Pamplona is the capital of the Navarra region and is most famous for the annual Pamplona bullfight. It is also a popular stop on the way to the Basque cities of San Sebastián and Bilbao.
If you plan to visit the bullfights, you must reserve your accommodation well in advance. Start looking for hotels at least six months before your trip to get the best prices.
If you are not visiting for the bullfight and are just looking for a stop on the way to San Sebastián, I would recommend that you stop in Logroño.
Suggested stops on the way from Madrid to Pamplona
With 450 km between Madrid and Pamplona, it makes sense to interrupt the trip with one or two stops along the way.
Burgos is famous for its beautiful cathedral and deserves a short stop on the way to Pamplona. But the real gem along the way is Logroño, the capital of the Rioja wine region and home to some of the best tapas bars in the country.
Madrid to Pamplona by train and bus
Trains from Madrid to Pamplona take three and a quarter hours and cost 60 euros. Buses from Madrid to Pamplona cost about 25 euros and take less than 5 hours.
Trains from Madrid to Pamplona leave from the Atocha train station, while buses leave from the Avenida de América bus station. Read more about Bus and train stations in Madrid.
Madrid to Pamplona by car
The 450 km trip from Madrid to Pamplona takes approximately five hours, traveling mainly on the A-1. Compare car rental rates in Spain
Flights from Madrid to Pamplona
There are regular flights from Madrid to Pamplona, but they tend to be quite expensive.
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