Mérida
Mérida is a Roman city in western Spain, where the ruins of Augusta Emerita can be seen on foot.
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Mérida is a city in Badajoz province and the capital of Extremadura. It sits about 217 meters above sea level, on the Guadiana River. The Romans founded it as Augusta Emerita around 25 BC, under Emperor Augustus, to settle discharged veterans of legions V Alaudae and X Gemina. It became the capital of the Roman province of Lusitania, and its archaeological ensemble was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.
The main sites are the Roman Theatre, which seats about 6,000 and hosts open-air performances, and the amphitheater, which could hold about 15,000 spectators. The Roman bridge over the Guadiana, about 762 meters long, is still used by pedestrians. The Temple of Diana stands in the city centre, and the Acueducto de los Milagros is a Roman aqueduct with standing arches. The monuments are close enough to walk between. Summer can be very hot, with maximum temperatures that occasionally exceed 40 °C, so check the weather before you go.
Mérida in five
- Buy the combined monument ticketA combined ticket usually covers the theater, amphitheater and other Roman sites, and a separate ticket covers the Roman art museum. Check the official site for the current structure.
- Start at the theater and amphitheaterBoth sit side by side and fill with tour groups by late morning. Go at opening, and keep the Temple of Diana and the aqueduct for the late afternoon light.
- See the National Museum of Roman ArtThe museum holds mosaics, sculpture and everyday objects from the city, in a modern brick building. It is a good wet-weather or midday-heat option.
- Check the classical theatre festivalThe Roman theater hosts a summer festival of classical drama, so July and August bring performances and full hotels. Book a room early or pick another month for a quieter visit.
- Link with Cáceres and BadajozCáceres and Badajoz are each about an hour away by road, so Mérida fits a loop through Extremadura. Trains and buses exist, but timetables are limited.Cáceres
Things to do in Mérida
See all attractions in Mérida
Need to know
- Airport
- Seville (SVQ) or Lisbon are the usual large airports
- Getting there
- Train or bus from Seville, Madrid, Cáceres and Badajoz; or car
- Getting around
- On foot; the Roman sites sit within a short walk
- Best base
- Old town near the Plaza de España
- Time needed
- One long day; 2 with the museum and a slow evening
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh14°Low5°Cold, fogJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 51 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, fog
- FebruaryPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh16°Low6°Cool, sunnyFebruaryPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 42 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, sunny
- MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh18°Low7°Spring walksMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 88 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring walks
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh21°Low10°Easter, greenAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 61 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Easter, green
- MayClear5 rainy daysHigh26°Low14°Warm, idealMayClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 33 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, ideal
- JuneClear2 rainy daysHigh32°Low18°Hot, long daysJuneClear
Good
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 10 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, long days
- JulyClear1 rainy dayHigh36°Low20°Festival, very hotJulyClear
Mixed
- High
- 36°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 3 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Festival, very hot
- AugustClear1 rainy dayHigh36°Low20°Festival, very hotAugustClear
Mixed
- High
- 36°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 2 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Festival, very hot
- SeptemberClear3 rainy daysHigh30°Low18°Hot, quietSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 27 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, quiet
- OctoberClear8 rainy daysHigh25°Low15°Mild, idealOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 68 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, ideal
- NovemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°Cool, quietNovemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 60 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- DecemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh14°Low7°Cold, fogDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 59 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, fog
Average daily high and low in Mérida, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Mérida
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
17
- Feels like
- 15°
- Humidity
- 39%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Mérida
09:46 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today24°7°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 24°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue22°10°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed21°6°0%Wednesday: Clear. High 21°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu20°5°3%Thursday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Fri16°10°37%Friday: Rain. High 16°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 37%.
- Sat20°14°46%Saturday: Rain. High 20°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 46%.
- Sun18°15°81%Sunday: Rain. High 18°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 81%.
Updated 07:16 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
Before you go to Mérida
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Rules for Mérida, checked
- Spain is in the Schengen Area. Check your entry requirements on the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs site before you fly.Source
- Non-EU travelers may be fingerprinted and photographed at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System. Check the European Commission's EES page for current rules.
- The Roman Theatre, amphitheater and other monuments charge admission, and opening hours change by season. Check current times and tickets with the city tourism office before you go.
Plan around Mérida
A walled medieval city, about an hour away
Read the guideBadajoz travel guideA border city and an Alcazaba
Read the guideSeville travel guideThe big Andalusian city to the south
Read the guideSalamanca travel guideA golden university city to the north
Read the guideAll of SpainCities, islands and entry rules
Read the guideGetting around EuropeTrain, bus and car options beyond the big cities
Read the guideMérida FAQ
Is Mérida worth visiting?
Yes if you are interested in Roman history. The theater, amphitheater and museum are among the best in Spain, and the town is compact and quiet. It is less crowded than the big Andalusian cities.
How many days do you need in Mérida?
One long day covers the Roman sites and the museum. Stay a night if you want an evening in the old town, a festival performance or a loop with Cáceres and Badajoz.
Can you visit Mérida as a day trip from Seville?
It is possible by car or train in about 2 hours each way, but it makes for a long day. Plan an early start, or sleep in Mérida and see the sites at opening.
When is the best time to visit Mérida?
March to May and October, when it is warm but not hot. Summer is very hot, and the classical theatre festival brings crowds in July and August.
What can you see in Mérida?
The Roman theater and amphitheater, the Temple of Diana, the aqueduct, the Roman bridge and the National Museum of Roman Art. Most are within a 15 to 20 minute walk of each other.