Pamplona FAQ´s

Pamplona Festival

The San Fermin Festival or Sanfermines is held on dates July 6th-14th in Pamplona each year. The Bullrun or Encierro, is probally the most famous part of the fiesta that includes 12 bulls running through the streets of Pamplona´s old Town! The festival kicks off at 12 noon on July 6th with the Opening Ceremony the "Chupinazo". 1st bullrun takes place at 8 a.m. on the morning of the 7th July & last bullrun at 8 a.m. on the 14th July. Anyone over 18 can enter the Bullrun & its free also! See the bullrun here.

Who is San Fermin?

San Fermin is the patron saint of Pamplona & the festival is held in his honor. The runners still pay homage to San Fermin’s statue before the morning bull runs. After a successful run, locals often say they had Saint Fermin’s blessing for protection.

What is Iruna?

Iruna is the Basque name for Pamplona.

How many people live in Pamplona?

Pamplona has 200,000 plus another 200,000 in the surrounding suburbs.

How do I get around Pamplona?

On foot, taxi or by local bus service.

What language do they speak in Pamplona?

Spanish and Basque. English is spoken in most hotels.

Who are the Basques?

The Basques are a people who live in a small region straddling the borders of France and Spain. This area is called Euskal Herria with four regions in Spain: Alava, Vizcaya, Guipuzcoa and Navarra. Basques speak a language called euskara, and number approximately 600,000 in Spain.

Is the festival appropriate for families with children?

Yes. The fiesta is a family event as it is a religous & cultural celebration which brings out many families with you children to enjoy the festivities. See our photos here .

What is there to do at the festival other than run with the bulls?

In every street or plaza there will be something going on: concerts, traditional basque music & dancing, processions, ceremonies, firework displays, bullfights & for some chill out time we offer tours: beach days, cultural days, wine tour days, madrid/barcelona city tours.

Where to Sleep in Pamplona?

Is the Old Town of Pamplona a good place to stay?

Absolutely! YES!! If you want to experience the fiesta then there is no better way than to enjoy the comfort and convience of our city centre pamplona accommodations. No taxis, no buses, no getting lost, or if you want a good night’s sleep(unless you plan to fiesta all day and nightJ) stay within walking distance of the old town at our accommodations. From July 5-15, Pamplona’s old city (click here for map) is transformed into a 24 hour fiesta. Every street is packed with revelers, music booms from nightclubs 24 hours a day, brass bands play in the streets at all hours, and there are fireworks every night.

Where are the apartments located?

About 5-10-minute walk from the action of the bullrun route. Click here to see a map of the general locations.

Where to watch the Bullrun from?

Why do I need a private balcony to see the bull run?

The bull run is a 0.5 mile (825 m) course through the small cobblestone streets of Pamplona. The run is no wider than an alleyway (20-25 feet wide) and there are either apartment buildings or 8-foot high wooden security gates along the entire course. Unless you are running, it is impossible to watch it from street level. The best vantage point is from our VIP balcony spots. Demand for balconies is such that San Fermin Travel Central reserves its balconies 6-12 months in advance.

Dress Style

How do you dress for the festival?

Head to toe in white with a red scarf and red sash. The scarf should only be worn after the festival’s opening ceremony also known as Chupinazo, held every year at 12 noon on July 6th. Red & White tshirts & jeans, you can mix & match, dont bring expensive clothes either as they will get stained at some stage!

Why does everyone wear scarves and sashes?

They represent the beheading of San Fermin after which he became Saint. The scarf and sash became a festival tradition in the 1980s.