Plan your trip to San Fermín, step by step

San Fermín multiplies Pamplona's population tenfold over nine days. That means high prices, sold-out rooms and a city running at a different pace than the rest of the year. This guide covers everything that actually needs sorting out before you pack your bag.

How to get to Pamplona

By plane: Pamplona-Noáin airport is just 7 km from the centre (about a 10-minute taxi ride), but has few direct routes. Iberia and Air Nostrum fly from Madrid and Barcelona, with extra capacity during San Fermín. Most international visitors instead fly into Bilbao, Zaragoza or Vitoria and finish the trip by bus (1-1.5 hours).

By train: Renfe connects Madrid to Pamplona in about 3 hours and Barcelona in around 4 hours on direct services. The station sits in the San Jorge neighbourhood, linked to the centre by city bus line 9. Trains for these dates sell out weeks in advance — book as soon as your dates are set.

By bus: usually the cheapest option. Pamplona's bus station (underground, on Calle Yanguas y Miranda) receives lines from Madrid and Barcelona (around 5 hours), mainly run by ALSA and Monbus. It has its own automated luggage lockers.

By car: from Madrid, the most direct route is A-2 → N-111 → N-121/AP-15 (about 4 hours, 400 km). Coming from southern France, enter via Irún, either the scenic route through Belate or the faster A-15 via San Sebastián.

All the details, airport by airport, in how to get to Pamplona for San Fermín.

→ Full guide: how to get to Pamplona

Getting around the city

City buses ("villavesas") run every 10-15 minutes on the main lines during the day, with night service to surrounding towns. Check routes and times at infotuc.es. For taxis, local dispatch services (Teletaxi San Fermín, Ecotaxi) and the PIDETAXI app work well even with the centre closed to traffic, since taxis have access to restricted streets.

Where to sleep

City-centre hotels get booked more than six months in advance and their prices multiply well beyond the usual rate. If you can't find anything, here are the real alternatives people actually use:

Apartments and shared rooms: many locals rent out rooms or whole flats during the festival; it often works out cheaper than a hotel for groups.

Camping: campsites on the outskirts run shuttle buses to the centre and have their own nightlife; some people stay there for the whole week without ever booking a hotel.

Sleeping outdoors: more common than you'd think, though picking the right spot matters. Vuelta del Castillo (the largest park, away from the chaos) and Media Luna (very quiet, right by the old town) are the most recommended areas. Avoid the moats below the Redín: there's a 10-metre drop where fatal falls have happened. Bring a sleeping bag — nights drop to 14-22°C — and a mat if you can.

A nearby town instead: Tudela, Estella, Logroño or San Sebastián, travelling in by train or bus, both of which add night-time frequencies during the festival.

→ Search accommodation on the map

What to pack

White shirt and trousers, red neckerchief and sash (more detail in our dress code guide). Closed, comfortable shoes — no sandals: the ground fills with broken glass and spilled drinks, and you'll be on your feet for hours. Add a sleeping bag if there's any chance you'll sleep outdoors, sunscreen (the July sun in Pamplona is no joke), and a change of clothes — you will get soaked at some point, whether by cava, kalimotxo or rain.

→ What to wear: the white-and-red outfit

Safety at the festival

The massive crowds and heavy alcohol consumption make prevention essential. These are the points that really matter:

Purple points: spread throughout the festival area, offering information and support in cases of sexual or gender-based violence. They're clearly signposted and staffed by specialist personnel all night long.

First-aid points: the Red Cross and municipal services set up fixed posts in Plaza del Castillo, the Plaza de Toros and along the route of the Running of the Bulls. If you fall or feel unwell, go to one without hesitation.

Valuables: theft spikes in the most crowded areas. Carry only what's strictly necessary and avoid back pockets or open bags in the crowd.

Alcohol and heat: July in Pamplona can top 30°C. The combination of sun, alcohol and crowding is the most common cause of dizziness and heatstroke: hydrate with water, not just sangria.

→ A safe and sustainable San Fermín

Budget and money-saving tips

Prices rise across the city during the festival, so it pays to plan your daily spend. A common trick among locals: have only two proper meals a day (lunch and dinner) and fill the gaps with street sandwiches and pintxos, far cheaper than sitting down on a terrace every time. Booking accommodation months ahead is, by far, the biggest saving you can make.

Real prices and three daily budgets in how much does San Fermín cost?

→ Full budget with real prices

Eating and drinking like a local

The Old Town is home to most of the pintxo bars, but prices and quality vary a lot from street to street. The areas around Calle San Nicolás and Calle Estafeta (outside the hours of the Running of the Bulls) keep up a good standard even at the height of the festival. The "calderete" — a traditional meat and vegetable stew cooked outdoors by the local peñas (festival clubs) — is the most genuinely San Fermín dish there is. More in our food guide.