Without a balcony in Pamplona, it is likely that you will have little to no view of the Run itself. There are only three watching areas available at street level: Telefonica, Plaza Consistorial and Mercaderes. Space in these designated areas is limited and crowds are known to form at least 2 hours before the Run.
This is especially true at the beginning of the San Fermin Festival and the opening ceremonies for the Running of the Bulls®. Later in the week, it may be possible to claim a viewing spot at street level just behind the barrier that separates the medical staff from spectators and the Bull Run (encierro). It is important to note that you would need to arrive by 6:00 a.m. in order to claim a spot, and there is a chance that you could still lose that location when the police open the gates to let out surplus runners as they will then be fighting for your spot as well. We recommend arriving by 5:00 a.m. during the first days of the festival as well as on weekends in order to secure a spot at the barrier.
Take the stress out of planning your trip. We offer Running of the Bulls travel packages that feature everything you need to make the most of the San Fermin festival, including Pamplona hotel stays, Pamplona balcony rentals to watch the world-famous bull run, Pamplona bullfight tickets, and even more. If you have already booked your trip and just need a balcony spot, our sister site also sells a la carte Pamplona balcony rentals with a variety of viewpoints to watch the famous bull run.