If you're planning to book a Hostel in Spain for your holidays on July, we strongly recommend you a Hostel in San Sebastian, it will give you the chance to live Sanfermin, the greatest party in Pamplona, held every year from July the 6th to July the 14th. Sanfermin is internationally known for the "encierros", the Bull Run through some streets of the old part of the town of Pamplona.
The San Fermin celebration, originally a party honoring San Fermin, has become the feast of the absolute madness in which explodes all the city of Pamplona after the "Chupinazo". What is the Chupinazo? It's the rocket that is launched every year on July 6th at noon from the balcony of the Town Hall of Pamplona. It is the staritng point of the fiesta of San Fermin. The Town Hall Square is absolutely crowded, filled with thousands of people that take hours waiting for the moment, wearing their typical San Fermin red neckpieces, they explode with joy, shouting, jumping and dancing when they heard the sound of chupinazo while sharing wine and songs in honor the saint patron of pamplona, San Fermin.
Year after year, the streets of Pamplona are full of thousands of people, some of them maybe unaware of the risk, willing to run with the bulls. Locals, visitors, experts, along with hundreds of tourists from all over the world, dare to run with the bulls from the corral where he had spent the night until the bull ring: 849 meters length to run in just two or three minutes average. The Pamplona bull run takes place at 8am every morning from 7th to 14th July, from the corral at Santo Domingo where the bulls are kept, to the bullring where they will fight that same afternoon. Runners must be in the running area by 7.30am, always dressed in white with the red neckpiece praying to San Fermin. The streets through the old town which make up the bull run are walled off so the bulls can't escape. Each day six fighting bulls run the route as well as two herds of bullocks.People stand behind the fences to watch the run.
Pamplona is a city that becomes a great party to be lived in several areas of the city.
The Jarauta area, including the San Lorenzo and Jarauta streets, the Virgen de la O and Recoletas squares. You'll find in Jarauta area the "Peñas". Within the ineffable mix of summer songs, chanted even by his staunchest critics, with music and other great successes Sanfermin.
Calderería area, a modern environment with alternative music bars. This is one of the most lively areas in Pamplona. Where? Calderería, San Agustín, Tejería and Navarrería streets and the area of the Cathedral.
Plaza del Castillo, and Estafeta Labrit. It may be a little expensive to drink there, but on the other hand all the bars in this street bars enable abroad that makes all costs a huge outdoor terrace, not devoid of crowds, something common in all areas of the city.
Around the Plaza de Toros (Olite, Roncesvalles and Arrieta streets). Crowded between 16:00 and 23:00, especially in the hours before and after the daily bullfight (lasting between 18:30 and 20:30 approximately). You'll find here the people going to the run or want to see the atmosphere before and after. Bars are located in areas close to the Plaza de Toros: Roncesvalles, Olite and Arrieta streets.
Pamplona Hotels are very difficult to book at short notice. If you're planning on going for this event then consider booking upto twelve months in advance. An alternative to staying in Pamplona is to stay in a hostel in San Sebastian and make the early morning trip to the bull run from there. Take a train from Donostia, you'll reach Pamplona in 90 minutes.
