3 Best places to stay in Pamplona

On a height just north of the Casco Viejo, this comfortable 4-star hotel combines a convenient central location for sightseeing, only minutes by foot Pamplona’s buzzing heart, the Plaza del Castillo.

Occupying a 19th-century convent on a cobbled square, it’s a top boutique option, and one of the best for families. Rooms and suites  are bright and contemporary, with big windows, many offering  spectacular views over the city; west-facing rooms get the lovely sunsets.

There’s a small garden at the back of the hotel and a chic all white restaurant in the former chapel, plus valet parking (and  places are limited, so best to reserve one when you book). Bikes are available to hire if you feel like a pedal into the country.

Pamplona’s grand dame opened in 1881, and has hosted every celebrity to the city since. Rooms are classically elegant and extremely comfortable, decked out in a mix of contemporary and antique design, (top choices are the Hemingway or Royal Family suite).

All have views over the Plaza del Castilla (party central) or Estafeta Street (where the bulls run) which make grabbing one during the fiesta almost impossible. There’s a gourmet restaurant, guided visits to the Hemingway-themed room and superb staff. If you can swing it, there’s no better base for enjoying all Pamplona has to offer.

Located in Taconera Park, this big contemporary 4-star hotel has spacious rooms with wooden floors and white and black furnishings, overlooking the park or the streets of the historic centre. It boasts the only outdoor pool in the city (open in July and August).

Relax in the piano bar or, in summer, by the outdoor pool in the gardens; in the evening, settle in for classic Basque and French dishes in the bustling restaurant.

It’s ideal if you want to be central but not in the bustling middle of Pamplona. For those who do want to be right at the heart of things, the hotel also has three apartments in the historic centre.