The Museo de Bellas Artes de Badajoz is one of the city's best indoor stops, especially if you want Badajoz to feel like more than walls and border wars. Its collection gives particular weight to Extremaduran painters, while also covering broader Spanish art from the 16th century onward.
The museum occupies historic houses near the centre, so it fits naturally into a walk between Plaza Alta, the cathedral, and the riverfront. It is quieter than it deserves to be, which makes it a good place to slow down and look properly.