5 Best Hotels in Extremadura, Spain

Dominating the Plaza de España, this five-star luxury hotel has a rooftop pool deck, Roman- and Moorish-theme design elements, and a twinkly central courtyard. Enormous bathrooms with powerful showers are a plus. Parking can be arranged for €25 per day.

There are five charming, rustic rooms in this rural hotel housed in a 16th-century convent house. Tucked along a quiet side street in the village of Jarandilla de la Vera, its quarters have exposed white-brick walls and basic countrified furnishings. The property is a good jumping-off point for excursions to the Monastery of Yuste as well as hikes and outdoor adventures in Monfragüe park.   

This 16th-century palace, which spans the length of Plaza San Juan on the edge of the old quarter, is now an NH Collection hotel that rivals the city's parador—at much lower rates. The modern and antique intertwine in the hotel's design, which is defined by stone-domed ceilings and well-lighted common areas. 

In another of the region's 16th-century convents, this parador offers tranquility and comfort in cheery restored rooms awash with wall art and patterned textiles. The spectacular building has two full cloisters that shine light onto the thick stone walls of common areas. Even if you're not staying here, it's worth a visit to have a drink in the candlelighted courtyard by night.

This exquisite estate, once the 15th-century palace of the Marquis de la Romana, now houses one of Spain's finest paradores. The sprawling building combines Mudejar architecture, exotic vegetation, and Moorish-style rooms, the best of which look out onto the monastery. There's a secluded swimming pool and a cozy fireplace room—a perfect place to enjoy an evening glass of wine. The restaurant serves simple local dishes such as bacalao monacal ("monastic" codfish, with spinach and potatoes) and grilled lamb chops.