The perfect city for a weekend break needs a good dose of cultural appeal, be compact enough for you to enjoy the main sights, yet still leave you heading home knowing there are one or two very good reasons to come back. If you ask us, Badajoz, Lugo and Seville tick all those boxes — and then some.

If you’re heading to Badajoz and wondering what to see, here’s our tip: simply wander through its streets and see where they take you. That’s how you’ll stumble across squares that stay with you. And no, we’re not exaggerating. Just wait until you see Plaza Alta, with its arches and Mudéjar-style buildings; Plaza de Cervantes, with its Portuguese-style paving; or Plaza de España, home to the cathedral.

Keep walking and the city’s borderland character, shaped by a past marked by the need for defence, will soon reveal itself. Badajoz is home to one of the city’s great treasures: its Alcazaba, considered the largest in Europe by area. Inside you’ll find the Provincial Archaeological Museum, with an important collection offering an insight into the history and archaeological heritage of the province.

Badajoz also has city walls and even a fortress: San Cristóbal Fort. It’s the kind of place that fires the imagination and is definitely one of those things to do in Badajoz with children. They’ll love it. To round off the day, set aside some time to enjoy sunset over the Guadiana River.

And when it’s time to rest, Sercotel Gran Hotel Zurbarán makes a great base for continuing to explore the city. It is around a 10-minute walk from the historic centre, opposite Castelar Park and very close to the Guadiana River. Puerta de Palmas is just 270 metres away, while the Alcazaba is around 1.3 kilometres from the hotel. A convenient starting point for exploring Badajoz on foot — and an equally handy place to return to when your legs are ready for a break.

No visit to this city is complete without being impressed by its Roman walls. Standing since the 3rd century, they still preserve their entire original perimeter and have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Head up via the Santiago Gate and enjoy more than two kilometres of elevated walkway, giving you a great overview of many of the places worth seeing in Lugo during your break.

These include Lugo Cathedral, Praza do Campo and the surrounding streets, lined with charming bars and restaurants; as well as the Provincial Museum, one of those places worth visiting in Lugo if you want to delve deeper into the city’s history.

Make your way through Rosalía de Castro Park as you head down towards the River Miño. Wide and impressive, you’ll enjoy strolling along its banks, but we think you’ll enjoy seeing it flow beneath you even more as you cross the sturdy Roman bridge.

For somewhere to stay surrounded by history, Hotel EsteOeste by Sercotel is right on Plaza de Santo Domingo, in Lugo’s historic centre. The Roman walls and cathedral are around 350 metres away, while the Provincial Museum is just 250 metres from the hotel. And the history continues indoors too: the hotel incorporates an eight-metre section of the ancient Roman decumanus and occupies a restored building whose origins date back to the 13th century.

Let’s be generous and stretch the weekend a little, treating ourselves to a three-day break in Seville. Better still, make it a trip to Seville by high-speed AVE train, so you can cut down on travel time and make the most of every minute in the city.

Trust us, you’ll need it. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that a glimpse of La Giralda, a stroll across Las Setas and a visit to Torre del Oro mean you’ve already seen Seville. You’ll need time to discover the beauty of the Real Alcázar, wander through Plaza de España and linger over generous, delicious tapas around Alameda de Hércules. And you’ll need even more time to cross the Guadalquivir and happily lose yourself among the streets of Triana.

And where should you stay? Sercotel offers several options depending on the Seville experience you’re after. Sercotel Las Casas de los Mercaderes, right in the historic centre, is ideal if you want the city’s main sights close at hand. Sercotel Sevilla Don Luciano, on Plaza del Duque, is a convenient base for exploring some of the liveliest areas in the city centre.

If you fancy staying close to the Guadalquivir and Alameda, Sercotel Sevilla Guadalquivir Suites offers apartments just a few minutes from the latter, giving you greater freedom during your stay. And if you’d rather stay somewhere a little removed from the bustle of the centre, Sercotel Doña Carmela, in Bellavista-La Palmera, rounds out the options for enjoying Seville your own way.

Because in Seville there is always another square to cross, another tapa to try and another street to discover. And perhaps that’s the best excuse of all to come back.