Pamplona has got quite good communication routes, although it must be remembered that precisely those days of the San Fermin Festival tend to break down all the services, especially at the weekends which is when the biggest inflow of people takes place. So it would be a good idea to plan your visit as well as you can beforehand, so that you don't miss any of the Fiesta. If you need help you could also ask to Asociación Navarra de Agencias de Viaje, offers various sanfermines facilities such as getting to watch the bull-running, the "txupinazo" (the opening ceremony of the fiestas), the "Pobre de mí" (the closing ceremony), tickets for the bull-fights etc.

The following is a list of timetables, routes, prices and so on. It all depends on the health of your wallet. So, check out the whole thing and we'll see you in the streets of Pamplona on the long-awaited 6th of July!

SHOULD YOU COME BY CAR

Coming from Madrid take the A-2 (main road) as far as Medinaceli: Change to the N-111 for Soria: Then take the N-122 as far as Tudela, and from there you can choose between taking either the N-121, or the motorway AP-15, straight to Pamplona. The motorway has a toll and it costs 7,45 € for the 83 klm. stretch. The whole journey from Madrid to Pamplona takes about four hours. (About 400 klms.)

Coming from Barcelona: the easiest route is to take the Motorway AP-2 as far as Zaragoza (Alfajarín), then the Motorway AP-68 to connection with AP-15 and then switching to the AP-15 straight to Pamplona. There is a toll and the total price from Barcelona is 35,80 €. If you come from Lleida it is a little bit cheaper: 24,70 €.

If you come from Europe by car the most convenient place to cross into the Spanish State is from IRUN. However, if you want to do some sightseeing along the way, there are more picturesque mountain crossings at Ibardin, Dantxarinea, Valcarlos or Eugi. Coming from IRUN the shortest and best route is the N-121 over the Belate pass. However, if you are in a big hurry, then go to San Sebastian and take the motorway A-15. (There is a short toll stretch between Irurzun and Pamplona of about 20 kms. which costs about 1,75 €). This is a fast and comfortable route which takes about one hour. If you go by Belate, it takes about one and a half hours.

If you take your car to the Sanfermin Festival it is important to know what parking space is available and what special traffic restrictions apply during the Fiesta.

COMING BY PLANE

Noáin airport is situated seven kilometers outside Pamplona. On weekdays there are seven flights to and from Madrid and five to and from Barcelona. There are also flights at the weekends. It takes one hour to arrive from both cities. From these two cities you can find connections to the main airports worldwide. You can make your bookings with Iberia airlines at 902 400500 and get full information on www.iberia.com, also you can see www.spanair.com, a new company to take on pamplona. Two month ago a bus line go from airport to pamplona for one euro.

COMING BY TRAIN

There are comfortable journies by train from Madrid and Bercelona. From Madrid (Atocha Station) there are daily trains at 7'15, 9'50, 14,10 and at 19'30. The journey takes little more than three hours and the price is 48,50 € one way.

From Barcelona there are three daily trains at 7'00, 12'30 and at 22'00, the journey takes 6 hours approximately. The early morning and the noon one costs 32,30 € one way while the night train costs 41,20 €

During the San Fermin Festival the trains tend to be booked up so it is advisable to make a booking as early as possible.

The railway station in Pamplona is situated outside the city. But there is a good local bus service every ten minutes or so to the city centre as well as a taxi service. The Train Station number: 902 240 202 (reservation and information). You can obtain more information in www.renfe.es

COMING BY COACH

There is a very good coach service between Madrid and Pamplona. The company is called Conda (948 22 10 26) and the price of the ticket is 22,82 €. The timetable from Monday to Saturday is: 8'00, 10'30, 15'00, 17'00, 19'39 and 1'30. On Freeday and Sunday there are three more services at 12'00, 14'00, 16'30, 17'30 and 21'30.

There is also a good coach service from Barcelona with a company called Vibasa (948 22 09 97). At the NORD station coaches leave at 7'30, 15'00, 15'15 and 23'00. SANTS coach station also has a service which leaves at 8'00, 15'30, 15'45 and 23'30 (there is a difference of half an hour between Nord and Sants). The journey takes a somewhat long five and a half hours.

There is usually no problem with seats as the company provides the numer of coaches needed to cover the demand. But better to book just in case - the demand during San Fermin might be high enough to cause a collapse in the structure.

There are also coach services from all the neighbouring cities such as, Bilbo-Bilbao (La Burundesa, www.laburundesa.com and +34 94 427 11 11 / 948 22 17 66), Donostia-San Sebastian (La Roncalesa, +34 948 22 20 79), Gasteiz-Vitoria (La Burundesa, www.laburundesa.com and +34 945 26 46 26 / 948 22 17 66), Zaragoza (La Conda, www.conda.es and +34 948 22 10 26) and Santander (La Burundesa, www.laburundesa.com and +34 948 22 17 66).

The coach station in Pamplona is in the centre of the city (Conde Oliveto, 2). Here you will also find the only left-luggage office in Pamplona. During the Sanfermin festivals the left-luggage is at the schools of Plaza San Francisco.