Visiting Pamplona
The Festival of San Fermin, also known as the “Running of the Bulls” was a bucket list event of ours. We had the opportunity to visit Pamplona and experience the Running of the Bulls, so naturally we took it. Below is our guide to viewing and enjoying the festival.
When is the Running of the Bulls?
The festival officially starts on July 6th at noon and ends on July 14th at midnight. The actual running of the bulls occurs every morning at 8:00 am from July 7th through July 14th. The first few days of the festival and the last few days tend to be the most visited, so if you are looking for a less crowded time, plan to visit during on a weekday (Tuesday to Thursday are best).
How to get to and around Pamplona?
From Madrid, Pamplona is a 4 hour drive from the airport. The drive is fairly easy and has some beauty, lots of open space and some mountainous areas. There are a few gas stations along the way, so you do not have to worry about running out of gas.
There is a train that goes from Madrid to Pamplona. The train takes around three hours, however there are usually four trains per day that travel to and from Pamplona. Once in Pamplona you will need to get a taxi to take you to your Airbnb or hotel.
Flying is also an option and probably the fastest method. The flight takes a total of about one hour. From the airport you would need to get a taxi to travel to your Airbnb or hotel.
Once you are in Pamplona, there are plenty of taxis to take you from place to place. Most of the festival activities are downtown, so once you are downtown you can walk anywhere. Most hotels and some tourist companies do offer bus transfers to the festival in the morning before the run.
Where should you stay?
While Pamplona is not a large city, we found plenty of Airbnb and hotel options for our stay. We chose to stay at the Holiday Inn Express Pamplona, as they offered a continental breakfast and had a bus transfer to the morning festivities (for a fee). Some of the Airbnbs were located downtown in the middle of the festival, however be aware, the festivities last through the night.
Running of the Bulls
The first part of the festival is the actual Running of the Bulls. The run starts at 8:00 am everyday, however we recommend arriving no later than 7:00 am to make sure you get a decent seat. People will cram into every space available to watch the running so don’t be surprised if someone tries to squeeze between you and your neighbor.
TIP – If you can book in advance, consider renting a balcony to view from. Most balconies offer a breakfast as part of the package, and you will not be crammed into a tight space between other viewers.
If you plan to actually run with the bulls (which we did not do), you have to arrive a lot earlier to prepare for the run.
At 8:00 am, there is a loud noise that kicks off the running. As the bulls get close you will hear the thunder of the hooves and the crowds of people running. From our vantage point it all happened within a few seconds, there are only a handful of bulls running, but they are big and fast. Be aware, a few of the runners jumped the fence to get out of the way and one man was gored during our viewing.
Other Events
- Opening Ceremony – Opening ceremonies start at noon on July 6th. The first bull fight that evening is known as the Rejones bullfight. The Rejones bullfight is the only bullfight from horseback.
- The Bull Fight – All of the bulls are run down into the arena each day. Each evening after the running there will be a bull fight. You can purchase tickets for the bull fight, which starts around 6:30 pm each evening.
- Procession of San Fermin – This is the parade on the first day after the running of the bulls. The parade happens around 10:00 am along the same route.
What to Wear?
The traditional look is the white shirt and white pants, with a red sash and red bandana around your neck. While you do not have to wear the traditional look, most everyone will at least be wearing white. If you don’t have the attire, don’t worry, there are venders everywhere selling anything you need.
Be aware, if you stay for the drinking and festivities after the run or bull fight, expect to end up drenched in sangria. Part of the partying is spilling and being covered in sangria, so even if you don’t plan to spill, you may be the recipient of someone else’s sangria spill.
How much did it all cost?
Here is our breakdown of expenses:
- Hotel – Holiday Inn Express – $100 per night (We booked using IHG points)
- Rental Car – $140 for two days with Budget
- Gas – $50 for one tank of gas
- Food (Lunch on the road, Dinner in Pamplona) – $20 per meal
- Breakfast – Included at hotel (found food in the festival area for as little as $3 for a sandwich)
- Bus Transfer to Festival – $15 per person (one way)
- Taxi back to Hotel – $15
If you are planning a visit to Madrid before or after your trip to Pamplona, check out our guide to exploring the capital city.
Hopefully our guide helps you prepare for a trip to Pamplona. As always please contact us with any questions or comment below.
