Travel to Pamplona

Travel to Pamplona

Pamplona is most famous for its tradition of the running of the bulls. This festival is one of the worlds most popular events and takes place between the 6th and 14th of July each year. In the heart of the city, a wealth of history can be found which is now surrounded by modern, high rise constructions.

Transportation to Pamplona

Pamplona is the air hub of the Navarre region and is serviced by about five daily Iberia flights during the week from both Madrid and Barcelona. International flights are available from either of those main cities. Pamplonas airport is known as the Aeropuerto de Noain and is positioned just over 6kms from the centre of the city.
The citys railway station is situated in the Plaza de la Estacion. Three daily services arrive from Madrid and Barcelona. Bus 9 bus follows the route from the railway station to the city centre, but for other localities, its best to use a taxi service.

Pamplona boasts a radial network of roads which runs outwards to Logrono, Zaragoza, Huesca, San Sebastian and France. The principal A-15 motorway links Pamplona to the south with the cities of Zaragoza, Madrid and Barcelona and with San Sebastian to the north. The city is connected to Logrono by the N-111 motorway and to Jaca by the N-240 motorway.

The La Barranca Expressway provides convenient access to Vitoria and Bilbao, while the Leizaran Expressway will lead you to San Sebastian in less than one hour. France is also easy to reach via the Belate Tunnel.

What to see

Besides the Running of the Bulls event there are other interesting attractions that the city has to offer its visitors. The most prominent site in the city is simply known as The Cathedral and dates from the late 14th century. Housed in a 16th century hospital near the river youll find Pamplonas main museum. The Museo de Navarra boasts a wide collection of Romanesque art, beautiful 2nd century mosaics and Roman artefacts. The second floor is filled with Renaissance and Gothic paintings.

If you would like to relax and escape the bustle of the city for a while you should head to the Tejera Park. This enchanting green park is located very near to Pamplonas most architectural area. Here you can admire the square of Plaza de Santa Maria la Real, the towers of the ancient walls, and the Baroque Archieopiscopal Palais.

Day trips

Opportunities for exciting excursions from Pamplona are offered by the Salazar Valley and the Roncal Valley which is surrounded by mountain peaks, some more than 2000 metres high. The Chapel of the Holy Ghost can be found at Camino de Santiago which is a religiously important medieval pilgrim-way. The Chapel of the Holy Ghost is one of the most legendary monuments. It is said that one of the most wonderful villages in Spain is Puente la Reina. Especially worth visiting are its bridges dating from the 11th century and the centre of the village, which is enclosed by walls.

Activities and leisure

The locals have a pleasant habit of leisurely strolling about and the most ideal area to wander is within the historic old quarter. Three streets in particular - Calle Jarauta, Calle San Nicolas and Calle Estafeta- are literally lined with pubs, tapas cafs and bars. A large number of these remarkable establishments dont even have names or signs, so just wander in and explore on your own to find out what the establishment is like.

Safety issues

During 90 per cent of the year, the city is a relatively safe and peaceful town. However, everything drastically changes during fiesta. If you travel to Pamplona during July, consider yourself warned. Also be prepared to not become a victim of pickpockets during fiesta. A few simple precautions will help against spoiling your holiday. Wear a concealed money belt and keep your bags and camera slung over your shoulder as pickpockets will try to take advantage of the confusion and chaos to make an easy steal of your wallet or bag. Travel insurance will give you peace of mind and a backup should anything unfortunate happen.