Top Things to do in Navarra
The 10 Best Things to Do in Navarra, Spain
Discover the best top things to do in Navarra, Spain including Parque Natural Urbasa Andia, Selva de Irati, Nacedero del Urederra, Bodegas Pago de Larrainzar, Palacio Real de Olite, Iglesia-Fortaleza de Santa Maria de Ujue, Puente Romanico, Bardenas Reales de Navarra, Senorio de Bertiz"s Natural Park, Cerco de Artajona.
Restaurants in Navarra
1. Parque Natural Urbasa Andia
Overall Ratings
5 based on 402 reviews
Reviewed By Mauibeth - Kihei, Hawaii
Because of an injury, I was unable to walk the trails, but the drive was lovely. The Mountains were majestic, with wonderful formations and flora. We enjoyed the sheep in the fields, and the horses in the road, as well. We drove/walked a couple of the villages on the south end and they were quaint and sweet.
2. Selva de Irati
Overall Ratings
5 based on 301 reviews
Reviewed By ESVincent - Hong Kong, China
One of the delights of getting to this valley is the joinery. We drove from olive past soaring Mountains, up to high mountain meadows and saw wonderful sweeps of clouds. Passing by small mountain villages like Orchagivia that are stunning.
When you arrive that the selva there are information kiosks and guides to help you. Don't forget to pay for the car parking! We did one of the walks to the lakes - about 6 miles - through mixed trees and really enjoyable walk for about 3 hours. People come and stay and camp, others come to do long distance walks and others just be close to nature. It is excellent and worth spending time here.
3. Nacedero del Urederra
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 353 reviews
Reviewed By Mojca J - Dublin, Ireland
Blue, how I want you blue...I'm sure if Lorca had seen these waters, he would have written an ode to the colour blue and not just green...It is a fantastic place, really beautiful and fairytale like...despite the fact that there were a lot of people, I did not feel overcrouded like it so often happens with popular tourist sights...this definitely is one of my favourite destinations in Basque country so far and will bring my friends her when they visit.
4. Bodegas Pago de Larrainzar
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 129 reviews
The vineyard is the soul of Pago de Larrainzar and the care of vines its reason for being and on this premise the winery began its journey in 1996, thanks to an initiative by the Canalejo Lasarte family. The 15 hectares that make up the property, situated around the winery cover stony ridges and clay and sand to an altitude of 575 metres, on an estate adjacent to the Irache Monastery. The technical direction of the winery is under the prestigious winemaker Ignacio de Miguel. In Pago de Larrainzar visitors can find an experimental vineyard with different systems of trellising and pruning.
Reviewed By maarten D
We were advised to go here and it was worth it. Marianne was our guide and speaks well English. We had a tour just the two of us and we learned a lot. We would advise everyone to go there.Thank you, Maarten! It is nice to know you enjoyed the visit. Please, tell your friends to come, they will be welcome!
5. Palacio Real de Olite
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By Hermes_NL - The Hague, The Netherlands
The Royal Palace in Olite is largely reconstructed upon ruins, a detailed account of this is done in one of the many rooms inside the casle. Hence it looks a bit too good to be true - and yet barren, since no furniture is left. It is a bit anorganically grown hotpotch of nooks and crannies and countless towers and spires ... with many tourist crawling through it as in rollercoater tycoon ... ... altogteher certainly worth a visit. There is also a nice church next to it, much more quiet but equally interesting. Gorgeous views over the village of Olite.
6. Iglesia-Fortaleza de Santa Maria de Ujue
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 137 reviews
Reviewed By Geoffy - Wimborne Minster, United Kingdom
Can't find a way of writing about Ujue alone, but wanted to say that approaching the town from the south (from Carcastillo) gives the best views, ones that are seen on pretty much every poster of Navarre. Taken at the right time of year (early June in our case) there are also fields of lavender and other flowers. The long distance views as you drive along the ridge are also quite stunning if it's fine.
Can't speak of much in the town as pre-season nothing was open, though it looks to have several restaurants and a few interesting shops. Walking the narrow, often steep, streets is interesting too, though probably better when there are more people around.
On the other hand, when it's quiet you can drive right to the foot of the fortress/church at the top of the town, but there are only a few parking spaces there. The building is definitely different - a monumental fortress hiding a church (or the other way round?). It was free when we went, and free to wander round for more views over the countryside; may be a cost in summer.
7. Puente Romanico
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 151 reviews
Reviewed By wvlivingston - Brevard, North Carolina
This bridge is very scenic and worth seeing other than walking across it if walking the Camino. The best view, and photo perspective, is a little out of the way. As you approach the bridge from town center, go left and get views from there and the adjacent bridge.
8. Bardenas Reales de Navarra
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 795 reviews
The Bardenas Reales is a arid desert region that was named a Natural Park in 1999 and incorporates 45,000 hectares of landscapes whose vegetation and rock formations are unique in Europe. The most famous landmark is the Castildetierra. It's landscapes were also famously used as backdrops for "Spaghetti Westerns" filmed in the 1950s. In 2000, it was declared a Biosphere reserve by UNESCO.
Reviewed By Ray V - Chaves, Portugal
Few beach-bound tourists ever make it to this part of Spain. You would have to be touring the north, especially the region south of Pamplona. Few would ever imagine a desert, actually a semi-desert, this far north. The total area is 42,00 hectares and is 45 km (28 mi) from north to south and 24 km (15 mi) east-west. The nearest towns are Tudela, to the south, and Olite, to the north. Many of the scenes from War of Thrones were filmed here and I imagine there will be an increase in tourist traffic due to the popularity of the series. The Monastery of Santa Maria de la Oliva is located just to the north of the Bardenas and is an interesting visit.
9. Senorio de Bertiz"s Natural Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 195 reviews
Reviewed By DH-Canada
This is a large forested mountainous park with a former estate residence and its 100 year old botanical Gardens. The park has numerous well developed hiking trails of various difficulties.
I visited in the fall when the fall colors were at their peak. This entire area of Basque country was very picturesque in the fall, with brightly colored trees, green grass, and picturesque towns.
I explored the trails only briefly - but I wish I had more time. The botanical garden was somewhat interesting with several species of trees not native to the area (eg bamboo) and with several very large trees.
If you are nearby and enjoying hiking in mountainous Forests, the park is worth a visit.
10. Cerco de Artajona
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 148 reviews
It is an actual medieval fortress that once was an independent kingdom by itself, with preserved towers and stonewalls. We have a church (from the XIIIth century) that was made as a fortress itself, with a really unique roof that is inverted. Now you can visit both the church and its roof. We open it each half an hour, at a price of 2€ and one euro plus if you want to mount to the misterious roof, where you can also see the views, that are incredible. We can even see other regions from there, such as Aragon and La Rioja.
Reviewed By Roskers - Cambridge, United Kingdom
The medieval fortified village has many towers still standing and sits proudly over above the Navarese vineyards and plains below. The walls and towers are worth seeing, many being beautifully restored and completing a circle around the upper village. The massive church has an impressive high altar but the village itself is the true star. It's about 20 minutues from Olite and there are also prehistoric dolmens 3.5km from the village that are certainly worth hunting down along unpaved but fully passable roads. It's an important site and you won't be disappointed.
TAGS
