2025 Navarre Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in October)

Discover the Magic of León Dormido at Sunset 🌄✨ León Dormido (“Sleeping Lion”) is a dramatic peak rising above Lapoblación, offering epic views of Navarre’s rolling hills. Whether you’re a sunrise chaser or love golden hour glows, this beauty is perfect for all ages and fitness levels—the views are the real star! Visiting Tips: Come early for cooler temps, or late for magical sunset hues. Bring water and a light jacket; even summer evenings can get breezy. The area’s open year-round, but longer daylight in spring/autumn makes for easier navigation. Precautions: Trail is safe for most, but wear sturdy shoes—some rocky bits. Watch younger kids near edges. No services onsite, so pack your essentials! #Navarra #LeónDormido #SunsetViews #FamilyFriendly #SpainNature

Pilgrimage Along the Spanish Atlantic Coast – Basque Region If you find yourself in Balmaseda, you must walk across it. Undoubtedly, this is one of the most iconic medieval landmarks in the beautiful town of Balmaseda. Its unique defensive tower highlights its significance in the trade route connecting Castile and the coast. The old town, once a Jewish quarter, boasts elegant historic architecture that is well worth a visit. In addition to fascinating museums, there are numerous restaurants where you can enjoy delicious cuisine. The entire Las Encartaciones (Enkarterri) region is dotted with towers and historical sites.

Spanish Pyrenees Hike ~ Navarra The Church of San Salvador in Ibañeta and the Roland Monument stand out in the pastoral landscape. The church was built in the 11th century but was rebuilt in the 20th century and now has a modern chapel watching over the pilgrims coming and going. This monument was carved in memory of the Pilgrims and Roland. It was a gray slab of stone, like a stele, such as the shepherds had placed on the hills in the past. #AprilDestinations2025 #SpainTravel #Navarra

Pyrenees Adventure in Spain ~ Navarre Autonomous Community The exhibition features a vast collection of carved images, paintings, ancient handwritten and printed books, as well as a series of gold artifacts. Highlights include a Romanesque silver gospel book, a 13th-century Gothic Mudéjar gilded silver box, and the relic chest known as Charlemagne's Chess, dating back to the mid-14th century.

A journey to the Spanish Pyrenees ~ Navarre Autonomous Community On the road connecting Irurita and Ziga, there is a viewpoint worth stopping at to admire the magnificent scenery of the Baztan Valley. If you visit on a sunny afternoon, this is the ideal place to take in the entire view of the valley, including the French border in the background and the beautiful towns at the valley's base, with Elizondo as the backdrop. Across the road, there is a small parking area. Since it is not clearly marked, it might be easily overlooked.

Spanish Pyrenees Hike ~ Navarra Every two years, this village in Navarra celebrates the Mysteries of Obanos, a legend that dates back to the Middle Ages. Obanos is just 20 km from Pamplona, ​​the capital of Navarra. This small village is located on the Santiago Pilgrimage Route. Pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela would pass through this village - it was the junction of two important routes, from Somport and Roncesvalles. It is well worth strolling through the streets and squares of Obanos. Among its many monuments, special mention should be made of the shrine of Nuestra Señora de Arnotegui, from which the legend of the mystery of Saint Gilles and Saint Felicia originates. This story is closely related to the Camino de Santiago, which is performed every two years in Obanos. #AprilDestinations2025 #SpainTravel #Navarra

Journey to the Pyrenees in Spain ~ Navarre Autonomous Community The Church of San Juan Bautista is located in the Fueros Square of Obanos. This church was built in the early 20th century on the foundation of an earlier Gothic structure, preserving the 14th-century doorway. Inside, there are several precious sculptures, such as the 13th-century "White Virgin and Child" and the 12th-century Arnótegui Virgin sculpture housed in the sacristy. Some elements were salvaged from the old building.

A journey to the Pyrenees in Spain - Navarre Autonomous Community The building, constructed between the 12th and 13th centuries, features Romanesque architecture. The church is designed in a rectangular layout with three naves, where the central nave is taller than the two on its sides. The sanctuary consists of three semicircular apses. The church has a simple pointed dome. On the exterior, the bell tower built in the 14th century is particularly striking. The structure is square-shaped with battlements at the top, giving it a military appearance.

Spanish Pyrenees Hike ~ Navarra The Church of San Francisco de Assisi is a very pretty 12th-century monastery in Plaza de los Fueros, founded by Saint Francis of Assisi in 1213 after his return from Compostela. Located in the Plaza Los Fueros in Sanguesa, the most interesting artistic elements of this monastery include its façade and Gothic cloister, its collection of funerary stelae, and several images in the church chapel. #AprilDestinations2025 #SpainTravel #Navarra

Spanish Pyrenees Hike ~ Navarra The most striking feature of the Palacio de Guevara Santoro (now the Sanguesa Cultural Center) is its beautiful 17th-century Churriguresque façade, with its ornate carved wooden cornices and various decorative details from Mexican and Peruvian colonial art. Its structure is made of ashlar stone on the ground floor and brick on the rest, with an intricately carved wooden eaves on top. It has a large door with a triangular pediment and the family crest is engraved on the door. We also find colonial elements from Mexico and Peru in this door; ornaments of mermaids, suns and pirates. Both floors have balconies with railings supported by butterfly nuts. The noble façade is topped by a profiled eave, one of the most spectacular in Navarra. We found carvings of at least 13 dogs, representing fantastic animals that capture human heads, exotic plants and fruits, and a background of Indians and grotesque figures. #AprilGoodDestinations2025

A journey to the Pyrenees in Spain ~ Navarre Autonomous Community Start your exploration of Tudela's Sephardic history at the Marquis of Valtierra Palace, where a medieval city model helps travelers orient themselves within the current city and discover traces of another Tudela. The palace also houses significant documents, such as the Jewish privilege confirmation issued during the brief reign of Francis I, marriage contracts, and meeting records of the Aljama judicial institution. Connected to the cathedral cloister, the Vetula Synagogue of Tudela is a surprising and unique site. Though converted into a small chapel, it retains distinct features from its previous use. It displays a replica of the tapestry that hung for over a century in the Chapel of Forgiveness, listing the surnames of all Jewish families who converted to Christianity in the city. Interestingly, the Spanish expression "to pull the blanket" originates from this shameful banner. Leaving the cathedral, visitors can stroll through the Vetula Jewish Quarter, wandering narrow medieval streets like Huertas Street, Verjas Street, or Benjamin of Tudela Street, eventually reaching the Jewish Square, where a bust of Benjamin himself can be seen. Finally, tourists can visit the area of the New Jewish Quarter, historically and presently protected by the castle. Streets such as Pelaores, Cortapelaires, San Miguel, and Paseo del Castillo offer numerous corners to immerse oneself in the medieval atmosphere, filled with memories.

Spanish Pyrenees Hike ~ Navarra Santiago, the capital of the Estrella region, has its origins as a Roman and Vasconian settlement, but it was King Sancho Ramírez of Navarre who founded the present city to accommodate the many pilgrims who made their way to Santiago. The fact that it was located on the Camino de Santiago and served as a royal court contributed to its economic prosperity throughout the Middle Ages. Authentic medieval streets lead us to admire jewels of Romanesque architecture. At the top of the Grand Staircase is the Cistercian Church of San Pedro de la Rua. Romanesque elements of its structure and decoration are evident in its façade and cloisters. Semicircular arches and narrative capitals with floral and figurative decoration lead to the cloister, a great place to stroll and admire the exquisite craftsmanship of the biblical scenes. Overall, the neighborhood where it is located, near San Nicolas Street and Curtidores Street, is the most beautiful and monumental in town. #AprilGoodDestinations2025

A journey to the Pyrenees in Spain ~ Navarre Autonomous Community Inside this simple church, there is an exhibition featuring paintings that depict the evolution of the Kingdom of Navarre from 925 to 1234 (faithful to history), which might surprise many visitors. It also includes the present-day province of Biscay and serves as a great example of urban history. For a decade, it has remained closed and forgotten. Located in the former Jewish quarter, it is believed that it might have originally been a synagogue. It has been mistakenly identified as a castle church; although it is connected to the walled area, it was never a castle church.

Spanish Pyrenees Hike ~ Navarra The Monastery of Santo Domingo was formerly a monastery in Estella (Navarre, Spain). It was founded in 1259 by order of King Tybalt II of Navarre and by Dominican friars. In 1839, by the Act of Confiscation, the abbey became public property. In the 1970s the Provincial Council of Navarra undertook a major restoration and, as I mentioned at the beginning, part of the monastery was turned into a sanatorium. The photo was taken from outside. The main body of the church and monastery has been preserved, both in Gothic style with a single nave. #AprilDestinations2025 #SpainTravel

A journey to the Pyrenees in Spain ~ Navarre Autonomous Community This church was initiated by Charles the Noble in 1397, built upon a 12th-century Romanesque structure, and completed in 1501. Above the high altar stands the statue of the Royal Virgin Mary, where the Kings of Navarre once swore their oaths. The current building was constructed on the ruins of the previous Romanesque church, which was destroyed in the 14th century. The cathedral is divided into three Gothic naves, showcasing several different styles. The central hall houses the tombs of Charles III the Noble and his wife, Dona Leonor. The exterior of the cathedral features Neoclassical architecture, while the interior and the 14th-century cloister are Gothic in style.

Spanish Pyrenees Hike ~ Navarra Although it is not as well-known as the famous San Lorenzo Church, dedicated to the patron saint of Navarre, San Fermin de Aldapa holds a special symbolic meaning for the locals, as it is believed to be the original birthplace of the cult of San Fermin. The church is located in the Navarreria neighborhood of Pamplona, ​​in an elevated area known as "la Aldapa" (which means "the hill" in Basque), hence its name. This is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city and the church has a modest atmosphere that contrasts with the historical significance it represents: it was built in the 18th century and, according to tradition, it is here that San Fermin was born. First bishop and patron saint of the city. Despite its simple architecture, the place is full of spirituality and symbolism. Statues of saints are enshrined inside, and many believers come to pray for blessings and protection. The cathedral is also famous for the Octava de San Fermín, held in September, a more local and more intimate festival than the larger San Fermin Festival in July. During these September celebrations, the devotion takes on a more intimate and less touristic character, attracting those seeking a deeper connection with the saint. #AprilGoodDestinations2025

A journey through the Pyrenees in Spain ~ Navarre Autonomous Community The walls stretch for approximately 5 kilometers and were constructed to defend the strategic fortress of Pamplona, located between the Spanish and French borders. Notable features include bastions, moats, and gates, with the Francia Gate, equipped with a pulley system, still in use today. Walking along the walls offers panoramic views of the Arga River and the city of Pamplona. The walls of Pamplona date back to Roman times but were significantly expanded and reinforced during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

This is the wine fountain at the Irache Monastery ​Free wine for pilgrims ​Wine comes out of the tap!! ​You can get it on a first-come, first-served basis ​But since it was off-season, I was able to get it leisurely ​I got a small bottle and drank it every time I took a break ㅎㅎ And right next to the monastery is the wine museum ​Admission is free, and you can buy a commemorative bracelet for 1 euro as a souvenir They also stamp pilgrims, and the museum is on the 3rd basement floor, so if you have time, it would be good to look around #European travel #Irache #Buencamino

There are some symbolic places on the pilgrimage route. Perdon Hill is said to mean the hill of forgiveness. Perdon Hill is not as high as the Pyrenees Mountains, and as its name suggests, it is not too difficult if you climb slowly. As you get closer to the top, you will see a large windmill. Below it is a statue that seems to symbolize a pilgrim. This is Perdon Hill. If you are walking the pilgrimage route with friends, I strongly recommend taking a commemorative photo :) ​ #EuropeanTravel #PerdonHill #HillofForgiveness

During the month-long journey, on the Camino de Santiago, I had a routine of my own. Whenever I entered a big city, I would stay overnight and take a full day off. Personally, I thought this kind of rest was really important, so instead of staying in an albergue, I would take a private rest in a hotel room or share an apartment with other Korean pilgrims. Pamplona was the first big city I encountered on the French Way Camino, and what I was most happy about was the Chinese buffet where I could eat food similar to Korean food :) #EuropeanTravel #Pamplona #SpainTravel

I have completed the pilgrimage route starting from Saint-Jean. The first day of crossing the Pyrenees is said to be the hardest day of the French route⛰️ In my experience, the mountain itself was not as difficult as Annapurna trekking or Table Mountain, but the difficulty level seemed high because of the part where you have to carry a backpack that weighs nearly 10km (and the crazy wind🌬) Surprisingly, the mountain is not as steep as the nickname of the Kolkkadak Mountains, and the scenery you see here and there is so picturesque that you can easily get over it even if you don't go hiking often if you just adjust your pace well. As a bonus, you naturally cross the border from France to Spain while crossing the Pyrenees. Isn't it amazing to cross the border in a mountain?😄 #Hiking #Pyrenees #Pilgrimage #Camino

When I got up at five in the morning, I found that the Spaniards didn't sleep at all. The whole street was full of people. I don't know if the cows saw such a scene and dared to chase them. The route of Ben Niu is 849 meters in lightning shape, which has been a route that has not changed for many years, from the pasture outside the city to the bullring in the city. At the Bulls Day, safety is at the top of the list. Therefore, there are also many regulations. For example, if you are drunk, you can't participate in the running cow, you can't wear slippers, you can't take mobile phones and cameras, and you can't bring your child to the route. If the police see you breaking the rules, they will take you away. In order to be on the safe side, there is a very professional team of doctors who are always ready. In addition, it is very important to respect animals at the Bulls Day. If the cowherd sees you hitting a cow, pulling the tail of a cow, or pulling his horn, they are rude to you. So the bull and the bullfight are completely different. The bull is very popular, but most people in Spain don't like bullfighting because everyone feels that the bullfight is very cruel and bloody.