Whether you are on a tour of (Northern) Spain or want to visit Navarra during a weekend away, we have put together the perfect travel guide for you. In this overview you will discover the most beautiful sights of Navarra that you can explore in three days. Get inspired and get the most out of your trip. If your visit to Navarra is shorter, we recommend Navarre in 1 day to view.
Visit Navarre 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 Navarre, we have made a selection of the most impressive places that you absolutely should not miss.
Day 1 – Baztán Region
The adventure in Navarre begins in the beautiful Baztán region, in the north of Navarra. This region is famous for its beautiful landscapes, green valleys with typical white houses and for its rich history. It owes its name to the Baztán river, which flows past many small villages.
These picturesque villages, with their white houses and colourful flowers on the balconies, are a beautiful example of the traditional Northern Navarrese architecture. Baztán was also the setting for the exciting “Baztan Trilogy,” a popular Netflix series.
It is a great experience to drive or cycle through this region and discover the charming villages. For a beautiful view, the Mirador del Valle de Baztán is a must. This viewpoint, along the NA-2540 road and close to the village of Zigaurre, offers a beautiful panorama over the green valleys and hills of the region.
To eat in the Baztán region, our recommendation is Restaurant Santxotena in Elizondo and for meat lovers Restaurant Arotxa. For a good overnight stay in this region we recommend the apartment Arotzetxea or Hostal Antxitonea, both in the center of Elizondo.
In addition, there are a number of sights in the Baztán region that we recommend.
Elizondo
One of the most important villages in the Baztán region is Elizondo, also the capital of this region. The village of Elizondo is characterized by its picturesque streets with the typical white houses. The winding Bidasoa River cuts through the village, adding a touch of tranquility to the surroundings. Stone bridges connect the river banks and invite you to take leisurely walks along the shore.
Amaiur-Maya
The village of Amaiur-Maya is also beautiful to visit. This village played a very important role in the struggle for the independence of the Kingdom of Navarre. In 1512, the kingdoms of Castile and Aragon conquered much of Navarre with the aim of annexing the Kingdom of Navarre to their territory. As a result, Navarre lost its independence.
However, in Amaiur-Maya there was one big castle, where Navarrese troops entrenched themselves. Here there was fierce fighting against the invaders until Navarre regained its independence in 1522.
Remains of the castle can be visited today, with in the middle a monolith which was built in 1922 as a tribute to the fallen troops who fought for Navarrese independence.
Xorroxin waterfall and Zurragamurdi and Urdax caves
In addition to Elizondo and Amaiur-Maya, Baztán is home to the well-known waterfall of Xorroxin. It is a pleasant walk to the waterfall, which can be reached from the car park at the entrance to the village of Erratzu. The whole family can enjoy this beautiful walk, which lasts about 2 hours (1 hour to the waterfall and 1 hour back), surrounded by beech and chestnut trees.
Close to the border with France is also the village of Zurragamurdi, known for legends of covens and witchcraft. Just 400 meters from this village, after a pleasant walk through the forest in which it is located, you will find access to the cave of Zugarramurdi. The dimensions of this cave are impressive: a 120-metre long natural tunnel with heights of up to 12 metres and two elevated galleries. In Zugarramurdi there is also the Museum of the Brujas (“Witches Museum”). Here you can buy entrance tickets for both the cave and the museum.
Another cave is located 3 kilometers from Zugarramurdi, the cave of Urdazubi/Urdax. This cave is completely different from Zugarramurdi's. The cave of Urdazubi/Urdax is closed off from sunlight, unlike the cave of Zugarramurdi, and here you will find a beautiful collection of stalactites and stalagmites, formed over thousands and thousands of years. For more information about the cave of Urdazubi/Urdax and to buy entrance tickets, click here.
Day 2 – 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.
Day 3 – Ujué, Olite and Bardenas Reales
To conclude the journey through Navarre, we start the last day in Ujue. This 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.
Nowadays, more ingredients are used, such as tomato, serrano ham and mushrooms, achieving a perfect combination of flavours, colours and aromas. These migas can be found in many restaurants in Navarra, but for the authentic experience, you have to go to Ujué. If you want to try these migas, we recommend 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.
Navarra has so much more to offer than we can describe in this three-day itinerary. From impressive natural parks and charming villages to rich gastronomy and age-old traditions – this region is full of surprises. We therefore recommend that you continue exploring and be surprised by everything this amazing region has to offer.
