Pamplona, Spain

Pamplona is a city full of activities to enjoy. There’s more to this city than the yearly world-famous run of the bulls. Pamplona is rich in history, culture, art, religious monuments, and open recreational activities.

Here’s a list of things to do and places to visit in Pamplona, Spain.

1. Café Iruña

If you’re a literary fan and have some form of admiration or curiosity about Ernest Hemingway, you must head over to Café Iruña during your stay in Pamplona.

This café is located at Plaza del Castillo in the center of the city. This is where Hemingway worked on novels such as “The Sun Also Rises,” and it comes as no surprise that Café Iruña earned a spot in the novel as the meeting point for the characters.

There’s a famous little spot inside the café where you’ll find a life size statue of Hemingway seated at the bar greeting visitors. This little corner is called Rincón de Hemingway (Hemingway’s Corner).

2. San Fermín Festival

The Festival of San Fermín takes place every year in July. It’s a weeklong celebration that includes the world-famous running of the bulls along with other folkloric and traditional events and sports. This festival gained more notoriety after Ernest Hemingway decided to feature it in his book “The Sun Also Rises”.

During this time, people will generally flock over to Pamplona and rent places with balconies to fully appreciate all the activities from above. If you’d like to attend, make sure to book your accommodation in advance. If you wait until the last minute, you’ll risk not finding a decent balcony from which to admire all the grandeur of this event.

3. Running Of The Bulls

The world-famous Running of the Bulls is part of the Festival of San Fermín. However, it’s popularity calls for it to be mentioned all on its own.

The Running of the Bulls typically happens at about 8am every morning during the seven days that the Festival of San Fermín takes place. It’ll normally only last about two to three minutes so if you want to witness it, make sure to be outside right on time.

4. The Planetarium

The Pamplona Planetarium was built in 1993 and offers the visitor a chance to learn about astronomy while using state-of-the-art technology to present the starry sky. It has one of the largest projections domes in the world and offers realistic viewings of more than 9,000 stars.

The Planetarium also hosts exhibitions, conferences, workshops, and other activities.