There are plenty of places to stand along the fence that borders the bull run, however to get a good place, you’ll have to arrive by 6:30am for the best places overlooking the run.

WHERE TO WATCH THE ENCIERRO

If you decide running before the bulls is not for you, you should at least make sure you watch the event. There are several places to get a good view. One of the best options is to watch from a balcony overlooking one of the encierro streets. If you don’t know anyone who has a balcony available, you could enquire about hiring one - though the prices are usually exorbitant.

Another option is to sit on the fencing that encloses the route from the Santo Domingo slope to the callejón, running through the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, Mercaderes and the Telefónica bend.

The route is double-fenced. The corridor behind the first fence is set aside for medics, police and runners taking shelter during the run. You stand behind the second fence, with the general public. To get a good place, show up an hour and a half (yes, literally) before the start of the encierro. You’ll get bored with the wait, but it’ll be worth it.

The Santo Domingo slope is probably one of the best stretches because you can watch the mozos while they sing in front of the saint’s niche before the bulls are set loose. It’s hard to get a place, so turn up well in advance.

There is fencing in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento and Mercaderes, but in Estafeta the only option is to hire a balcony. The home stretch – the Telefónica bend and the alleyway into the bullring – are also fenced.

The square is where the view is best and where there’s most room. Tiers of seating are set up here, from where you can see the bulls and runners coming into the square. Then young bullocks are set loose, and it can be fun to watch a pata - an out-of-towner unskilled in the art of dodging bulls – getting the distance wrong between his rear and a bullock’s horns.

Some say the best place to watch is at the end of the run, before the bullring, at a place known as “Telefónica.” Get there by 6am and claim your spot in the second row (the first is reserved for runners).
The next best alternative is to be on a balcony overlooking a section of the bull run. You might be lucky enough to meet a friend, however many people rent them for the view. Ask in the tourist info office at calle Esclava, 1. You can also watch the end of the run at the stadium when the bulls finish by entering the bullring. Or, like most of the country does, watch it live on Spain’s national TV, where you'll likely see the most exciting moments replayed in slow motion.  Here are some of the dangerous moments from last year.