Rioja wine tour from Pamplona
Find out how to plan a Rioja wine tour from Pamplona: barely an hour's drive, with a private driver.
Of all the cities you could plan a winery break in La Rioja from, Pamplona is the closest: barely an hour away. That makes a Rioja wine tour from Pamplona the perfect distance for a day among the vineyards without an early start or one eye on the clock.
How long does it take from Pamplona to La Rioja?
The drive from Pamplona to Logroño takes around one hour on the A-12, a direct, toll-free motorway, covering roughly 90 kilometres according to the main route planners. It is one of the shortest journeys anywhere in northern Spain to reach the heart of the DOCa Rioja.
Why do your Rioja wine tour from Pamplona with a driver?
With only an hour on the road, it is tempting to take your own car. But the usual problem applies: if you drive, you can't taste. With a private driver from Pamplona, the whole group can enjoy the tastings without limits — the driver picks you up, takes you to the wineries, waits during the visits and brings you back to Pamplona at the end of the day.
Making the most of being so close
Because it is so near, the day allows more flexibility than longer-distance routes:
- Two wineries at a relaxed pace, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, with a good Riojan lunch in between.
- The option to combine it with Logroño: a morning at the wineries and an afternoon strolling through the old town and Calle Laurel, the city's famous tapas street.
- If the group wants more, the short distance makes it very easy to turn it into a weekend break with hardly any time lost on the road.
"An hour's drive is next to nothing. With Pamplona so close, the only real decision is how many wineries you want to visit, not whether you'll have time."
Which area to choose
Coming from Pamplona on the A-12, the natural way into La Rioja passes close to Logroño, which makes it very easy to combine wineries in Logroño itself with a trip to Haro or the Rioja Alavesa if the day allows.
Quick answer: Pamplona and Logroño are about 90 km apart, around an hour on the A-12. It is the only large nearby city from which a winery route works even as a half-day trip. We pick you up from your home, your hotel or Pamplona airport and bring you back the same day.
Half-day, full day or weekend?
Being so close changes the rules. From other cities the question is whether there's enough time; from Pamplona, the question is how long you want to make it. These are the three formats people from Navarre ask us for most often:
| Format | What the day looks like | Wineries |
|---|---|---|
| Half-day | Mid-morning departure, one visit near Logroño, a vermouth in the old town and back by early afternoon | 1 |
| Full day | Winery in the morning, lunch, a second winery in Laguardia or the Rioja Alta and return at dusk | 2-3 |
| Weekend | A night in Logroño or Laguardia; the second day is spent in another area | 3-5 |
A route designed for travellers arriving on the A-12
The motorway from Navarre enters La Rioja to the east of Logroño, so the natural first stop is in the capital or its surroundings. From there, the Rioja Alavesa is about 25 minutes away and Haro about 40, so you can plan a circular route without retracing your steps:
- Morning in Logroño: a winery in town or on the outskirts. We explain it in our Logroño winery tour with a private driver.
- Midday: lunch in the centre or along the way, depending on the group's plans.
- Afternoon in Laguardia: a walk around the walled town, a visit to an underground cellar (calado) and a winery among the vineyards. You'll find the details in Laguardia wineries with a private driver.
- Back to Pamplona in just over an hour, without anyone in the group having to drive.
If you only want to taste without doing a route, our wine tasting in Logroño page brings together the options on foot and a short drive within the city.
Flying into Pamplona airport?
If you're coming from outside Navarre, Pamplona airport is a convenient gateway to La Rioja: around an hour to Logroño. We can meet you in arrivals with a name sign, track your flight in real time in case it's delayed and take you straight to the first winery or your hotel. All the information is on our Pamplona airport to La Rioja transfer page.
Dates worth bearing in mind
- San Fermín (July): getting in and out of Pamplona gets complicated during the festival. If you'd like to escape to the wineries, let us know well in advance so we can adjust the timings.
- Grape harvest (September and October): the most beautiful time to see the vineyards and also the busiest for the wineries; book your visits in advance on their official websites.
- Winter: fewer people and quieter visits. When there's fog on the motorway, we allow a little extra time for departure.
Pilgrims between Pamplona and Logroño
The Camino Francés (French Way) links the two cities, and many pilgrims take advantage of reaching La Rioja to enjoy a rest day among the vineyards. If you're walking the Camino, we can pick you up at your albergue (pilgrim hostel) or stage point, take you to a winery and bring you back so you can carry on walking the next day. It's all on our Camino de Santiago in La Rioja page.
Which vehicle suits your group?
For a couple or three friends, a Rioja Standard saloon (MG or Toyota) is the most economical option for an hour on the motorway. If it's a gift, a celebration or business clients, the Rioja Executive range offers premium electric cars, Mercedes EQ or Tesla, with water and WiFi on board. And when the group reaches seven people, the Rioja Group van avoids splitting up into several cars and ensures everyone gets back to Pamplona together.
What we need to know to give you a price
As the journey is short, the quote depends mainly on the hours of service and the vehicle. To confirm it in under an hour, it helps if you tell us:
- The neighbourhood or pick-up address in Pamplona or the surrounding area (Burlada, Villava, Barañáin, Mutilva…).
- The wineries you have booked and the time of each visit.
- Whether you'd like to have lunch in La Rioja or be back before lunch.
- Number of people and whether anyone needs a child seat or is bringing luggage.
- Roughly what time you'd like to be back.
With those details we'll send you a fixed price per vehicle, with no surprises at the end of the day. We recommend booking 24 hours in advance; for spring and autumn weekends, allow more time. You can see how the rest of our offer is organised, by area and format, on our winery visits with a driver in La Rioja page.
Combining Pamplona with another northern city?
Visitors to Navarre often continue on to the Basque coast, or the other way round. If your trip includes Donostia, you can do the winery route from there and pass through Pamplona on the way back; we explain how in our Rioja wine tour from San Sebastián. If you're coming from central Spain and Pamplona is just one stop, our Rioja wine tour from Madrid will help you plan your days. Either way, the driver can pick you up in one city and drop you off in another.
Rioja wine tour from Pamplona
Pick-up in Pamplona, a day at the wineries and back home. Fixed price, no driving, no rush.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take from Pamplona to La Rioja?
About an hour by car, roughly 90 kilometres on the A-12, a toll-free motorway.
Is it the easiest wine route to organise?
Of the nearby cities, yes. With only an hour's drive, it is one of the most convenient distances for a one-day wine route.
Can it be combined with a visit to Logroño?
Yes. It's common to spend the morning at the wineries and the afternoon strolling through the old town and Calle Laurel.
How many wineries can you visit in a day from Pamplona?
Two wineries is the recommended number to enjoy each visit at a relaxed pace, although the short distance allows a little extra leeway.
Is there a direct bus or train between Pamplona and Logroño?
Yes, but with less flexibility. A private driver lets you adjust the timings and wineries to suit you.