Pamplona/Iruña

City · Navarre, 🇪🇸 Spain

Pamplona is the capital of Navarre, in northern Spain. It is world famous for the San Fermín festival and the running of the bulls each July.

Outside the festival, the city is calm and green, with a walled old town, a Gothic cathedral and lively pintxo bars. It suits one or two days, and it is on the Camino de Santiago.

Printable tourist map

Pamplona/Iruña – Planning a Trip?

Build your day-by-day itinerary in the Tripomatic app.

Start Planning

When to visit

Summer is the warmest season, with pleasant days. Spring and autumn are mild but rainy, and winters are cold and wet.

San Fermín runs from 6 to 14 July. The city is crowded and expensive then, so book rooms months ahead. The bull run takes place at 8 a.m. each morning, and it is dangerous.

Best time to visit: June, July, August, September

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Poor

9° (feels like 5°) · extremes -3°–15°
2° at night
14 rainy days
7 sunny days
4 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in February

Poor

10° (feels like 6°) · extremes -3°–17°
3° at night
12 rainy days
10 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in March

Fair

13° (feels like 10°) · extremes 0°–20°
4° at night
13 rainy days
11 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in April

Fair

16° (feels like 13°) · extremes 2°–22°
6° at night
14 rainy days
11 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in May

Good

19° (feels like 17°) · extremes 5°–26°
9° at night
14 rainy days
12 sunny days
9 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in June

Great

23° (feels like 22°) · extremes 9°–31°
13° at night
12 rainy days
15 sunny days
10 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
UV index 7 · high

Typical weather in July

Great

25° · extremes 11°–32°
14° at night
10 rainy days
20 sunny days
11 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
UV index 8 · very high

Typical weather in August

Great

26° · extremes 11°–33°
15° at night
10 rainy days
19 sunny days
10 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
UV index 7 · high

Typical weather in September

Great

23° (feels like 22°) · extremes 9°–30°
13° at night
12 rainy days
15 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in October

Good

19° (feels like 17°) · extremes 5°–26°
10° at night
12 rainy days
12 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in November

Poor

13° (feels like 9°) · extremes 1°–19°
6° at night
16 rainy days
8 sunny days
4 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in December

Poor

10° (feels like 6°) · extremes -2°–15°
3° at night
14 rainy days
6 sunny days
4 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 1 · low

Climate data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2) · 1996–2025

Top sights

Bullring of PamplonaPlaza de Toros de Pamplona is a bullring in Pamplona, Spain. It is currently used for bull fighting, sporting or cultural events and music…

Cathedral of PamplonaPamplona Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church in the archdiocese of Pamplona, Spain.

Castle SquarePlaza del Castillo is the main square of Pamplona and a popular meeting point for the locals.

Ernest Hemingway StatueErnest Miller Hemingway was an American novelist, short-story writer, journalist, and sportsman.

St Nicholas' Church, PamplonaSan Nicolás is a historical church in Pamplona, Spain.

GamazadaThe Gamazada is the popular reaction in Navarre in 1893 and 1894 to when the Spanish finance minister of the Liberal Party under Prime…

SabicasSabicas was a Spanish flamenco guitarist of Romani origin.

Catedral de Pamplona has a neoclassical façade and a Gothic interior, with a fine cloister.
Bullring of Pamplona is the bullring where the bull run ends. It is one of the largest in Spain.
Plaza del Castillo is the main square, with cafés. It appears in Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises.
Estatua a Ernest Hemingway is a statue of the writer Ernest Hemingway, outside the bullring.
Monumento a los Fueros de Navarra is a monument to the old laws of Navarre.
Iglesia de San Nicolás is a fortified Gothic church in the old town.
Casa natal de Sabicas is the birthplace of the flamenco guitarist Sabicas.
The Ciudadela is a 16th-century star-shaped fortress with a large park.
The Encierro route runs through the old town, along Calle Santo Domingo and Calle Estafeta.

Featured Lists

Krolosus Krolosez / CC-BY-SA

Historic Landmarks

Discover the architectural and political history of Pamplona through its most significant landmarks. This selection includes the 16th-century Ciudadela, a premier example of Spanish Renaissance military engineering, and the Palacio de los Reyes de Navarra, which now archives the region's medieval records. Explore monuments dedicated to local traditions like the San Fermín bull run and the defense of Navarrese self-government, alongside the medieval Puente de Santa Engracia and tributes to figures like Ernest Hemingway.

6 places

Zarateman / CC0

Pamplona's Sacred Sites

Pamplona’s religious landscape features a diverse collection of architectural styles, from the Gothic interior and Neoclassical facade of the Santa María la Real Cathedral to the medieval fortress-churches of San Cernin and San Nicolás. Many of these sites, situated along the Camino de Santiago, served both spiritual and defensive purposes during the city's history. This selection includes grand parochial buildings, the Baroque chapel of San Fermín, and quiet neighborhood hermitages that reflect centuries of Navarrese heritage.

20 places

Jorab / Public domain

Pamplona Parks and Sports

Pamplona's recreational landscape spans from the historic 16th-century fortifications of the Ciudadela to modern venues like the Navarra Arena. The city is characterized by distinct green spaces, including the Japanese-designed Yamaguchi Park and the French-style Taconera, which features a small zoo within its moats. Sports enthusiasts can find major football stadiums like El Sadar alongside numerous riverside athletic clubs and municipal centers providing facilities for swimming, tennis, and traditional Basque sports.

18 places

What to experience

Walk the route of the bull run through the old town, outside festival time.
Go on a pintxo crawl on Calle Estafeta and Calle San Nicolás, tasting small snacks on bread with a glass of wine.

Tours & Activities

Pamplona/Iruña — Map

Pamplona/Iruña — Printable Tourist Map Open the interactive map

Day trips

Logroño (about 90 km, 1 hour by car): the capital of the Rioja wine region.
Zaragoza (about 170 km, 1.5 hours by train): a large city with a basilica and Roman remains.
Olite (about 40 km, 35 minutes by car): a town with a fairy-tale royal palace.
Roncesvalles (about 50 km, 1 hour by car): a mountain pass on the Camino de Santiago, on the way to France.

Where to explore

Other places nearby:

Wine: Logroño is the center of Rioja.
Aragon: Zaragoza is the nearest large city.

Getting there

By air: Pamplona airport (PNA) has limited flights, mostly from Madrid and Barcelona. Bilbao airport is about 160 km away, and San Sebastián airport is about 90 km.
By train: Trains run from Madrid, Barcelona and Zaragoza. Book on Renfe.
By bus: Coaches run to San Sebastián, Bilbao, Logroño and Zaragoza.

Getting around

On foot: The old town and the center are compact and mostly flat.
Cycling: The city has a good network of cycle paths.

Driving

Is a car worth it?: Not for the city, but a car helps for the Pyrenees and the wine towns.
Parking: Use an underground car park near the old town.
Restrictions: The old town has restricted access, and streets close for the festival.

Food & drink

Navarre has excellent pintxos (small snacks, often on bread). Try pimientos del piquillo (red peppers), chistorra (a thin cured sausage), cordero al chilindrón (lamb with peppers) and trucha a la navarra (trout with ham). The local rosé (rosado) is well known, and pacharán is a sloe liqueur.

Breakfast

Churros Churros con ChocolateFried dough sticks served with a thick, dark hot chocolate for dipping — a classic Spanish breakfast or late-night snack.

Lunch

Paella ValencianaA saffron-scented rice dish cooked in a wide, shallow pan. The traditional Valencian version uses chicken, rabbit, and green beans — best eaten at midday.

GazpachoA cold, blended soup of raw tomatoes, cucumber, pepper, garlic, olive oil, and vinegar, originally from Andalusia. Served as a drink or a starter, especially in summer.

Dinner

Pulpo a la GallegaBoiled octopus sliced onto a wooden board and dressed with olive oil, coarse salt, and smoked paprika — a signature dish of Galicia.

Snacks & street food

Jamón IbéricoDry-cured ham from acorn-fed Iberian pigs, sliced paper-thin and eaten on its own or with bread. The finest grade, jamón ibérico de bellota, is one of Spain's most prized products.

Tortilla EspañolaA thick potato and egg omelette, served warm or at room temperature, found in virtually every bar in Spain. Often eaten as a tapa or a quick meal.

Patatas BravasFried potato chunks served with a spicy tomato sauce or aioli — one of the most common tapas across the country.

PintxosSmall snacks anchored to slices of bread with a toothpick, the Basque Country's answer to tapas. Found in bar counters across San Sebastián and Bilbao, often with elaborate toppings.

CroquetasCrispy breaded cylinders with a creamy béchamel filling, typically made with jamón, bacalà (salt cod), or mushrooms.

Drinks

Rioja Wine Vino de RiojaSpain's best-known wine region produces full-bodied reds from Tempranillo grapes, aged in oak. The crianza, reserva, and gran reserva labels indicate increasing age and complexity.

Safety & health

Pamplona is a safe city. During San Fermín, the crowds are dense, so watch your belongings. The bull run is dangerous and injuries are common, so watch from a balcony or on TV rather than joining.

History

Pamplona is named after Pompey, the Roman general who founded it in 74 BC. It became the capital of the Kingdom of Navarre in the 10th century.

In the Middle Ages the city was a stop on the Camino de Santiago. Navarre joined the Crown of Castile in 1512. Hemingway made the San Fermín festival famous worldwide in 1926.