Pamplona in 1 or 2 days: what to see and do (besides San Fermín)

La capital of Navarre It is a perfect destination to enjoy a getaway at any time of the year.

Despite being known worldwide for its San Fermin Holidays, Pamplona It is still a diamond in the rough to be discovered.

Its historic center delimited by its imposing renaissance walls preserves the charm of past centuries.

In his street mediaeval origin you will find gothic temples, baroque palaces and modernist shops

And also, half-hidden between buildings, the remains of the walls of the three independent towns (Navarreria, San Cernin y San Nicolás) that existed in the place until the King of Navarre Charles III the Noble unified them in 1423 to found Pamplona, as we know it today.

But apart from the monuments and historical sites, what you like most about Pamplona is its quality of life, the cleanliness of its always lively streets and its wonderful parks.

This is the experience of visiting Pamplona in 1 or 2 days.

Looking ahead to your trip, and with the experience of living in the city ​​of Pamplona, we have selected the essential plans to enjoy a getaway ideal for a weekend.

Plaza Consistorial, site of the txupinazo in San Fermín

This small but charming square is the Pamplona icon, since it is the scene of the multitudinous txupinazo that begins the San Fermin Holidays.

In the 15th century, this place was the point where the three towns met, which is why it was the point chosen by Carlos III to build the governing body that would bring order to the chaotic medieval Pamplona.

If you want to know more about this historic moment, you can enter the City Hall atrium, where a facsimile copy of the Union Privilege, the agreement that brought peace to the city 600 years ago.

Church of San Cernín and other landmarks of the Camino de Santiago in Pamplona

The passage of European pilgrims through the city of Pamplona in road to Santiago de Compostela It is directly related to some monuments.

This is the case of Church of San Saturnino or San Cernín, bishop of French origin and pattern of Pamplona.

The temple is right around the corner from the Town Hall, be sure to go in if it is open.

Almost opposite, already in the main Street, is the Constable's Palace, an imposing 16th-century building with a corner window that has been tastefully restored to host cultural events and a small museum dedicated to Pablo Sarasate, world-famous composer and violinist from Pamplona.

In the same main StreetIs Ultreia, pilgrim welcome center and interpretation of the Camino de Santiago, the perfect place to enjoy an immersive experience that explains the fundamental role of the Camino in the history of Pamplona.

Plaza del Castillo, the most popular in Pamplona

Contrary to what many people believe, the most popular square in Pamplona is not the Town Hall square, but rather the Castle square, the ninth largest in Spain, an authentic outdoor living room where you can come for a walk, to see and be seen.

Addition Navarra Palace, seat of the autonomous government, look at the elegant qmusic kiosk, located in the center; and don't forget to have something in it Cafe Iruna, the only one of the nineteenth-century coffees that has survived intact to this day.

Pintxos in the Old Town of Pamplona

Go for pintxos It is another of Pamplona's essential plans.

The most popular place to enjoy a delicious pintxo is usually the Estafeta Street for its good name as the most spectacular section of the San Fermín bulls.

However, in almost all streets of the Old Town of Pamplona You will find good bars where you can choose some of these miniature samples of haute cuisine.

In addition to the aforementioned Post office, let yourself fall through the Merchants streets, San Nicolás, Comedies, Espoz y Mina...

Pamplona Cathedral, jewel of French Gothic

Located at the highest point of the city, the imposing Pamplona Cathedral It is a real French Gothic jewel.

Although some insist on lowering its value due to the neoclassical facade Ventura Rodríguez (the most famous architect of his time), the episcopal seat of Pamplona is worth an in-depth visit.

And not only because of her slender central nave, The grating or alabaster tomb Charles III the Noble and his wife, but also for what I cannot see with the naked eye.

We refer to the Occidens exhibition, the cloister, The medieval kitchen and chapter house, corners that you can only visit by paying the entrance fee.

White Horse Viewpoint

Upon returning from the cathedral you will discover some of the most secluded corners of the city. Medieval Pamplona.

This is the San José square, an urban oasis, where the White Horse Corner, a tavern with a medieval-looking terrace that is located on one of the points of the defensive wall that protected the city from invaders, whether French or Carlist.

Since the Redín viewpoints, which is what this area of ​​the wall is called, you will be able to see the emblematic France Portal, the only gate in the city that still has its lifting gate operational.

You can also see the Aranzadi orchard, an area of ​​orchards and large trees that is part of the Arga River Park, an absolutely recommended walk.

Exploring the walls of Pamplona

From Redín you can tour the wall of Pamplona in all directions.

To see them from below, cross the Portal de Francia, but if you want to see them from above, take the Bishop Barbazana Round.

This walk runs between the back of the cathedral and the treetops, it is cool and very few tourists know about it.

The walk continues until Fort of San Bartolome, where you can visit the Walls Interpretation Center.

There you find the Half Moon Park, another of the historic gardens with views of the Magdalena orchards, where the best lettuces are produced, for sale in the city markets.

Plaza de Toros de Pamplona

Next to the fort is the Bullring, end of the running of the bulls itinerary.

The one in Pamplona, ​​one of the largest in Spain, is open to audio-guided and guided tours most of the year.

Pamplona Running of the Bulls Monument

The tour through the guts of the arena is the perfect appetizer to get closer to one of the most sought-after monuments in Pamplona, ​​the dedicated to the Running of the Bulls, a sculptural complex built at the crossroads of the Roncesvalles and Carlos III avenues.

The monument represents six bulls, three halters and ten runners; The author freezes in bronze a moment of the most exciting race.

San Fermín niche, beginning of the Bull Run

If you still have San Fermin energy left, be sure to visit the gas corralillos, starting point of the bull run.

There you can see the famous niche where the image of San Fermín is placed, In Santo Domingo street, to which the waiters ask for protection before the start of each race.

If you prefer to see the authentic image of the saint, you will have to go to the Church of San Lorenzo, located at the end of the main Street.

Navarra Museum

Almost above the saint's niche is the Navarra Museum, an old hospital where unique pieces are exhibited.

To highlight the togado of Pamplona; the Leire chest, made of elephant ivory by artisans from Medina Zahara; the capital of Job, from the Romanesque cathedral of Pamplona or the Abauntz map, considered the first in the history of humanity.

Gardens of the Taconera

After touring the Lovers' Walk, another of the fronts of the wall that starts from the aforementioned museum, we arrive at the Gardens of the Taconera, a romantic corner where the most spectacular tree species live.

During your walk you will be able to see giant sequoias, lush ginkgo bilobas, sculpted yews and even an old ash tree, the only survivor of the plagues that devastated its peers in the park in the 80s.

In summer be sure to visit the Café Vienés terrace, located within the park and “decorated” with a spectacular pendulous japonica sephora.

The Ciudadela, large walled complex of Pamplona

Just visiting the Citadel and Return of the Castle, the large evergreen meadow that surrounds it, you can get an idea of ​​how enormous the walled complex of Pamplona.

The Citadel is a renaissance fortress Shaped like a regular pentagon and with five bastions at its corners, it offers the traveler a thousand corners to get lost in its ravelines, drawbridges and loopholes.

In the heart of this impregnable fortress you will find various pavilions (Armory, Powder Magazine, Oven...) whose use has been adapted as art exhibition halls, most of them of great quality that we recommend you visit.

MUN by Moneo, contemporary architecture in Pamplona

From Return of the Castle you can follow the yellow arrows on the the Camino de Santiago to direct you to the University of Navarra.

The campus of this private center houses a collection of buildings from contemporary architecture interesting, including the MUN, designed by Rafael Moneo.

Inside, the legacy of the photography pioneer is preserved. Ortiz de Echagüe, as well as the works from the patron's collection Josefa Huarte.

Your program Temporary exhibitions and masterclass with artists are two good excuses to visit the MUN.

Map: how to get to Pamplona

Here you have a map of the city of Pamplona, where to search for the most notable sites, in addition to how to get to the Navarrese capital.