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For a similar experience drink three bottles of cheap red wine and walk across a Free-way with your eyes closed
I was there last year, albeit not while doing the Camino. The city is only closed off for a very small period of time. In fact I was amazed how quickly it got back to normal. Of course there are crowds of people enjoying the food and wine post the run which you will enjoy if you join I am sure. I thought it was fantastic .
I found service very quick and very quick and easy to walk around.
I think only you can decide! Many people on here dislike it, probably the vast majority, which doesn’t surprise me, but a few of us. i am sure, love it. There’s crowds. partying, drinking in abundance, and just a wonderful camaraderie. It’s high octane so if you like that sort of thing then I think it’s worth getting involved. If you don’t stay well clear!
Possibly not the Spanish acting out. The festival draws people from all over the world.
Yes it does, but (albeit my one and only two day visit), it still felt that Pampolian/Spanish culture/behaviour was ‘adhered to’ and to me it didn’t feel touristy at all. Certainly a big contrast with ‘La Tomatina’ the tomato throwing event just outside Valencia, which felt touristy. Just my view of course!
Thank you for this. Judging by other people's comments, I might choose to pass through the city 2-3 days prior.
We passed through during the San Fermines in 2016. We didn't try and find a place to sleep in Pamplona but rather stopped about 5 km before the town in Trinidad de Arres and then passed through early in the morning before the run (watching it on TV in the bar on the other side of Pamplona where we stopped for breakfast). It is definitely a very festive time, although we didn't really participate in the festivities (my own experience running in the encierro was many decades ago, about a year before my first Camino).
I think you might have an extra "k" in there. I know there are a few twists and turns, but not enough to fit an 800 km route in Pamplona. And even if they did, no one would have the time nor endurance to run it each morning.
Yes, 800 meters.
That looks like Calle Estafeta (the last strait away before the Arena) which runs parallel to Plaza del Castillo. The Camino runs along Calle Mayor by the Ayunamiento a block or so north of Plaza del Castillo, shown on your first photo. I seem to remember the section of the Camino passing the Ayuntamiento was not packed like the area nearer the Plaza.
I just pulled up some 2016 video I took, and the timestamps were between 10 and 11, so yes, plenty of activity. Maybe there was an afternoon lull I was thinking about.
In 1973, I was hitchhiking around Spain and stopped in Pamplona for San Fermin. Even then, it was completely insane and I can only imagine it is far worse now, with hoards of people. When I was there, everybody, including the Guardia Civil was drunk. I was young and cute in those days (that was a LONG time ago) and gangs of young guys would see me and shout, "There's one! There's a girl!" and they would give chase. I ended up going to the bullfight, because it was the only safe place to be. As a pilgrim, my guess is that it would be a nightmare. Good to hear that you had fun, though, Trecile!
I just realized that that was FIFTY YEARS AGO.
Crossing through Pamplona...
and the following morning you could detour to Eunate - not really a detour, but it offers a chance to visit a most beautiful octagonal church. Our Lady of Eunate. From there, do not retrace your steps, follow the remaining few kilometres on the route to Puente La Reina. Do let us all know how it turns out for you. 
I imagine that the encierro in Pamplona back in Hemingway's time there looked a bit like the one you can experience a few days each year in Sahagún halfway along the Camino Francés when they celebrate their saint's day for San Juan de Sahagún on or near June 12th.
The Sanfermines long ago lost its authentic Spanish cultural identity, its local meaning and value -- the things Hemingway saw and enjoyed back in the 1920s.... Its become a kind of 21st C global "Frat Party." Mobs of intoxicated youths, noise, chaos, crime, outrageous costs -- and if you're naïve enough to ask anyone who San Fermin actually was, or what his festival actually celebrates, they'll look at you as if there were lobsters coming out of your ears!
I think you just need to go with what you like. Remember it is a much older demographic on here and a quick look at posts on many threads shows that many don’t like crowds and noise, and would rather spend time looking at a church than partying in Pamplona. Nothing wrong with that of course, each to their own, and if that’s you then heed that advice, but older Americans disapproving of the behaviour of younger Europeans is not a revelation!!! I loved it as did my friend who flew over and I saw no examples of bad behaviour’.
Having half a dozen bulls running at you might have that effect.
My view is that this is a bad time. There will be NO accommodation, unless you book six months in advance, and you will have to pay three times as much as usual. You could sleep in the parks, as many do. It can be dangerous at this time - robbery, sexual assaults etc. There will be half a million drunks.
You would need to check that. I booked two weeks before and we got a double room for £35 per person, per night. Accommodation seemed much cheaper towards the end of the festival than the beginning last year.
I think the run starts at 0830 and starts to get busy a few hours before.
San Fermín doesn't start until the 6th at noon, so you'll be fine.
Are we permitted to refer to ‘livestock events’ now? It might be a slippery and very steep slope if we are, as I find ‘livestock events’ abhorrent.
Hi Camster... following along here! I asked a similar question a while back as this will be my first Camino and also have little choice date-wise but to walk thru Pamplona during the festival. I had some good advice, similar to above - such as waiting to walk through until the streets are cleared. Someone else shared photos and fond memories of the lively daytime festival/family friendly atmosphere, which I found really helpful. As long as we can still find the arrows, I'm hoping this will be fun!
Ordered! Thanks for the heads up. Should be a good "something different" read.
Thank you for the valuable info!
I took note of the albergues you suggested!Crossing through Pamplona...
Hmm. It is not something I would recommend on those dates.
I have a fair amount of experience of being in the city at those dates, though as a guest, not as a pilgrim.
Put all the above comments into a sieve and make up your own mind.
Ask the people in the albergues, I mean the locals, in the days before you are due to reach Pamplona.
It could be prohibitively costly, financially. The best idea perhaps that you have already received is to sleep in Trinidad de Arre the previous evening, and that would give you just about 5km to reach Pamplona so you could be there early enough in the morning to pass through during the day, savouring the sights that you have researched, and then continue at least to Uterga - but book ahead, do book ahead! There are two albergues there at least, the one I know is on the left as you go into Uterga, and was perfectly adequate. Bed, laundry, food. If needed, there is another in Muruzabal, and I think it has a pool
thank you, and yes, I will let you know how it all goes!
Thank you for your input! I will keep it in mind. I'll be thinking of you in Pamplona as we both will be there around the same time!
Hey, I resemble that remark!
For the record, I don't disapprove of young Europeans... I sometimes with young Americans were more like them. And yes, I don't enjoy huge, commercialized "fiestas" while walking the Camino. Especially ones where people mix wine with Coca Cola and piss and vomit in the street. Happening into unexpected local celebrations in small villages have been wonderful and memorable, however. But not the ones I came across where they release young bulls into the plaza for people to chase and torture. I root for the bulls.
I am so familiar with Pamplona, from a perspective of being a regular visitor, that it is hard to focus on the precise question you actually asked.
I'm pretty sure it is more due to the booze than the bulls.
The city is packed
I believe that would be referring to bullfighting in particular, not the San Fermin as a whole as it encompasses more than just the bull run and bull fighting every afternoon.
RIP Dame Edna/ Barry. Much loved here in UK and getting huge media coverage.
Maybe you didn't.
Spare us the presumption, please.
Of course it is not a revelation, because it is not particularly true. This thread certainly doesn't reveal that attitude - review the posts and the nationalities and see for yourself.
Hola! The City of Pamplona during San Fermin is complicated because the municipal albergue is closed. The Catedral does not host pilgrims during las Fiestas de San Fermin usually around July 4th. We walked around the city of Pamplona to Cizur Menor. In Cizur Menor, we stayed at a wonderful private albergue with a hostess that keeps pet turtles. I don’t recall her name or the name of the albergue, I remember clearly because she was a wonderful person and very knowledgeable on the Camino. Alternatively, you may attempt to find accommodations at one of many hotels in Pamplona. As you can imagine, lodging is very expensive during this time. The best part of walking past Pamplona is that you are approaching el Monte del Perdon just beyond Cizur Menor. During July there are fields of sunflowers on the east side of Monte del Perdon. The crops rotate from year to year so there is no guarantee of Sunflowers
. I do caution you to be attentive descending Monte del Perdon. It’s a modestly steep descent and you want to ensure proper footing to prevent injuries. This is not the time to be distracted. I hope this helps you. Please keep us posted on what you decide to do.
If it was Albergue Maribel Roncal, unfortunately it is now closed.
Thank you for the update! I pray Mrs Roncal is well. A wonderful person. She helped us so much!If it was Albergue Maribel Roncal, unfortunately it is now closed.
There is still the Albergue de la Orden de Malta in Cizur Menor.
Albergue de peregrinos de la Orden de Malta | Albergue de Peregrinos en Cizur Menor / Zizur Txikia | Gronze.com
Información del albergue de peregrinos Albergue de peregrinos de la Orden de Malta, en Cizur Menor / Zizur Txikia: Precio, plazas, características, etc...www.gronze.com
You can have a look at what is on the program of the San Fermin festival on the websites of the city of Pamplona (see link for English version).
, founded by E. Hemingway, but the name San Fermin festival is a giveaway and pilgrims, of all people, will of course know that it is one of the hundreds of festivals in Spain and elsewhere in Europe that has its origin in the Middle Ages and in the devotion to a regional saint or a local saint. The religious festivities were soon accompanied by fairs and markets and general merrymaking and the tradition is still alive, obviously having gone through changes since then.
