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Discover what to see in Pamplona with DareMapp.
A city with a rich history, dating back to Roman times when it was called Pompaelo although over the centuries, it has been influenced by the Visigoths, Moors and Franks, before becoming part of the Kingdom of Navarre.
Pamplona is surrounded by medieval walls and is known for its well-preserved historic centre, beautiful parks, gardens 🍂 and especially the 🐂 San Fermines🐂 a must when choosing places to see in Pamplona.
Through fun games, questions and geolocation we will guide you through the most important places to see in Pamplona:
-Plaza del Castillo
– Church of San Saturnino
– Gateway of France. And much more…
The walk lasts approximately 1h30-2 hours
come and discover what to see in Pamplona with this fun interactive tour!
A walk through history to discover what to see in Pamplona.
Pamplona, the capital of Navarre, was founded as Pompaelo by the Romans in the 1st century BC, and is strategically located on the Pilgrim’s Way to Santiago de Compostela.
Over the centuries, it has been influenced by various cultures, including Visigoths, Moors and Franks, and was an essential part of the Kingdom of Navarre. Its well-preserved medieval walls and old town reflect its rich history.
Internationally renowned for the San Fermín festival and its emblematic running of the bulls, popularised by Ernest Hemingway.
Pamplona is a hub of tradition and culture. Today, it combines its historical legacy with a vibrant social and cultural life.
What to see in Pamplona in 1 day. Key sites.
Pamplona Bullring and Monument to the Running of the Bulls.
The current Plaza de Toros, designed by Francisco Urcola and inaugurated in 1922, is next to the entrance to the alleyway, where you will find the Hemingway Monument, designed by Luis Sanguino in 1968.
It is a key place to see in Pamplona if you are a bullfighting enthusiast, as it is the second bullring in Spain in terms of capacity, second only to Las Ventas.
It is the venue for the San Fermín bullfighting spectacles and remains closed for the rest of the year, except on days when concerts or other types of spectacles are organised. Near the main gate is the Monumento al Encierro (Monument to the Running of the Bulls).
The sculptural ensemble is made up of bulls inspired by the Victorino Martín brand, steers and runners who immortalise, in patinated bronze, a snapshot of the running of the bulls along the stretch of Estafeta Street. Weighing more than ten tons, it is placed on a reinforced concrete platform covered with tiles like the ones that cover the floor of the Avenida de Carlos III.
The Biscayan sculptor Rafael Huerta conceived this work as a tribute to his adopted land of Navarre.
Palace of Navarre.
The main façade of the Palace of Navarre in Pamplona, an emblematic site to see in Pamplona, is adorned with an impressive sculptural group by Fructuoso Orduna, dating from 1951. This sculpture includes the coat of arms of Navarre flanked by two figures representative of the region: a highlander and a riverbank man, symbolising the diversity of the community. In addition, in separate niches, the bronze figures of two notable kings from Navarre’s history stand out: Sancho VII el Fuerte and Sancho el Mayor, adding a regal and cultural touch to the façade.
The porches of this palace still bear the traces of a bombardment suffered during the Spanish Civil War, adding a layer of tangible history that makes this place a living testimony to the city’s tumultuous past and a point of interest to see in Pamplona. At the rear of the building is one of Pamplona’s old snow pits.
This cylindrical structure, which reaches a depth of 7 metres, was used to store snow, which was preserved by means of a system of alternating layers of snow and straw. This traditional method, carefully maintained by the “nevero” – the person in charge of managing this process – is a fascinating example of historical preservation practices and a peculiar feature to see in Pamplona.
Each of these elements of the Palace of Navarre offers a unique window into the heritage and history of Pamplona, making it an essential destination for those seeking to understand and appreciate the city in depth.
Plaza del Castillo.
This square is located in the centre of the city and is an emblematic space covering an area of 14,000 square metres. It is the starting point for many of the narrow streets of the old quarter and what to see in Pamplona.
It is where the most important events of this beautiful city are held. Until 1844, bullfights, tournaments and battles were held here..
The Plaza was enclosed with boards at various points and the bullrings were located in one of the corners and the balconies were used as boxes.
Estafeta Curve (Bull Run)
The Estafeta Curve is a mythical place to see in Pamplona and attracts thousands of people during the San Fermín fairs.
This bend is located at the intersection of Estafeta Street and Mercaderes Street, where you will find a typical corner of the city, which includes bars, cafés and many shops.
The bulls take this bend to get to the bullring, where the whole run takes about 3 minutes.
The danger here is real as the bulls skid and fall easily due to the cobblestones on the ground.
Cathedral of Santa María la Real.
The Cathedral of Santa María, the culmination of Gothic architecture from the 14th and 15th centuries. This emblematic monument is the one that treasures the most historical-artistic relics in the city. It was here that kings were crowned, the Cortes met and for three centuries it was the seat of the Diputación del Reino (Provincial Council of the Kingdom).
Inside, the central nave houses the beautiful tomb of Charles III of Navarre and his wife Leonor of Castile. But the real jewel of this Cathedral is its cloister, considered to be one of the most exquisite of universal Gothic architecture.
Fountain of La Navarrería.
With the design prepared several years earlier, this fountain was not built until 1798, once King Charles IV had approved the introduction of the Subiza water main into the city by means of a small aqueduct that had to be built in the moat of the Queen’s Bastion.
But it was not until 7 years later that the first drops were seen in this fountain with the authorisation of the Royal Order.
Today it is a key point to see in Bilbao for foreign visitors on the day of the chupinazo of the fiestas, as they then go to the fountain where they climb up the fountain and jump in so that the rest can catch them below.
Santo Domingo Market.
A couple of minutes away from the Navarrería fountain is the local Santo Domingo Market, the oldest in the city.
The Santo Domingo market is located between the squares of Santiago and Burgos, parallel to the famous slope to which it owes its name, the slope of Santo Domingo.
It is a traditional market located in a central rectangular courtyard with an infinite number of stalls offering the best local produce, tropical fruits, fish from the Bay of Biscay and the Mediterranean, cheeses from the most diverse designations of origin.
Museum of Navarre.
The Museum was founded in 1956, although it was remodelled and reopened in 1990. It was the former Hospital de Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia.
The Plateresque façade is original to the building, built in the 16th century, as is the interior of the chapel. The rest of the building was remodelled to create space, which is distributed over four floors and a basement.
Some of its most outstanding works include the 1st century Roman mosaic of the Triumph of Bacchus, the Romanesque capitals of the old cathedral of Pamplona, the Mozarabic chest from Leyre and the portrait of the Marquis of San Adrián by Francisco de Goya.
Image of San Fermín on the Cuesta de Santo Domingo.
The starting point of each of the bull runs on the feast of San Fermin. The niche where the replica of the image of San Fermín is located is so small that it goes unnoticed. It is where the runners sing and it is embedded in the wall of the famous Cuesta de Santo Domingo, which is the starting point for the running of the bulls.
From here, before each running of the bulls, the runners entrust themselves to San Fermín and ask him for protection and a good running of the bulls:
“To San Fermín we ask,
as he is our patron saint,
to guide us in the running of the bulls
giving us his blessing”.
Although the Sanfermines are world famous, this city offers other fiestas and cultural events throughout the year. From folklore and jazz festivals to film and theatre seasons, there is something to see in Pamplona to suit all tastes.
Pamplona City Hall.
Its origins date back to 1423, when Charles III ordered its construction on the site where the medieval burghs converged. The current building that you can see in Pamplona was built between 1753 and 1759, according to a project by the master builder Juan Miguel de Goyeneta.
The architectural elements that make up the façade are Baroque, as are the ornamentation of leaves, the geometric elements and the mirrors with rocaille. Guarding the door of the Town Hall are two allegories representing two virtues: Prudence and Justice.
At the top of the building are two Hercules, symbolising civic virtues, and at the top of the building is the allegory of Fame, herald of the city’s splendour. The Town Hall and the Plaza Consistorial are one of the most important stages of the Sanfermines. Every 6th July, the Chupinazo, the rocket announcing the fiestas, is launched from here.
Church of San Saturnino.
The church of San Saturnino, more commonly known as San Cernin, is a Catholic religious building to see in Pamplona in the Old Quarter.
The present church is Gothic from the 13th century; however, there was a primitive church on the same site, and another Romanesque church (12th century). In the Middle Ages, it fulfilled a double function: religious and defensive.
In addition to its towers, the portico stands out, decorated with beautiful Gothic carvings such as those of Santiago Peregrino or San Saturnino, and the interior, Gothic, with a very wide single nave and a sexpartite vault.
A weathervane in the shape of a cockerel crowns the main tower of the church.
This “cockerel of San Cernin” is one of the most popular emblems of the city.
The clock located in the same tower, built in 1499, announces every San Fermin morning the moment when the rocket is fired to start the Bull Run.
San Fermín Chapel.
The Chapel of San Fermín is located inside the Church of San Lorenzo and of the original medieval temple, which formed part of what was once Pamplona’s defensive system, barely a tower remains today.
The neo-classical San Fermín Chapel, a must-see in Pamplona, is on the right as soon as you enter, and above the altar stands the venerated relic of the Saint, a half-length carving made of polychrome wood and trimmed in silver, dating from the end of the 15th century.
His countenance is dark, perhaps because he was originally black or because the smoke from the candles has darkened him… Hence, the Saint has also been given the name of “morenico” (little brown).
Legend has it that San Fermín, son of the senator Firmus who governed Pamplona in the 3rd century, converted to Christianity and was ordained a priest in Toulouse.
He returned to Pamplona as bishop and died a martyr in France on 25 September 303.
Gardens of La Taconera.
The Taconera Gardens are the oldest, most beautiful and emblematic park to be seen in Pamplona. With a surface area of 90,000 square metres, it is located around the city walls, very close to the Old Quarter, in a markedly romantic and Versaillesque style.
Throughout it we can stroll among trees, well-tended gardens, next to the ramparts and their moats?
Along the promenades there are numerous fountains, statues and monuments such as those of Julián Gayarre or the Mariblanca, which once presided over the famous castle square.
If you come here with children, they can have fun on the swings, as well as seeing the large number of animals that live together in the moats of the walls.
A haven of peace as long as the inhabitants don’t talk to everyone together: deer, ducks, peacocks, different types of roosters and hens make up the neighbourhood.
An ideal place to visit with the little ones and show them that animals also have a place in the city centre.
The Citadel.
Together with the surrounding Vuelta del Castillo, this is the great green lung of Pamplona. A space of 280,000 square metres whose pavilions, moats, bastions, ravelins, fortifications, minor buildings and glacis are today public places for leisure, sport and culture.
The Citadel, an urban landmark to see in Pamplona, is also considered to be the best example of Spanish Renaissance military architecture and one of the most outstanding defensive complexes in Europe.
The Citadel was built to protect Pamplona from the enemy, at the behest of King Philip II, who ordered it to be built in 1571 to counter the constant incursions of the French army. Its original structure was in the shape of a regular pentagon with five bastions at the corners, but the construction of the First Extension of the city meant that two of them had to be demolished.
Other sites to see in Pamplona.
In addition to the sites listed in the guide, there are several other places to see in Pamplona that are not to be missed:
El SADAR Stadium: home of Club Atlético Osasuna since its inauguration in 1967. With a current capacity of over 23,500 fans, it has recently been modernised to offer better facilities and an improved spectator experience. Known for its vibrant atmosphere and fervent home fan support, El Sadar represents a crucial sight to see in Pamplona for the region’s football community, maintaining a rich history of memorable sporting encounters.
Paseo del Redín: A medieval-looking street along the city wall with a very photogenic bridge.
Pintxos route through the narrow cobbled streets of the Old Town. Navarrese cuisine is delicious and Pamplona is a fantastic place to try it. Pinchos of chistorra sausage, vegetable stew, roast lamb? get ready for a feast!
Discover nearby towns and villages to visit in Pamplona:
- Olite
- Artagona
- Javier
- Caparroso
Pamplona is close to the Basque Country, so you can take advantage of your visit to get to know a little of its culture and traditions. Hondarribia, San Sebastian and Getaria are some nearby destinations worth visiting.
So much for our recommendation of what we consider to be the best places to see in Pamplona. If you want a complete experience with many more details, digitally and economically, download the DareMapp app to find out more.
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