Pamplona (Basque: ''Iruna'') is a city in Navarra (Basque: ''Nafarroa''), Spain. It is most famous world-wide for its San Fermin festival also known as "The Running of the Bulls" held each year from July 6th - 14th, which features the daily bullrun or "Encierro" in spanish. Pamplona is a beautiful green city and ranks the higgest in enviroment and recycling citys in Spain & Europe. There are many interesting things to do and explore in Pamplona for traveler as it is a main city on the route of St. James (Camino de Santiago), Wine routes & tours, Roman mosiacs and buildings and it is a city with beautiful parks and river running through it also. There city has three universities, Public: Universidad Publica de Navarra & Private: Universidad de Navarra, and two campus_L located in different parts of the city.

Understand

Get in

By plane

Pamplona has a little airport connected with several cities (Iberia fly several times a day from Madrid and Barcelona, Spanair from Madrid; TAP from Lisbon). Nearby, there are international airports like Bilbao (156 km), Zaragoza (170 km), or Biarritz, France (115 km) with several flights from the UK, Ireland, or Germany.

By train

Daily trains from and to Madrid, Barcelona, Vitoria, Galicia, and Asturias. Urban busses links train station and downtown.

By car

Rentacar with personal driver anywhere in Spain [driverinspain.com][http://www.driverinspain.com link title]

Hire a car and drive from Madrid 4 hrs. - Barcelona 4 hrs. - Biarritz 1.5 hrs. - Bilbao 1.5 hrs.

Underground parking is widely available.

By bus

The cheapest way to get in Pamplona. Several daily services from Madrid, Barcelona, San Sebastian, Bilbao, Vitoria, Zaragoza and other towns.

Get around

A great place to walk the streets, with live music and wonderful people. Lots of alcohol and dancing in the streets all night long and, by 6AM, you'd better go get a good place to watch the running of the bulls. It's at 8AM, and after that, a good breakfast and run to sleep.

See

Besides the evening bullfights, at 11AM some mornings during San Fermin, there is a chance to enter the bullring for free, and watch student bullfighters hone their craft. Pamplona's bullring is the second largest in Spain.

July 5th is becoming an extra day of fun, as PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has a "running of the nudes" to protest the bullfights. Sadly though no one is totally naked, it's against the law.

Do

  • '''Sanfermines''', city-wide. July 6 - July 14. The city festival of Pamplona. The festival begins with the ''txupinazo'': a rocket fired from the city council's balcony at 12PM of the 6th. A large street party ensues that night and for the rest of the week. The best-known feature is the ''encierro'' ('''running of the bulls'''), which is done every day at 8AM. 6 bulls run through the town center towards the ''plaza de toros'' (bull ring); the adventurous and foolhardy run in front of them. Note that in July 6 there is not ''encierro'' as allegedly the festival starts at noon.
  • If you are wanting to run with the bulls, then arrive at the track at about 7:30AM. You will form up behind a line of police that will be glad to take you out of the crowd if you are drunk. Also having a camera when you run is not allowed, so if you take one along, make sure you hide it.

    Learn

    Many people are surprised to learn that San Fermin has a nightly fireworks show. Each night a different company (many international) competes for a prize. This happens nightly near the ''ciudadela'' or fortress, former citadel to defend the city and nowadays the biggest park of all.

    Pamplona has many old palaces, most of them in the heart of the city. One of them, on the outskirts of town in Gorraiz used to belong to Sir Lancelot (of King Arthur fame). He received this palace upon marrying a Spaniard. The palace has a nice upper class bar and restaurant, and an excellent wine cellar below.

    Work

    Buy

    You can buy good wine, Patxaran, ham, and tins of peppers the best are from '''Lodosa''', and of course sparragus from Navarra. And as a present you can buy small bulls, also you can find the Shop of shirts from Urmeneta: '''Kukuxumusu''', the shop situated at the beginning of Estafeta Street.

    Eat

    Outside Sanfermines day, many eateries close at 3:30PM. Dinner is served up from 9 P.M. There is plenty of restaurants in the old city, from budget menus del dia for lunch to more expensive and renown venues. Navarra's cuisine stands out for the quality of its vegetables, e.g. sparragus, artichokes, piquillo red peppers. Plus, visitors can always try typical spanish dishes.

    In Pamplona, tapas are called "pintxos", and in contrast with other places in the south of Spain do not come free of charge with drinks. However, most of these "pintxos" are small-sized nouvelle cuisine dishes, so it is really worth to try. Remember that going out to a bar to have a drink and some "pintxos" is pretty much a social event, and there is not a settled time for it. Normally, the same bars that offer "pintxos" prepare menus del dia and dinner at spanish lunch and dinner time.

  • San Nicolas bar. an Nicolas 13. 48 221319. enu del dia: €15. Several tables of the restaurant are hidden in the depths, behind a door after the bar. Tried and recommended: coffee. Not recommended: fish soup, grilled salmon, flan (all from menu del dia). Same owners as Cafe Ciudadela.

  • Bar La Bodeguica. ldapa 4. 48 227969. enu del dia: €12. In the old town near central market (Burgo de Navarreria) . Tried and recommended: lasagna vegetable, cider. (all from menu del dia). Small, quite and nice place.

    Drink

    In Pamplona you can find good wine from Navarra, try it! it's really good. You can order it in every bar as "tinto" (red wine) or as "clarete" or "rosado" (rose wine). Besides there's a liquor called "Patxaran" that should be tried.

    You should also make sure you try the Sangria. It's a red wine punch, usually with some fruit, red wine, and some honey to sweeten. The alcoholic content can vary greatly from place to place.

    Sleep

    Budget

  • Many sleep in the open for free in the parks throughout Pamplona.
  • The El Molino campground is nearby Pamplona. It has campsites, cabins and rooms. Definitely requires booking during San Fermin festival. Is about 25 min from the center of Pamplona and there are standard 40 Euro per shuttle rides, and there are always others around keen to share.
  • A good camp close to Pamplona is Lizarra at Estella. Approx. 1/2 away by coach. Has bar, restaurant, shop, showers, & pool.
  • Camp in Tali Mendi, Zarautz (on the coast) Approx. 1hr 15 minutes away by coach. Few hundred metres from the beach.
  • Some people rent their apartments in sanfermines. Booking in advance is a must. Prices can vary quite a lot.
  • Mid-range

  • There are a number of Hotels/Hostels in the city, although you will need to book very early.
  • Splurge

  • '''NH El Toro''', Ctra. de Guipuzcoa, km. 5, 31195 Berrioplano, Pamplona, E-mail: nhtoro@nh-hotels.com Tel.: +34 94 8302211 Fax: +34 94 8302085 [http://www.nh-hotels.com/nh/en/hotels/spain/pamplona/nh-el-toro.html]. This hotel is 5km out of Pamplona- good for families. There are two other NH hotels in Pamplona [http://www.nh-hotels.com/nh/en/hotels/spain/pamplona/nh-el-toro.html], nearere the centre.
  • Oasis Pamplona. laza Europa, 8, Imarcoin, 31110, Navarra. 948 314 444. 948 314 445. pamplonajrec@hotelesoasis.com. [http://www.hotelesoasis.com/hotel/Espa%C3%B1a/Pamplona/89/Oasis_Pamplona.html] On the doorstep of industrial areas - Navarra Ciudad del Transporte, Talluntxe, and Landazabal.

    Contact

  • For emergencies dial 112.
  • Pamplona's official web site [http://www.pamplona.es]
  • Navarra's tourism office [http://www.turismo.navarra.es]
  • Festival of San Fermin [http://www.sanfermin.com]
  • Stay safe

  • Watch out for the bulls!
  • There is quite a lot of pickpockets at sanfermines time, experts at spotting visitors, so try to be careful, do not leave things unattended. Suspect from those gypsies that just want to talk to you or do palm reading.
  • At sanfermines do not wear flip-flops or sandals, as streets are quite filthy and there can be broken glass pieces on the ground. Traditionally locals wear white t's and pants, a red neckerchief and some kind of red scarf round their waist. You can buy this outfit at street shops and mingle with the crowd.
  • Cope

  • '''Luggage''' There is a place near the bus station where knapsacks, luggage, and items can be stored free. This is expected to be moved after the 2007 San Fermines as the existing bus station is going to be torn down, the new one is nearby where the "barracas" or carnival. The new bus station opened in November 2007.
  • Get out