Official LaLiga partner · Athletic Club
Issue 01 · City Guide · 6 min read
Athletic Club
& San Mamés
A travelling supporter’s guide to the Basque Country’s proudest football club, the stadium they call The Cathedral, and the food-and-football city of Bilbao itself.
Club
Athletic Club
Stadium
San Mamés
Capacity
53,332
Founded
1898
League
La Liga
Words by Champions Travel · Updated May 2026
Bilbao is a city where football is more than a game, it’s an identity. Home to Athletic Club, one of Spain’s most historic teams, the passion is felt in the streets, the bars, and at San Mamés Stadium, known affectionately as “The Cathedral.”
Athletic Club have a unique identity and deep-rooted traditions. Known for their Basque-only player policy, they represent the region’s culture and pride, making the connection between team and city stronger than almost anywhere else in football.
Matchdays at San Mamés are electric, with the fans creating one of Spain’s most passionate atmospheres. Beyond the football, Bilbao itself rewards the visit, pintxos bars in Casco Viejo, the Guggenheim along the Nervión, Basque cuisine at every turn.
Chapter 01
San Mamés
San Mamés in its current form opened in 2013, replacing the original ground (sometimes called the "old" San Mamés) that had stood on roughly the same site since 1913. The new build retained the spirit of the old, steep stands, supporters close to the pitch, while bringing the architecture firmly into the modern era.
With a capacity of just over 53,000, the stadium remains one of Spain’s most atmospheric venues. Its exterior shell of red-and-white panels lights up at night and is one of the most distinctive sights in the Basque Country. Even non-football visitors stop to take photographs.
Stadium opened
2013
Capacity
53,332
Founded
1898
League Titles
08
The Athletic Club Museum, attached to the stadium, holds over 500 original football objects across 13 interactive systems and an immersive video-wall. The combined museum + stadium tour lasts 90 minutes, available in Basque, Spanish, English and French.
San Mamés is best known for its atmosphere, the North and South Stands (Grada Norte and Grada Sur) house the most vocal supporters, including the Herri Harmaila ultras. Against Real Sociedad or Barcelona, the noise is unrelenting. Athletic have never been relegated from LaLiga, a record both the team and its fans wear with enormous pride.
The San Mamés of today carries the weight of every supporter who has ever sung from these stands. To be inside on a big night is to feel that history in real time.
For the fixture list
Con cantera y afición, no hace falta importación, with youth and support, imports are not needed. Athletic’s motto is its whole philosophy.
Chapter 02
Matchday
Bilbao on matchday is a sea of red and white. The walk up Licenciado Poza, the pre-match pintxos hopping in Casco Viejo, the swelling crowd along Rafael Moreno Pitxitxi, it all builds into one of Spain’s most distinctive matchday experiences.
For visitors attending a match, the metro stops directly at San Mamés station, just a short walk from the stadium. Tram services also stop nearby. Pre-match life unfolds in the bars around the ground and across the city’s old quarter.
Take the metro. The Bilbao Metro stops at San Mamés station, a short walk from the stadium. Tram and Bilbobus routes also serve the area.
Arrive early. Pintxos hopping is part of the matchday ritual, start in Casco Viejo, work down Licenciado Poza toward the ground, arrive at San Mamés a couple of hours before kick-off.
Visit the Cathedral on a tour day. The combined museum + stadium tour lasts 90 minutes and includes the home changing room, the players’ tunnel and the dugout. Around €15.
Sit in the Grada Norte. The North Stand is home to the Herri Harmaila ultras and the most intense atmosphere. The Main Stand offers comfort and tactical views if you’d rather watch the football.
Make matchday yours
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Chapter 03
Beyond the Pitch
Bilbao seamlessly blends tradition with modern living. Locals, bilbaínos, take immense pride in their Basque heritage, embracing a lifestyle centred on community, cuisine and football. The city moves at a relaxed pace, with leisurely strolls along the Nervión River and long evenings in Casco Viejo bars.
Bilbao’s reinvention from industrial port to cultural destination is anchored by the Guggenheim Museum, Frank Gehry’s titanium-clad masterpiece. The Zubizuri pedestrian bridge by Calatrava and the funicular up Mount Artxanda for sunset views are the other defining sights.
A weekend football trip might involve a morning at the Guggenheim, an afternoon pintxos-hopping through Casco Viejo, and an evening at San Mamés under the lit-up red-and-white panels. Few Spanish cities reward a visit quite like Bilbao.
Neighbourhood Guide
San Mamés
Matchday district
The neighbourhood surrounding the stadium fills with supporters in red and white on matchdays. Licenciado Poza nearby is the bar-hopping route to the ground.
Casco Viejo
Old Town & pintxos
Bilbao’s charming old quarter, narrow streets, traditional Basque bars, lively plazas. The heart of the pintxos scene and matchday pre-game.
Abandoibarra
Guggenheim & river
The waterfront district around the Guggenheim Museum. Sleek architecture, river views and the cultural showcase of modern Bilbao.
Indautxu
Cafes & commercial
Bilbao’s commercial heart with Plaza Moyúa at its centre. Cafes, shopping streets and pre-match meeting points away from the Old Town.
Chapter 04
Plan The Trip
Bilbao is well-connected by air and rail, and San Mamés is a short metro ride from the city centre. Here’s how to put a weekend trip together.
Tickets
Official Tickets
athletic-club.eus
All tickets sell through Athletic’s official website or the stadium ticket office. Prices start €30-50 for standard seats, exceeding €100 for premium. Sign up for alerts via the official app for high-demand fixtures.
When To Book
2–3 weeks ahead
Tickets typically go on sale 2-3 weeks before each match, with priority for socios (members). Big games, Real Madrid, Barcelona, the Basque Derby, sell out quickly.
Stay
Near the Ground
Hotel Ilunion Bilbao
Walking distance to San Mamés. Stylish and budget-friendly with comfortable rooms, gym and on-site restaurant. Ideal matchday base.
Iconic
Hotel Carlton
One of Bilbao’s most iconic hotels, classic luxury, stunning architecture, elegant rooms. A short metro ride from San Mamés, walking distance to the Guggenheim.
Budget
Poshtel Bilbao
Stylish hostel near the Guggenheim with dorms, private rooms, a lively bar and friendly atmosphere. The budget-friendly mix of culture and matchday excitement.
Great Location
Vincci Consulado
Affordable modern 4-star with a riverside terrace overlooking the Nervión. Avant-garde design and a stone’s throw from the Guggenheim.
Eat & Drink
At the Ground
La Campa de los Ingleses
Right next to San Mamés. Classic Basque dishes, pintxos, fresh seafood. The perfect pre-game stop for an authentic taste of the city.
Pintxos & History
Café Iruña
A Bilbao institution since 1903. Stunning Moorish-inspired decor and excellent pintxos. Popular with locals and visitors alike.
Fans & History
Peña Athletic
Classic restaurant and home to the official Athletic fan club (Peña), decked out with club memorabilia. A must for fans in the Old Town.
Local Bars
Bar Athletic on Poza
The go-to spot for Athletic fans on matchdays. Licenciado Poza street is the bar-hopping route to the ground, perfect for soaking up pre-match excitement.
Getting There
By Train
Bilbao Abando
20-minute walk from San Mamés. Served by regional trains; long-distance trains from Madrid and other Spanish cities.
By Air
BIO · Bilbao Airport
Around 20 minutes from the city centre by taxi. Bizkaibus A3247 also runs between the airport and Bilbao city.
By Car
AP-8 / A-8
City centre parking is widely available. Driving near San Mamés on matchdays is restricted, use the metro instead.
To the Stadium
Metro → San Mamés
Bilbao Metro stops directly at San Mamés station, a short walk from the ground. Tram services also serve the area.
Champions Travel · Hospitality at Athletic Club
Matchday Hospitality
Official South Stand seating at San Mamés.
Official South Stand Seating
South Stand · All seats together
Official South Stand seating at San Mamés, all tickets together.
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