PamplonaBalconies.com
No matter who you are or what your budget, the 2nd best place (besides running) to see the Running of the Bulls is from the comfort of a balcony. If you think you’re going to rock up to the route at 7:00 a.m. and get a good view, think again. You’ll be in a mosh pit of drunken San Fermíners staring at the backside of the people who got there at 5:00 a.m. (see pictures above).
I’ve heard lots of strategies for finding the right balcony... some people want to be high up so they can see as far as possible, others want to be so close they can smell the bulls run by. Whatever your taste, my advice is to reserve a balcony early. Some lucky people will show up that morning, wave 150 Euros in the air and get invited up. Unfortunately, as the crowds grow each year, this is becoming less and less practical and this doesn’t work along Estafeta because it is closed off at 7:00 a.m.
If you do reserve a balcony, make certain you know where the entrance is. Visit the door the day before and ask the owner what the street looks like at 7:00 a.m. Apartments on Estafeta require that you’re in by 6:30 or 6:45 a.m.
ALWAYS get the phone number of your host and take your mobile phone in case anything goes wrong.
Balcony socializing is a great way to meet other interesting, adventurous fans of San Fermín. I’ve been invited over for tea just based on a conversation with the neighbor in the next balcony. We became fast friends and he ended up being featured in our documentary shoot!
See the options on the right for links to our balcony rental info.
Plaza Consistorial
This is the most important spot for all of San Fermín. The Ayuntamiento (town hall) sits on the plaza, and plays host to the Chupinazo (opening ceremonies) on July 6th. Our balcony on the plaza offers a fantastic view of all the festivities.
Mercaderes
Our balconies on Mercaderes put you in front of centuries of history and throngs of partygoers.
“the turn”
This is where all the action is - the corner of Mercaderes & Estafeta. Join us on one of our balconies at The Turn for the best view in Pamplona.
contact us
Balconies in Pamplona for San Fermín
Our Balconies:
This year (2008), I am offering fee-based consulting to help large groups find balcony space. If you’re interested, please e-mail me.
Plaza Consistorial:
Open for the Chupinazo!
Join us for the once-in-a-lifetime spectacle of the opening ceremonies. Some spots still open!
“The Turn”
Open July 7 - 14
Mercaderes
Also open for the Chupinazo!
Open July 6 - 14
How do Pamplona Balcony Rentals work?
Normally, people who come to Pamplona for the running of the bulls bring other people with them. Typically, this is done for proof that the bull runner really did it (usually in the form of a photo or video.) If you want any hope of being immortalized on film while you’re running from the bulls, running with the bulls, or running behind the bulls, your compadres must be in a strategic location. Sitting on top of the fence that lines each intersection of the Pamplona bull run is a hopeless case.
The best strategic location I can recommend is a Pamplona balcony right on the route of the running of the bulls. Balcony rentals in Pamplona generally work in three ways:
- first, you can rent a Pamplona apartment that actually faces Mercaderes or Estafeta street. The price for an apartment on the bull run route will vary, but in general, expect to pay from 1000 to 2000 Euros per night for a large apartment with a large balcony in Pamplona.
- second, you can plan ahead and book a Pamplona balcony online. I’ve tried to offer as many balcony options as possible for the running of the bulls through PamplonaHousing.com. There are other tour packagers who have reserved balconies, so you can check with them if you don’t find what you’re looking for on my site.
- third, you can show up that morning and hope for the best. Most of the balconies on the route of the running of the bulls are located on Estafeta, so it is VERY difficult to wave money and get invited up, because the street closes at 7:00 a.m. There is a small area in front of Caja Rural de Navarra at Mercaderes No. 6 where you can stand and beg for mercy from the Pamplona apartment owners above. It’s a gamble, but you never know, it might just work.
