Babacashee
Parque de la Legión up to the Alcazaba
Our city walk starts at Parque de la Legión, near the Puerta de la Trinidad. From there we walk up to the Alcazaba, the old citadel. Around it there are gardens, ruins, walls, towers and wide views over the city and the Guadiana. Aba can come along to nearly everything in Badajoz. The exceptions are the inside of the churches and the little citadel park, so plan to go around those.
Plaza Alta, the old town and Puerta de Palmas
Next is Plaza Alta, one of the best-known squares in Badajoz. Then we head through the old town around Plaza de la Soledad, with its old facades, cafes and restaurants. Plaza de España, with the cathedral and the town hall, is a good place to sit down with a cold drink. After that we pass the theatre and Parque de Castelar on our way to the Puerta de Palmas and the Puente de Palmas. Finally we climb back to the Alcazaba and return to the park where we started.
The Guadiana riverwalk loop
This is our favourite walk, but it's for relaxed, social dogs. We start at the Puerta de Palmas and follow the river to the Puente Real. Then we cross, come back along the other bank and cross again at the Puente de Palmas. The whole loop takes about two to three hours. The far bank is busier, with more bikers and joggers, plus playgrounds and skate parks. Expect lots of people and dogs.
The parks along the walls and the canal
This route suits dogs that like other dogs but are less settled around bikes and joggers. We walk through the parks along the old city walls to Parque de la Legión. Then we cross the big road and go down to the canal. The path has the canal fence on one side and a raised bank on the other, so it feels fairly safe. There are fewer dogs than by the river, and more of them are on leads. You can stretch the walk to about two hours.
If you don't want an off-leash dog to come up to yours, signal to the owner. In our experience, locals will hold or leash their dog until you have passed. In the evenings, though, groups gather here with their dogs. To be safe, put your dog on the lead and walk it past with some space.
The fenced dog park and the Alcazaba fields
For reactive dogs, there is a large, well-kept dog park on the river bank opposite the old town. If you go before 9 or 10, or between 15:00 and 18:00, you usually have it to yourselves. One warning: the fence is about 1.5 m high, and Aba jumped it to get to a female in heat. Long-legged dogs could clear it.
Another quiet option is to stand with the fortress behind you and cross the small bridge on the Camino Alcazaba. On the other side there is a big field and a riverside path that hardly anyone uses. We rarely meet other dogs or people there. You can keep going north along the river, and this walk can take one to three hours.
North along the Guadiana
This quiet stretch of the Guadiana starts north of the city and runs towards the Alcazaba. You'll see people fishing and picnicking, and there are several places where dogs can get into the water. Cars rarely pass and there aren't many other dogs. If your dog has reliable recall, it can walk off leash here, but watch for birds and cows roaming free. The round trip takes about one and a half to two and a half hours. There is little shade, so skip the hottest part of a summer day.
Good to know
- If your dog runs up to a group of local dogs, they may treat it as an outsider. Put your dog on the lead and walk past with some space.
- Summer can be brutal. On our first visit it was over 40 degrees. On the northern river walk, avoid the hottest hours and use the shade.
- The vet we trust in Badajoz is Clinica Veterinaria Marabi. It's modern and can do surgery on site.
- For a quiet walk out of town, take the N 523 towards Albuquerque and walk along the River Caya. You'll meet few people or dogs, but look out for the occasional bike.
Badajoz with a dog: questions
Where can we eat with a dog in Badajoz?
Three of our favourite restaurants in Badajoz made Aba feel welcome. At El Patio, staff always have a water bowl ready for Aba before we even ask. At The Irish Elf, dogs are treated like guests. At La Mafia, Aba always gets a warm welcome and a bowl of water.
Can we visit the sights in Badajoz with a dog?
Yes, mostly. In Badajoz you can reach the sights on foot, without a car, and take your dog almost everywhere. The exceptions are the inside of the churches and the little citadel park.
Where can we stay in Badajoz with a dog?
We checked five of the nicer hotels in Badajoz, and two of them welcome dogs. The NH Grand Hotel Casino Extremadura charges a €35 dog fee per night. The other has no dog fee but sits at a golf resort about 20 minutes' drive outside the city. Our favourite holiday apartment is Apartment Cervantes, right next to Plaza Cervantes.
Is there a quiet place in Badajoz for a reactive dog?
In Badajoz we'd suggest the spacious fenced dog park by the river, across from the old town. Go before 9 or 10, or between 15 and 18 hours, and you usually have it to yourselves. The fence is about 1.5 m tall, and Aba has jumped it.
Is there shade on the north Guadiana River walk in Badajoz?
There isn't much shade in summer on the Guadiana River walk north of Badajoz, so we would avoid the hottest hours of the day. In some places dogs can get to the river for a drink and to cool their paws.