No matter who you are or what your budget, the second best place to see the Running of the Bulls (besides running) 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).
view Bull Run map
Balconies in Zone 1
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Santo Domingo No 29 - Level 2
July 7-14: $174  buy now
Breakfast | Balconies
This Balcony is located on the first stretch of the "encierro", one of the most dangerouse stretch. This building has a great location because you can see how the runners sings the pray to San Fermín and how the runners going to looking for the bulls to the corrales.
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Balconies in Zone 2
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Estafeta No 2 - Level 2
July 8 - 14: $174 buy now
No Breakfast | Balconies
This building marks the turn between Mercaderes and Estafeta which means you will be directly inside Dead Man’s Corner. It is one of the most prestigious buildings for watching the Bull Run. (see picture left)
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Mercaderes No 13 - Level 2
July 7 - 14: $174 buy now
Breakfast | Balconies
From this spacious balcony you can watch the Bulls run down from Santo Domingo into Dead Man’s Corner. It is a short stretch but very high impact. Also you can watch the runners line up an hour before the start and the police clearing the street.
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Balconies in Zone 3
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Estafeta No 9-11 - Level 2
July 7 - 14: $174 buy now
Breakfast | Balconies
This large balcony is located at the begining of the Street. From this spot you can see the death man's corner and the bulls running through Estafeta Street.
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Balconies in Zone 4
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Estafeta No 79 - Level 1
July 7: $174 buy now
Breakfast | Balconies
Estafeta is the longest stretch, packed with runners and balconies. The trick here is to be as close to the ground as possible or your view will be obstructed by other spectators.
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How do Pamplona Balcony Rentals work?
Balcony places can be purchased through our secure payment processor.
The Bulls run each morning from July 7 - July 14, at 8:00 am. Usually, the first days are the most popular because not all people know that the Bulls run each day through the 14th. If you would avoid the thickest masses, we recommend you visit between July 12 and July 14.
Typically there are 4 -5 places per balcony and up to 5 balconies per apartment So if your party is greater than 5 you will still be together even though not on the same balcony.
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 They will not refund your money if you no-show, so neither can we!
Watch a Full Length Run from 2009 here
Balconies in Pamplona for San Fermín - the ins and outs of renting
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!
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 1500 to 2000 Euros per night for an apartment with a balcony on the Pamplona Bull Run route.
- 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 PamplonaBalconies.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 this 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.
