Where exactly is Zafra?

Zafra in located in the province of Badajoz in the Autonomous Community of Extremadura.

It has a population of just 16,000 and its old town is just delightful. It lies on the ancient and modern Vía de la Plata route, as well as the Camino de Santiago Vía de la Plata.

How to get to Zafra

On the ancient Vía de la Plata, Zafra is well connected with Mérida, Badajoz in Extremadura, and with Sevilla and Córdoba in Andalucía. 

And of course, if you’re on the camino, you’re walking 😉

🚙 – the roads are in excellent condition leading to and from Zafra in all directions. A car isn’t necessary within Zafra but if you’re travelling here for a day or a weekend, it obviously makes life easier, and of course, day trips are also more fun with a car.

→ Check rental car options now

→ Read the full MexicoCassie guide to driving in Spain

🅿️ you can’t drive into the old town but there’s plenty of free parking all around – for example, by the feria ground, and all along the Avenida de la Estación.  

🚌 – the bus station is right by the feria ground, not where google maps claims it is. Search for ALSA if you want to find the correct location on the map.

→ Check bus timetables and prices on Busbud across Europe

🚆 – there are two train stations in Zafra but you’ll most likely be looking for the one on Av. de la Estación that has trains running between here and Mérida, Sevilla, Huelva, Plasencia, Cáceres & Madrid.

→ Check train timetables and prices on RailEuorope

Quick history of Zafra

Where to stay in Zafra

What to do in Zafra

Plaza Chica & Plaza Grande de Zafra

Plaza Chica – this was the original city plaza. Today it’s the smaller, yet delightful plaza surrounded by old, and slightly leaning arches. In the summer mshade is provided by hanging cloths over the whole square. The old town hall is on this plaza, and there are a few bars and restaurants, making this a good place to visit in the evenings.

Vara de Zafra – once used by merchants to keep trade fair on a column between the plazas. 

Plaza Grande – this beautiful plaza is newer than the Plaza Chica, having been constructed in the 16th century on the ruins of a medieval church and cemetery when it became obvious that the older, Plaza Chica, was too small for the city. 

Today, you’ll see a beautiful plaza with gorgeous buildings, bars, restaurants, a fountain and a few shops. We had a couple of nice evenings on the Plaza Grande drinking beers and eating too many tapas at Quesería Bar La Bendita. The ice creams from the small shop on the corner of Calle Sevilla are excellent and were deeply appreciated by my kids.

The two plazas are connected. 

Casa del Ajimez

🆓 I mostly wanted to see this house from the outside more than anything as it’s a gorgeous 15th century mudejar building. Inside is a small museum dedicated both to the city and to one of the city’s most famous residents, Ruy Lopez, who, in the 16th century, wrote one of the world’s first treatises on chess. 

​Museo de la Historia de la Medicina y la Salud de Extremadura

🆓 This is a small but extremely informative museum about the history of medicine and health in Extremadura. The building is beautiful, there are some very informative & fun touch screens that the kids will enjoy that can be played with in English but most information is given in Spanish throughout the museum.

Convento de Santa Clara & Santa Clara Museum

🆓 I didn’t visit this museum, nor did I buy pastries from the nuns because I don’t support churches, but I did walk through the entrance in the wall and think, yes, nice entrance. It’s a 16th century building so I’m sure it’s interesting.

Technically it’s free to visit but of course, a donation is hoped for.

🏰 ❌ An important note: Zafra Castle is not actually in Zafra, the castle that appears as the Tower of Joy in Game of Thrones is actually located in Castellar de la Muela, in Castile-La Mancha.

What is there to do nearby?

If you have a car, I highly recommend checking out some of these adventures when you’re in the area. They’re all places I have either been or have saved on my ‘must visit list’ (it’s a long list, by the way).

Visit other cities

Cáceres – a beautiful UNESCO protected medieval town → Read the full MexicoCassie guide to Cáceres (photo above)

Mérida – this fascinating city is home to more Roman ruins than you can imagine and the museums here are incredible too. It also has UNESCO World Heritage Site status → Read the full MexicoCassie guide to Mérida (photo above)

Sevilla – world famous Sevilla is an easy 90 minute drive south, visit the Alcázar, Las Setas and see just why Zafra is called Little Sevilla → Read the full MexicoCassie guide to Sevilla

Jerez de los Caballeros – an even quieter small town in Extremadura, this is a delightful place to stroll around, enjoy a slow lunch and marvel at the views

Badajoz – right on the border with Portugal, Badajoz is a lovely town with an impressive fortress, large plaza and a few museums to keep you entertained.

Enjoy communing with nature

Extremadura is a large and sparsely populated community. Barely over 1 million people live in this region of Spain, making it one of my favourite places to drive around – it’s just trees and hills as far as the eye can see, with the occasional town or castle popping up on the horizon. It’s really a very special experience.

Burguillos del Cerro – this small town half way between Zafra and Jerez de los Caballeros is home to an incredible castle that sadly, due to the intense heat, we didn’t visit. I will 100% be getting myself there one day in cooler weather (photo above)

Nogales and Alburqurque – are both home to incredible looking castles

Fuentes de León – book a tour of the fascinating Cuevas (caves) de León

Alange – a small town on the bank of the Embalse de Alange where you’ll find the Roman thermal baths

+ of course you can visit the incredible Monfragüe National Park, (photo above) Sierra de Hornachos, the Sierra de Tentudia and the Sierra de Aracena.