Reasons of the month · mayo

What to do in Badajoz in mayo

The editorial plan

Why Badajoz in mayo

Los Palomos, Extremadura's largest LGBTI festival, kicks off May 26 — concerts, food routes and pride filling the centre until its big June finale.

The year's finest weather, around 77°F — terraces on Plaza de Espana and strolls through the Alcazaba gardens and the Vauban walls.

Palomos Kids on May 30 — the festival's family edition takes over the streets with activities for the youngest.

Same place, another month

Badajoz is worth visiting other months too

enero

Peak crane season — some 80,000 winter in Extremadura, with the biggest roosts on the Vegas Altas del Guadiana half an hour from the city.

febrero

Badajoz Carnival, February 13-22, a Festival of International Tourist Interest — one of Spain's largest, with comparsas, murgas and giant artefactos.

marzo

Badajoz's Holy Week, a Festival of International Tourist Interest, opens on Palm Sunday, March 29, with the Triumphal Entry through the old town.

abril

Holy Week peak — on Holy Thursday La Soledad, San Agustin and Vera Cruz process through the cobbled streets, right up to Easter Sunday on April 5.

junio

San Juan Fair, June 19-28, for the diocese's patron saint — the Caia grounds fill with concerts and rides while the centre runs its daytime fair.

julio

International Folk Festival of Extremadura in mid-July — dance troupes from Bulgaria, the USA, Poland, Portugal and Mexico parade through Badajoz.

agosto

Escape to Playa de Cheles on the Alqueva reservoir, a blue-flag freshwater beach 54 km away on Europe's largest artificial lake.

septiembre

Al-Mossassa Batalyaws in late September — Plaza Alta becomes an Andalusi souk of tents, spices and music, marking the city's founding by Ibn Marwan in 875.

octubre

The montanera begins — Iberian pigs head into the dehesa to feed on acorns, the cycle behind DOP Dehesa de Extremadura acorn ham.

noviembre

Crane Festival in late November — the first waves of the 80,000 cranes wintering in Extremadura arrive, with guided walks to the roosts.

diciembre

Christmas lights and tree on Plaza de Espana and Plaza de San Aton, with a Christmas market and nativity scenes across the old-town churches.

Year at a glance

When Badajoz is at its best

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Plan for mayo