Plaza del Castillo

In the main square Plaza del Castillo there is usually an open-air dance which is always well-attended

At 21.00 there is a basque music performance in the Plaza del Castillo with txistularis and gaiteros and the people meet for typical basque dancing. At the end of the performance they always play a very well known dance called “Larrain dantza”.

The general atmosphere in the main square is similiar to that of Jarauta, but usually with an older and somewhat more refined crowd. It is packed out, but that's no hinderance when it comes to dancing, which is what has brought the crowd there. The music can vary, basque folk music, waltzes, rock and roll, pop, whatever.

The bars in the square - Casino Eslava, Baviera, Gure Etxea, Sevilla, and of course, the emblematic Café Iruña, all have a day-long scene going with their tables and seats on the terraces, and at night they go into full swing with music and dancing. There is a special kind of disco-pub called the Subsuelo with free admission which attracts the young crowd.

At the top of Estafeta Street and surroundings (Duque de Ahumada street and Espoz y Mina street) there are another group of bars with a similiar atmosphere: La Granja, The Fitero, The Monasterio, El Gaucho, The Niza. They are particularly popular for the daily lunch-hour drink and after the bull-fights in the afternoons, although they also have their night-long action. Sandwitches and suppers can usually be had at El Niza, although the offer varies from year to year. It's a big bar and with a bit of luck you can get a seat there (seats are at a premium during the Fiesta). The people like to go there to watch the running of the bulls on the TV and have a nice breakfast. The run is only four meters from there, but some people don’t want to be waiting for hours on the fence and prefer to have a hot chocolate and txurros while they are watching the running of the bulls.