Santo Domingo Market

Santo Domingo Market is Pamplona's oldest food hall, on Calle Mercado in the old town. The indoor market has 25 stalls selling fresh fish, meat, cheese, and seasonal Navarrese produce, and opens Monday to Saturday from 8am to 2pm. It's the most traditional place to shop in Pamplona, with a history stretching back to 1876.

History and architecture

The current building was designed by architect José María Villanueva after a fire destroyed the earlier market on the same site. It opened in 1876, on the spot where gardeners from La Rochapea, the neighbourhood north of the river Arga, traditionally sold vegetables to city residents. A major renovation in 1986 covered the central courtyard, giving the market its current form. Ernest Hemingway referenced the market in The Sun Also Rises.

What to buy at Santo Domingo Market

The stalls cover the daily shop: fish from the Bay of Biscay and the Mediterranean, fresh cuts of lamb and beef from the Navarrese mountains, local cheeses from several denominations of origin, and seasonal fruit and vegetables from the Ebro valley orchards. A bakery counter adds bread and pastries. Carry cash, since that is what every stall takes, though some also accept payment by phone. Santo Domingo is the most compact of the municipal markets in Pamplona.

How to get to Santo Domingo Market

The market is at Calle Mercado, 79 in Pamplona's old town, easily reached on foot from Plaza del Castillo. Access into the hall is step-free and wheelchair accessible. If you're driving, street parking is available nearby but can be limited on weekday mornings when the market is busiest. The Pamplona city council tourism page carries current opening hours, and the market takes calls on +34 948 221 858.

Where to stay in Pamplona

Staying in Casco Antiguo puts you on the market's doorstep. The Hotel Maisonnave is a reliable mid-range choice, well-placed for exploring the old town on foot.

If you prefer something with a bit more comfort, Gran Hotel La Perla is a landmark stay right on the Plaza del Castillo, just a short walk from the market.

What time does Santo Domingo Market open?

Santo Domingo Market opens Monday to Saturday from 8am to 2pm and is closed on Sundays. Arriving before 11am gives you the best choice of fresh fish and meat before stalls start to wind down. The hall on Calle Mercado is covered, so those hours hold whatever the Navarrese weather is doing outside.

What is Santo Domingo Market famous for?

Santo Domingo Market is known for its 1876 building on Calle Mercado and its connection to Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises. On the food side, it's particularly well regarded for fresh fish from the Bay of Biscay, lamb from the Navarrese mountains, and cheeses from regional denominations of origin.

How many stalls are in Santo Domingo Market?

Santo Domingo Market has 25 stalls, covering fish, meat and poultry, cheese, bread, fruit and vegetables. That makes it the most compact of Pamplona's municipal markets, and the whole hall can be walked in one pass, handy for comparing the fish counters before buying. Every stall takes cash.

Can you eat at Santo Domingo Market?

Santo Domingo Market sells food to take home rather than plated meals, with its 25 stalls covering fish, meat, cheese, bread, fruit and Navarrese vegetables. Everything is under cover with step-free access, and the hall trades from 8am to 2pm Monday to Saturday, so it suits a morning shop rather than a lunch stop.