Where to Stay in Badajoz for Carnaval: The Best Hotels for Spain's Most Underrated Carnival
Badajoz's Carnaval is one of the great carnivals of Spain and one of the least known outside it. For a week in February, the city fills with murgas singing satirical songs, comparsas in elaborate costumes and a huge Sunday parade, and the whole town dresses up.
Badajoz isn't a big tourist city, which is part of the charm: prices stay reasonable even during Carnaval, and you'll be celebrating with locals, not tour groups. The old town around the cathedral and Plaza Alta is where the atmosphere is thickest, so stay in or near it if you can.
There's no real luxury hotel in Badajoz, so here are the four best options, chosen for different travelers and different priorities. Book early, because the central hotels fill fast for Carnaval weekend.
Best Location: Condedu, Old Town
Condedu sits in the casco antiguo, about three minutes' walk from the Cathedral of San Juan, which puts you right in the middle of Carnaval. You can walk out of the door into the street parties and back again whenever you need a break.
During Carnaval, that matters more than anything: streets close, taxis are scarce and the best moments happen late at night.
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Best Value: Hotel Cervantes
Hotel Cervantes is a small, simple hotel in the old town, steps from the church of San Andrés, with some of the lowest rates in the centre.
Rooms are basic, but for a Carnaval weekend you're paying for location, and this one puts you a short walk from everything.
Best for Families: Sercotel Gran Hotel Zurbarán
The Gran Hotel Zurbarán is a large, full-service hotel in the centre, close to the Puerta de Palmas and the river, with plenty of room types and easy access in and out of the city.
With kids, a bigger hotel slightly outside the densest crowds is a smart choice. The children's parades and daytime events are an easy walk away, and you can retreat to a quieter room when the night gets loud.
Most Comfortable: NH Gran Hotel Casino Extremadura
On the banks of the Guadiana, the NH Gran Hotel Casino Extremadura is the most polished full-service hotel in Badajoz, with a casino on site and a short walk across the Puente de Palmas into the centre.
It's the pick if you want hotel comfort to come back to after a long night of Carnaval, and a riverside walk the next morning to recover.
Not Sure Yet? Search All Badajoz Hotels
If none of these fit your dates, Stay22 lets you search all available accommodation in Badajoz in one place, including apartments in the old town. Elvas, the fortified UNESCO town just across the border in Portugal, is another option for a two-country trip.
Continue Planning Your Carnaval in Badajoz
Badajoz's Carnaval is our February pick for Culture & Food Seekers. Here's everything that goes with this guide.
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