How should you plan your trip to Trujillo?
A main square lined with palaces, a castle on the hill and steep stone streets. Trujillo can be seen in one long day; with an extra night you enjoy it without rushing and can add Monfragüe or Cáceres.
- Suggested time
- 2 days
- To go at your own pace
- May and September
You don't need to book to enter the monuments, but opening hours split the day: almost everything closes at midday. The official guided visit (departures at 11:00 and 16:30, about 2 hours, €8) is booked online at trujilloteespera.com, and the website also offers an individual tourist pass of €5.50 for five monuments. The Tourist Office, on Plaza Mayor, opens in the morning and the afternoon: check its hours at trujilloteespera.com. If you go on a long weekend or during the Cheese Fair, book accommodation in good time.
Activities in Trujillo
Free tour por Trujillo (in Spanish)
Free tour: tip whatever you like
See on Civitatis (opens in a new tab)
Tour de Trujillo al completo con entradas (in Spanish)
from €18
See on Civitatis (opens in a new tab)
Free tour por el Trujillo de las 3 culturas (in Spanish)
Free tour: tip whatever you like
See on Civitatis (opens in a new tab)Affiliate link: we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. You book directly with the provider.
The square is the map and the hill is the viewpoint.
One long day covers the essentials; with an extra night you do it without rushing and can add Monfragüe or Cáceres.
Stone, a square and the feeling of having arrived somewhere with history.
Trujillo is the home town of Francisco Pizarro and many other conquistadors, and Plaza Mayor remembers this with a statue and several palaces built with wealth that came from the Americas. It is a place to wander rather than tick off sights: a castle at the top, two churches, a couple of small museums and streets that go up and down. One long day is enough; with one more night you see it unhurried and can head out to Monfragüe or Cáceres. Avoid midday, when everything shuts, and make the most of the light first thing and last thing.
First thing, with side light on the stone.
Torta del Casar and migas, and waiting for the monuments to reopen.
The view over the plain in low light.
You can also explore more Extremadura getaways or compare this destination with other ideas.
What to see in Trujillo.
- 1Plaza Mayor
- 2Castle (Alcazaba)
- 3Church of Santa María la Mayor
- 4Casa-Museo Pizarro and Centro de los Descubridores
- 5Palaces of the old town
- 6City walls and La Alberca
Plaza Mayor
The centre of everything: the equestrian statue of Francisco Pizarro, the church of San Martín and the Palacio de la Conquista all sit around it. Pass through at the start and end of your visit, at different times of day.
Castle (Alcazaba)
A fortress of Islamic origin (9th century), at one end of the wall, with a parade ground and cisterns. From the top there are views over the plain; go in when it opens or late in the afternoon.
Church of Santa María la Mayor
The city's most important parish church, begun after the reconquest of 1233. It is included in the official guided visit.
Casa-Museo Pizarro and Centro de los Descubridores
Two small visits on the conquest of the Americas, with Pizarro as the thread. They make a break between uphill stretches.
Palaces of the old town
Around the square are several palaces built by families who made their fortunes in the Americas, such as that of the Dukes of San Carlos. They look good from the street, on an unhurried walk.
City walls and La Alberca
A good part of the wall of Muslim origin survives, with its gates. La Alberca is a water reservoir of Arab origin fed by springs.
Two views of Trujillo.
A few details to help you picture your trip. Enlarge each photo, then carry on with the route.
Your trip, day by day.
Square, churches and palaces
Arrive in the morning, park below and walk up to Plaza Mayor. Visit Santa María and San Martín, and wander the streets of the palaces until lunchtime.
Square, churches and palaces
Arrive in the morning, park below and walk up to Plaza Mayor. Visit Santa María and San Martín, and wander the streets of the palaces until lunchtime.
Alcazaba and museums
After lunch, climb to the Alcazaba and come down along the walls to La Alberca. Finish at the Casa-Museo Pizarro or the Centro de los Descubridores and have dinner in the old town.
Square, churches and palaces
Arrive in the morning, park below and walk up to Plaza Mayor. Visit Santa María and San Martín, and wander the streets of the palaces until lunchtime.
Alcazaba and museums
After lunch, climb to the Alcazaba and come down along the walls to La Alberca. Finish at the Casa-Museo Pizarro or the Centro de los Descubridores and have dinner in the old town.
Monfragüe or Cáceres
With one more day, choose a single excursion: Monfragüe National Park, about 45 km away, or Cáceres, 46 km away (35 minutes).
A suggested editorial route. Adjust the timings to your bookings, the weather and your mobility.
More ideas in Trujillo
Excursión a Guadalupe y Trujillo (in Spanish)
from €95
See on Civitatis (opens in a new tab)
Tour de los misterios y leyendas de Trujillo (in Spanish)
from €12
See on Civitatis (opens in a new tab)
Tour por Trujillo al atardecer (in Spanish)
from €10
See on Civitatis (opens in a new tab)Affiliate link: we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. You book directly with the provider.
A getaway you can taste.
You don't need a list of twenty restaurants. You need to know what to look for, book a table if you want one, and give it time.
Torta del Casar and cheeses
Trujillo holds the Feria Nacional del Queso (National Cheese Fair) during the 1 May long weekend. Outside those dates, ask for a board with torta del Casar and local cheeses.
Migas and dehesa cooking
Migas, Iberian ham and chargrilled meats are the staples on menus. Ask about the dish of the day.
Iberian dehesa ham
The usual way into any meal in Extremadura. Ask for it cut by knife and find out which area it comes from.
Trujillo, with whoever you like.
As a couple
Dinner on the square, then a slow walk up to the walls. At night the old town is quiet.
On a tight budget
Walking round Trujillo is free. Choose one or two monuments and call in at the tourist office to see which tickets are available.
With a camera
Plaza Mayor first thing, without crowds, and the views from the Alcazaba late in the afternoon.
When to go.
May and September. The highlighted months are our recommendation; the figures are AEMET climate normals, not a forecast.
See the data in a table (with hours of sunshine)
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May (recommended) | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep (recommended) | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. high (°C) | 12.0 | 14.0 | 17.7 | 19.3 | 23.7 | 29.9 | 33.7 | 33.2 | 28.8 | 22.0 | 15.9 | 12.5 |
| Avg. low (°C) | 3.7 | 4.7 | 6.7 | 8.3 | 11.5 | 16.0 | 18.8 | 18.7 | 16.0 | 11.9 | 7.5 | 4.9 |
| Rainy days (≥ 1 mm) | 6.7 | 6.5 | 5.0 | 7.2 | 6.5 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 7.5 | 8.1 | 8.4 |
| Hours of sunshine | 156 | 175 | 232 | 247 | 297 | 336 | 379 | 348 | 261 | 205 | 158 | 129 |
Getting there and where to stay.
The journey here
A car is the easiest option: from Madrid it is 257 km (2 h 50 min) on the A-5. Without a car, there is a bus from Cáceres (about 45 to 50 minutes); for Madrid, check the current bus lines. The nearest useful train station is Cáceres. The old town is uphill: leave the car in a parking area outside the old town and walk up.
| From | Distance | Driving time |
|---|---|---|
| Madrid | 257 km | 2 h 50 min |
| Sevilla | 280 km | 3 h 5 min |
| Lisboa | 375 km | 4 h |
| Salamanca | 249 km | 2 h 50 min |
Choose your base well
Sleep inside the old town or on the streets around Plaza Mayor so you can walk down to dinner and back up at night without a car. The Parador occupies the former Santa Clara convent.
Three ways to choose your base
Plaza Mayor and the old town
To go up and down without a car and have dinner on the square. The streets are steep: ask how to get in with luggage.
Parador (former Santa Clara convent)
For a quiet night inside the old town. Check availability early at weekends.
Outside the old town
Easier for parking and arriving by car. Allow for the walk up to the centre.
Where to stay in Trujillo
Once you have chosen your base, check availability, cancellation terms and prices for your dates on Booking.com. What you see there depends on the dates you search.
See places to stay in Trujillo on Booking.com (opens in a new tab)Affiliate link: we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. You book directly with the provider.
Climb first thing or late in the afternoon: between 14:00 and 16:30 (17:30 in summer) the monuments are closed, and in summer you won't want to tackle slopes in the midday sun.
If the weather turns.
Prioritise the museums (Casa-Museo Pizarro and Centro de los Descubridores) and the two churches, which are indoors. Cobbles and slopes get slippery in the rain: go down slowly and save the Alcazaba for another time.
Two things that save you from a bad plan.
Arriving at midday
Between 14:00 and 16:30 (17:30 in summer) the monuments close. Arrive in the morning or plan to have lunch at that time.
Driving up into the old town
The streets are narrow and steep. Leave the car in a parking area outside the old town and walk up.
From plan to suitcase.
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Discover Trujillo with a guide.
These are the Civitatis activities, ordered by number of reviews. You'll find the price, reviews, duration and up-to-date conditions on the provider's website.
Free tour por Trujillo (in Spanish)
Free tour: tip whatever you like
See on Civitatis (opens in a new tab) Tour de Trujillo al completo con entradas (in Spanish)
from €18
See on Civitatis (opens in a new tab) Free tour por el Trujillo de las 3 culturas (in Spanish)
Free tour: tip whatever you like
See on Civitatis (opens in a new tab) Excursión a Guadalupe y Trujillo (in Spanish)
from €95
See on Civitatis (opens in a new tab) Tour de los misterios y leyendas de Trujillo (in Spanish)
from €12
See on Civitatis (opens in a new tab) Tour por Trujillo al atardecer (in Spanish)
from €10
See on Civitatis (opens in a new tab)Affiliate link: we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. You book directly with the provider.
Information, with context.
. Itineraries and seasons: editorial suggestions by Conócela. Check opening times, rules and access at Oficina de Turismo de Trujillo · Junta de Extremadura ↗.
