Interesting Things To Do In Pamplona

An Overview of Pamplona

Best known for the legendary Running of the Bulls (Feast of San Fermin), Pamplona is an old city in province of Navarra. The city is filled with cobbled streets with tall, narrow buildings and large plaza spaces. During the Running of the Bulls in July, the balconies and edges of these streets become crammed with eager partiers, all watching hoards of daredevils try to outrun a herd of charging bulls. Even when the festival isn’t occurring, the Gothic-style churches, medieval-era pilgrimage routes, majestic parts and quaint eateries make this a great place to visit. There are many interesting things to do in Pamplona.

Interesting Things To Do In Pamplona

Catedral de Santa María la Real de Pamplona

This grand, old `5th century Gothic church replaced and older Romanesque religious structure, revealed during archaeological excavations. The preserved building and cloister are both beautiful to visit.

Plaza del Castillo

This central plaza in Pamplona is one of the most iconic places in the city. Aside from being a major staging point in the Running of the Bulls festival, the plaza is home to Café Iruña, a favorite spot of Hemmingway’s. The domed gazebo in the center of the plaza is often used as a symbol of the city’s center.

Café Iruña

This is a splendid eatery with tapas, steaks, coffee and churros. The storied venue, active since 1888, has a full room dedicated to author Ernest Hemmingway.

Encierro/Entzierroa Monument

This bronze statue depicts the famous Running of the Bulls, with metal figures lunging away from charging bulls.

Museum of Navarra

This museum has exhibitions displaying a wide range of artifacts. There are prehistoric archaeological remains, Roman ruins, Romanesque vestiges and Moorish relics. The museum also hosts Gothic and Renaissance artworks .

Jardines de la Taconera

This is a relaxing green space with several water features and gardens further accented by the old city walls of Pamplona.

Ciudadela de Pamplona

Located in the Vuelta del Castill Park, this is a fortified earthworks renaissance-era citadel. From above, the structure has a star-shaped design developed after gunpowder began appearing as a primary weapon in European armies. After it’s completion in 1645, the fortifications remained intact. They were never besieged or tested, allowing them to stay well-preserved into the modern era.

Urbasa Andía Natural Park

Roughly an hour west of Pamplona is a natural park created at the meeting point between the Urbasa and Andia Mountain Ranges. The park space has an elevated corridor which shelters green pastures, mossy forests, stunning natural landscapes, karst waterfalls and dreamlike pools of turquoise. Visiting the sublime park spaces are some of the most interesting things to do in Pamplona.

San Sebastián

Located an hour north of Pamplona, this beach city on the Concha Bay is one of the most popular day trips in Spain. Twin golden beaches press against the Atlantic with the Island of Santa Clara visable in the distance. The island serves as a natural tide-breaker, making the bay calms and serene. Visitors can also hike up the small mountains nearby, the crest of Igueldo being the most popular panorama.

Cuajada 

This is a traditional dessert native to the Navarra Region. It can be found in multiple restaurants in Pamplona. The dish is made with sheep’s milk yogurt, usually served in earthenware pots with a drizzle of honey on top.

A traditional dessert from the Navarra region is cuajada, so there’s nowhere better to try it than the capital of the region – Pamplona. Cuajada is a curd or yoghurt made from sheep’s milk and produced by local shepherds. It is both thick and creamy and is typically served in earthenware pots and eaten sprinkled with sugar or drizzled with honey.

Museo Oteiza (Alzuza)

Ten miles outside of Pamplona in the town of Alzuza, there is a memorial museum dedicated to the Basque sculptor Jorge Oteiza. The musuem exists as an extension of Oteiza’s original workshop. For those unfamiliar with Oteiza’s sublime works, he often created unique abstract sculptures from various, challenging materials.

Camino de Santiago

The Camino de Santiago, also known as The Way of St. James in English, is a network of pilgrim walking trails leading to the shrine of apostle Saint James the Great. The path eventually leads to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. A portion of this trial crosses through Pamplona, which has been clearly marked. The thru-route is lined with monuments and stone crosses of religious importance. Traditionally, the starting point near Pamplona is the Magdalena Bridge, following the path through Old town until reaching the Portal de San Nicolás.

Plaza de Toros

The Plaza of Bulls is the operational Bullring of Pamplona, located on the Paseo de Hemingway, named for the notorious author. The stadium, which hosts over 19,000 people is still actively used for bull fighting, sport events, concerts and cultural events. It is also the end point for the famous Running of the Bulls Festival. Note that the practice of bullfighting is a controversial sport due to concerns about animal rights, funding and religious concerns. While still considered a cultural heritage art form in Spain, bull fighting has gradually decreased in popularity in the country.

Zentzumenen Parkea – Parque de los Sentidos

This surprisingly beautiful park with arched hedges, robust flower blooms and Japanese structures is located right next to the Pamplona Airport.

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