Running of the Bulls, Pamplona

Background

Pamplona is the capital of Navarre in Spain, and the bull run (encierro) is the heart of the annual San Fermín festival. The route starts on the Santo Domingo slope and runs through old-town streets such as the Town Hall Square, Mercaderes and Estafeta to the bullring; the city council gives its length as 848.6 metres (another figure is about 875 metres). Each run has 6 bulls, which appear in the bullring that afternoon, running with 6 steers, plus 3 more steers at the rear to guide any stragglers. The run grew out of the old custom of driving the bulls from corrals outside the city into the bullring; young men ran ahead of the herd, and over time it became the climax of the festival. Before the run, participants sing a prayer three times before the image of Saint Fermín on the Santo Domingo slope, in Spanish and Basque since 2009; most wear white with a red sash and red neckerchief. The run carries real danger: since records began in 1910, 15 people have died in the bull runs, and between 50 and 100 are injured each year, with medical posts and rescue teams along the route. Animal welfare groups object to the event, arguing that the chasing and noise stress the bulls; locally, the festivities still enjoy wide popular support.

Local customs

• Take a place behind the barriers early to watch the bulls go by
• wear white with a red sash and neckerchief to join the festive atmosphere
• by day, stroll the old town and the Town Hall Square, and in the evening enjoy the street music and fireworks.

Travel tips

• Accommodation during the festival is extremely tight, so book months ahead
• the bull run carries real danger, so if you are not running, watching is the sensible choice
• specific rules and arrangements are subject to the official announcements of Pamplona City Council.
• Pamplona has trains and long-distance buses to Spain's major cities
• during the festival many old-town streets are closed, so walk to your viewing point. The festival runs from 6 to 14 July each year
• summer days are hot, with cool mornings and evenings.

2027 schedule

• Each year the opening rocket is fired from the Town Hall balcony at noon on 6 July, bull runs take place at 8 every morning from 7 to 14 July, and the festival closes at midnight on the 14th with the song "Pobre de mí"
• check the official programme for details.