Pamplona Tours

Discover Pamplona like never before with our official Pamplona Bull Run Tour or learn the art of bullfighting with Torero Training

Bull Run Pamplona, subsidiary of Running of the Bulls Inc, offers the most authentic, expert-guided Pamplona Tours designed to help you immerse yourself in San Fermin and get the most out of your trip! Whether you are wanting to study the bull run route before your run, dive into Pamplona’s culture, or experience the excitement hands-on with a once-in-a-lifetime Torero Training experience. Our tours are designed to ensure you have a safe, fun, and culture filled experience.

 

Browse our Running of the Bulls and Bull Run Pamplona exclusive pamplona tours below and book an a la carte spot before they run out. Some of our tours are also included in our travel packages on runningofthebulls.com, if you need a stress free trip with accommodations and can’t miss events!

BUY PAMPLONA TOURS & GEAR

Bull Run Route Tour – Walk the Famous Encierro

Experience the Most Popular Running of the Bulls Tour

Running with the bulls at the Festival de San Fermin in Pamplona, Spain can be a dangerous activity.


We understand the thrill. Adrenaline stimulates the sudden release of epinephrine. The hormone rushes into the blood, triggering immediate changes in the heart, lungs, and brain that deliver the instantaneous jolt of power and energy needed to face-down danger or escape from it.


So, when you choose to chase the rush, and assume the risk, we want to do all we can to help give you the best chance for a positive outcome.

On this tour, you’ll walk every step of the five famous sections of the historic Encierro (bull run route) with expert runner Dennis Clancey, or a member of his team, who will provide valued information and guidance to help you form a strategy for how you’ll tackle the course, and to prepare you so you’ll know what to do if things go sideways.

 

Beginning at the Corrales de Santo Domingo (where the bulls are released), you’ll feel the ancient slick and uneven cobblestones beneath your feet as you cover the steep portion of the run up Santo Domingo; make the gradual turn around Town Hall onto Mercaderes Street for the sprint towards one of the world’s most iconic intersections at Dead Man’s Corner/La Curva;  then cover the long straight away on Estafeta as it feeds into Telefonica and down the narrow ramp into Plaza de Toros.

 As you walk the route, there’s plenty of opportunities to interact, and ask questions. When your moment arrives that morning in Pamplona, and the first rocket is launched precisely at 8 AM, your courage will be gathered, and you’ll be set to stand up to your fear, and experience one of the most intense and exhilarating adventures on the planet.

Specifically, runners will learn:
• What to expect before, during, and after the run 
• Exactly where you must be before the run begins
• The best places on the route for first time runners to begin their run
• The easiest and most challenging sections of the run
• Tips on escaping danger and the best ways to protect yourself 

Pamplona gets busy and loud, so during this tour, every guest receives a personal headset to ensure you never miss important details no matter where you’re standing.

This experience also is great for those who aren’t running.

Everyone on the bull run tour gains a valuable historical and cultural understanding of the running of the bulls and develops a strong appreciation for what they see from the balconies overhead. The overall viewing experience becomes much more meaningful.


The tour delivers a fascinating behind-the-scenes perspective on how the event works and what the runners experience before, during, and after the run.

 

This Bull Run Pamplona experience is available as a small-group tour or can be arranged as a private tour for families, groups, or VIP travelers.

Torero Training & Bull Ranch

This wildly popular tour is one of our most unique and unforgettable experiences.

It is designed to help guests gain special insights and an understanding and appreciation of the skills and role of the matador in the bullfight.

 

You get on a bus with other guests and travel about 40 minutes south of Pamplona through the Navarran Countryside to a center where bulls are raised and matadors are trained.

 

You arrive at the grounds of a charming, centuries-old ranch where a training arena has been constructed, and buildings house hospitality services (delicious local tapas, traditional appetizers, and beverages included).

You’ll witness a demonstration by professional instructors as bulls burst onto the arena floor to challenge the instructors and their assistants. 

 

Next, you’ll get personal instruction outside the arena on footwork, caping’ skills, and other basic techniques.


Then comes the moment you’ll have the opportunity to get on the arena floor with cape in hand, and test your newly learned skills.

Under the close direction of an instructor and their assistants you’ll take a few passes from one-year-old vaquillas (baby bulls). It’s a thrilling and exciting, one-of-its-kind, experience of a lifetime. You’ll return to Pamplona having had an afternoon of great fun. 

 

Your camera will be loaded with images documenting it all, and you’ll be eager to share the stories of the adventure with your friends on social media. Of course, getting on the arena floor with the bulls isn’t for everyone, and there’s no pressure. You’ll be very happy just sharing the experience with others.

 

The ride back offers time to reflect or just get some rest in preparation for the activities waiting for you on your return. 

Guidance
• Must be 16 years of age to participate with parental permission
• Not for individuals physically challenged (requires strength, agility and balance)
• Any person under the influence of alcohol or other substances will not be permitted to enter the arena floor
• There is an element of danger, participation is at your own risk, your purchase of the tour, and personal decision to participate directly in the activity, constitutes your acceptance of the Running of the Bulls, Inc. Indemnity and Hold Harmless Agreement. 

GEAR: A SEA OF WHITE & RED

The Running of the Bulls, Inc. Classic 1591 Brand Apparel package includes a t-shirt, bandana, and waist sash. The attire for everyone attending the annual Festival de San Fermin is a uniform of white pants and shirt accented with a red pañuelo (bandana) and faja (sash). The locals can be a little offended if you show up and don’t honor this important custom because it remembers their beloved Christian martyr for whom the Festival is named. The white represents his sanctity. The red bandana about the neck remembers the blood spilled cruelly with his beheading. The red sash is always knotted tightly on the left hip symbolizing the blood from a knife to his heart. Local butchers of the time also wore white. For practical purposes, a red bandana about the neck captured their sweat, and the red sash about their waist was used to wipe their hands. 

Join the Club

Social Clubs known as Peña’s are the backbone of the Festival de San Fermin. They provide valuable volunteer support and advocacy for the annual fiesta. Our Official Club “1591” honors the first year of the running of the bulls. The bold graphic on the back of our shirt is a nod to the electric moment in the Opening Ceremony when all in attendance raise their bandana and tie it around their necks in unison.  Formed in 2006, the 1591 Club now includes thousands of members from around the globe. Our brand is well-established in Pamplona, and as you see others wearing 1591 gear, you’ll know they’re fellow travelers with whom you share a meaningful connection.

Shirt Types & Sizes

There are men’s and women’s styles of our t-shirts. They’re available in sizes XS – 3XL. The shirts tend to run a little small, so we encourage North Americans to go up one size. 


Delivery

Apparel packages are delivered only in Pamplona and may be picked up at our offices on the ground floor of Hotel Ciudadela from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM July 5 – 14. Address is C. Ciudadela, 13, 31001. 

FAQ'S - PAMPLONA TOURS

What tours are offered during the San Fermin Festival?

We offer a few different tours during the San Fermin Festival, some that are open to the public and others that are exclusive to Running of the Bulls package clients. 

• Bull Route Tour
• Bull Ranch Tour and Torero Training 
• Cathedral Tour *Exclusive to ROTB Package Clients*
City Tours 
We do have openings in some of these tours that we open to others, check out the Pamplona tours we have available or contact us to check on availability.


What is the Cathedral Tour?

The Cathedral tour takes place on July 5th and is exclusive to Running of the Bulls package clients. It gives guests a chance to see the inside of the Pamplona Cathedral and includes tapas as well! If you have not booked your stay, check on Running of the Bulls Website to purchase an opening ceremonies package with the cathedral tour.


What is the Bull Route Tour?

The Bull Route tour is a tour, guided by a professional bullrunner, that walks along the same route that the bulls run each morning of the fiesta. During the walk, the guide will explain the history of the route, the way the run works, safety tips for those who plan to run, and key locations along the route. It is a great experience for all guests and is very important for those who plan to run. 


What is the Bull Ranch Tour & Torero Training?

During this tour, guests meet at a pick-up location and are picked up by a bus and taken outside of Pamplona to a traditional bull ranch where bulls are bred and raised. During this experience, guests will get a tour of the ranch, tapas, and will get to participate in a torero with a baby bull. 


What is a City Tour?

Our city tours are very exclusive and offer the opportunity to have a guide tag along while you guide the tour and have the opportunity to see whatever you want to see with a guide who can help you get there and answer any questions you may have. This is a favorite among guests due to the flexibility. 


How long is the Bull Route tour?

The tour typically lasts for 45 minutes up to an hour. 


Is the Bull Route Tour worth it if I am not running? 

The Bull Run Route Tour is great for all guests! All guests can benefit from the Bull Route Tour as it provides the history and culture behind the run! This is actually the most popular tour we offer, both for runners and non-runners. 


We do recommend that runners take this tour before they choose to run as it provides important safety tips and insight on the best areas to begin. This tour does not guarantee safety during the run, but it's better to know the route and be prepared before you participate as this is a dangerous activity.  


Do I need to book tours in advance?

Yes, we recommend you book all tours in advance, as our package clients do get priority spots, so we are only able to offer a limited number of spots to a la carte guests. These book up fast, so if you want to secure your spot, make sure you do it quickly, before all tours are filled!


Are all the tours different?

All of the tours we offer are very different from one another and offer very different experiences, so even if you were to do all of them, you would have a new experience each tour. 


Are tours accessible?

Most tours do require a lot of walking on cobblestone streets (bull route tour & city tours), going up and down stairs (Cathedral tour), and activities that some guests may not be able to participate in (Torero Training). It is important to ensure you check and see exactly how the tours work before booking, so you can ensure it is something you can participate in. You can also contact us to double check if you have any questions.