Car Rental - Pamplona

Perhaps most famous as the location for the globally known Running of the Bulls, Pamplona is a town brimming with Spanish traditions and architecture. Capital of the Navarre region, the city’s cobbled streets combine with its 16th-century architecture to create a unique atmosphere.

While driving around in your Pamplona car rental, you’ll discover that the city packs tradition at every turn – from the hidden gems amid its warren of narrow medieval streets to the grand cathedral that dominates its skyline. Renting a car in Pamplona is the best way to see it, as well as giving you the freedom to discover more of the wider Navarre region, including the religious haven of Corella and the medieval Sanguesa.

We have a pick-up point at the airport, where we’ll aim to get you in your vehicle as quickly and smoothly as possible. Choose from a wide collection of Pamplona car rentals, from compact models to sportier vehicles and family cars.

Whenever you rent a car from us, there are no credit card fees or hidden extras. Our best price guarantee also means we’ll refund the difference if you find a lower Hertz price online.

Pamplona – or Iruña" in Basque – is an excellent driving base from which to explore north-eastern Spain in your rental car. France lies over the border to the north, while the Basque Country sits to the west. You’ll find the province of La Rioja to the south-west, and the Aragón region to the south-east.

The city is only a short drive away from the sandy beaches and fine restaurants of San Sebastián and the Pyrenees Mountain range. While many will be familiar with Pamplona’s bull-running festival in July, the capital of the Navarre region is also a major destination on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, attracting thousands of visitors each year.

The San Fermín Festival

The Pamplona festival is otherwise known as The Running of the Bulls and is held each year in early July. During the week-long event, bulls are released to charge down the town’s narrow medieval streets along a 1,000-yard-long course. It starts from Santo Domingo Street until it reaches the cobbled streets of the Old Town, with participants scrambling to safety in between.

It’s a frantic spectacle and there many places to watch the runs, whether it's behind the fences or from the spectator stand, but the best place is from a private balcony high above the street.

If you want to take part in the run, you must be over 18 years old and speak to experienced runners, as the bulls charge at an incredible pace, so getting some safety tips in advance is essential.

Exploring the City Center

If you’re not traveling to Pamplona for the bulls, then you’ll experience a beautiful city full of medieval charm. The old quarter is the main attraction for first-time visitors and has a maze-like quality with its long, narrow streets and different height buildings. Complementing the old quarter is the citadel, initially built by King Philip II in 1571 to guard against invasions from the French.

Protecting the citadel are Pamplona’s city walls, which are some of the best preserved in Spain, and a significant tourist attraction. From here, you can explore the parks of Media Luna and Taconera, from where you can see the walls’ bastions and defense structures.

Pintxo Refreshments

Pamplona is the first major town on the Camino pilgrimage route and attracts lots of walkers, especially during the peak summer months.

Like most cities in the Basque Country, you’ll find Pamplona’s tapas bars serving mouthwatering dishes. One of those is pintxo, a Basque version of pincho, which is a slice of meat, fish or vegetable, skewered with a cocktail stick to a piece of crusty bread.

Day Trips From Pamplona

Renting a car in Pamplona is an excellent way to explore the Basque country, with some of the most beautiful parts of Spain less than a two-hour drive away.

Bilbao is a major tourist draw, with its modernist art and great cuisine, and it’s about an hour and 45 minute drive if you’re renting a car in Pamplona along the A1 highway. Neighboring gastronomical city San Sebastian, with its glittering beaches and bars, is an hour’s drive away, following the A15 expressway.

Whether you’re passionate about bulls, tapas or history, Pamplona is a superb base to explore northern Spain. Pick up the keys to your Pamplona rental car from us at the airport and waste no time on discovering the best of the city and beyond.

You can drive from Pamplona Airport to the center of the city in 15 minutes via the Avenida de Navarra and PA31.

Traffic in Pamplona is not particularly busy unless you arrive during peak season. Narrow roads in the city are harder to negotiate, so it might be a good idea to park your Pamplona car rental on the outskirts, where there are plenty of multi-level parking lots.

These parking lots can be worth finding during the Running of the Bulls, when no vehicles are permitted to enter the city center. Look for parking around Lezkairu, Buztintxuri, Rochapea or San Jorge. If you’ve reserved a hotel, you might be able to park for free, so it’s worth checking before you arrive.

Note that you’ll be driving your rental car in Pamplona on the right-hand side of the road in Spain, and speed limits vary from 120km/h (74mph) on the highways, known as autopistas, to 100km/h (62mph) on divided highways, known as autovias. On single-lane roads it drops to 90km/h (55mph) and 50km/h (31mph) in built-up areas.