Some tourists go to the warm Spanish coast or the south of Spain and pass by Navarre. Often this visit to Navarre is very short. That is why below you will see a list of sights that you must visit if you only have 1 day in Navarre. If you have a little longer time to visit Navarre, we recommend to have a look at Navarre in 3 days.
Visit Navarre in 1 day
To make the most of a short visit to Navarre, we have collected below the sights that you should not miss. Since one day does not offer much time, there are two options: Pamplona for lovers of big cities, or Ujue, Olite and the Bardenas Reales for those who want to discover two medieval villages, one with a sanctuary-fortress and the other with a beautiful castle, and a unique desert.
Pamplona
Pamplona is the capital of Navarre and is mainly known for the San Fermín celebrations. These festivities begin every year on July 6th at 12 noon with the chupinazo. These continue until midnight on July 14th. The San Fermín festivities are best known for the bull running and also the non-stop partying, where people party both at night and during the day.
However, Pamplona is also a very nice city to visit outside these busy festivities. A walk through the Old Town is enough to experience the historical and cultural richness of the capital of Navarre. We recommend a tour to book to discover the beautiful stories about the most important places of Pamplona.
Along the narrow medieval streets are many monumental buildings and iconic places of this city. Churches such as that of San Nicolas, beautiful and characteristic parks such as the Taconera Gardens, the town hall, the cathedral of Santa Maria la Real, the square Plaza del Castillo and many more.
Pamplona's old town is also full of bars where you can enjoy small-format drinks diverse gastronomy from Navarre. These are the so-called pinchos/pintxos (“small bites”). This one is highly recommended pintxos to combine with a delicious local wine. To taste the typical pintxos, Bar Gaucho is the perfect place, with all kinds of different pintxos and a cozy atmosphere.
The beautiful cathedral of Santa María la Real is just a 4-minute walk from the town hall. This cathedral was built during the 14th and 15th centuries on the site of the ancient forum of Pompaelo. The north tower of the cathedral houses María, the largest church bell from Spain. Inside the cathedral is one of the best Gothic cloisters in Europe.
Behind this cathedral Caballo Blanco (“White Horse”), one of the most charming spots in the city. From here you can enjoy the best views about the city, where you see the neighborhoods rochapea, Chantrea and San Jorge can admire, with the mountain in the background San Cristobal and its abandoned fortress on the summit.
After a long day in the beautiful capital of Navarre, it is time to go for dinner. Our recommendation is the restaurant Iruñazarra, in the centre of Pamplona. This restaurant serves typical Navarrese dishes, but with a more modern and refined style. Perfect to get to know Navarrese gastronomy better.
For an overnight stay, we recommend Hotel Europa, which is located 300 metres from the Iruñazarra restaurant.
Ujué, Olite and Bardenas Reales
The second option is better suited for nature, photography and road trip loversThis second option requires more travel time by car and is more active, and therefore less suitable for those who prefer to stroll through Pamplona at a leisurely pace.
Ujue
Ujue is a beautiful medieval village about 45 minutes drive from Pamplona and is listed in the list of Los Pueblos más Bonitos de España (“The Most Beautiful Villages of Spain”). A walk through the steep, labyrinthine streets is a wonderful experience. In addition, Ujué is also home to one of the most important monumental buildings of Navarrese medieval architecture. This is the Romanesque sanctuary-fortress of Santa Maria, which was built between the 11th and 14th centuries.
If the Navarrese village of Ujué is known for anything, besides being one of the most beautiful villages in Spain, it is for its wonderful Migas del Pastor (“Breadcrumbs of the Shepherd”). Migas is one traditional dish with humble origins. In its most basic form, they were made with ingredients accessible to any shepherd. These ingredients are stale bread, lamb fat, garlic, water and salt.
Tegenwoordig worden er meer ingrediënten gebruikt, zoals tomaat, serranoham en paddenstoelen, waarmee een perfecte combinatie van smaken, kleuren en aroma’s wordt bereikt. Deze migas zijn te vinden in veel restaurants in Navarra, maar voor de authentieke ervaring moet je in Ujué zijn. Als je deze migas wilt proeven, dan raden we het Restaurante Meson de las Torres on. However, then our recommendation is to first Olite to visit and then Ujué.
Olite
Olite is a small town about 35 minutes drive from Pamplona and 20 minutes from Ujue. This is where one of Navarra's most popular tourist attractions is located, namely the Royal Palace of Olite.
The Royal Palace of Olite is the perfect place to learn more about Navarre's medieval history. This palace can be explored from the inside, with access to galleries, rooms and the various towers. In addition to exploring the palace, Olite has more wonderful experiences to offer. Walking through the medieval alleys of the old town or visiting beautiful churches are some examples.
We recommend eating in Olite, unless you really want to try the Migas. Then we recommend visiting Olite first and then Ujué. Our recommended restaurants in Olite are Gambarte or Casa Del Preboste, and for people who like fine dining we recommend it Parador de Olite restaurant. These restaurants all serve typical Navarrese dishes.
Bardenas Reales
A 45-minute drive from Olite are the Bardenas Reales, one of the most visited sights in Navarre. The Bardenas Reales is a semi-desert in the southeast of Navarre.
This is one of Navarre's most popular attractions thanks to its enchanting ravines and plateaus that form an almost moon-like landscape. In recent years the area has become even more popular due to its appearance in TV series Game of Thrones.
The Bardenas Reales offers more than 700 kilometers of roads for nature lovers and is best explored by car or bicycle. However, we also recommend using a guided tour to get to know the story behind the Bardenas.
For an overnight stay, our recommendation for a unique experience is Hotel Aire de Bardenas. For those who prefer something a little more normal, we recommend Alojamiento Rural La Alberca . It is known for its hospitality and is ideal for nature-loving travelers.
These are our recommended things to do in Navarre if you only have 1 day to visit Navarre. However, we recommend staying in Navarra for a longer period of time, as there are many other beautiful places to visit. If you change your mind and want to stay in Navarre for a bit longer, check out Navarre in 3 days.
