Some tourists only pass through Navarre, often with a very short visit. Therefore, below you'll find a list of must-see places if you're only spending one day in Navarre. If you have a bit more time to explore Navarre, we recommend visiting Navarre in 3 days.
Visit Navarre in 1 day
To make the most of a short visit to Navarre, we’ve gathered the must-see attractions below. Since one day doesn’t offer much time, there are two options: Pamplona for lovers of big cities, or Ujué, Olite, and the Bardenas Reales for those who want to explore two medieval villages, one with a sanctuary-fortress and the other with a beautiful castle, as well as a unique desert.
Pamplona
Pamplona is the capital of Navarre and is especially known for the San Fermín festivals. These festivals begin every year on July 6th at 12 PM with the chupinazo. They continue until midnight on July 14th. The San Fermín festivals are especially famous for the running of the bulls and the non-stop partying, with people celebrating both day and night.
However, Pamplona is also a great city to visit outside of these busy festivals. A walk through the old town is enough to experience the historical and cultural richness of the capital of Navarre. We recommend booking a tour to discover the interesting stories about the main spots in Pamplona.
Along the narrow medieval streets, you'll find many monumental buildings and iconic spots of this city. Churches like San Nicolás, beautiful and characteristic parks like the Jardines de la Taconera, the town hall, the cathedral of Santa María la Real, the Plaza del Castillo square, and much more.
The old town of Pamplona is also full of bars where you can enjoy the diverse gastronomy of Navarre in small portions. These are the so-called pinchos/pintxos ("tapas"). It’s highly recommended to pair these pintxos with a delicious local wine. To try the typical pintxos, Bar Gaucho is the perfect place, offering a variety of pintxos and a cozy atmosphere.
Just a 4-minute walk from the town hall is the beautiful cathedral of Santa María la Real. This cathedral was built during the 14th and 15th centuries on the site of the ancient forum of Pompaelo. The northern tower of the cathedral houses María, the largest church bell in Spain. Inside the cathedral is one of the best Gothic cloisters in Europe.
Behind this cathedral is Caballo Blanco ("White Horse"), one of the most charming spots in the city. From here, you’ll enjoy the best views of the city, where you can admire the neighborhoods of Rochapea, Chantrea, and San Jorge, with the mountain of San Cristóbal and its abandoned fortress at the top in the background.
After a long day exploring the beautiful capital of Navarre, it’s time to have dinner. Our recommendation is the restaurant Iruñazarra, in the center of Pamplona. This restaurant serves typical Navarrese dishes, but with a more modern and refined style. Perfect for getting to know Navarrese gastronomy better.
For accommodation, we recommend the Hotel Europa, which is located 300 meters from the Iruñazarra restaurant.
Ujué, Olite and Bardenas Reales
The second option is better suited for nature lovers, photography enthusiasts, and road trips. This second option requires more driving time and is more active, making it less suitable for those who prefer to stroll leisurely around Pamplona.
Ujué
Ujué is a beautiful medieval village about a 45-minute drive from Pamplona and is listed as one of Los Pueblos más Bonitos de España ("The Most Beautiful Villages in Spain"). A walk through its steep, labyrinthine streets is a wonderful experience. Additionally, Ujué is home to one of the most important monumental buildings in Navarre’s medieval architecture. This is the Romanesque sanctuary-fortress of Santa María, which was built between the 11th and 14th centuries.
If the Navarrese village of Ujué is known for something, besides being one of the most beautiful villages in Spain, it’s for its delicious Migas del Pastor (“Shepherd’s Crumbs”). Migas is a traditional dish with humble origins. In its most basic form, they were made with ingredients that were accessible to every shepherd. These ingredients include stale bread, lamb fat, garlic, water, and salt.
Nowadays, more ingredients are used, such as tomato, serrano ham, and mushrooms, creating a perfect combination of flavors, colors, and aromas. These migas can be found in many restaurants in Navarre, but for an authentic experience, you must go to Ujué. If you want to try these migas, we recommend the Restaurante Mesón de las Torres. If this is the case, our recommendation is then to first visit Olite and then Ujué.
Olite
Olite is a small town about a 35-minute drive from Pamplona and 20 minutes from Ujué. It is home to one of Navarre’s most popular tourist attractions, the Royal Palace of Olite.
The Royal Palace of Olite is the perfect place to learn more about Navarre's medieval history. It can be explored inside, with access to, among other things, galleries, rooms, and the various towers. In addition to exploring the palace, Olite has many more wonderful experiences to offer. Walking through the medieval alleyways of the old town or visiting its stunning churches are just a few examples.
We recommend eating in Olite, unless you really want to try the Migas. In that case, we suggest visiting Olite first and then Ujué. Our recommended restaurants in Olite are Gambarte or Casa Del Preboste, and for those who enjoy fine dining, we recommend the Parador de Olite restaurant. All of these restaurants serve typical Navarrese dishes.
Bardenas Reales
45 minutes by car from Olite, you will find the Bardenas Reales, one of the most visited attractions in Navarre. The Bardenas Reales is a semi-desert in the southeastern part of Navarre.
This is one of the most popular attractions in Navarre, thanks to the enchanting ravines and plateaus that form an almost lunar landscape. In recent years, the area has become even more popular due to its appearance in the TV series Game of Thrones.
The Bardenas Reales offer more than 700 kilometers of paths for nature lovers and are best explored by car or bike. However, we also recommend taking a guided tour to learn the story behind the Bardenas.
For an overnight stay, our recommendation for a unique experience is the Hotel Aire de Bardenas. For those who prefer something more conventional, we recommend Alojamiento Rural La Alberca, known for its hospitality and ideal for nature lovers.
These are our recommended attractions in Navarre if you only have 1 day to visit Navarre. However, we recommend staying longer in Navarre, as there are many other beautiful places to visit. If you change your mind and want to stay longer in Navarre, check out Navarre in 3 days.
