The city of Madrid doesn't have its own "running of the bulls," but don't worry: plenty of the surrounding towns and villages near Spain's capital city do have encierros, or bull runs. If you're planning a trip to Madrid and you'd like to participate in Spain's favorite sport - running in front of bulls - plan a day-trip to any of the following cities:
1. San Sebastián de los Reyes
- When: Last week of August
- Often referred to as "Pamplona chica" (Little Pamplona), the festival in this town has one of the most popular encierros in Spain, dating back to 1525.
2. Arganda del Rey
- When: Mid-September
- Besides its bull runs, the town is also famous for its wine production, and the September festivities feature wine tastings and local cuisine to add to the rich cultural experience.
3. Alcalá de Henares
- When: Late August to early September
- This UNESCO World Heritage city celebrates its patron saints with bull runs through its historic streets. The town's summer festival is also notable for its literary heritage, as Alcalá de Henares is the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote.
These picturesque towns are only a handful of the places where you can watch or participate in a bull run, or encierro, in Spain. That being said, if you would like to experience the biggest and most widely-loved running of the bulls, plan a trip to Pamplona for the July "San Fermín" festival. Pamplona is just 3 hours away from Madrid by train and 4 hours by car. If you're in Spain this July, it's well worth the trip to Pamplona to experience the country's most iconic festival.
The San Fermín festival lays claim to the most famous bull runs in the world, as well as hundreds of other daily events including bullfights, concerts, traditional dancing, and fireworks. Known for the red and white outfits worn by festival-goers, this festival has become one of the most recognizable festivals in the world. If you're interested in making reservations or just learning more, explore our site, BullBalcony, or reach out to our team here.