Dog-friendly Extremadura

On a hot, tiring day, Plasencia surprised us. We walked from Iglesia de San Vicente Ferrer past the palace, the two cathedrals, Plaza Mayor, the walls and the aqueduct, then finished by the river. Dogs are not allowed in Parque de los Pinos. Parque de la Isla makes up for it with river and canal access and shade. We also found a gated dog park with its own water canal, where Aba finally got to splash in the water.

Cáceres is a walled medieval city in Extremadura, and we think it makes a nice city trip with a dog. The stone streets were clean, with no glass shards, so they were easy on Aba's paws. The catch is the crowds. The narrow streets fill up fast, so we would come early. When everyone needs a break from sightseeing, the big park near the centre has natural shade and a water channel that Aba treated as his own splash park.

Olivenza is a small town in Extremadura, close to the Portuguese border. The people are lovely, and we keep coming back for lunch, a short walk or a coffee. It is not much of a dog-walking place. There is one small shaded park and some quieter walking outside the old walls. Aba still gets his two essentials there: water he isn't supposed to play in and artificial turf. Most sights are outdoors, so your dog can see them with you.

Badajoz has become one of our favourite cities in Spain, and Aba loves it too. You can walk to the sights, the parks and the Guadiana River. The only places he can't go are inside the churches and the little citadel park. There is a walk for every kind of dog, from the busy riverside loop to quiet fields and a fenced dog park. Restaurants often bring Aba water. Two things to plan for are the summer heat and the local dog packs.

We think Mérida is well worth a visit with a dog. Roman ruins turn up all over the old center, and the streets were clean and easy on Aba's paws. Dogs stay on the leash in the city, and most sights don't let dogs in, so we saw the famous ones from outside. Summer gets very hot. What makes up for it is the big green park along the Guadiana, with shade, water sprayers and a way down to the river.