Go Wild And Run With The Bulls In Pamplona!

The Running of the Bulls is one of the most iconic events that take place each year and sees a crowd of people running in front of a small group of bulls that have been let loose on a course on the streets of Pamplona. And you can get their without breaking the bank with some great deals from HerHotels.

The event is the centrepiece of the San Fermin festival, which runs from July 7th to 14th and includes a range of traditional and folkloric activities. It is held in honour of Saint Fermin, the co-patron of the region of Navarre, and attracts over 1,000,000 participants to Pamplona each year.

The opening of the festival is marked by setting off the pyrotechnic chupinazo, when a rocket is launched at 12noon on 6 July from a city hall balcony with thousands of people celebrating the act in the city hall square. The key day of the festival is 7 July, when thousands of people visit the 15th-century statue of Saint Fermin and street entertainers create a festival atmosphere.

The running of the bulls take place each morning and is followed by a bullfight in the afternoon. This is one of a number of daily activities that take place during the festival, including a musical parade of giant papier-mache heads and demonstrations of Basque sports. The festival closes with the singing of the mournful notes of the Pobre de Mí (‘Poor Me’) before participants light a candle and remove their red handkerchief.

The easiest way to get to Pamplona is to fly through Madrid, with Ryanair and Aer Lingus offering flights to the city from Dublin (approximately 2hrs and 40 mins) in July for just over €200. You can then get a connecting flight with Iberia Airlines to Pamplona in just under an hour. Keep an eye on skyscanner.ie to grab a good deal.

There are a wide range of accommodation options in the region, with something to suit every budget. During such a busy period, choosing a hotel that is slightly away from the madness of the celebrations can be a good choice and NH Iruna Park is a 20-minute walk from the city centre, with buses passing by frequently if you don’t fancy a stroll. The location is very convenient for the airport and the comfortable rooms are equipped with flat-screen televisions and plush furnishings.

The AC Hotel Cuidad de Pamplona is a super stylish option in the business district of the city, with a clean modern design. The four-star hotel also features additional amenities include a fitness centre, a library, and multilingual staff.

For something a little more affordable, try the Andia Hotel, which combines an excellent location with good food. Try to get a room facing Pamplona so that you can enjoy the fireworks from the comfy surrounds of your room!

For great offers on the above hotels and many more, check out HerHotels here.