Bilbao
Discover Bilbao with your family: the Guggenheim, pintxos crawls in Casco Viejo, the Artxanda funicular, and a city that genuinely welcomes kids at every turn.
0 guides · Basque Country, Navarra & La RiojaExplore →
🇪🇸Pamplona
Explore Pamplona with your family: walk ancient city walls, climb a cathedral bell tower, discover the Running of the Bulls route, and eat your way through the old town.
Your family guide
Pamplona with kids: city walls, pintxos and pilgrim routes
“City walls, bull runs and pintxos on every corner. Pamplona does history differently than other Spanish cities.”
— San & Jo
Pamplona is one of those cities that surprises you. Most people know it for the San Fermín festival and the Running of the Bulls, but outside of that famous week in July, this compact Navarran capital is one of the most relaxed and rewarding family destinations in northern Spain. The old town is walkable, the plazas are lively, and the city walls stretch for kilometres with great viewpoints to explore.
The Casco Viejo, Pamplona's historic old quarter, is the kind of neighbourhood where you can wander without a plan and still stumble onto something brilliant. A Gothic cathedral with a climbable bell tower, a star-shaped fortress turned city park, Roman ruins, and pintxos bars spilling out onto the streets. History is not locked behind glass here. It is all around you, and that makes it genuinely engaging for children of all ages.
Pamplona also works beautifully as a base. The Pyrenean valleys, the Bardenas Reales desert landscape, and the dramatic Foz de Lumbier gorge are all within easy reach for day trips. Two to three days gives your family time to soak up the city and still get out into the stunning Navarran countryside.
Navarre, SpainNorthern Spain
April to OctoberBest time to visit
Mid-rangeBudget level
Best things to do
Best things to do in Pamplona
Walk the city walls
Pamplona's city walls are among the best-preserved in Europe, stretching roughly 5 km around the old town. Walking along the ramparts with kids is genuinely fun. The Redín Bastion offers sweeping views over the green Navarran countryside, and the walls are wide enough to feel safe and spacious. Pick up a map from the tourist office and turn it into a mini adventure.
Start at the Redín Bastion for the best views
1-2 hours
Pamplona Cathedral and its climbable bell tower
The Cathedral of Santa María la Real looks neoclassical from the outside, but step inside and you find a stunning Gothic interior, a peaceful 13th-century cloister, and a Roman crypt beneath your feet. The real highlight for kids is climbing the bell tower to see Spain's second-largest bell, weighing around 12,000 kg. That is a number that tends to land well with young visitors.
The bell tower climb is worth every step
1-2 hours
La Ciudadela and Taconera Gardens
La Ciudadela is a massive star-shaped fortress and one of the largest of its kind in Spain. Today it is a public park where local families picnic, play, and stroll. The adjacent Taconera Gardens are equally lovely, with shaded paths and a relaxed atmosphere. This is the perfect spot for a slow afternoon when the little ones need to run around and you need a coffee.
Taconera Gardens are great for a post-lunch wind-down
1-2 hours
Plaza del Castillo and Café Iruña
The beating heart of Pamplona is this elegant portico square, lined with cafes and restaurants. It is where the famous Chupinazo rocket is fired to open San Fermín each year. Sit on the terrace of the historic Café Iruña, Ernest Hemingway's favourite haunt, and watch the city go by. Kids will enjoy the buzz, and the hot chocolate is excellent.
Come in the early evening for the best local atmosphere
30-60 minutes
Follow the Running of the Bulls route
You do not need to be here in July to experience this. Walking the encierro route from Cuesta de Santo Domingo through Plaza Consistorial and along Calle Estafeta to the Plaza de Toros is a great way to understand the festival and explore the old town at the same time. The streets are atmospheric year-round, and older kids especially find the history of the route fascinating.
Calle Estafeta has great pintxos bars along the way
45-60 minutes
Museum of Navarre
This is one of those museums that does not feel like a school trip. The collection spans Roman architectural fragments, Romanesque stone carvings, medieval sculptures, intricate gold work, and the extraordinary Chest of Leyre, considered a masterpiece of Islamic art. It is compact enough to hold children's attention without exhausting everyone. Check the website for current opening hours before you visit.
The Romanesque capitals from the original cathedral are unmissable
1-2 hours
Txikiteo through the Casco Viejo
The txikiteo is Pamplona's beloved tradition of wandering from bar to bar through the old quarter, picking up pintxos and drinks as you go. San Nicolás Street is the prime hub. This is not just for adults. The whole family can join in, grabbing tortilla de patata, stuffed peppers, and chistorra sausage bites as you explore. It is a delicious way to see the neighbourhood.
Baserriberri on Calle San Nicolás is a local favourite
1-2 hours
Our verdict
How Pamplona scores for families
Kids
A walkable old town, climbable towers, fortress parks, and a famous bull-running route to explore on foot. Pamplona keeps children genuinely engaged without feeling like a theme park.
Culture
Layers of history from Roman foundations to medieval Gothic, Baroque civic architecture, and a world-famous festival. The Museum of Navarre alone is worth the visit.
Food
The pintxos scene is outstanding and genuinely family-friendly. Kids tend to love the bite-sized format, and there is always something familiar alongside the more adventurous options.
Nature
The city itself has lovely green spaces in the Citadel and Taconera Gardens. For bigger natural adventures, you need to head out of the city to the Pyrenees or Bardenas Reales.
Budget
More affordable than Madrid or Barcelona, but not rock-bottom cheap. Pintxos bars offer excellent value for family meals. Accommodation in the old town can get pricey during San Fermín.
Planning your visit
How long should you stay in Pamplona?
1
1 day
Quick visit
Plaza del Castillo, the bull-running route, a pintxos lunch, and a walk along the city walls. You'll get a feel for the place but miss the quieter pleasures.
sweet spot
2
2 days
Sweet spot
Two days lets you explore the cathedral, Citadel, Museum of Navarre, and the old town properly, with time for a relaxed txikiteo and a morning at your own pace.
3
3 days
Deep dive
Three days gives you breathing room to add a day trip to the Foz de Lumbier gorge or the Bardenas Reales, and still enjoy the city without rushing.
Fun facts
Things to know about Pamplona
A bell that weighs as much as eight cars
The bell in Pamplona's cathedral tower weighs around 12,000 kg, making it the second-largest bell in Spain. You can climb up to see it in person, and yes, it is every bit as enormous as it sounds.
Hemingway put Pamplona on the map
American author Ernest Hemingway visited Pamplona multiple times and wrote about the San Fermín festival in his 1926 novel 'The Sun Also Rises'. His favourite cafe, Café Iruña on Plaza del Castillo, is still there and still serving coffee.
Pilgrims have walked through here for centuries
Pamplona is one of the most important stops on the Camino de Santiago, the famous pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. Even today, you will spot pilgrims with backpacks and walking sticks passing through the old town gates.
Taste Pamplona
What to eat with your family in Pamplona
Pintxos
Kids love itBaserriberri, Calle San Nicolás
Bite-sized snacks on toothpicks, served along the bar at almost every place in the old town. Try tortilla de patata, stuffed piquillo peppers, and cod al ajoarriero. Kids love the pick-and-choose format, and it makes feeding a mixed-appetite family genuinely easy.
Chistorra
Local favouriteBar Gaucho, Calle Espoz y Mina
A thin, fast-cured pork sausage with a smoky, slightly spicy flavour. It is grilled and served in pintxos bars across the city, often in a small roll. Milder than chorizo and a firm favourite with children who like a bit of flavour.
White asparagus
Must tryRestaurante Europa, Calle Espoz y Mina
Navarre is famous throughout Spain for its white asparagus, and Pamplona's restaurants take it seriously. Served simply with olive oil or vinaigrette, it is a surprisingly popular choice even with curious young eaters.
Hot chocolate at Café Iruña
Daily treatCafé Iruña, Plaza del Castillo
Sitting on the terrace of this legendary 1888 cafe on Plaza del Castillo and ordering a hot chocolate is one of those simple travel moments that sticks in the memory. The setting is beautiful, the service is friendly, and it is a great spot to rest mid-morning with the whole family.
Menestra de verduras
Safe choiceRodero Restaurante, Calle Arrieta
A Navarran vegetable stew made with seasonal produce including artichokes, peas, asparagus, and beans. It sounds simple but it is deeply flavourful and a staple of the region. A good safe choice for families who want something warm and filling.
More places across Spain
6 places
San Sebastián / Donostia
San Sebastián combines a stunning bay, three beaches, a world-famous food scene, and family-friendly attractions like a historic funicular and aquarium into one brilliant city bre…
0 guides · Basque Country, Navarra & La RiojaExplore →
Alicante
Alicante combines golden beaches, a hilltop castle, a walkable old town, and a brilliant food scene. Here is everything your family needs to know.
0 guides · Valencia & Costa BlancaExplore →
Ávila
Ávila is a compact, walkable UNESCO World Heritage city in central Spain, famous for its extraordinary medieval walls, Gothic cathedral, and rich religious heritage.
0 guides · Madrid & Central SpainExplore →
Barcelona
Barcelona blends Gaudí's wild architecture, Gothic medieval lanes, Mediterranean beaches, and brilliant food into one of Europe's most exciting family destinations.
0 guides · Barcelona & SurroundingsExplore →
Benidorm
Benidorm on the Costa Blanca offers families Blue Flag beaches, Aqualandia, Terra Mítica, and a charming Old Town. Sun, fun, and great seafood await.
0 guides · Valencia & Costa BlancaExplore →
Planning a trip to Pamplona?
Get the latest family travel tips for Pamplona in your inbox.