Visitors coming to Navarre will arrive at Bilbao Airport (IATA code BIO), between an hour and 30 minutes and two-and-a-half hours from most places in Navarre.

To Pamplona: From Bilbao Airport, start by heading towards Barrio Gaztañaga on N-633 and continue for about 0.6 miles. Next, proceed to Carretera a Mungia on BI-631 and drive for approximately 2.7 miles. Access the E-70/AP-8 motorway via the Corredor del Txorierri on N-637 and continue for around 7 miles. Stay on the E-70/AP-8 motorway (European route) and then take the E-5/AP-1 (European route), A-636 (Autovía or dual carriageway), A-1 (Autovía), A-10 (Autovía), and AP-15 (Autopista or toll motorway) to PA-34 in Navarre. Take exit 97 from AP-15, which will take approximately 1 hour and 28 minutes, covering a distance of 85 miles. Continue on PA-34 (Pista de Acceso or access road) and follow Avenida de Navarra and Avenida del Ejército to Plaza de la Paz in Pamplona, driving for around 3.2 miles. By this point you should have arrived in Pamplona.

From Pamplona to Tafalla, Olite, and Tudela, travel south from Pamplona on the A-15 motorway, which eventually connects with the AP-15. This route offers a convenient way to explore some of Navarre's most beautiful and historically significant locations. The driving time from Pamplona to Tafalla is around 30 minutes, while reaching Olite takes approximately 40 minutes and Tudela around an hour and 10 minutes. From Pamplona to the Baztan Valley, head north on the N-121-A. This road takes you through the stunning landscapes and picturesque villages of the valley, offering a truly immersive experience of Navarre's lush countryside.

If you are not self-driving, you will be able to get around Navarre fairly easily with few limitations. In Pamplona, the bus transportation system is operated by Transporte Urbano Comarcal (TUC, www.infotuc.es), providing convenient and reliable service throughout the city. The main bus station in Pamplona is centrally located near the Old Town on Calle Yanguas y Miranda, making it easily accessible for tourists. Several popular regular bus routes cater to visitors looking to explore Pamplona's attractions, such as the 3, which connects the Old Town with the Citadel, or the 15, connecting the central Plaza del Castillo with the Planetario de Pamplona. Ticket prices for a one-way trip are approximately €2, while a reloadable plastic card can be purchased for around €2.50. These cards can be obtained from newsagents, vending machines, or TUC customer service centers and offer a more cost-effective option for frequent bus users. TUC has announced plans to implement a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Pamplona by the end of 2024. The BRT system is designed to provide faster and more efficient transportation within the city. Key lines will be integrated into the existing bus network, connecting major tourist attractions, residential areas, and commercial hubs.

For intercity travel, Pamplona's bus station at Calle Yanguas y Miranda offers connections to other cities, towns, and villages in Navarre and beyond. There are several bus companies that operate out of the station, including Autobuses Conda, Autocares Artieda, and Autobuses Jiménez. These companies offer regular service to a variety of destinations throughout Navarre, including Tafalla, Olite, Tudela, northern Navarre, and Puente la Reina. Autobuses Conda, a subsidiary of ALSA (www.alsa.es), runs their InterBus service between Pamplona and Tudela multiple times daily, with it taking 54 minutes to reach Olite and a little over 90 minutes to reach Tudela. Prices for one-way tickets start from approximately €5 to Olite (there is also an option to get off at Tafalla which will be cheaper if you request your destination to be Tafalla) and around €10 to Tudela. However, these prices may be subject to variation depending on the time of day and the day of the week. Autocares Artieda also offers service to Roncesvalles near the French border; two buses leave each afternoon to go to Roncesvalles and one bus leaves Roncesvalles each morning in the direction of Pamplona. The company's website (www.autocaresartieda.com) has information on schedules and fares, as well as online booking options. Autobuses Jiménez offers service to a variety of destinations throughout Navarre, including Estella and Puente la Reina. Prices and schedules vary depending on the specific route and the time of day, but tickets typically range from around €6-€10 for a one-way trip. The company's website (www.jimenezmovilidad.es) has information on schedules and fares and online booking options.

Navarre has a rich and diverse cultural heritage that reflects its long history and strategic location between Spain and France. The region is known for its traditional music, dance, and cuisine, as well as its historic festivals and cultural celebrations. One of the most famous festivals in Navarre is the Festival de San Fermín, perhaps better known to Americans as the Running of the Bulls, which takes place every July in Pamplona. This festival is known for its lively atmosphere, with music, dancing, and traditional dress, as well as the famous bull run itself.

Navarre is also known for its traditional Basque culture, particularly in Pamplona and points north, as this area of Navarre shares cultural traits with the Basque Country, such as distinctive music, dance, and culinary traditions, as well as a unique language called Euskara by the Basque. In addition to these traditional cultural elements, Navarre is also home to a range of modern and contemporary cultural attractions, including world-class museums, galleries, and performing arts venues. The region is also known for its beautiful natural landscapes, which have inspired generations of artists, writers, and poets.

Generally, we would recommend visiting Navarre in the spring (April through June) or fall (September through November) when the weather is mild, and the crowds are smaller than in the peak summer months. During the summer months of July and August, the weather is warm and sunny, and many popular festivals and events take place, such as the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona. However, this is also the busiest and most expensive time to visit, with higher prices for accommodations and more crowded tourist attractions. In the shoulder seasons of spring and fall, the weather is still pleasant, and the crowds are smaller, making it easier to enjoy the region's natural and cultural attractions without the hustle and bustle of peak season. Winter (December through February) is also a quieter time to visit Navarre, although some tourist attractions may be closed or have limited hours due to the colder weather.

The official languages of Navarre are Spanish and Basque, with many residents in the region being bilingual. While Spanish is the dominant language in most parts of Navarre, particularly in larger towns and cities like Pamplona, Basque is also widely spoken in some areas, particularly in the northern part of the region.

As a tourist, you may have some difficulty finding English speakers or English signage in Navarre, particularly in smaller towns and rural areas. However, in larger towns and cities like Pamplona, you should be able to find some English speakers, particularly in the tourism industry. The majority of tourist attractions and restaurants as well as the vast majority of hotels should have English signage or menus, although this is not always a given. In towns like Olite and Tudela, English speakers and English signage may be less common than in Pamplona, although you may still be able to find some English speakers in the tourism industry or in larger hotels and restaurants. In more rural areas like the Baztan Valley and Puente la Reina, you may have more difficulty finding English speakers or English signage, although local residents are often welcoming and friendly to tourists, and you should be able to get by with basic Spanish phrases and gestures.

Here are some basic words and phrases in Spanish and Basque:

-Hello: Hola | Kaixo (pronounced kai-sho)
-Goodbye: Adios | Agur
-Thank you: Gracias | Eskerrik asko (pronounced esh-ke-reek ah-shko)
-Excuse me: Perdón | Barkatu
-Cheers: ¡Salud! | Topa!
-Numbers from 1-10: Uno, dos, trés, cuatro, cinco, seis, siete, ocho, nueve, diez | Bat, bi, hiru, lau, bost, sei, zazpi, zortzi, bederatzi, hamar

To ask someone if they speak English, the phrase in Spanish is ¿Habla inglés? In Basque, it is Ingelesez hitz egiten al duzu?

Navarre is known for its agriculture, and as a result it is famed for its beef, lamb, fish, olive oil, wine, cheese, and more. Ternera de Navarra is a veal stew with onions, tomato sauce and carrots that will ensure you get a taste of the famous beef only raised in this region. For those who like lamb, Navarrese lamb is grass and herb-fed, giving it a tenderness and a unique aroma. Ajoarriero is a flavorful salt cod stew with potatoes and other vegetables, and if you're in the mood for more seafood, try truchas a la Navarra (trout butterflied and stuffed with jamón serrano and cooked with lemon juice and parsley). Cheeses tend to be of the sheep's milk variety in Navarre, with the Baztan and Roncal Valleys offering the widest and most prestigious assortments. Navarre's wine regions produce everything from the deep reds of the Tierra Estella which feature hints of vanilla and blackberry to the sparkling whites of the Ebro Valley. It will not be difficult to find a local wine to pair with your cheese plate or your delicious meal, whether the protein is fish, beef, or lamb. Navarre is a noted vegetable producer, and the white asparagus grown in the Ebro Valley is considered to be a delicacy.