Most visitors to Pamplona want to go during the San Fermín Festival , eight days of street parties, bullfights, and morning bullfights that encourage brave Spaniards and drunken tourists to run in front of a herd of angry cattle. . But accommodation can be difficult to find at this time of year, so you may want to consider staying in San Sebastian and traveling to see the festival.
But keep in mind that bullfights are very early in the morning, at 8 AM. So unless you have your own car, you will need to check for public transport at the right time to get to the festival.
If you don’t want to get up this late, consider staying up late. There is partying all night throughout the festival: most of the people who watch (or run) the bullfights have not slept.
See also: How to spend 3 days in San Sebastián
Note: these hours and prices are subject to change and are for guidance only. Check websites for current prices and hours.
Also note that the Basque word for San Sebastián is ‘Donostia’. You can see both in the schedules, or just one. If you plan your trip well in advance, you can get reasonably priced accommodation in Pamplona.
Alternatives to staying in San Sebastián
San Sebastian is a great city and should definitely be on your itinerary when you are in this part of the country. But there are other options to stay close to Pamplona during the festival.
Logroño is the capital of the Rioja wine region and has a tapas scene to rival that of San Sebastián .
Be aware that trains rarely leave in the middle of the night from anywhere near Pamplona. If you want to travel overnight to save on accommodation and be on time for the festival, you will need to consider traveling from further afield, such as Madrid or Barcelona. But really, you will miss out on the true San Fermín party experience.
- Madrid to Pamplona
- Barcelona to Pamplona
San Sebastián to Pamplona by train
The train from San Sebastián to Pamplona takes less than two hours. There is no morning train that arrives before the bull runs, so you will have to stay overnight to watch the bull run. There are only two trains a day, which cost around 25 euros.
San Sebastian to Pamplona by bus
The bus from San Sebastián to Pamplona takes just over an hour and costs less than eight euros. They run all day, but unfortunately the first of the day comes right after the bullfight. Book bus tickets in Spain
San Sebastian to Pamplona by car
The 80km journey can be covered in just over an hour, mainly on the A15 road. Compare car rental rates in Spain
