The Perfect 1 Day Pamplona Itinerary

The city of Pamplona is famous throughout the world for the “Running of The Bulls,” a week-long festival which locals call Sanfermines. Today, the festival attracts 1,000,000 visitors annually, but this wasn’t always the case. In 1926, famed novelist Ernest Hemingway published his novel The Sun Also Rises, which is based on the author’s experiences witnessing Festival of San Fermín. With his novel, Hemingway thrust Pamplona into the spotlight, and the once-local festival became a full-blown international phenomenon.

After two years teaching English in Spain, I finally visited Pamplona, and I can confirm that much of the city’s attraction is wrapped up in the Running of the Bulls festival. The city is not particularly monumental or well-known for much else, so if you are looking for a Spanish city chock-full of touristy things to do, then perhaps Barcelona, Madrid, or Seville are more your speed.

That being said, Pamplona is an excellent place to spend a day or so if you happen to find yourself in Navarre or Basque Country, or if you are looking to attend the iconic festival yourself.

While I did not visit Pamplona during San Fermín, I am lucky enough to have a friend from Pamplona who was the absolute best tour guide. Not only did she show me around Pamplona, giving me details about the festival and life there as a local, but she also took me on a couple of road trips throughout Basque Country and Navarre. Having a friend in town definitely made me feel like the visit was more than worth it!

Keep reading to discover the best things to do with 24 hours in Pamplona, whether you are visiting during the Running of the Bulls or not! I also share some great suggestions for day trips at the end of the post!

The Itinerary

“Going to another country doesn’t make any difference. I’ve tried all that. You can’t get away from yourself by moving from one place to another. There’s nothing to that.” -Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises

1. Experience the Running of the Bulls

“The bulls! They have released them from the corrals on the far side of the city. They are racing through the city.“Whew,” said Herself. “What do they do that for?” Then down the narrow fenced-in runway came a crowd of men and boys running. Running as hard as they could go. The gate feeding into the bull-ring was opened and they ran pell-mell under the entrance levels into the ring.” -Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises

Experiencing Sanfermines in real life…

If you’d like to experience the excitement of the festival of San Fermin in real life, then you’ll have to plan a visit between the 6th and the 14th of July. The festival itself lasts an entire week and is filled with processions, traditions, parties in the street, and of course, the legendary Running of the Bulls. If you are planning to visit during this time, be sure to book your transport and accommodation well in advance, as both fill up quickly and rise in price! I don’t especially recommend running with the bulls as it can be quite dangerous! Also, women do not traditionally participate in the running itself. Instead, I’d recommend waking up early and claiming a spot along the route to witness the event from. For additional tips on attending, safety, and the event itself, click here.

…or follow the Running of the Bulls route on your visit! 

If you are like me and unable to attend Sanfermines in person, then consider following the exact route the bulls take during the running, you’ll find it marked in red on the map above. The bulls start the run at the Corrales de Santo Domingo and finish at the Plaza de Toros.

Corrals where the bills are kept prior to San Fermin.

Points of interest along the running of the bulls route:

• Corrales de Santo Domingo-the corrals in which the bulls are kept
• Hornacina de San Fermín-small niche at the beginning of the route where a statue of San Fermin is housed
• Estafeta curve-sharp curve in the route where many bulls slip and fall each year
• Plaza de Toros-the end of the route, the bullring in which the bullfights take place after the run

2. Check out the Plaza de Toros

“It was not brilliant bull-fighting. It was only perfect bull-fighting.”-Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises 

“Nobody ever lives their life all the way up except bullfighters.” -Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises

The bullring is a must-see when in Pamplona, if only from the outside. The stadium holds over 19,000 people and was built in 1922. If you aren’t visiting during San Fermín, you can tour the bullring for €6. Be sure to check prices and hours here before visiting!

3. Visit the Pamplona Cathedral

“At the end of the street I saw the cathedral and walked up toward it. The first time I ever saw it I thought the facade was ugly but I liked it now. I went inside. It was dim and dark and the pillars went high up, and there were people praying, and it smelt of incense, and there were some wonderful big windows.”– Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises

The Pamplona Cathedral, or the Catedral de Santa María la Real, lies at the edge of Pamplona’s Old Town. The cathedral dates back to Medieval times, although the current facade is much more modern, as it was designed in the 18th century. Entrance costs €5, and the museum is closed during San Fermin. For more information on hours and prices, click here.

4. Walk along the historic city walls

“…and away off you could see the plateau of Pamplona rising out of the plain, and the walls of the city, and the great brown cathedral, and the broken skyline of the other churches.” – Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises

Portal de Francia

Just past the Cathedral, you’ll discover some of the city’s historic walls. Be sure to check out the Portal de Francia and the closeby Mirador de Caballo Blanco for some great views of these beautifully-preserved walls. Today, the walls are considered a national monument and offer some lovely views and walkways throughout Pamplona.

5. Lunch at the Café Iruña

“We had coffee at the Iruña, sitting in the comfortable wicker chairs, looking out from the cool of the arcade at the big square.” – Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises

The Café Iruña lies just behind this pavilion in the Plaza del Castillo

Your next stop on the itinerary points you in the direction of the Plaza del Castillo, for lunch at Hemingway’s now-famous haunt, the Café Iruña. Both the square and the cafe were mentioned by Hemingway in The Sun Also Rises. Not only is the square popular among tourists looking to retrace Hemingway’s footprints, but it is one of the largest squares in the city.  You’ll find it filled with people walking around enjoying the various restaurant, bars, and shops nearby. The Café Iruña is among the square’s most historic locations, as it first opened in 1888 and continues to serve pintxos and other local food and drink.

6. Hit the Museum of Navarra

If you are a history lover, be sure to stop by the Museum of Navarra. The 4 story museum was a former hospital and today houses art and artifacts from prehistoric times to today. Entrance only costs €5, hours are listed here.

7. Explore Taconera Park and The Citadel

If you are looking to enjoy some fresh air while wandering around Pamplona, then be sure to stop by the city’s oldest park, Taconera. This 90,000 square meter park is the perfect place to take a stroll. Not only is the park a peaceful place to while away an afternoon, but you can also enjoy a mini zoo with ducks, swans, and even peacocks!

After walking around the park, continue along to the Citadel, a historic military fort dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries! The impressive fortification is widely considered to be the best example of military architecture from the Spanish Renaissance, and is so large that it is difficult to miss when visiting Pamplona!

8. Begin a Pintxos bar crawl at Bar Gaucho

“This is a good place,” he said. “There’s a lot of liquor,” I agreed.” – Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises

What better way to end a long day of touristing than with some delicious local food and drink? Pamplona has Basque cultural roots, so you have to try some local pintxos. Pintxos are small, often skewered snacks typically served atop a slice of bread. These are not to be confused with tapas! I actually went on an amazing pintxos tour in San Sebastian prior to visiting, so I was definitely excited for the opportunity to try the popular pintxos bars in Pamplona with my local friend! The proper way to do pintxos is hopping from bar to bar (ideally in a group). Be prepared to stand up as you eat, as that’s what the locals do. You’ll probably have to be a little aggressive at the bar to place an order, as many of the bars become quite popular and locals definitely have ordering down to a science. Begin your evening at the award-winning Bar Gaucho, conveniently located in the center of town, before seeing where else the night leads you!

Buen provecho! Or, as the Basque say, On egin!

If you have more time in Pamplona…

Discover more of Hemingway’s Pamplona haunts

If you are fascinated with literature, then consider visiting more of Hemingway’s favorite places in Pamplona and Navarre. The tourism board put together a great list and map you can use for a self-guided literary tour of the city. Click here for more details!

Visit the Bardenas Reales

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxsVqyOhlza/

Navarre is a fascinating region as it is home to both lush forests and a semi-desert area called the Bardenas Reales. This scenic, almost otherworldly area can be reached in just over an hour from Pamplona. I didn’t have time to visit during my trip, but would love to see this incredible area in the future!

Take a road trip through Basque towns

If the desert isn’t your style, consider heading north of Pamplona in the direction of the French border. When I visited, my friend took me on a road trip through this area.  We drove through stunning forests and stopped in the gorgeous and quaint Basque town of Elizondo, just minutes away from France. This area definitely feels different from the typical Spain-you’ll see the Basque language and architecture everywhere!

Head out of Navarre and continue to Basque Country

San Sebastian

I visited Pamplona as part of a long weekend spent in Bilbao, San Sebastian, and some other beautiful coastal town’s in Spain’s Basque Country. San Sebastian is only 90 minutes by car, and Bilbao can be reached in about 2 hours. The area is stunning, and is perfect if you love beautiful beaches, award-winning food, and art!

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