Pamplona (Iruna)

Pamplona (Iruna) is the walled capital of Navarre, Spain, about 80 km south of San Sebastian. The trip takes about 1 hour by car on the A-15 motorway or about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes by coach, with Alsa and La Burundesa services departing from the San Sebastian bus station near Plaza Pio XII; timetables can be confirmed at alsa.com. The city is best known for the San Fermin festival from 6 to 14 July and the running of the bulls, but it rewards visitors year-round. A suggested day begins with a morning walk through the old town to the Plaza del Castillo, the main square lined with cafes, then along Calle Estafeta, the street that forms part of the bull-run route, with its shops and pintxo bars. The Gothic cathedral and its cloister are a highlight and are best visited in the late morning. Lunch is a good moment for the city's pintxo bars, which serve a wide range of small plates around the old town. In the afternoon, visitors can walk the city walls and the green Citadel park, a star-shaped fortress with lawns and paths, and see the bullring where the run ends. May to October offers the best weather, while the San Fermin dates bring huge crowds, higher prices and hotels that book out, so a day trip then is not advised unless visitors want the festival atmosphere. Arriving on a morning coach allows a full day, and the last return coaches should be checked in advance. The walking, hills near the walls and coach travel give this a moderate difficulty rating. The Navarre tourism site, turismo.navarra.es, provides current information on events and opening times.