Train stations in Pamplona

Pamplona/Iruña is the only station you need. It sits about half an hour's walk from the Old Quarter.

Which station to use

Pamplona/Iruña is the city's station and the one to book. It stands on Plaza de la Estación in the San Jorge district, in the north-eastern part of Pamplona. That puts it outside the walled Old Quarter, so the station is not a step from the cathedral or the bull-run streets. Renfe runs the long-distance trains here.

The station is open from 6 am to 11:30 pm. If your train arrives close to closing time, you will be relying on the taxi rank outside, so bear that in mind before booking a late arrival.

Trains from Madrid and Barcelona

Madrid is the busiest connection. Alvia trains run from Madrid Puerta de Atocha to Pamplona/Iruña in about three hours. The first departure of the day leaves Atocha at 7:35 am, which leaves most of the day free for the city.

Barcelona is a different proposition. The journey takes anywhere from four to nine hours, depending on the type of train. Some services are far slower than others, so look at the journey time before the price: a cheap ticket on a nine-hour train saves little if the day is lost to it.

Other Spanish cities have trains to Pamplona/Iruña as well, but journey times vary, so search your exact date on the Renfe site before you buy.

From the station to the Old Quarter

Do not judge the walk by the map. The station is in the north-east of the city, and the walk to the Old Quarter takes about half an hour. That is fine with a light bag and tiresome with a suitcase, especially in the July heat.

The bus is the easy answer. Urban line 9 connects the station with the centre, and a special line A links the station, the bus station and the airport, which helps if you are combining train and bus or flying in. A single daytime ticket on the city's buses, known locally as villavesas, costs €1.50, or €0.77 with a bus card bought at a tobacconist or another taking part in the scheme.

Taxis wait at the rank outside the station. With luggage, or when the bus is full, a taxi is the practical choice, and the ride is short.

Pamplona during San Fermín

San Fermín, which runs from 7 to 14 July, changes everything about arriving in Pamplona. Demand for trains is high, and Renfe runs extra services during the festival. Even so, seats on some trains sell out, so book as soon as your dates are fixed rather than the week before.

Book the return at the same time as the outward trip. An open-ended plan can leave you hunting for a seat on the day you want to leave.

Once you arrive, expect the city to be crowded. The bull run starts on Cuesta Santo Domingo in the Old Quarter, and the streets around it are packed for the whole festival. The city bus service is expanded considerably during San Fermín, but its prices, lines and routes change too, so do not assume line 9 behaves as normal. Walking with luggage through festival crowds is slow. Take the bus or a taxi and allow extra time, or travel light.

Tickets and fares

Renfe sells tickets online and at the station's ticket sales point. Buying ahead usually gets the lowest fares, and Renfe offers discounts for children, young people, seniors and large Spanish families. Fares vary with the date, the train and how early you book, and San Fermín week is the least forgiving for last-minute purchases.

For a first trip, book the Madrid train in advance and pick the departure by time of day rather than only by price.

At the station

Pamplona/Iruña has a ticket sales point, a bar-cafeteria, toilets, a stationery and bookshop, and luggage trolleys. There is also car hire and a car park, plus a bus connection and taxi rank. The station is adapted for people with reduced mobility.

That is enough to wait for a connection or buy a coffee before you set off for the Old Quarter. For anything beyond that, walk or ride into the centre.

Practical traps

• Assuming the station is in the centre. It is not, and the half-hour walk catches people out, especially in summer.
• Leaving San Fermín trains late. Extra trains help, but they do not cover the demand.
• Booking a nine-hour Barcelona journey without reading the duration. The range is four to nine hours.
• Expecting normal bus routes in July. During the festival, lines, routes and prices change.