Carvajal, the Palacio de los Golfines de Abajo and the Palacio de las Veletas, into streets you can cross on foot in minutes. A little further out lie the Cave of Maltravieso and the Roman fort of Castra Caecilia, and the contemporary art of the Helga de Alvear museum sits close to the centre. Spring and September bring warm, mostly dry days, while July and August reach the mid-30s Celsius. The closest airport with direct flights from the UK is Seville, a drive of roughly three and a half hours.
Why go
- The protected old town of Cáceres gathers the cathedral and several palaces within easy walking distance.
- The Museum of Contemporary Art Helga de Alvear adds modern work to a historic centre.
- April, May, June and September offer warm days, with April seeing only four rain days.
Top sights in Cáceres
Palaces, Caves and Contemporary Art
Start with Cáceres Cathedral and the old town that surrounds it, both about 0.2 miles from the centre. Within the same few streets stand the Palacio de Carvajal, the Casa de los Cáceres Ovando, the Palacio de los Toledo-Moctezuma, the Palacio de Godoy, the Casa de los Trucos, the Palacio de los Golfines de Abajo and the Palacio de las Veletas, so a slow morning on foot covers a great deal.
Around 0.3 miles out you will find the Museum of Contemporary Art Helga de Alvear, a good family choice, and the plaza de toros, the city's bullring. Further afield, the Cave of Maltravieso lies about 1.3 miles away, the Roman fort of Castra Caecilia about 2 miles, and the archaeological site of Cueva de Santa Ana about 3.4 miles.
Tours and tickets for Cáceres can be booked directly on this page through the booking cards below.
1cave- 2cathedral
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old town of Cáceres
In the centre · Photo
historic center of Cáceres, Cáceres Province, Extremadura, Spain
- 4museum
Museum of Contemporary Art Helga de Alvear
In the centre · Photo
museum of contemporary art in Cáceres, Spain
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Palacio de Carvajal
In the centre · Photo
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7palaceCasa de los Cáceres Ovando
In the centre · Photo
8palacePalacio de los Toledo-Moctezuma
In the centre · Photo
9palacePalacio de Godoy (Cáceres)
In the centre · Photo
10archaeological site
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Tours & tickets in Cáceres
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Cáceres can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Cáceres
Old Town or Modern City
Cáceres is inland, so the choice is not coast versus town but historic core versus the wider city. Staying in or beside the old town puts the cathedral, the palaces and the Helga de Alvear museum within a short walk, which matters in the heat of July and August.
With around 96,000 residents, the newer districts offer a more everyday city base and easier parking if you arrive by car hire. This page shows live hotel prices so you can compare areas for your dates.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Cáceres and the villages around it is a hire car from Seville (SVQ), about 3 h 25 min away.
Best time to visit Cáceres
When to Visit Cáceres
- 13°CJan77 mm
- 15°CFeb30 mm
- 18°CMar80 mm
- 23°CApr24 mm
- 25°CMay44 mm
- 29°CJun33 mm
- 34°CJul0 mm
- 35°CAug0 mm
- 27°CSept42 mm
- 23°COct129 mm
- 17°CNov57 mm
- 13°CDec16 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
The most pleasant months are April, May, June and September. April averages highs of 23°C with just four rain days, May reaches 25°C, June 29°C and September 27°C, ideal for walking the old town.
July and August are the hottest, with highs of 34°C and 35°C and essentially no rain. October is the wettest month, averaging 129 mm over 14 rain days, and March is also damp. Winters are cool, with January and December highs of 13°C and nights dropping to 4 or 5°C. Being inland, there is no sea to swim in.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 13°C | 5°C | 77 mm | 7 h |
| Feb | 15°C | 5°C | 30 mm | 9 h |
| Mar | 18°C | 8°C | 80 mm | 9 h |
| Apr | 23°C | 10°C | 24 mm | 12 h |
| May | 25°C | 12°C | 44 mm | 12 h |
| Jun | 29°C | 17°C | 33 mm | 13 h |
| Jul | 34°C | 19°C | 0 mm | 14 h |
| Aug | 35°C | 20°C | 0 mm | 13 h |
| Sept | 27°C | 16°C | 42 mm | 11 h |
| Oct | 23°C | 14°C | 129 mm | 7 h |
| Nov | 17°C | 9°C | 57 mm | 7 h |
| Dec | 13°C | 4°C | 16 mm | 7 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flying and Driving from the UK
Seville is the nearest airport with direct flights from the United Kingdom. It lies about 145 miles from Cáceres, a drive of roughly three and a half hours.
Badajoz airport is much closer, about 47 miles and just over an hour by road, and Salamanca is about 112 miles away, around two hours 40 minutes by car, but neither has direct flights from the UK, so expect a connection.
There are no ferry ports listed for Cáceres. Driving all the way from Calais takes roughly 20 and a half hours of motoring, best split over several days.
By air
- Seville (SVQ)145 miles, about 3 h 25 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Badajoz (BJZ)47 miles, about 1 h 7 min by road
- Salamanca (SLM)112 miles, about 2 h 39 min by road
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 20 h 37 min without stops.
Cáceres is good for
Around Cáceres
Day Trips Across Extremadura
Mérida, a city of about 60,000, is around 39 miles away, and Plasencia about 41 miles. Badajoz, the largest place nearby with roughly 150,000 residents, is about 52 miles from Cáceres.
For smaller places, Coria lies about 36 miles away and Alburquerque about 38 miles. Closer still are the villages of La Cumbre and Cañaveral, each about 22 miles, and Torrejón el Rubio, about 28 miles.
Tips from Robin
Practical Tips for Cáceres
Summer heat is the main thing to plan around: highs of 35°C in August with no rain mean sightseeing is best done early or late, with the cathedral and palaces close enough to return to your room at midday.
At 441 metres, nights can be noticeably cool outside summer, dropping to 4°C in December, so pack a layer for winter and early spring evenings. If you travel in October, the wettest month, bring a waterproof.
Questions people ask
Which airport is best for Cáceres from the UK?
Seville is the nearest airport with direct flights from the United Kingdom, about 145 miles away and roughly three and a half hours by car. Badajoz is closer, about 47 miles, but has no direct UK flights.
How hot is Cáceres in summer?
Very hot. July averages highs of 34°C and August 35°C, with no rain recorded in either month. Plan outdoor sightseeing for mornings and evenings, and favour accommodation near the old town to keep walks short.
When is the best time to visit Cáceres?
April, May, June and September are the most pleasant months, with highs between 23°C and 29°C and relatively few rain days. October is the wettest month, with 14 rain days on average.
What is there to see in Cáceres old town?
The old town holds Cáceres Cathedral and palaces including the Palacio de Carvajal, the Casa de los Cáceres Ovando, the Palacio de Godoy and the Palacio de las Veletas, all within easy walking distance of each other.
Is Cáceres good for a family holiday?
Yes, for families who enjoy exploring. The Cave of Maltravieso, about 1.3 miles away, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Helga de Alvear are both family-friendly, and the compact old town is easy to walk with children.
Can I visit Mérida from Cáceres?
Yes. Mérida is about 39 miles from Cáceres, making it a straightforward day trip. Plasencia, about 41 miles away, and Badajoz, about 52 miles away, are other nearby cities worth considering.