Whether you are traveling through (Northern) Spain or are just on the road and want to stay in Navarre for a maximum of 3 days, below you will find an overview of the most beautiful sights in Navarre that you can visit in 3 days.
Visit Navarra in 3 days
Navarre has many beautiful sights, but it is impossible to visit them all in three days. To help you get the most out of your short time in Navarra, we have made a selection of the most impressive places that you absolutely should not miss.
Day 1 – Ochagavía – Foz de Arbayún – Foz de Lumbier – Monasterio de Leyre – Javier Castle
The first day starts at the village Ochagavía. Ochagavía is a picturesque village near the Pyrenees with beautiful stone streets and a natural environment. It is located in the Salazar Valley, at the confluence of the Anduña and Zatoya rivers. It is also surrounded by a green landscape characterized by mountains and lush forests.
The most emblematic image of Ochagavía can be found on the main street of the village. This stone bridge built over the course of the Anduña River looks almost picture perfect. It is a medieval bridge that has survived almost intact.
After Ochagavía we continue to the beautiful Foz de Arbayun (“Arbayún Gorge”). This gorge is formed by the Salazar River, which originates in the just visited Ochagavía. This gorge is 5.6 kilometers long and has a height of no less than 300 meters. The variety of nature provides a color spectacle during autumn. It is the best place to enjoy this beautiful gorge viewpoint Iso. This point is easily accessible by car as it is located along the road.
The next destination is a less spectacular, but very popular gorge, the Foz de Lumbier (“Lumbier Gorge”) only a 20-minute drive away. Between 1911 and 1955, Spain's first electric train ran along the Foz de Lumbier. This trajectory connected Pamplona, the capital, with Sangüesa and was 58 km long. The development of new train routes led to the closure of this route, but the remains are still visible in the so-called Via Verde (“Green Road”). This “way” offers a beautiful walk along the gorge and the river.
However, before the walk we recommend having something to eat in the village of Lumbier. The tastiest food near the two gorges is at the Restaurante Iru Bide served. This restaurant is known for its fine-dining dishes that represent local cuisine with a more modern style. We recommend it for wine lovers Restaurante Bodegas Azpea. Here you can taste all kinds of wines in addition to enjoying delicious grilled meat. Finally, we recommend the restaurant Camping Iturbero in Lumbier serves delicious traditional dishes in a beautiful terrace to enjoy the beautiful summer days.
The last destination of day 1 is the village Javier and its beautiful medieval castle. If there is enough time, before visiting Javier Castle, we recommend stopping by Monastery of Leyre (“Monastery of Leyre”). This monastery is one of the most special spiritual places in Navarre and has existed since the 9th century, making it one of the oldest monasteries in Europe.
The monastery is still inhabited by a community of Benedictine monks and also has a view of the turquoise Embalse de Yesa (“Reservoir of Yesa”). The Monasterio de Leyre also offers accommodation, highly recommended for people who want to spend the night in a very special building. For more information, click here.
To end the day we visit one of the most important castle fortresses in Navarra, it Castle of Javier. The castle is close to the border between Navarre and Aragon, which used to be two kingdoms (now they are provinces). Therefore, this castle had a strategic importance, which led to the construction of the rest of the castle. For years it served as defense of Navarre during the conquest of Navarre by the Kingdom of Castile.
We recommend it for an overnight stay Hotel Xabier On. Located opposite the castle, this hotel is known for its hospitable staff and delicious restaurant. Another option, as mentioned above, is to spend the night at the Monastery of Leyre.
Day 2 – Roman city – Ujué – Olite – Bardenas Reales
From Javier or Yesa we leave on day 2 towards the middle of Navarra. For lovers of Roman history, we recommend a short stop at the Roman city Santa Criz, near the village of Eslava. Around the year 195 BC, the Roman army came across a fortress located on top of a steep hill, which later became known as Santa Criz. The town has a forum, a necropolis and all kinds of other buildings. The entrance to this town is free.
After this short stop we continue towards the village Ujue, a beautiful medieval village mentioned in the list of Los Pueblos más Bonitos de España (“The Most Beautiful Villages in Spain”). With its steep, labyrinthine streets, this is a beautiful village to visit. Ujué is also home to one of the most important monumental buildings of Navarre's medieval architecture. This is the Romanesque sanctuary-fortress of Santa Maria, which was built between the 11th and 14th centuries.
Every year several pilgrimages take place in honor of the Blessed Virgin of Ujué. Hundreds of people walk to Ujué from several nearby villages, some more than 25 kilometers away. This tradition has been taking place since the year 1043, usually at the end of April or beginning of May.
Located 18 km from Ujué, one of the most popular sights in Navarre is the Royal Palace of Olite. This Royal Palace was one of the most luxurious medieval castles in Europe. In the 15th century, a famous king of Navarre decided to fill the palace with luxurious amenities. Inside the palace were beautiful stained glass windows, a lion cage, fountains, baths, exotic hanging gardens, and even a giraffe and buffalo.
The Royal Palace of Olite is the perfect place to learn more about Navarre's medieval history. This can be explored from the inside, with access to galleries, rooms and the various towers, among other things. It is possible to visit the palace on your own (also possible with an audio guide) or with a guided tour. For more information, click here. Every month there are some days considered heritage days, where admission is free. These days are up this page (click on “Rates”).
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 also recommend eating in Olite, as this village has many delicious restaurants. The best restaurant in Olite is El Parador. Here you can enjoy typical Navarrese dishes. It is recommended for people who like fine dining. El Parador is located in the old part of Olite Castle and is highly recommended for a medieval experience.
As the last destination of day 2 we visit the Bardenas Reales. The Bardenas Reales is a semi-desert in the southeast of Navarra. This is one of Navarre's most popular attractions thanks to its enchanting gorges and plateaus that look almost moon-like. The Bardenas has more than 700 kilometers of roads for the pleasure of nature lovers.
The most famous rock formations are called the Bardenas Reales Castildetierra and Pisquerra. It is the result and best example of the erosion process that this site has undergone for millions of years. Castildetierra is located northwest of the Bardenas, in the center of the area known as La Blanca Baja. To visit the most special rock formations in the Bardenas Reales, we recommend one tour to get to know the story behind the Bardenas Reales better.
After a long but beautiful day,
