The capital of the Navarre region in Spain, beckons with its unique blend of excitement and heritage. Best known for the exhilarating Running of the Bulls during the San Fermín Festival each July, the city offers this thrilling experience that’s both nail-biting and unforgettable. Beyond the festival, you can wander the medieval streets, discover historic landmarks like the stunning Pamplona Cathedral and experience true Basque culture. Pamplona’s culinary scene is a feast for the senses, where pintxos and Navarrese specialties are served alongside regional wines. Whether you’re drawn by tradition, adventure, or a combination of both, Pamplona invites you to uncover the heart and soul of northern Spain.
Gran Hotel La Perla
Every one of the 44 exterior bedrooms at the Gran Hotel La Perla has balconies looking onto Estafeta Street and Plaza del Castillo. There are also attic bedrooms and suites dedicated to former notable guests (including Ernest Hemingway, Orson Welles, Julián Gayarre and Víctor Eusa). Other famous names to have graced its corridors since its opening in 1881, are Charles Chaplin, Julio Iglesias and Woody Allen. The hotel, the first five-star in the city, is set on Plaza del Castillo and has a breakfast room, as well as several meeting spaces.
Hotel Alma Pamplona
This hotel’s dining spaces, Alma Restaurant and La Biblioteca, are both excellent. The former serves three meals a day, and the latter operates a lunch and dinner service. And you can order lighter bites in the lounge, where you can sink into an armchair and take in mountain views through picture windows. Meander down to the basement, where you’ll find the spa, with a sauna, hammam, contrast showers, treatment rooms and a pool. 54 bedrooms are contemporary and stylish, with a mostly monochrome palette and the odd pop of vibrant colour.
The Castillo de Gorraiz Hotel Golf & Spa
The kind of resort hotel where the hydrotherapy plunge pool is lit from aloft by a Baroque crystal chandelier and flanked by a gilt-topped oversized mirror. It’s a castle with a modern annexe, surrounded by extensive grounds that incorporate an 18-hole golf course. Yet Castillo de Gorraiz is just a ten-minute taxi ride into town (or you can jump on the hotel shuttle). The public areas are opulent, with heavy velvet drapes and Gothis furnishings, while 47 bedrooms take on a simpler aesthetic. Dine indoors, or take in the views with a meal on the terrace.