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Witness / Attend in PamplonaES
The capital of Navarre in northern Spain and the site of the Fiesta de San Fermin (July 6-14). The festival's eight morning encierros (running of the bulls) through the old town streets are the most famous recurring public spectacle in the world, drawing 1 million visitors annually.
Why here
The Fiesta de San Fermin runs July 6-14, and the eight morning encierros (bull runs) are why most people come. The route is 875 meters through the old town from the corral at Santo Domingo to the bullring; the bulls cover it in under three minutes. The majority of the crowd watches from barricades and balconies rather than running. Either way, the spectacle of six fighting bulls and eight steers moving at full speed through a narrow medieval street, with thousands of white-and-red clad runners around them, has no equivalent anywhere in the world. The rest of the fiesta -- the street parties, the fireworks, the bullfights -- runs around the clock for nine days.
Best months
The festival runs July 6 (noon rocket launch, Chupinazo) through July 14. Encierros run every morning at 8am sharp. The bulls and their route are different each day; some days are faster and more dangerous than others. Rain makes the cobblestones dangerous for runners. The city is at maximum capacity throughout; book accommodation a year in advance, expect no quiet nights, and plan for heat (Pamplona averages 28C in July).
Getting there & around
Fly into Pamplona airport (PNA) with connections via Madrid, or into Bilbao (BIO, 90 minutes by road) or San Sebastian (EAS, 80 minutes). Accommodation throughout Navarre fills completely for the full nine days; Logrono, Vitoria-Gasteiz, and Zaragoza are viable bases with daily transport in. The running route is viewable free from the street; premium balcony viewing can be rented through specialist agencies. Bullfight tickets at the Plaza de Toros sell through the official box office and secondary markets; buy as early as possible. No visa for Schengen nationals.
Skill levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced
Schools & guides (1)
Fiestas de San Fermin
organizerThe Fiestas de San Fermin are organized by the Ayuntamiento de Pamplona and run July 6 to 14 each year. The running of the bulls (encierro) requires no ticket; it takes place on public streets each morning at 8am. General festival access to the street events and fireworks is free. The official site provides the encierro route, daily safety notes, and bullfight ticket information through the Plaza de Toros box office.