Pamplona is a small city, but during San Fermín around a million visitors pass through in nine days. Getting there is not complicated: it has its own airport, direct trains from Madrid and Barcelona, buses from all over Spain, and Bilbao and Biarritz airports within two hours. The key is to book early and to know what changes during the festival, when the Old Town closes to traffic and every seat on the train to Pamplona is in demand.
The quick answer
- From abroad: fly into Bilbao or Madrid, then take a bus or train. Biarritz (France) is another option, best by car.
- From Madrid: train, around 3 hours, or a direct flight to Pamplona.
- From Barcelona: train, around 4 hours.
- From San Sebastián or Bilbao: bus, about 1 and 2 hours respectively.
- By car: fine for getting there, but park outside the centre: the Old Town is closed to traffic during the festival.
By plane: the nearest airports
Pamplona (Noáin), 7–8 km from the centre. The closest option, but with few routes: mainly flights from Madrid and a handful of other Spanish cities. From the airport to the centre it is a short taxi ride of about 15 minutes.
Bilbao, about 160 km. The best choice for most international visitors, with direct flights from many European cities. From the airport, take the bus to Bilbao's Intermodal bus station and then a direct bus to Pamplona, about 2 hours more. Allow 3 to 3.5 hours in total. By car the trip takes around 2 hours.
Biarritz (France), about 2 hours by car. Handy for flights from France and the UK, but public transport to Pamplona is limited, usually via San Sebastián. If you land here, a rental car or a shared transfer is the easiest option.
San Sebastián (Hondarribia). A small airport with mostly domestic flights. From San Sebastián there are direct buses to Pamplona, about 1 hour.
Madrid-Barajas, about 400 km. The airport with the most long-haul flights. From Madrid you can continue by train (around 3 hours), by bus or on a domestic flight to Pamplona.
By train
Renfe runs direct trains to Pamplona from Madrid (around 3 hours) and Barcelona (around 4 hours), with extra services during the festival. Tickets for July 5 and 6 sell out early, so book as soon as sales open.
Pamplona's train station is in the San Jorge district, outside the centre. From there, take a city bus (line 9) or a taxi, about 10 minutes to the centre.
By bus
Pamplona's bus station is underground and very central, next to the Citadel park, a 10-minute walk from the Old Town. There are direct buses from Madrid (about 5 hours), Barcelona (about 5 hours), Bilbao (about 2 hours), San Sebastián (about 1 hour) and many other cities. During the festival, regional companies add extra buses from nearby towns, which is useful if you sleep outside Pamplona.
By car: what changes during San Fermín
Driving to Pamplona is easy: about 4 hours from Madrid and about an hour from the French border via San Sebastián. The problem is where to leave the car.
- The Old Town is closed to traffic for the whole festival: in 2026, from 22:00 on July 5 to 14:00 on July 15.
- Park outside the centre. The city sets up park-and-ride car parks in several neighbourhoods (Lezkairu, Rochapea, San Jorge, Mendebaldea and others), regulated during the festival, and connected to the centre by bus.
- Underground car parks in the centre fill up quickly and are expensive.
- Streets near the fireworks close to traffic every night from about 22:00 to midnight.
Getting around once you are there
Pamplona is best explored on foot: from the bus station or the Ensanche to the Town Hall square is a 10–15 minute walk. The city buses (the villavesas) reinforce their services during the festival, with night buses to the outer districts. Taxis are available but scarce on July 6 and late at night.
Tips for arriving during the festival
- Arrive on July 5 if you want to see the Chupinazo: on the morning of July 6 the city is already packed and the Old Town is hard to reach.
- Travel light. You will probably walk the last stretch, through crowds.
- Book transport and accommodation together. Both sell out for July 6 and 7 and for the weekend, which in 2027 is July 10–11.
- Consider sleeping outside Pamplona and coming in by bus each day: see our accommodation guide.
For the rest of the trip, see our San Fermín travel planner and the 2027 dates and schedule.
Frequently asked questions
What is the closest airport to Pamplona?
Pamplona's own airport, in Noáin, 7–8 km from the centre. It has few routes, mainly from Madrid. For international flights, Bilbao (about 160 km) is usually the best option.
How do I get from Bilbao airport to Pamplona?
Take the bus from the airport to Bilbao's Intermodal bus station, then a direct bus to Pamplona (about 2 hours). Allow 3 to 3.5 hours in total. By car it takes about 2 hours.
How long is the train from Madrid to Pamplona?
Around 3 hours on direct Renfe trains. From Barcelona it takes around 4 hours.
Can I drive into Pamplona during San Fermín?
You can drive to the city, but the Old Town is closed to traffic throughout the festival. Leave the car in a park-and-ride car park in one of the outer districts and take the bus or walk.
When should I arrive for San Fermín?
On July 5 if you want to see the Chupinazo on July 6 at noon. On the morning of the 6th the city is already packed.