Watch national and international soccer games at San Mames Stadium, a 53,000-seat arena that is the home of Athletic Bilbao. This team was founded in 1898 and is a big name in European soccer. The venue also has a museum devoted to the club’s history and is occasionally used for concerts.
The sporting complex is nicknamed the cathedral of football and opened in 2013. It replaced the original San Mames Stadium which stood nearby by for almost 100 years, and is an impressive sight. At night the panels of the outer membrane are illuminated. They can also display moving graphics. Purchase tickets online at the stadium's official website or at the arena a couple of hours before a match is due to start.
Treat yourself to VIP tickets and before and during matches savor buffet-style meals by Michelin-starred chefs. The VIP area also has numerous bars and comfortable lounges.
If you are interested in soccer history, learn about Athletic Bilbao’s past at the stadium’s museum. Watch audiovisual presentations, see soccer kits from previous decades, admire the gleaming sporting trophies and read about former players. All of the information is in Spanish, English and Euskara, the Basque language. After your museum visit go on the 45-minute tour of the stadium which includes the soccer pitch, changing rooms and the press room.
The museum is open every day except Mondays and charges admission. There are discounts for children aged between 6 and 14 and children under the age of 5 get in for free. Purchase tickets for the museum and the tour or just the museum.
The stadium is about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) outside the old town and a 20-minute walk west of the Guggenheim Museum. It is well served by public transportation and has its own metro stop called San Mames. There is no parking at the stadium for the general public, except a small number of places for VIP ticket holders.
