Get to know the city

Historic Quarter

A stroll through the old part of the city takes you back a thousand years. Many civilisations have passed through and left their mark since the time when the Roman general Pompey founded a settlement of Vascons. The divisions that separated the main boroughs of mediaeval Pamplona can still be seen today, and it is one of the best-conserved walled cities in Europe.

The Historic Quarter is home to a wide range of shops, and many of its streets are being pedestrianised. Here you will find shops, leisure activities, culture and history. The area with the highest concentration of shops lies between four streets: Mayor, Estafeta, Zapatería and Comedias, but you can find almost anything you want anywhere in this part of the city. There are over 500 shops, 200 bars/restaurants and around 100 services.

Cathedral

Opening hours: Monday-Friday 10:00-13:00 and 16:00-19:00. Closed Saturday afternoons, Sundays and Public Holidays. Summer (15 July - 15 September): 10:00-19:00.

Behind its neo-classical façade lies a magnificent Gothic church whose nave reaches a height of 28 metres . Inside, the main points of interest are the tomb of Carlos III ‘el noble' and the Barbazana chapel. Not to be missed is the cloister, a jewel of European Gothic architecture. Next to the Cloister is the Diocesan Museum , which contains a valuable collection of sacred art from all over Navarre.

Plaza del Castillo

The real heart of the city and the best place to start a stroll, go shopping or meet friends at one of the many café terraces. The square, with its many arches, is flanked by distinctive buildings with a bandstand as a centrepiece, and has witnessed many key moments in the city's history.

City walls

The entire perimeter of the Old Part is made up of bastions and walls that offer excellent walks and gardens. El Redín is one of the most charismatic corners of the city.

Traditional products and souvenirs

Reproductions of ceremonial giants and dwarves from the city's world-famous festival, “San Fermínes”; cut stone or wood; the traditional “3 Zetas” wineskins or popular items such as the red neckscarf, a festival poster, or T-shirts designed specially for the event.

You will be tempted to buy some of our well-known gastronomic products. Take time out to visit the more traditional food stores, which will take you back to the past with their selections of Navarrese cheese, wine or the local liqueur, pacharán (sloe berries in anisette). For those with a sweet tooth, try the mantecadas (a traditional sweet pastry) from Salinas, the ‘Layana' tea biscuits, the ‘rock cakes' of ‘el Puy” from Estella or the white coffee sweets made by “las Dos Cafeteras”. If you fancy a good meal, the Old Part has some of the best restaurants in the city.

Museum

(C. Santo Domingo s/n) Tel: 848 42 64 92
Opening hours: Tuesday-Friday: 09:30-14:00 and 17:00-19:00. Open until 21:00 on Thursdays (for temporary exhibitions)
Sundays and Public Holidays: 11:00-14:00.
Closed on Mondays.
Entry: 2 € per person (1 € for young persons/student card holders and cultural groups).
Admission free on Saturday afternoons and Sundays, and also for the under-18's and pensioners, the unemployed, etc.

The Museum is located in the Cuesta de Santo Domingo and is home to some major archaeological and artistic collections that are closely linked to the history of Navarre . Highlights are the mosaic of Teseo, an ornamental casket from the monastery at Leire', the portrait of the Marquis of San Adrián by Goya and the capitals of Pamplona 's Romanesque cathedral.

Plaza San José

This square has several antique shops and a flea market is held on the first Saturday of the month, attended by dealers and collectors from the surrounding area (including the French Basque Country). Antiques are also for sale in Bajada de Javier, Mayor or San Lorenzo streets.

Plaza Consistorial (City Hall Square)

This square is internationally famous for the thousands of people who cram into it for the chupinazo (a rocket fired to mark the beginning of San Fermínes, the annual festival that takes place from July 6th-14th). Around the Ayuntamiento (City Hall) are several shops selling souvenirs, traditional products and gifts.

The route of the encierro ( Bull Run ) and bars

All visitors to the city should at least walk part of the route of the most famous Bull Run in the world. If anything characterises Estafeta street , apart from being the longest single stretch on the Run, it is the numerous tapas (‘pinchos') bars. The atmosphere is particularly pleasant for an aperitif at midday or at the weekend. San Nicolás and Navarrería also have a lot of wine bars. When night falls these streets buzz with music – Jarauta for the younger set, Calderería for older rockers and the disco bars on the Cuesta del Labrit (opposite the Bull Ring) where you can dance until the small hours.

Mercado de Santo Domingo

Behind the City Hall, in the Plaza de Santiago, is the oldest of Pamplona's municipal markets. It is currently being refurbished to include a bar-restaurant and a supermarket, in addition to the fifty stalls offering a wide variety of high-quality produce.