Football
Athletic Bilbao and San Mamés: how to plan a football weekend
Red and white from the bars on Poza street to the stands. Here is how to get Athletic Club tickets, see the stadium and museum, and stay within walking distance of San Mamés.
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In short: San Mamés
Athletic Club play at San Mamés, which holds around 53,000. General sale tickets usually go on sale on the club website about two weeks before the match, and a standard seat often costs €40 to €60. Stay near the stadium and you can walk to the match in five minutes.
Hotel by the stadium: Check availability and prices at Hotel ILUNION San Mamés
A club of Basque players
Athletic Club only field players from the Basque Country, either born there or brought up in Basque academies. It is a rare rule in top-flight football, and it is why many fans want to see one match here whoever they support.
The club have never been relegated from La Liga, a record shared only with Real Madrid and Barcelona. Fans call the team Los Leones, the lions. The name comes from the stadium’s patron saint, Mamés, who legend says was thrown to the lions.
Today’s San Mamés opened in 2013, right next to the old ground. The nickname La Catedral moved across with it.
Match day at La Catedral
The stands sit close to the pitch, and the noise stays trapped under the roof. Photo: Bilbao Turismo
How to get tickets
Around 44,000 seats go to season-ticket holders, which leaves roughly 8,000 for general sale. Tickets are released on the official Athletic Club website, often on a Monday morning about two weeks before the match.
You need to register with the club, free of charge, before you can buy. For big matches you join an online queue, and refreshing the page loses your place. The ticket arrives by email and is shown on your phone.
A standard ticket often costs €40 to €60, and from around €30 if you buy early. Matches against Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid sell out quickly. So does the Basque derby against Real Sociedad.
Good to know: La Liga often confirms match days and kick-off times only a few weeks ahead. If you plan early, choose a hotel with free cancellation.
The museum and stadium tour
Visiting on a non-match day, you can still see the stadium. The Athletic Club Museoa is between gates 19 and 20. One ticket covers the museum and a tour of the stadium, with an English audio guide or a live guide.
The museum opens Tuesday to Sunday, and every day in July and August. From March to October it opens 10:00 to 20:00, and in winter 10:00 to 19:00. Times can change on match days, so check the Athletic Club museum page before you go.
The metro stops at San Mamés station, and the tram stops on Sabino Arana close by.
Red light over the river
At night the facade of San Mamés glows above the river Nervión. Photo: Bilbao Turismo
Before kick-off
Fans gather in the bars on Poza street, Licenciado Poza, a couple of blocks from the stadium. Pintxos line the counters, and the pavement fills with red and white long before the match.
To start in the old town instead, take the short metro ride to Casco Viejo. See Bilbao old town and its pintxos bars.
If you land on match day, the airport bus runs all the way to Bilbao Intermodal by San Mamés. Read more in Bilbao airport to the city centre.
Where to stay near San Mamés
Hotel ILUNION San Mamés
The hotel is two minutes from the tram and five from San Mamés metro station, so you can walk to the match and stay close to the airport bus. It has a restaurant and a 24-hour front desk.
Best for: the shortest possible walk to the stadium.
Good to know: There is parking, and dogs are welcome.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel ILUNION San Mamés
voco Bilbao City
From voco it is a five-minute walk to San Mamés. The hotel has a bar and a gym that is open around the clock.
Best for: a group of friends who want to stay near the stadium without paying for luxury.
Good to know: Plaza Moyúa and the Gran Vía are about a quarter of an hour on foot.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at voco Bilbao City
A swim after the match
Catalonia Gran Vía has an indoor pool and spa, a quarter of an hour on foot from San Mamés. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Catalonia Gran Vía Bilbao
The hotel is on the Gran Vía, fifteen minutes on foot from San Mamés and the same from the Guggenheim. After the match there is an indoor pool and a spa with massages.
Best for: couples combining the match with a city break.
Good to know: The tram stops at Euskalduna, five minutes away.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Catalonia Gran Vía Bilbao
For more hotels, area by area, see where to stay in Bilbao.
Our pick by the stadium
Hotel ILUNION San Mamés
Hotel ILUNION San Mamés sits where the city meets the stadium. The tram stops two minutes away and the metro five, and the airport bus ends at Intermodal nearby. After the final whistle you walk back to the hotel while others hunt for a taxi. The rooms are modern, and some look out over the city.
Frequently asked questions about Athletic Bilbao and San Mamés
How do you buy Athletic Bilbao tickets?
General sale tickets are sold on the official Athletic Club website, where you first register for free. Sales usually open about two weeks before the match, often on a Monday morning. For big matches you join an online queue. The ticket is emailed to you and shown on your phone at the gate.
How much is a ticket to see Athletic Bilbao?
A standard ticket at San Mamés often costs €40 to €60, and from around €30 if you buy early. The price depends on the opponent and the seat. VIP tickets start at around €190. The big matches cost more and sell out fast.
Can you visit San Mamés without going to a match?
Yes, the Athletic Club Museoa sells a ticket covering the museum and a tour of the stadium, with an audio guide or a live guide. The museum opens Tuesday to Sunday, and every day in July and August. The entrance is between gates 19 and 20, and times can change on match days.
Where should you stay for a match at San Mamés?
Stay around San Mamés or along the Gran Vía and you can walk to the stadium. Hotel ILUNION San Mamés is closest to the metro and the airport bus. voco Bilbao City is five minutes on foot from the ground, and Catalonia Gran Vía adds a pool and spa a quarter of an hour away.