There are numerous strategies for choosing the best balcony to watch the Running of the Bulls. Your perfect balcony location depends on your preferences. You may prefer to choose based on balcony level, the route for the Bull Run (encierro), or even the festivities occurring before or after the run. Many guests prefer to be on a higher level balcony so they can see as far as possible while others want to be close enough to the ground to smell the bulls as they run by. Some visitors choose Estafeta Street because it is a long, straight road allowing you to see the farthest or Santo Domingo where you are able to see runners praying to San Fermin’s statue for luck in their run. Often considered the top location is Dead Man’s Corner, aptly named for the sharp turn from Mercaderes onto Estafeta, where bulls often collide with runners. Additionally, balconies located on Mercaderes are prime locations to watch the runners warm up and line up for the Bull Run (encierro), one of the most interesting activities to see while awaiting the start of the run, especially since you must arrive before the streets close at 7:00 a.m. for the Running of the Bulls to begin at 8:00 a.m.