Pamplona Holidays: Old Town, Cathedral and Getting There
Provincia de Navarra · Navarre · Spain · 208,243 residents
Pamplona Cathedral
Plaza de Toros de Pamplona
Museum of Navarre.jpg/500px-Palacio_de_Navarra_(Avda_Carlos_III).jpg)
Palacio de Navarra
Iruña/Pamplona historic districtPamplona is the capital of Navarre, a city of around 208,000 people set inland at 460 metres above sea level. Its appeal for a British visitor is how much sits within a few minutes' walk. The Iruña/Pamplona historic district holds the cathedral, the bullring, the Museum of Navarre and a run of palaces and convents, almost all within a third of a mile of each other. Summers are warm and notably dry, with July and August peaking at around 27°C. Winters are cool and wet. Bilbao, Zaragoza and Santander all have direct flights from the UK, and Bilbao airport is under two hours away by car.
Why go
- Pamplona Cathedral, the Museum of Navarre and the bullring all lie within a quarter mile.
- July brings around 27°C highs with only about four rainy days in the month.
- Direct UK flights land at Bilbao, roughly 72 miles and 1h45 by car away.
Top sights in Pamplona
Cathedral, Palaces and City Museums
Pamplona Cathedral is the city's best-known monument, about a quarter of a mile from the centre, with the Museo Diocesano de la Catedral de Pamplona at the same spot. A short walk away is the Plaza de Toros de Pamplona, the city's bullring, at around 0.2 miles. The Museum of Navarre, also a quarter of a mile out, is the place to start for the region's cultural heritage.
The historic district itself is protected, and it is dense with palaces. The Palacio de Navarra stands almost at the centre, and the Palace of the Kings of Navarre and the Palacio Episcopal de Pamplona are each about a quarter of a mile away. The baroque Palacio Marqués de Rozalejo and Casa Goicoechea are both around 0.2 miles away. Religious houses include the Convent of Santiago, the Convento de las Agustinas at roughly 0.3 miles, and the Convent of Capuchinos Extramuros, about a mile out. The small Museo Pablo Sarasate is barely a tenth of a mile from the centre.
Tours and tickets for Pamplona can be booked directly on this page, where you will find a selection of available activities.
- 1Pamplona Cathedral
- 2Plaza de Toros de Pamplona
- 3Museum of Navarre
- 4Palacio de Navarra
- 5Iruña/Pamplona historic district
- 6Palace of the Kings of Navarre
- 7Convento de las Agustinas
- 8Palacio Episcopal de Pamplona
- 9Palacio Navarro Tafalla, Pamplona
- 10Building of old Archivo General de Navarra
- 11Church of San Fermín de Aldapa
- 12Convent of Santiago, Pamplona
1cathedral- 2amphitheatre
- 3museum
- 4palace
- 5protected area
Iruña/Pamplona historic district
In the centre · Photo
human settlement in Pamplona, Cuenca de Pamplona, Navarre, Spain
6palace
7monastery
8palacePalacio Episcopal de Pamplona
In the centre · Photo
9palacePalacio Navarro Tafalla, Pamplona
In the centre · Photo
-ligera.jpg/500px-Archivo_de_Navarra_(edificio_antiguo)-ligera.jpg)
10palaceBuilding of old Archivo General de Navarra
In the centre · Photo
old building for overall archives of the Kingdom of Navarre
11basilica_02.jpg/500px-Pamplona_-_Convento_de_Santo_Domingo_e_Iglesia_de_Santiago_(PP_Dominicos)_02.jpg)
12monastery
Tours & tickets in Pamplona
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Pamplona can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Pamplona
Staying In or Near the Old Town
Pamplona is inland, so there is no seafront to weigh against the centre. The real choice is between the historic district, where the cathedral, palaces and museums are all within a short stroll, and the wider city beyond it. As a city of more than 200,000 people, Pamplona offers neighbourhoods beyond the old quarter that tend to be calmer and more residential.
For a short break on foot, the old town makes the most sense, as almost every sight listed here is within a third of a mile. Live hotel prices are shown on this page so you can compare options across the city.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Pamplona and the villages around it is a hire car from Bilbao (BIO), about 1 h 43 min away.
Best time to visit Pamplona
When to Visit Pamplona
- 9°CJan104 mm
- 11°CFeb81 mm
- 13°CMar77 mm
- 16°CApr63 mm
- 19°CMay54 mm
- 24°CJun63 mm
- 27°CJul17 mm
- 27°CAug39 mm
- 23°CSept59 mm
- 19°COct78 mm
- 13°CNov94 mm
- 10°CDec87 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
July and August are the most pleasant months, with highs of about 27°C and nights around 15°C. July is the driest month of the year, with roughly 17mm of rain over four days. June and September are milder, at 24°C and 23°C, but rain becomes more frequent.
Winter is cool and damp. January is the wettest and coldest month, with about 104mm of rain across 13 days, highs of 9°C and lows close to freezing. November is nearly as wet. Pamplona is not on the coast, so there is no sea temperature to consider.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9°C | 1°C | 104 mm | 6 h |
| Feb | 11°C | 2°C | 81 mm | 7 h |
| Mar | 13°C | 3°C | 77 mm | 8 h |
| Apr | 16°C | 6°C | 63 mm | 10 h |
| May | 19°C | 9°C | 54 mm | 11 h |
| Jun | 24°C | 13°C | 63 mm | 12 h |
| Jul | 27°C | 15°C | 17 mm | 13 h |
| Aug | 27°C | 15°C | 39 mm | 12 h |
| Sept | 23°C | 12°C | 59 mm | 10 h |
| Oct | 19°C | 10°C | 78 mm | 8 h |
| Nov | 13°C | 5°C | 94 mm | 6 h |
| Dec | 10°C | 3°C | 87 mm | 6 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flights, Ferries and the Drive
Three airports with direct flights from the UK serve Pamplona. Bilbao is the closest, about 72 miles away, or around 1 hour 45 minutes by car. Zaragoza is about 85 miles away, roughly two hours' drive. Santander is about 117 miles away, around 2 hours 45 minutes by road. Car hire from any of the three is the simplest way to reach the city.
If you would rather bring your own car, Brittany Ferries sails from Portsmouth to Bilbao in roughly 28 to 32 hours, and the port is about 79 miles from Pamplona. Driving the whole way from Calais takes around 13 and a half hours on the road, so most people plan an overnight stop in France.
By air
- Bilbao (BIO)72 miles, about 1 h 43 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Zaragoza (ZAZ)85 miles, about 2 h 1 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Santander (SDR)117 miles, about 2 h 47 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 13 h 37 min without stops. Nearest ferry ports: Bilbao (79 miles).
Pamplona is good for
Around Pamplona
Day Trips from Pamplona
Northern Navarre is close at hand. Elizondo is about 24 miles away, and the small village of Ochagavía, with fewer than 700 residents, is about 29 miles from the city. Heading south, Cárcar is around 34 miles away.
The Basque Country is also within easy reach. Tolosa is about 31 miles away, while Hernani and Astigarraga are both around 35 miles. Irun, a town of about 62,000 people, is roughly 37 miles away, and Pasaia is about 38 miles from Pamplona.
Tips from Robin
Practical Tips for Pamplona
Pamplona sits at 460 metres, so evenings are cooler than you might expect, even in summer, with lows of around 15°C. In winter, temperatures drop to 1°C. Pack a layer whatever the month.
The main sights are clustered within about a third of a mile, so you won't need a car in the city once you arrive. Keep car hire for the airport transfer and for day trips. Outside July and August, rain falls on nine to thirteen days a month, so an umbrella is worth packing for spring, autumn or winter visits.
Questions people ask
Which airport is closest to Pamplona from the UK?
Bilbao is the closest airport with direct flights from the UK. It is about 72 miles from Pamplona, roughly 1 hour 45 minutes by car. Zaragoza and Santander also have direct UK flights, at around two hours and 2 hours 45 minutes away respectively.
What is the best month to visit Pamplona?
July and August are the best months for weather. Highs reach about 27°C, and July is the driest month of the year, with only around four rainy days. June and September are a little cooler, but you should expect more rain.
Can you drive to Pamplona from the UK?
Yes. From Calais, the drive takes about 13 and a half hours, so an overnight stop is sensible. Alternatively, Brittany Ferries sails from Portsmouth to Bilbao in roughly 28 to 32 hours, and the port is about 79 miles from Pamplona.
Is Pamplona near the beach?
No. Pamplona is an inland city at 460 metres above sea level, so there is no beach in town. It is a city break built around its old town, cathedral, palaces and museums rather than a seaside holiday.
What are the main sights in Pamplona?
The headline sights are Pamplona Cathedral, the Plaza de Toros bullring and the Museum of Navarre, all within about a quarter of a mile of the centre. The historic district also includes the Palacio de Navarra, the Palace of the Kings of Navarre and the Museo Pablo Sarasate.
How cold is Pamplona in winter?
Winters are cool and wet. January highs are around 9°C, with lows near 1°C, and rain falls on about 13 days. November and December are similarly damp, so warm, waterproof clothing is worth packing.