Pamplona Entertainment

Enjoy the leisurely pace of Pamplona by just wandering around, especially in the historic old quarter. The Calle Estafeta, Calle Jarauta and Calle San Nicolas - are lined with bars, pubs and tapas cafs.

The ubiquitous Spanish tradition of poteo, having a daily glass of beer or wine together with a picho, a small, bite-sized snack, is best experienced around the Plaza del Castillo, in the heart of the town. The streets in this area are filled with traditional Basque bars ideal for meeting the locals and learning about the wonderful habit of poteo.

Eating out

One of the best spots in Pamplona is the beautiful, Art Deco, Caf Iruna. Built in 1888, this caf oozes ambience and has a fantastic outdoor terrace thats extremely popular during the warmer months. Its a Pamplona institution and well worth a visit. As in most Spanish towns, tascas (tapas bars) can be found in great numbers in every neighbourhood. Cafeteria El Molino in the Barrio San Juan has one of the largest tapas menus in the city. Open until 01:00, the tapas here are cheap and plentiful.

Local cuisine

The cuisine of Pamplona represents the cuisine of the whole Navarra region, which is extremely varied due to the characteristics of its landscapes. The mountains provide several preparations of wild game in a variety of delicious sauces as well as fresh trout and salmon. A delicious and healthy kind of bean called pochas de sanguesa makes up the base of many of the local dishes in Pamplona. Lamb and goat also make their way into many of the dishes, which also incorporate a wide range of fresh vegetables.

Theatre and music

Pamplona definitely has a thriving nightlife scene. If you are looking for fashionable setting after dark, head to the Barrio de San Juan. The avenida de Bayona in particular has something for everyone. The traditional bars, discos, English-style pubs and cafeterias are all popular every night of the week. Many of these bars also offer live music such as jazz, classical and DJ spinning.

Shopping

The Old City has plenty of little shops and kiosks that sell traditional Navarese handicrafts such as vests, hats, ceramics, woodcarvings and the infamous wineskins which locals use to squirt wine into their mouths. For one-stop shopping, check out Echeve or Las Tres ZZZ, which both stock a wide selection of these traditional Basque items under one roof.

If its high fashion or accessories you want then head over to the boutique Zara, located on avenida Carlos III or wander the aisles of Pamplonas largest department store, Unzu.