Flying to Pamplona Traveling by Bus Paris to Pamplona Train to Pamplona Driving from San Sebastian Diving from Barcelona Rental Cars Driving from France Flying to Bilbao Parking in Pamplona Driving from Madrid

Flying to Pamplona - You can fly into Pamplona (PNA - Noain airport) on Iberia or it's subsidiary, Air Nostrum, with connections from Madrid and Barcelona. IBERIA has revised its web page making it far easier to book flights to Pamplona and the rest of Spain.  The airline has also initiated some very attractive discounted airfares on the Madrid-Pamplona and Barcelona-Pamplona routes via AIR NOSTRUM, some as low as 124 EUR roundtrip, including taxes and fees.  Regular fares can run as high as 430 EUR roundtrip on the Madrid-Pamplona route. The steepest discounted Madrid-Pamplona airfare is for the 4:50 pm flight, with a return flight at 7:00 am.  The least expensive fare from Barcelona to Pamplona departs at 2:00 pm with a return departing at 9:15 pm.  These flights may be very practical for those staying in Madrid or Barcelona prior to arriving in Pamplona.  Please note that discounted fares on the Madrid and Barcelona routes are limited.  This is a very popular route during the fiesta.  Check the IBERIA web site for the most current flight information and schedules on its English page.  Be sure to join the 'Iberia Plus' program if you are not already a member of the American Airlines or another One World frequent flyer program. An alternative to flying to Pamplona from Madrid or Barcelona, is to fly to the smaller regional airport of San Sebastian-Donostia, in the village of Hondarribia, with 8 non-stop flights daily from Madrid and 4 from Barcelona.  Once there, you can then either rent a car, take a taxi or a bus (from San Sebastian), or we can arrange a private transfer to Pamplona.

Flying to Bilbao - Bilbao, Spain's leading business center of the Basque Country, is located 130 kms northwest of Pamplona on the Basque coast and is served by a number of international carriers.  SpanAir (www.spanair.com) and Air Europa (www.aireuropa.com) also offer daily service to Bilbao from various airports within Spain and on connecting flights from the rest of Europe and North America. Flying to Bilbao is often the least expensive option when traveling to Pamplona.  There are five daily Iberia flights from Barcelona beginning at 11:30 and ten from Madrid beginning at 6:50 am.  Spanair also offers seven non-stop daily flights from Madrid and four from Barcelona.  In addition, there are non-stop and connecting flights into Bilbao from England (Heathrow & Stansted), France (CDG Paris) and Germany (5 locations), Belgium (Brussels), Italy (Milan) & Portugal (Lisbon). Once you arrive at Bilbao, you can either catch the bus from the city Termibus terminal, which will bring you to Pamplona in about two hours at a very reasonable cost, rent a car, hire a taxi, or we can arrange for a private transfer.  A private transfer is the fastest way to reach Pamplona from the Bilbao airport, and economical for four or more people. Check Iberia and Spanair for the updated flight schedules.

By train - There is excellent train service from Barcelona, Madrid and San Sebastian-Donostia to Pamplona. Barcelona - There are three morning trains from and one afternoon train running to Pamplona. Reservations are required. The ALVIA departs at 06:40, 07:40 and 09:40. The trip takes about 3 hrs 51 min. The 06:40 train is scheduled to run 5 days week (Monday-Friday). The 07:40 train is scheduled to run Wednesday-Sunday and 7 days/week on certain holidays. The 09:20 is currently scheduled to run 7 days/week. The Miguel de Unamuno (Talgo) departs daily at 12:30 pm, arriving in Pamplona at 6:30 pm. The Pio Baroja (Estrella - sleeper) is no longer running on this route. Madrid - There are now four daily departures from Atocha Station to Pamplona.  Advanced reservations are absolutely essential for these trains. The ALVIA departs at 07:40 (3hrs 15 min), 10:35 (2hrs 59 min), 15:05 (3hrs 9 min) and 19:35 (3hrs 30 min). The 10:35 train does not run on Sunday. The 19:35 train does not run on Saturday. San Sebastian-Donostia - There are now three daily departures from Donostia.  Advanced reservations are highly recommended for these trains during the fiesta. The Miguel de Unamuno (Talgo) departs daily at 10:45 am, arriving in Pamplona at 12:30 pm. The ALVIA departs daily at 4:10 pm (1hr 43 min), 5:51 (1hr 41 min). All trains begin in Irun, at the French-Spanish frontier. You should check the Renfe schedule at least 62 days in advance of your departure date to see if there are any schedule changes and to book you ticket.

Paris to Pamplona by train - There is an overnight train departing Paris-Austerlitz station at 11:14 pm, connecting in Hendaye and Irun (at the frontier) the following morning, arriving in Pamplona at 12:32 pm.  This train cannot be booked on the SNCF web site, but it can be booked at Rail Europe, or through your favorite travel agent. There are several daily trains, the TGV, from Paris-Montparnasse to Biarritz.  Bookings are generally available 90 days in advance through the SNCF web site.

Driving from Madrid - The most direct route recommend by mappy.com is to take the A-2 from Madrid (direction Zaragoza) as far as Medinaceli (exit 150) where you will pick up the N-III and head to Soria.  At Soria, you take the N-122 as far as Tudela.  Here you have the option of taking the A-15, the motorway (Autopista) directly into Pamplona, or following the N-121 into the city.  The N-121 becomes Avenue Zaragoza once you reach the city limits.  It also leads you directly to our main hotel, the H. Avenida.  This route, as suggested by viamichelin.com, is 409 kms in length, and one we've used many times over the years.  The trip will take 4-1/2 hours, but we highly recommend a two-hour lunch stop at the Soria Parador, or in the village of Cintruenigo at the acclaimed Hotel-Restaurante Maher (http://www.hotelmaher.com).  This Michelin rated restaurant provides an excellent introduction to great Navarran cuisine.  Closed Sunday night and Monday.

Driving from Barcelona - From Barcelona head west to Lérida (Lleida), then past Zaragoza toward Logroño.  At Exit 17, take the A-15 Autopista to Pamplona.  This route covers 483 km and should take you around 5 hours.  There is another more picturesque Pyrenees route through Huesca and Jaca but adds about an hour to your driving time.  Both connect to the A-15 and finally to the N-240 (Avenida Zaragoza) into Pamplona.  If you follow the more scenic Pyrenees route we suggest lunch in Jaca at La Cocina Aragonesa at the Hotel Conde Aznar.  If you decide to spend the night, we suggest the Sos del Rey Catolico Parado, about one hour east of Pamplona.  This historical monument set in a charming medieval town, the birthplace of Ferdinand of Aragon, is an excellent place to spend a restful night amidst the beauty of the surrounding countryside.

Driving from San Sebastian-Donostia - It is an easy hour's drive in from the Basque coast following the A-15 for a distance of 82 kms, entering the city of Pamplona from the northwest.

Driving from France - You have two main options. Coming from the coast, the Biarritz-St. Jean-de-Luz area, either drive to San Sebastian, following the A-15 or take the N-121 from Irun at the border through the more scenic Bidasoa Valley, which brings you into the city from the north.  This route is about a 1-1/2 hour long drive from the airport or train station in Biarritz. If driving in through the area between Toulouse and Pau, head towards St. Jean-Pied-de-Port and take the N-135, following the pilgrims' route of Saint James over the Pyrennes at Roncesvalles, arriving in Pamplona 76 kms away.  This drive usually takes at least 1-1/2 hours and connects to the N-121 as you enter Pamplona from the north.

Parking in Pamplona - Parking has always been a problem during the fiesta, even with the addition of several new underground parking facilities located around the city, including the underground parking garage in the new bus station, Estación de Autobuses de Pamplona on the north side of the Ciudadela. The city has designated the majority of street parking spaces as paid parking only, so please be advised that if you are parked in a blue zone, there is a time limit, and it is enforced 24 hours a day.  We advise you plon on droping off your rental car when you arrive in the city, picking up a new car when you leave.  Rental cars can be dropped off at either the airport or at their downtown locations. The H. AC Ciudad de Pamplona has limited, short-term parking available on the street in front of the hotel, but it offers guest parking in the underground garage across the avenue.  Spaces must to be reserved in advance, especially during the festival. The H. Albret has a limited number of guest parking spaces in the lot adjacent to the hotel, but they also have an underground garage for clients.  Reservations are required.

Rental Cars - National-Atesa, Europcar, Avis and Hertz are the three companies with offices in the city and the airport.  Hire a car through them directly or through Auto Europe.

Traveling by Autobus - Bus service in Spain is very comfortable, affordable and efficient.  Pamplona is served by Conda from Madrid and Vibasa from Barcelona.  Reservations are highly recommended.  There is also daily bus service from Bilbao, San Sebastian-Donostia and Biarritz.