Mérida

A visit to the Roman Empire

Badajoz

Max 24ºC / Min 11ºC

Badajoz / Extremadura

Mérida is a destination that brings the old Roman Empire back to life. Its Roman theatre is still operating after 2,000 years and in the evenings through the summer it hosts the International Classical Theatre Festival.

A short stroll through the city will reveal numerous other monuments that evoke its past: a temple, the amphitheatre, the circus, the baths, aqueducts, arches... You can round off your trip to the Roman Empire in Mérida with a visit to the National Museum of Roman Art.

The Roman city that lives on

One day is enough to discover the essential Mérida and to bring its Roman past back to life. This World Heritage City boasts a Roman theatre which is over 2,000 years old and is still in use. Visit the city in the summer to see it in all its splendour. In June, the “Emerita Lvdica” festival is held, returning the streets of Mérida to the Romans and the gladiators. In the evenings of July and August, the Roman theatre hosts the International Classical Theatre Festival.You can complete your tour of Roman Mérida with a walk to see the Temple of Diana, the Amphitheatre, the Arch of Trajan, the Roman bridge, the Roman circus, the Acueducto de los Milagros... And if you want to learn about ancient Mérida and discover great Roman mosaics and important examples of Roman sculpture, visit the National Museum of Roman Art.

More than a day trip

Quiet streets, squares that invite you to take a break, the banks of the Guadiana river with green spaces where you can go for a walk,, visits to landmarks such as the Arab Citadel, gastronomy that makes you want to linger over lunch and a surrounding area with interesting places to visit are reason enough to want to extend your stay in Mérida.Around 30 kilometres from the city, you can visit some of the old Roman baths, integrated into a modern spa. These are located in Alange, where you can also visit the remains of the town's fortress and enjoy a stunning panoramic view over the surrounding area. These thermal baths belong to Mérida’s Roman archaeological site, which has the UNESCO World Heritage designation.Meanwhile, just five kilometres from Mérida is the Prosperpina reservoir, built by the Romans. A little farther away, you can visit the Cornalvo Nature reserve and its reservoir, situated between meadows.

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Practical information

How to get there - transport information

Select the means of transport to see how to get there or how to get around at your destination.

How to get to aeroplane

Badajoz Airport: about 50 kilometres away, with flights to Madrid, Barcelona, and the Balearic Islands. You can reach Mérida on the A-5 motorway, about a 45-minute drive. More information
Seville Airport: about 200 kilometres away, with many national and international flights. You can reach Mérida on the A-66 motorway, about a 2-hour drive. More information

How to get to train

The railway station is on Calle Cardero, very close to the main sightseeing area.
Train connections with cities such as Madrid (starting at about 4.5 hours), Seville (about 3.5 hours), Cordoba (about 4 hours and 40 minutes), Cáceres (just under an hour), Badajoz (starting at about 40 minutes) and Ciudad Real (about 4 hours to 6 hours, depending on the type of train you choose).
Ticket booking

How to get to bus

The bus and coach station is on Avenida de la Libertad, just over a kilometre from the historic quarter.
Connections to many cities, including Madrid (a journey of about 4 hours) and Seville (around 2 and a half hours).
Book tickets

How to get there by road

From Madrid, via the A-5 motorway (around 3 hours).
From Seville, via the A-66 motorway (around 2 hours).
From Badajoz, via the A-5 motorway (around 45 minutes).

Practical information

The city is easy to explore on foot.
Throughout the year, there are guided tours to the monument ensemble composed of the Roman theatre and amphitheatre, the Alcazaba, the Casa del Mitreo y Columbarios, the Santa Eulalia Crypt and the Roman Circus.
On Fridays and Saturdays there are guided evening tours of the Roman theatre and amphitheatre. More information
You have to pay to park in many areas of the city and there is a time limit in place from Monday to Saturday.