Running of the Bulls: A Guide on What You Need To Know To Attend Festival of San Fermin
Overview of the Schedule of the Festival of San Fermin:
We’re about to leave for the Festival of San Fermin in Pamplona, Spain!
Every year, this festival is held in Pamplona, Spain (in the Basque region). July 6 marks the opening ceremony. During this first day of the festival, called Chupinazo, everyone will gather together in the town square for an opening ceremony with the mayor, and while there is no running that day, you may be running form your friends trying to soak you in wine.
All morning, crowds pack in like sardines at the Plaza Ayuntamiento. The Mayor and members of the Council step out onto the balconies of the Town Hall to greet the crowds.
At 12:00 noon every July 6th, the square in front of the Town Hall witnesses chaos when the start of the San Fermín Fiesta is marked by a rocket launch.
There is an announcement: “Pamploneses, Pamplonesas, Viva San Fermin! Gora San Fermin!” (people of Pamplona, long live San Fermin!). The crowd responds with cries of “Viva!” and “Gora!”
Imagine a sea of people dressed in white with red scarves and a red sash around the waist. (Remember to wear the red waist sash is on the left side of your body, for if you wear it on the right the locals will know you’re a tourist!) The square erupts as hundreds of bottles of champagne are uncorked and sprayed all over the crowd. During the day you can expect atmospheric singing, dancing, plenty of sangria and non-stop partying in the streets.
By non-stop, it is truly non-stop. Throughout the day, the streets are filled with partiers of all ages.
The actual, physical running of the bulls on the streets starts on the second day of the San Fermin Festival, on July 7th. The bulls run eight days in a row, from July 7th to July 14th at 8am each morning, and the fireworks are at 11pm each day, put on near the Citadel.
Bull fights (or Corrida) are held each evening at 6:30 PM in the arena when three Matadors fight two bulls each
Regardless of the day of the week the festival begins, the first 48 hours of the San Fermin celebration will be the most attended and boisterous days of the week. Hotel rooms are in higher demand and acquired at higher rates.
This year, as part of Authentic Travel Adventures, we will be watching the running of the bulls from one of two balconies that we have procured as part of our apartment while enjoying a delicious breakfast, where we’ll have a clear view of the runners along the Calle de la Estafeta route.
Each year Pamplona hosts 1,000,000 participants over the course of the San Fermin Festival.
Expect to eat a healthy dose of tapas, paella, and fish while in Pamplona. Spain has amazing food, and it’s a strong part of the culture to make delicious food available almost anywhere.
As a side note, the Running of the Nudes is held on the day before the official opening day of the festival. Traditionally there are a lot of animal rights activists who wear white underwear or thongs, red scarves, and plastic bullhorns as they protest the perceived animal cruelty of San Fermin.
How Much Do Balconies Cost?
Txupinazo Opening Ceremonies Balcony can run between $695-895 USD. Premium balconies are located on the Plaza Consistorial, which offer direct views of the Ayuntamiento (City Hall).
Balconies along the Calle de la Estafeta, which is the longest stretch of the bull run route, can run between $179-279.
Which Balconies To Choose?
The best place to watch the bull running is from the comfort of a private balcony. The best balconies for the Encierro in Pamplona are overlooking the Estafeta street. Come and enjoy with us the excitement of the bull running along with a delicious breakfast. We’ll meet 7:30am. Contact us using the contact form if you are interested.
Here is how the route progresses:
Calle Santo Domingo offers a great location for viewing the first stretch of the Running of the Bulls (or “encierro”)
Calle Mercaderes is the second stage of Pamplona’s Running of the Bulls, and this 100-meter stretch is one of the shortest but most anticipated as it leads up to Dead Man’s Corner.
Dead Man’s Corner: “La Curva” the corner of Mercaderes and Estafeta Street. is one of the most dangerous sections of El Encierro. The infamous curve is where both runners and bulls are forced to make a perilous 90-degree turn. Some bulls collide with barricades and wipe out, as runners maneuver around pointed horns and cloven hooves.
At just over 300 mteres, Calle Estafeta makes up the longest portion of the Running of the Bulls. Bulls and runners make a gradual left turn through the Telefonica section of the bull run.
The run finishes in the Roman arena.
There is double-lined fencing and the spectators must remain behind the second line of fencing. The first line of fencing is kept clear for runners who need to make a quick exit from the path of the bulls. Thus, the best viewing point is truly from one of the balconies in the city.
We hope to see you there! It’s going to be a fun festival this year. 2019 Festival of San Fermin, get ready, because the Authentic Travel Adventure Thelma and Louise edition is happening! We’re coming for ya!