The bulls take only two or three minutes to cover the course, so where you stand decides almost everything about your morning. There are four realistic ways to watch the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona: from the street fences, from a rented balcony, inside the bullring, or on a screen. Each one gives you a very different experience.
The options at a glance
| Option | Cost | What you see | Arrive by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Street fences | Free | A few seconds of the herd passing, if you get a front spot | Around 6:00 am |
| Rented balcony | Roughly €175–€300 per person | A clear view of one stretch from above, plus TV replays | Around 7:00 am (check with the host) |
| Bullring | €7–€12 (2025 prices) | The herd bursting into the ring, the run on giant screens, then the heifers | Gates open at 6:00 am |
| TV or a bar screen | Free | The whole run, from every camera angle | Just before 8:00 am |
1. From the street fences
Watching from the wooden fences is free and feels the most authentic — but it is also the hardest way to actually see anything. Much of the route has a double fence: the space between the two barriers is reserved for police, medical teams and accredited press, and the public stands behind the outer fence.
The most popular stretches, such as the Town Hall square, Mercaderes and the Telefónica section near the bullring, fill up very early. To have any chance of a front-row spot you need to be there around 6:00 am, and even then the herd passes in a few seconds. Climbing on the fences or sitting on them is not allowed once the run approaches.
2. From a balcony
A balcony is the most comfortable way to see the run: you look down on the street, you are out of the crowd and you usually get coffee and pastries while you wait. Hosts normally have a TV on so you can watch the rest of the run and the replays.
It is also the priciest option. One long-established agency quotes €175–€300 per person for 2027, depending on the street and the floor. Book months ahead, and read the cancellation terms carefully before you pay. We explain how it works in our balcony rental guide.
3. Inside the bullring
The Pamplona bullring is the best-value option and our favourite for first-timers. Gates open at 6:00 am; before the run there is music and atmosphere in the stands, and two giant screens show the whole course live. Then you see the runners and the herd burst into the ring — the climax of the run — followed by the “vaquillas”, young cows released into the ring with the runners, which can last a good while.
In 2025, tickets cost €12 on July 7, 12 and 13, and €7 for adults and €4 for under-12s on the other mornings. They are sold online and at the bullring box offices. 2027 prices are usually announced in spring.
4. On TV or in a bar
Spanish public television broadcasts every bull run live, and you will find it on in almost every bar in the Old Town. It is the only way to see the whole course from start to finish, with slow-motion replays of every fall. If you are travelling with children, or simply want to see the run properly, this is no second-best option.
Our recommendation
On your first morning, go to the bullring: it is cheap, safe and you feel the energy of the run. If you stay longer, treat yourself to a balcony on a weekday morning, when prices and crowds are more reasonable.
Before you go
Check the 2027 dates and times and walk the route section by section so you know which stretch you will be watching.
In pictures
Pamplona bullring pictures: the finish line and the vaquillas: 12 photos, plus all our San Fermín pictures.