More in the background than large Spanish cities of the caliber of Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid and Seville, Pamplona is actually a beautiful urban center , capital of the autonomous community of Navarre. Located just 50 km from the border with France, the city is located close to the Pyrenees, along the famous French route that every year guides thousands of pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela: this makes it one of the most lively and multi-ethnic places in the whole Spain , as well as a very interesting tourist destination.
To help you better discover this town and its surroundings, we have collected all the useful information for you to organize a trip to Pamplona, Spain : where it is, when to go and what to see!
Travel informed: useful information
- Inhabitants : about 200,000
- Language : Spanish and Basque
- Local currency : euro (€)
- Climate : slightly continental and quite rainy. Winter is cold with average temperatures of 5 °, while in summer there are considerable variations between day and night, on average 28 ° during the day and 13 ° at night.
- Time zone : GMT + 1, the same time zone that also applies in Italy
- Entry requirements : valid identity card for expatriation or valid passport
- Safety info : it’s a quiet and safe place. The only event where it is recommended to be careful is the Feast of San Firmino, the second week of July, when the city becomes overcrowded for the fateful Running of the Bulls. Visit the section on the Farnesina website
- Nearest airports : Pamplona Airport (6 km from the center, there are no direct flights from Italy), Bilbao Airport (155 km from Pamplona, 1 h 45 min by car or private transfer)
Where is it
Pamplona is located in the northernmost area of Spain , in particular in the heart of the Navarre region, in a natural basin surrounded by mountainous reliefs. If the Pyrenees are to the north, La Rioja to the south, Aragon to the east and the Basque Country to the west.
SEE ALSO : Navarre, Spain: where it is, when to go and what to see
How to get there
- From Milan or Rome : from Italy there are no direct flights to Pamplona. A possible solution is to land in Bilbao, with connections guaranteed by Vueling, Easyjet and Volotea (flight 2 h), and from there continue by land to Pamplona thanks to the DO50B bus first and then the direct train to Pamplona. Flights from € 72.00 – see the offers
- From the main European capitals : among the airlines that guarantee direct connections with Pamplona, we recommend that you rely on Iberia and Lufthansa, which connect the main European capitals to the small city airport.
When to go
Info on climate and best period
Month Average temperatures (min / max) Precipitation (days / mm) January 1/9 ° 10 days / 60 mm
February 2/11 ° 9 days / 50 mm
March 4/15 ° 8 days / 55 mm
April 5/16 ° 10 days / 75 mm
May 9/21 ° 10 days / 60 mm
June 12/25 ° 6 days / 45 mm
July 14/28 ° 4 days / 35 mm
August 15/28 ° 5 days / 40 mm
September 12/25 ° 6 days / 45 mm
October 9/19 ° 9 days / 75 mm
November 5/13 ° 10 days / 75 mm
December 2/10 ° 11 days / 75 mm
- Climate : continental, with cold winters and hot summers, but not too hot. Between December and February average temperatures min 2 ° and max 10 °, due to the cold air coming from the Pyrenees. In summer min 12 ° and max 28 °, with a significant temperature range between day and night. Precipitation is distributed throughout the year, especially in winter
- Best time : the summer months, especially June, because they are the sunniest ones and the temperatures are never too high
- Period to avoid : late autumn, winter and early spring, due to unstable weather. If you don’t like events involving the exploitation of animals, avoid the second week of July when the Running of the Bulls is represented
- Advice : pack both light and heavier clothes, in order to be ready to face the rather significant temperature range between day and night. Bring light and breathable clothing, sweatshirts and warmer clothes, comfortable walking shoes, hat, sunscreen, camera and sunglasses. If you’re traveling in winter, don’t forget a heavy jacket and waterproof shoes
10 things to see in and around Pamplona
- Plaza del Castillo : main town square, once considered a sort of meeting “living room” and still the beating heart of life in Pamplona. Where once bullfights were held (a practice that lasted until the end of the nineteenth century), today palaces of inestimable historical and artistic value have arisen
- Palazzo dell’Ayuntamiento : one of the most important fifteenth-century buildings in the city, a symbol of a rediscovered peace after continuous city clashes that occurred in the first decades of the fifteenth century. It combines the Baroque style with neoclassical influences
- City walls : among the most exposed cities of the Kingdom of Navarre, Pamplona immediately had a substantial wall, which has practically all been intact to this day
- Pamplona Cathedral : made up of an infinite number of different architectural styles ranging from Gothic to Neoclassical to typically Renaissance references, and a majestic building, whose construction lasts 150 years
- Palazzo della Navarra : currently the seat of the province of Navarra, this neoclassical building is located right in the city center. Among the most beautiful rooms inside, we recommend that you visit the throne room with precious marbles
- Riverside Park : with almost one million square meters, it is the real green lung of the city, ideal for taking long walks, running or resting in the shade of large trees
- Monumento al Encierro : considered by many to be the most significant monument in Pamplona and in the whole of Navarre, this sculpture is dedicated to the Running of the Bulls and represents the moment of greatest tension of the event, the chase through the streets of the city
- Cittadella : suggestive military fortification with a pentagonal plan, it served as a center for the defense and sighting of enemies. Today, the Palace of Congresses and the Auditorium of Navarre have been built inside
- Planetarium : built in 1993, it has become a top-level cultural center, ideal for studying the stars, but also for showing films and organizing educational activities for children
- Navarre Excursion : Outside of Pamplona, the Navarre region has a lot to offer to tourists. This is why we recommend that you take part in an organized tour lasting several days, in order to discover all the attractions located in the surrounding area.
What to do in Pamplona: excursions and tours
How much does it cost to visit Pamplona
Prices, offers and advice
Pamplona and, in general, the Navarre region are not very expensive places and it is quite easy to find solutions to save something on room and board.
As for the accommodations, in fact, the structures are many and can vary from the cheapest hostels (from € 7.00 per person in a mixed dormitory) to traditional hotels (double room from € 40.00 per night), up to religious accommodation facilities , very popular as the city is located along the French pilgrimage route to Santiago.
During a trip to Pamplona,the main expense will undoubtedly be destined for transport , not so much those inside the city, which can be perfectly visited on foot, as those that will take you from the city to the main attractions of the region: it is worthwhile, in fact, to move with a private means of transport or by hiring a car to the airport (from € 130.00 per week). If you want to arrive in Spain by plane, however, bear in mind that there are no direct connections from Italy and that the flights are still quite expensive. If you land at Bilbao Airport, you can opt for a private transfer to Pamplona.
- Where to sleep: Hotels and b & b from € 20.00 per room – see the offers
- Low cost flights: to Bilbao (155 km) starting from € 108.00 – check the offers
