It doesn’t take much planning to have a wild night (or day) out in Pamplona during the San Fermin fiesta.  Take enough money to last you through the night, and forget clocks and sunlight even exist.  No matter where you go in the old city center, there will always be a party. Here are some of the main zones and bars to explore:

JARAUTA, SAN LORENZO

The area of Pamplona known as Jarauta embraces several streets: San Lorenzo, Jarauta itself, the Plaza de la Virgen de la O, the Plaza de Recoletas and the Calle Eslava.  During San Fermín, these streets are one of the hubs of the revelry, because this is where the peñas have their premises, which is where the best atmosphere is.  You'll encounter radio pop songs, rousing folk tunes and silly, tongue-in-cheek pieces such as ‘Willy Fogg’, the smurf song, and Enrique Iglesias, whose greatest hits are sung (somewhat sarcastically) in lusty unison by all present.

CALDELERÍA

Caldelería lies just past the Plaza del Ayuntamineto and Mercaderes. It’s one of the hardest-partying areas of the city, and embraces the Calle Caldelería itself, San Agustín, Tejería, Navarrería and the cathedral district. Some bars play rock music or alternative music exclusively. The atmosphere here is very alternative and open-minded, especially in terms of the music played in the bars.

SAN NICOLÁS

San Nicolás plays mild techno to the north and, to the south, Spanish pop and the big-name pop hits you get to hear all over the world.  The area known as San Nicolás stretches from the Calle Ciudadela to San Gregorio, San Nicolás itself and its adjacent Comedias and Lindachiquía, and the Rincón de San Nicolás, halfway from the Plaza de San Nicolás and the Paseo de Sarasate.

PLAZA DEL CASTILLO (BLUE)

This area is widely held to be for a more moneyed crowd, but that doesn’t really apply during San Fermín. The music, certainly, has less of a Basque nationalist slant, and you can hear typical San Fermin music in any bar. The drinks are a little more expensive on the main plaza. All the establishments here have outdoor bars that make the entire slope a huge alfresco bar, which gets just as crowded as the other areas of the city. This area also includes a few popular, lively bars towards the end of the Calle Estafeta.

SAN JUAN AND ITURRAMA

This area is about a 15 minute walk from the old center of Pamplona.  It is the cradle of salsa and nightclub music and late-night bars.   The San Juan area is closest to the old quarter (10 minute walk) and is a choice for people hoping to escape the crush of the city center.  San Juan and Iturrama are home to some of the best beer halls in Pamplona.

VERBENAS

A "verbena" has come to mean a live band playing cover versions and other party music on a stage in front of a large open space where people dance. If you don’t like crowded bars and just want to dance, you’ll find there’s more space at the verbenas. The City Hall has covered this pretty well and set aside several venues for verbenas. Plaza de la Cruz is in the segundo ensanche district. Antoniutti is the most popular verbena. The area is surrounded by restaurants and food marquees, and is halfway between San Juan and the old quarter.