Where should I watch the running of the bulls?

The iconic bull runs, or encierros, of Pamplona, Spain happen every morning between July 7th and July 14th.

During this event, the bulls run roughly 800 meters in total, covering several streets: 1. Calle Santo Domingo, 2. Plaza Consistorial, 3. Calle Mercaderes, 4. Calle de la Estafeta, 5. the short portion of Telefónica, 6. the callejón (the short passage into the bull ring), and finally 7. the Plaza de Toros, or the bull ring.   

If you're booking a balcony spot to watch the run, you may be wondering what street will give you the best view. Unfortunately, there is no one right answer; it all depends on what you're looking for. That being said, here are some descriptions of the views from each street to help you make your decision:

1. Calle Santo Domingo: This is the very start of the bull run. Choosing a balcony on this street will allow you to experience the most pre-encierro energy, and you'll also get to watch the crowd sing a prayer to San Fermín, or Saint Fermín. Since this is the very start of the run, the bulls run fastest on this street, and it's generally considered the most dangerous part of the run. 
2. Calle Mercaderes: Balconies on this street will allow you to enjoy the build up to the bull run, since the crowd lines up right at the start of this street. This is the best spot to view "Dead Man's Corner," where the bulls round the dangerous corner of Mercaderes and Estafeta. Calle Mercaderes (except for the corner at the end!) is also a great street for beginner runners, so if your loved ones plan to run, we recommend that they plan to run this portion of the bull run -- and that you rent a balcony spot on this street to watch them run. 
3. Calle de la Estafeta: This is the longest stretch of the bull run, so choosing a balcony on this street will allow you to watch the bulls for the longest possible time. You won't be able to experience the build up before the bull run starts since the streets below will be empty until about 10 minutes before, but you'll have an incredible view of the bulls and runners once they're on the street.

Contact us if you'd like to learn more, or book your spots if you're ready!