1 · The short answer

San Fermín runs every year from 6 to 14 July in Pamplona. It opens with the Chupinazo, the rocket fired from the town hall balcony at noon on the 6th, and ends with the Pobre de mí song at midnight on the 14th. The running of the bulls, the encierro, takes place at eight every morning from 7 to 14 July. Check the city council's official programme for each year's events.

The old town of Pamplona is small and the crowd is enormous, especially at the Chupinazo and along the encierro route at dawn. Messages work, calls often do not, and uploads wait. Ringo Light covers Spain with unlimited data at full speed; it arrives by email, installs in one scan and keeps your own number free for calls.

Ringo Light's Spain plan covers the whole of Spain: unlimited data at full speed, 2 weeks for $14.99 or 30 days for $26.99, nothing renews. The plan is at ringoesim.com/spain, and every brand's price for Madrid is compared on one day in Best eSIM for Madrid.

Get Ringo Light for Pamplona, from $14.99.

Installed once, next to your own SIM. Your eSIM arrives by email in seconds.

Loading plans for this destination.

We sell data eSIMs for now to fund the full Ringo service. Ringo is self funded. Every plan bought here pays for the build of one plan that works everywhere.

2 · The crowd and the signal in the old town

At the Chupinazo the town hall square and the streets around it are packed shoulder to shoulder, everyone in white with a red scarf, many filming the same moment. That is the hardest minute of the year for the local cells. Along the encierro route the balconies and barriers fill before dawn, and the same thing happens at eight o'clock.

Expect texts and chat messages to arrive, and a video to send only after the crowd moves on. Save the programme, your hotel address and your train times on the phone before the morning starts.

3 · The programme, tickets and paying

  • ✓The official programme. The city council publishes the full San Fermín programme: the processions, the giants and big heads parade, concerts and fireworks. Save it offline.
  • ✓Bullring tickets. Seats in the bullring for the end of the encierro and the evening events are sold separately; keep any ticket saved on the phone.
  • ✓Balconies. Private balconies over the encierro route are rented by their owners; agree everything in writing and keep the confirmation.
  • ✓Paying. Bars take cards and phone payments, but the crowd moves fast, so a little cash helps at stalls and street bars.

4 · Getting there

Pamplona has a small airport with domestic flights; Bilbao and Madrid airports are the usual international gateways, with buses from Bilbao and trains from Madrid taking around three hours. Pamplona's bus station is close to the old town, and the train station a little further out.

Hotels fill up months ahead; many visitors stay in nearby towns and come in by bus. The Renfe app sells train tickets, and screenshots of the return save stress on the last night.

5 · The encierro, meeting points and safety

  • ✓Running is not a spectator sport. The run is dangerous, and runners must be over 18 and sober. If you watch, find your place on a barrier or balcony well before eight, and stay there.
  • ✓Phones on the route. Taking photos or filming while running is prohibited. Spectators: hold the phone firmly, people push.
  • ✓Meet at a fixed place. Agree a café or a square outside the old town for after the run, because nobody gets a call through at eight o'clock.
  • ✓Emergency number. 112 works across Spain.

6 · Which plan covers San Fermín

Ringo Light's Spain plan covers the whole country: Pamplona, the coast at San Sebastián and Bilbao, and Madrid. If you cross into France on the Camino or to Biarritz, a Europe plan covers the border on one eSIM. Your own SIM stays on for calls and codes.

7 · Around Pamplona

Navarre and the Basque Country are good bases before or after the fiesta.

Plaza del Castillo, Pamplona old town
Pamplona old townPlaza del CastilloThe main square, at the centre of the fiesta, with cafés under the arcades.✓A good meeting point after the encierro, a few minutes from the route.Photo: Krzysztof Golik, CC BY-SA 4.0
Alto del Perdón, South of Pamplona
South of PamplonaAlto del PerdónThe ridge with the iron pilgrim sculptures on the Camino de Santiago, with a view back over the city.✓Coverage is good on the ridge; save the walking route offline anyway.Photo: Birgitta Hellman Magnusson, CC BY-SA 4.0
San Sebastián, Basque Country
Basque CountrySan SebastiánLa Concha beach and pintxos bars, about an hour by bus from Pamplona.✓Buses fill in July: buy the ticket in advance and keep it saved.Photo: Ermell, CC BY-SA 4.0

8 · Frequently asked questions

When is San Fermín?+
Every year from 6 July at noon, with the Chupinazo, to midnight on 14 July. The bull runs take place at 8:00 each morning from 7 to 14 July.
Does mobile data work during the Chupinazo?+
Messages usually get through, but calls and uploads struggle in the packed squares. Send your videos after the crowd disperses.
Can I film the running of the bulls?+
Runners may not carry cameras or film. Spectators on balconies and behind barriers can, but should hold the phone firmly.
Which eSIM covers San Fermín?+
Any eSIM that covers Spain. Ringo Light's Spain plan gives unlimited data at full speed and installs in one scan from an email.
How do I get to Pamplona?+
Fly to Bilbao or Madrid, then take a bus or train of around three hours; Pamplona also has a small airport with domestic flights.

9 · Sources

Read next: best esim for spain