spaintravel2010

My mother and I are planning to go to Pamplona for the running of the bulls. I want to fly into BARCELONA and maybe take a bus or take towards Pamplona. Its very costly to stay in Pamplona even for two days. I want to maybe travel to a nearby town and hopefully catch a cab, bus, or train in the morning in time for the running of the bulls. I am thinking about traveling to BILBAO or SAN SEBASTIÁN from BARCELONA. Am I on the right track here? or should I just suck it up and stay in an overpriced hotel in PAMPLONA?

thanks!

Aduchamp1

The town is filled with drunks and would be runners. I would stay in Pamplona and book now and over pay.

Robert2533

The closest towns are not convenient for attending the fiesta by train or bus if you want to be there early in the morning for the encierro, the running of the bulls. A taxi from San Sebastian-Donostia will set you back around €150, one-way, if you can find a driver who wants to make the trip over without having a fare back. The typical fee for a private transfer is around €220 for up to 4 people.

The earliest bus does not arrive until after the run, but many of the younger festival goers will come in the night before, stay up all night (drinking and dancing, or crash in the park) and usually end up missing the encierro anyway.

The price of a hotel room is usually 3 to 5 times the normal rate, typical of Sevilla during feria. This is, after all, one of the most popular events in Spain and hotel rooms are limited, less that 3300 are located within the city limits, of which only about half are ever available during the fiesta because of the number of returning clients. The least expensive hotels are all outside of the city, but many are on the main bus routes, which allow reasonable access into the old city for the fiesta.

The town is filled with nearly 200,000 Pamplonicas, husbands, wives, children (lots and lots of children), grandparents, backpackers and a few thousand other foreigners, some of whom tend to drink far too much and have no idea what the fiesta is about. The locals, those under 20 years of age, who belong to the Peñas, the social clubs that support the bullring, also tend to drink a bit too much, but it’s their festival, a right of passage more or less, and they are on their home turf. Few every get carried away as some of the foreigners tend to do, it’s not part of the culture.

The city receives somewhere around 200,000 visitors over the weekend and 50,000 to 70,000/day during the week. They come from Navarra, the Basque country, Catalunya, Castilla y León and Madrid. The French Basque usually begin arriving on the 12th, depending on which day of the week Bastille Day falls on.

mikelg

As the expert Robert says, Pamplona will be a messy town during the running of the bulls festival (which, btw, is just a part of the big fiesta that takes place during a full week). All neighbouring towns will be fully packed and at expensive prices. The running of the bulls starts at 0800AM and finishes minutes later, so there´s a big risk of missing it. You must also take into account the multitudes and the viewing point...it´s not that easy.

portuense

visit a week later - it's a lovely city once San Fermin is finished

Robert2533

The day after the fiesta the city is quiet. Everyone who doesn't have to work has gone on holiday (the coast, mountains, islands) and most of the restaurants close.

kimhe

I think you'll find it worth wile the extra money to stay in Pamplona. Have a great San Fermín, much more than just the running with the bulls!

Roundtrip

My father's always wanted to see the running of the bulls, but I really don't know where to start in terms of arranging for a balcony and decent accomodations. If we're going to go there for a once in a lifetime experience, I want to make sure we actually see all the main events, such as the "opening ceremony," the encierro, and a bullfight. I normallly make my own arrangements when traveling but this is a unique festival where it seems I need to use a go-between. Any suggestions on how to arrange for a balcony, bullfight tickets, etc.? Thanks!

jubilada

http://iberiantraveler.com

cruiseluv

Jubilada beat me to it. I would strongly recommend you book with them, they bring a group every year and arrange for everything.

Roundtrip

Thanks for the tip to iberiantraveler. It looks like they cover everything, including the bullfight tickets. I'm waiting to hear back from them as regards pricing for 2010.

MapiRC

As Mikel mentioned, if I wwere you I would not stay in another city. I am from Pamplona (though I live in US) and it's crazy during Sanfermines.
2 reasons to stay in Pamplona: I will be very difficult to get bus tickets, and I doubt that the service starts early enough. As for stayin in Pamplona, you should maybe try to get an spot at a "hostal" (www.infohostal.com). Otherwise, if you still want to stay in a nearby city, try Estella (small city or big village- near Pamplona).
No doubt that is a whole experience...and buy a pair of white pants, white t-shirt and a red "scarve"!!!

Robert2533

There are no bus services that will get you to Pamplona in time for the encierro, not even from Estella. Finding a bed in a hostal can be very difficult at times since there are so few beds available.

TeresaJAT

I am late to this chat. We also plan to be there for the running. We had planned to stay in Olite,about 20 miles away and drive in early that morning. My concern is parking. Would we be able to find a place to leave the car safely? How early should we arrive for me to find a place to stand. My crazy husband wants to run with the bulls.

Robert2533

You can park in one of the underground parking garages or on the street if you arrive early enough, say 05:30-06:00. You can stand just about anywhere you want, but if you actually want to see the encierro, the running of the bulls, you should consider renting a balcony. The crowds will be 50 deep on opening day, but will taper off somewhat during the week before returning on the weekend.

TeresaJAT

Thanks Robert. I'm not really sure I want to see my husband being chased by a bull I guess I will check out the balcony since we will be there the first day the bulls run.