Free walking tours in Olite and what to see

Must-sees

Olite is a medieval town in the heart of Navarre, about forty kilometres south of Pamplona. Its great sight is the Royal Palace, residence of the kings of Navarre, enlarged by Charles III the Noble in the early 15th century. You explore courtyards, halls, hanging gardens and towers with views over the whole town and the plain of vineyards. Next to it is the Old Palace, now a parador.

Beside the palace stands the church of Santa María la Real, with an elaborately carved Gothic doorway. It is worth strolling through the old town, going into the church of San Pedro and heading down to the medieval galleries under Plaza de Carlos III. Olite is also a wine town, with wineries and a museum devoted to Navarre wine.

Free tours and guided visits

Free tours are uncommon in Olite. The usual options are guided visits: to the Royal Palace, the medieval galleries and the historic centre, which help explain life at the Navarrese court. Visits to local wineries with a tasting are also highly recommended. Trips run from Olite to the Bardenas Reales Natural Park, a semi-desert landscape of gullies and buttes, and to the hilltop village of Ujué, with its fortified church.

How long to spend

Five or six hours are enough for the town. Spend the morning at the Royal Palace and Santa María, and the afternoon on the galleries, a walk round the old town and a winery. If you stay two days, keep the second for the Bardenas Reales or for Ujué and the monastery of La Oliva.

Where to stay

The best place to sleep is inside the historic centre or on its edges, near the Royal Palace. Everything is a few minutes’ walk away and the town is very peaceful at night, with the palace lit up. In the centre there are rural houses, small hotels and the parador. If you want more choice or lower prices, Tafalla is a few kilometres away, although for an evening stroll Olite is far more pleasant.