The home of Athletic Club, rebuilt in 2013, where the club has historically fielded only Basque players. The stadium tour covers the pitch-side, dressing rooms and museum.
San Mames is the stadium of Athletic Club, the Bilbao football club in Biscay, in Spain's Basque Country, and the building is known locally as La Catedral, the Cathedral. The present stadium was rebuilt and opened in 2013 beside the site of the old ground on Rafael Moreno Pichichi Kalea, in the San Mames district not far from the centre. Athletic Club is known for a signing policy that has historically drawn its players from the Basque Country, a fact that gives the club and the tour a distinctive identity within Spanish football. The stadium has a roof structure and a curved bowl design, and the tour allows visitors to see how a modern football ground works behind the scenes.
The guided tour, which lasts about an hour and a half, typically takes in the pitch-side area, the dressing rooms, the tunnel and other behind-the-scenes spaces, together with the Athletic Club museum. The museum covers the history of the club through trophies, shirts, photographs and film material, including its long record in Spain's top division. Visitors who are not football fans can still follow the story of how the club grew with the city's industrial and cultural identity, and the walk down the tunnel to the pitch edge is the moment most people photograph. Tours run on non-match days at set times, so the best approach is to check the calendar on athletic-club.eus and book in advance, since the price and the schedule change.
The best photograph angles are from the pitch-side seats and the tunnel mouth, which show the stands rising on every side. Crowds on tours are generally small, with groups organised by language and time slot. Match days are different: the area fills with supporters and the atmosphere is exciting, but the tour does not run, so a visitor who wants to see both must plan two separate visits. Weekday daytime slots are normally the quietest. The stadium is easily reached by Metro, with San Mames served by Line 3 and by Lines 1 and 2, and by the Euskotren tram to Basurto-Hospital followed by a walk of about ten minutes. The tour combines well with a visit to the Guggenheim or the riverside, since both are within a short ride.
| Admission | Paid guided tour; price varies, confirm on athletic-club.eus |
|---|---|
| Hours | Guided tours and the museum run on non-match days at set times; check the Athletic Club website for the current calendar |
| Typical visit | 1.5 hours |
| Best time | Non-match days; match days offer an atmosphere rather than a tour |
| Getting there | Metro Bilbao Line 3 to San Mames, or Line 1 or 2 to San Mames; Euskotren tram to Basurto-Hospital then 10 minutes on foot |
| Address | Rafael Moreno Pichichi Kalea, s/n, 48013 Bilbao, Biscay, Spain |
Location
Rafael Moreno Pichichi Kalea, s/n, 48013 Bilbao, Biscay, Spain
43.2642, -2.9494 View on map
Highlights
- Tour of the pitch-side, tunnel and dressing rooms
- Athletic Club museum with trophies, shirts and archive material
- Rebuilt stadium opened in 2013 nicknamed La Catedral
- Club tradition of Basque-born players
- Metro stop at San Mames close to the entrance
Tips for visiting
- Check athletic-club.eus for the tour calendar and book ahead, since non-match days only run set slots.
- Tours do not run on match days, so plan a separate visit if a match is also wanted.
- Allow about 1.5 hours and arrive a little early for check-in.
- Take Metro to San Mames rather than driving, since parking near the ground is limited on event days.
- Take photographs from the tunnel mouth and the pitch-side seats where permitted.
When to visit
Non-match weekday daytime slots are the quietest for the tour. Match days offer a lively atmosphere around the stadium, but no tour.
Accessibility
A modern stadium rebuilt in 2013 is expected to have step-free routes and lifts, but visitors who use a wheelchair should confirm tour accessibility with Athletic Club before booking.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does the stadium tour take?
The guided tour and museum take about 1.5 hours. Visitors should arrive shortly before the scheduled slot.
Is the tour worth it for people who do not follow football?
The museum and the story of the club's Basque-only tradition interest many general visitors. Fans will get the most from the pitch-side and dressing-room visit.
Is photography allowed?
Photography is generally allowed in most public parts of the tour, but visitors should follow the guide's instructions about restricted areas.