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Running of the Bulls 2024

An exhilarating spectacle awaits at the Festival San Fermín in Pamplona, Spain

Running of the Bulls is one of the world’s most iconic bucket-list events for thrill seekers. It’s also a week-long festival that celebrates the best of Spanish culture. If you enjoy the taste for derring-do, and perhaps a pintxo or two, make plans to visit Pamplona, Spain.

The famous Running of the Bulls is the hallmark of the Festival San Fermín. This annual festival is held July 6–14 in the northern Spanish town of Pamplona. While the city is lovely to visit year-round, this summer festival is the city at its most expressive. The event hosts fireworks, bullfights, dancing, and merriment throughout the week.

Global Air Charters can make your journey to Pamplona tranquil and relaxing before you step into the streets with the charging bovines. Our ultra-long-range Gulfstream airframes put Pamplona within non-stop of the United States for a seamless travel experience.

Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of your visit to the Festival San Fermín in 2024. Contact our flight coordinators to begin making arrangements.

Arrival Airport

If you charter a private jet, the best option for arrival is Pamplona Airport (LEPP), located six kilometers from the city center. This small, efficient airport caters to private aviation needs, ensuring a smooth arrival and departure.

Where to Stay

Pamplona offers several choices for elegant accommodations within close proximity to the festival’s main attractions. We can’t resist the charming Gran Hotel La Perla, a five-star hotel on the gorgeous Plaza del Castillo. Many of its rooms have balconies that overlook the bulls’ running route.

Enjoying the Festival

Beyond the Running of the Bulls, the San Fermín Festival features a variety of other events and traditions to enliven your week-long stay in Spain.

The opening ceremony, called “El Txupinazo”, is July 6th at noon in the Plaza Consistorial in front of City Hall. This raucous event officially kicks off the festival with fireworks and revelry. Eat a good meal beforehand, bring plastic bottled beverages, and be prepared to get showered in wine as the celebrations take hold.

If you want to be a part of the opening ceremony but not stuck in the crowd, you can rent a balcony over the plaza for an eagle-eyed view of the party.

Every day of the festival, you’ll be dazzled by its many parades, processions, and events, featuring traditional Basque music, dancing, and giant puppets called “gigantes”. Each night, spectacular fireworks light up the sky, providing a perfect end to the day’s festivities.

How to Run with the Bulls

To witness or participate in the Running of the Bulls, there are a few key points to keep in mind. There is no formal registration to participate. The traditional attire is white clothing with a red scarf and red waistband.

Familiarize yourself with the route before the race. It runs approximately 875 meters through the old quarter of Pamplona, along Calle Estafeta and others, and ends in the town’s large bullring. While the route is not long, it does involve sharp corners, uneven pavers, and sudden narrowing of these centuries-old streets. You will need to be prepared and have a strategy.

The Running of the Bulls begins at 8 am on each of the seven days of the festival. Show up by 6 am to get the best viewing spots, including at the Plaza Consistorial, Estafeta Street, and the bullring itself. Many locals and tourists watch from balconies, which can be rented for a premium.

Pamplona’s Best Pintxos

Pamplona boasts an impressive culinary scene, and there’s no shortage of fine dining restaurants to try. But you can’t go to Navarre without an afternoon of snacking on Pintxos. The best place to do that is at Bar Gaucho near Plaza del Castillo.