Plaza de Toros — Attraction in Pamplona

Pamplona is a city full of history and deep-rooted traditions, and the streets and squares of its historic quarter preserve a significant collection of monumental buildings, churches, and the medieval walls. It was founded as a Roman city and later became the capital of the kingdom of Pamplona. It sits on the route of the Way of Saint James through the lands of Navarre. Pamplona is extremely well-known for the Fiestas de San Fermin, but outside of July I'm not sure if it is a well-known destination for non-pilgrim tourists, which is a pity because it is a lot of fun, very beautiful, and the dining is excellent. It has a decent train connection to Madrid (3.5 hours) but for reasons I don't understand it doesn't have decent highway access to the capital (the fastest route, following Google Maps' directions, was a dangerous drive). The old town is ideal for sampling the traditional produce of Navarre's gardens – asparagus, piquillo peppers, and haricot-beans. Roast lamb or lamb cooked with tomatoes and peppers are the classics, accompanied always with a Navarra DOC wine (and a pacharán to finish - good for digestion). Local highlights for sight-seeing include: Pamplona Diocesan Cathedral Museum Museum of Navarre Sarasate Gallery Museum Ciudadela Comptos Chamber Pamplona Cathedral Navarre University Museum Condestable Palace the San Fermin bullfight, if its on. Make a friend in the local Peñas (the San Fermin social clubs) or expect to pay many multiples of the face value of a ticket. Sol side is more fun. Local festivals include: 6-14 July): San Fermines, in honour of the city's patron saint. Lots of info available online, so only advice is to book accommodation well in advance, and read a guide before your run with the bulls. The Spanish joke that an Australian gets gored every year, so don't be that guy. Early February: days of San Blas and San Agueda are a nice weekend spectacle in Pamplona, with an interesting focus on local culture,...

I came here during the San Fermin Festival and only because I ran with the bulls, so my experience might differ from how it normally is.

This is the endpoint of the Running of the Bulls. Once and if you make it in the plaza before the police seal off the entrance, there's a big celebration for finishing the run. The arena is filled with both spectators and participants. Some of the funny moments are displayed on jumbotrons and festive music is played.

After a little celebrating, an adolescent bull is released into the arena for participants to taunt, run away from, etc. Some trainers eventually lead the bull out of the arena, and people resume celebrating. Another bull is released and eventually led off again. This cycle repeats itself a few times, until they let a full grown male bull in the arena. This is the last round. Most people choose to leave afterwards, but you can continue to celebrate in the arena.

I didn't realize that bulls were released into the arena after the run, as the festival is somewhat disorganized and chaotic. I do not recommend engaging with the bulls in the arena unless you're fit, healthy, and understand the risks involved. I saw a couple of people trampled and headbutted. Some people were brought out in stretchers. Some people were also gored during my run... It's definitely an experience, but one that I checked off of my bucket list and will...

Plaza de Toros de Pamplona – 3/5 Stars ✨

Watching a bullfight at the Plaza de Toros de Pamplona was definitely a powerful and unforgettable experience. The atmosphere was electric—the crowd was loud and passionate, and the noise during the fight was incredible. It was amazing to witness such a deep-rooted cultural tradition and see how skilled and coordinated the people involved were, from the matadors to the banderilleros.

However, I couldn’t help but feel conflicted. It was hard to watch how one bull faced so many opponents, with the fight clearly stacked against it. I had expected a more balanced contest, but in reality, it was one against many, and the outcome felt predetermined. While the matadors were clearly experienced and performed with precision, it left me questioning the fairness of the event.

In the end, it’s a fascinating tradition, full of history and emotion—but also one that challenges you morally. Worth seeing once, but not an easy...