San Mames Stadium is the home of Athletic Bilbao, a spectacular 53,331-capacity arena on the banks of the Nervion in Bilbao and one of the most atmospheric grounds in Europe. Demand for San Mames Stadium tickets is driven by the fierce loyalty of the Athletic support, by the Basque derby against Real Sociedad and by the visits of Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, at a club with one of the most distinctive identities in world football. The stadium, opened in 2013 to replace the beloved old San Mames known as La Catedral, sits close to the centre of the city and carries the same name and spirit as its famous predecessor. 1BoxOffice is a verified secondary marketplace established in 2006, with seat-level detail at checkout and a 150% money-back guarantee if a ticket fails to grant entry on matchday.
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This guide is written for the supporter making the trip, not the browser. It covers the Metro and the tram out to the ground in the heart of Bilbao, how the three-tier stands are arranged around the singing section, where away fans sit, the bag rules and the entry process, the pintxos and cider of the Basque Country, and the story of one of the proudest clubs in the game. By the end you should know how an Athletic matchday runs.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | San Mames, the New Cathedral |
| Location | Central Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain |
| Capacity | 53,331 |
| Opened | 2013, replacing the old San Mames known as La Catedral |
| Surface | Natural grass |
| Home Club | Athletic Bilbao |
| Home End | The lower-tier singing section, around 4,000 places |
| Notable | Host of a recent European final, a striking illuminated facade |
| Away Section | The south-east corner |
| Nearest Metro | San Mames on the Bilbao Metro |
San Mames Stadium sits close to the centre of Bilbao, on the banks of the Nervion estuary, one of the most central and accessible grounds in Europe, so it is easy to reach on foot or by the city's excellent Metro and tram. Bilbao is a compact and handsome city, transformed in recent decades, and the ground is walkable from almost anywhere in the centre. Most supporters walk or take a short Metro or tram ride, and the stadium has its own Metro station right by the turnstiles.
The Metro is the easiest way in, with the San Mames station on the Bilbao Metro right by the ground, a walk of only a minute or two to the turnstiles, served by the network that runs through the centre and out along both banks of the estuary. The Bilbao Metro, with its distinctive glass entrances designed by a famous architect, is clean, frequent and simple to use, and it is comfortably the easiest option for most supporters. Follow the crowd from the station across to the stadium.
The Euskotran tram also serves the area, running along the estuary through the centre of Bilbao with a stop near the ground, a scenic and easy way in. The stadium is walkable from almost anywhere in central Bilbao, a stroll of around twenty minutes from the old town along the river, past the Guggenheim museum, one of the pleasures of a matchday in the city. For many supporters the walk along the Nervion is the nicest way to the ground.
Bilbao's mainline and regional stations connect the city to the rest of Spain, and the Metro links them to the ground, so supporters arriving by train are a short ride or walk from the stadium. Bilbao airport lies around ten kilometres north of the city, connected to the centre by a regular bus, so visitors flying in reach the middle of Bilbao quickly and continue to the ground on foot or by Metro. The compact, well-connected city makes the whole trip straightforward.
The ground is reachable by road, with the AP-8 motorway serving the city, but parking near the stadium is limited given its central location, and driving is not the easiest option on matchday. The advice is to use the Metro, the tram or the walk from the centre rather than drive, given the excellent public transport and the central setting. Those staying outside the city can park further out and use the Metro in, which is simpler than driving to a ground in the heart of Bilbao.
Parking at San Mames Stadium is limited near the ground, which sits in a central part of Bilbao, so driving right to the stadium is not the easiest option on matchday. There are some public car parks in the surrounding area and the wider city, but they fill up before a bigger match, so arriving early helps. Given how central the ground is and how well the Metro and tram serve it, with the San Mames station right at the turnstiles, the vast majority of supporters find public transport or the walk from the centre far easier than driving. Drivers coming from outside the city should park further out and take the Metro in.
San Mames Stadium is a spectacular modern ground with four stands split into three tiers, wrapped in a striking illuminated facade that glows over the city on a matchday, one of the finest arenas in Europe and a worthy successor to the old Cathedral. The lower tier is close to the pitch with a gentle rake, the middle tier holds the executive boxes and lounges, and the upper tier is steep with a commanding elevated view. The lower tier behind one goal holds the singing section, a safe-standing area of around four thousand places where the most passionate Athletic support gathers and the noise comes from.
The singing section, a safe-standing area of around four thousand places in the lower tier behind one goal, is the home of the most vocal Athletic support, where the flags, the banners and the singing fill the ground in the red and white of the club. This is the section to target for the fullest atmosphere, packed and loud, carrying on the fervent tradition of La Catedral into the new ground. The whole stadium can be a wall of noise on the big nights, but the singing section is the beating heart of an Athletic matchday.
The three tiers give a range of views and prices, with the lower tier closest to the pitch and the atmosphere, the middle tier holding the executive boxes, lounges and premium hospitality, and the upper tier steep and high with a commanding view of the whole pitch. The side stands along the touchlines give the best balanced view of the play, with the central rows the pick for a tactical overview, while the ends and the upper corners come at a lower price. The steep, enclosed design keeps the crowd close and the noise in.
Away supporters are housed in the south-east corner of the ground, with a good view but separated from the home support, and an allocation that varies by fixture, typically a small percentage of the capacity for a European match. The ground has strong accessible provision as a modern stadium, with wheelchair-user positions, companion seating and step-free access built into the design, though supporters with access requirements should contact the club before the match to confirm the arrangements. The table below matches a section to what you want from the day.
| Priority | Recommended Sections |
|---|---|
| Atmosphere | The singing section in the lower tier |
| Tactical overview | Side stands, central rows |
| Close to pitch | Front rows of the lower tier |
| Elevated view | The steep upper tier |
| Budget-friendly | The upper corners and the far end |
| Away fans | South-east corner section |
| Accessibility | Wheelchair-user bays with companion spaces (request at purchase) |
Bilbao has a mild, damp Atlantic climate, greener and wetter than much of Spain, with rain a real possibility across the year and comfortable rather than fierce summer heat, so conditions at a match are often cooler and wetter than in Madrid or the south. The roof covers most of the seated areas of the ground, keeping much of the crowd dry, though the open centre and the front rows can catch the wind and rain in a downpour off the Atlantic. For most fixtures a layer against the possibility of rain is sensible, and for a winter match a warm and waterproof coat is wise given the damp Basque weather.
Like other La Liga grounds, San Mames Stadium runs a firm bag policy with searches on entry, so the sensible approach is to travel light. Large bags and rucksacks are best left at your accommodation, since oversized bags are refused and there is no guarantee of a bag store, with only small bags admitted subject to search. Standard prohibited items apply, including bottles, cans, outside alcohol, pyrotechnics and flares, and any object judged dangerous. Bring photo identification, as it may be checked for certain fixtures. Check the club's matchday guidance for the current bag size limit before you travel, and arrive early to clear the search, especially for the Basque derby or a European night.
Bilbao is one of the great food cities of Europe, the heart of Basque cuisine, famous for its pintxos, the small plates served in the bars, and for the cider and the wine of the region, so the matchday build-up is a real pleasure. The ground is central, so bars and restaurants are close at hand, both around the stadium and in the old town a short walk or ride away.
The great tradition of Bilbao is the pintxo, the small plate perched on a slice of bread or a skewer, eaten standing at the bar with a glass of the local Txakoli wine, a cider or a beer, moving from bar to bar in the Basque style. The old town, the Casco Viejo, and the streets around it are full of pintxo bars, along with fine restaurants in a region renowned for its cooking. A crawl of the pintxo bars before the match is one of the joys of a football trip to Bilbao, and the Basque Country is one of the best places to eat in the world.
Close to the stadium there are matchday bars and restaurants such as those on the streets nearby, handy for a drink close to the turnstiles, while the fuller choice is in the Casco Viejo and along the estuary near the Guggenheim. Because the ground is so central, supporters can easily combine a walk along the river, a look at the Guggenheim and a round of pintxos with the match. A glass of Txakoli and a plate of pintxos before kick-off is the classic Bilbao matchday.
Inside the stadium the concourses serve Spanish and Basque matchday food and drink at the usual standard, from snacks to the usual refreshments. The real draw, though, is the pintxo culture of Bilbao just outside, so for a fuller experience eat and drink in the bars of the city beforehand, among the finest food in Europe, then head into the ground for the match, which is a short walk or ride from the old town.
Athletic use modern ticketing, so for most fixtures the ticket is scanned at the turnstile, whether issued digitally or as a printed ticket depending on the match, and identification may be checked against the ticket for certain fixtures. Have the ticket and your identification ready before you reach the entrance. Gates open ahead of kick-off to let the crowd filter in, and with a bag search the entrances get busy in the last half hour, particularly for the Basque derby or a European night. Aim to be at the ground in good time rather than joining the final rush, and note that La Liga kick-off times can be late in the evening.
Leaving a ground so central and so well served by the Metro is one of the easiest parts of a San Mames visit, with the network and the walk carrying the crowd quickly back into the city.
The Metro from the San Mames station carries the crowd back into the centre and out along the estuary after the match, running frequently to clear the ground, with the Euskotran tram as a scenic alternative along the river. The station is busy immediately after a bigger fixture, so either move quickly with the first wave or give the crush a few minutes to clear before setting off. The excellent network means you are quickly back in the heart of Bilbao for the evening.
Because the ground is so central, walking back into the old town along the Nervion is one of the nicest ways out, a stroll of around twenty minutes past the Guggenheim on a dry evening, avoiding any wait for transport. The riverside walk is well lit and busy on matchday, so a short walk before picking up the Metro or the tram, or all the way into the centre, is a fine way to end the night. The compact city makes the journey home simple.
The natural way to end an Athletic matchday is to head into the Casco Viejo for the evening, for a crawl of the pintxo bars and a glass of Txakoli in one of the great food cities of Europe. The simplest way to beat any post-match crowd is to let the first wave clear before heading off, then enjoy the city. An evening over pintxos in the old town of Bilbao after the match is a fine end to a football trip to the Basque Country.
The name San Mames is one of the most storied in Spanish football, carried first by the old ground that stood on the site from 1913, known affectionately as La Catedral, the Cathedral, for its place in the game and in the hearts of the Basque support. When that beloved old stadium reached the end of its life, a spectacular new San Mames was built alongside and opened in 2013, taking the same name and spirit, with a striking illuminated facade of curved panels that glows over the city. The new ground is a modern arena of the highest standard, and it quickly proved its quality by staging a recent European final, the showpiece of the second-tier continental competition.
Athletic Bilbao are one of the most distinctive clubs in world football, formed in 1898 and famous for a policy of fielding only players from the Basque Country or developed in Basque football, drawing on their Lezama academy rather than the transfer market. One of only three clubs never to have been relegated from the Spanish top flight, alongside Real Madrid and Barcelona, Athletic have won the league and the Spanish Cup many times, and in 2024 they lifted the Copa del Rey for the first time in decades, sparking joyous celebrations along the estuary. The club's identity, its Basque roots and its fierce loyalty run through everything at San Mames.
The ground has staged many great occasions, above all the Basque derby against Real Sociedad, one of the most passionate in Spain, along with the visits of Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, and the European nights the club has brought to the city. The old San Mames hosted matches at major tournaments over the century of its life, and the new ground has carried on that tradition of big occasions. From La Catedral to the New Cathedral, San Mames holds a central place in the story of Spanish and Basque football.
The stadium's history, verified by contemporary records, spans the century of the old San Mames and the modern arena that replaced it. Its greatest occasions include the Basque derby against Real Sociedad, the most charged fixture of the season, the visits of Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, and the recent European final that the ground was chosen to host. The Copa del Rey triumph of 2024 brought some of the most joyous scenes in the club's history to the city, and the singing section has driven the atmosphere throughout, giving San Mames a special place in the modern game.
San Mames Stadium is a spectacular, modern ground, among the finest in Europe, so its future lies in continuing as the home of Athletic Bilbao and as a host for the biggest occasions, having already staged a recent European final. As one of the newest and most impressive large stadiums on the continent, it needs no major redevelopment, and the focus is on the club's ambitions on the pitch and on attracting the marquee matches and events that suit such a venue. For now the arena remains a showpiece home for Athletic and a proud symbol of Bilbao and the Basque Country, carrying the name and spirit of the old Cathedral into the modern game.
San Mames Stadium has strong accessible provision as a modern stadium, with wheelchair-user positions, companion seating and step-free access built into the design, along with facilities for supporters with a range of access needs. Supporters requiring accessible seating should contact the club well before the match to confirm the available spaces, arrange any companion ticket and check the best route into the ground. The San Mames Metro station beside the stadium offers step-free access, making the arena one of the more accessible large grounds in Europe, and the central, walkable setting helps too, though it is worth confirming the arrangements and allowing extra time on a busy matchday.
The fixtures that move San Mames Stadium tickets fastest are the Basque derby and the visits of the biggest Spanish clubs. The derby against Real Sociedad is the standout occasion, one of the most passionate in Spain, and you can find the visitors on the Real Sociedad tickets page, with the Basque derby against Deportivo Alaves another charged local fixture. The visits of Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are the other biggest draws, while the club's European campaigns bring more big nights, part of the wider Europa League tickets story at a ground chosen to host the final. The full home programme sits on the Athletic Bilbao tickets and La Liga tickets listings. Fixtures against mid-table sides are the most accessible and sometimes available closer to kick-off. Secondary-market prices move with demand, so treat any figure as indicative rather than fixed and buy early for the derby and the marquee matches.
1BoxOffice is a verified secondary marketplace that has operated since 2006, showing seat-level detail before you pay and backing every order with a 150% money-back guarantee if a ticket fails to grant entry on matchday. The eight steps below cover the process from finding a fixture to tracking your order.
Step1
Find the fixture
Go to the San Mames Stadium listing on 1BoxOffice and select the match you want. Each fixture shows the available stands, rows and current pricing before you commit to a seat.
Step2
Check the seat detail
Use the stand and price filters to compare sections. Seat location and row are shown against the venue layout, so you can weigh a place near the singing section against a central side-stand seat before deciding.
Step3
Confirm the supporter section
Make sure the block matches who you are travelling with. Home and visiting-supporter areas are listed separately, and away fans are routed to the south-east corner of the ground.
Step4
Review before checkout
Check the delivery method and the kick-off time against your travel plans, and note that identification may be checked against the ticket for certain fixtures. La Liga kick-off times can be late in the evening and shift with broadcast scheduling, so verify the date and time before you book travel or a hotel.
Step5
Create your account
First-time buyers should create an account to complete checkout and receive the ticket. Returning customers simply log in. An account keeps your order and delivery details in one place.
Step6
Complete payment
All major credit and debit cards are accepted. The 150% money-back guarantee applies automatically to every order if the ticket fails to grant entry on matchday.
Step7
Receive your ticket
Tickets for Athletic fixtures are typically issued digitally or as a printed ticket depending on the match. Keep the ticket and your identification ready to scan and check, and follow the delivery instructions supplied with your order.
Step8
Track your order
Follow delivery status and manage your booking through track order. Tickets arrive ahead of the match so you can travel with everything ready.
Bilbao makes a superb football trip, a transformed industrial city on the Nervion estuary in the Basque Country, home to the world-famous Guggenheim museum, some of the finest food in Europe and a proud local culture. Fly into Bilbao airport, around ten kilometres north, then take the airport bus into the centre, and the Metro or a short walk out to the ground. Base yourself centrally, near the old town, and remember that identification may be checked for certain fixtures, that the stadium is right in the heart of the city, and that the pintxos and the Guggenheim are a reason to travel in themselves. Bilbao pairs a match with one of the most rewarding city breaks in Spain.
With the Basque coast and cities close by, many supporters build a longer trip around the match. If you are lining up other fixtures, the football tickets hub, the wider football tournaments calendar and the venues tickets directory show what else is on. In and around Bilbao, the Guggenheim museum and the riverside walks, the old town with its pintxo bars, the funicular up to Mount Artxanda and the beaches and coast of the Basque Country all reward a matchday trip to the region.
San Mames Stadium holds 53,331, one of the largest grounds in Spain. It is a spectacular modern arena with four stands split into three tiers and a striking illuminated facade, and the lower-tier singing section of around four thousand places drives one of the best atmospheres in Europe on a matchday.
The ground is the home of Athletic Bilbao, one of the most distinctive clubs in world football, known for fielding only Basque players. The club moved into the new San Mames in 2013, replacing the beloved old ground of the same name on the same site, and it has been their home ever since.
The ground is right in the centre of Bilbao. Take the Metro to the San Mames station by the ground, or the Euskotran tram along the estuary, or simply walk from the old town in around twenty minutes along the river past the Guggenheim. Parking is limited given the central location, so public transport or the walk is the easy option.
Parking near the ground is limited given its central location in Bilbao. There are some public car parks in the surrounding area and the wider city, but they fill up before a bigger match. With the San Mames Metro station at the turnstiles and the ground walkable from the centre, most supporters find public transport or the walk far easier than driving.
Yes, tickets are sold to the general public, though the Basque derby against Real Sociedad and the visits of Real Madrid and the other giants sell out fast, and Athletic allocate many tickets to their members. Identification may be checked against the ticket for certain fixtures. A verified secondary marketplace is a realistic route for visitors, with seat detail shown before you pay.
Travel light, as large bags and rucksacks are refused and there is no guarantee of a bag store, with only small bags admitted subject to search. Expect a search at the turnstile. Bottles, cans, outside alcohol, pyrotechnics and flares are prohibited. Bring photo identification, as it may be checked for certain fixtures. Check the club's matchday guidance for the current bag size limit.
The singing section, a safe-standing area of around four thousand places in the lower tier behind one goal, is the home of the most vocal Athletic support, so target it for the fullest atmosphere in the red and white of the club. The whole ground can be loud on the big nights, but the singing section is the heart of it. The side stands are calmer and better for a tactical view.
Visiting supporters are housed in the south-east corner of the ground, with a good view but separated from the home support. The allocation varies by fixture, typically a small percentage of the capacity for a European match. Away fans should check the details for their specific game and follow the guidance issued with the ticket.
Yes. As a modern ground it has wheelchair-user positions, companion seating and step-free access built into the design, and the San Mames Metro station beside the stadium offers step-free access. Contact the club before the match to confirm the seating and arrange it in advance, and allow extra time on a busy matchday.
Gates open ahead of kick-off to let the crowd in, typically well over an hour before a La Liga match, and earlier for a big European night. With a bag search, the entrances get busy in the last half hour, so aim to arrive in good time, especially for the Basque derby. Note that La Liga kick-off times can be late in the evening. The precise opening time is confirmed with your ticket.
The concourses serve Spanish and Basque matchday food and drink. The real draw is Bilbao itself, one of the great food cities of Europe, famous for its pintxos, the small plates eaten at the bar, and the local Txakoli wine. Eat and drink in the pintxo bars of the old town, a short walk from the ground, before the match.
Athletic Bilbao have a long-standing policy of fielding only players from the Basque Country or developed in Basque football, drawing on their Lezama academy rather than the transfer market. It is one of the most distinctive identities in world football, a source of huge pride to the club and its supporters, and it makes their success all the more remarkable.
The old San Mames, which stood from 1913, was nicknamed La Catedral, the Cathedral, for its place in the history and the hearts of the game in the Basque Country. The new ground, opened in 2013 on the same site with the same name, carries on that spirit and is sometimes called the New Cathedral, one of the most revered names in Spanish football.
Prices depend on the opponent, with the Basque derby against Real Sociedad and the visits of Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona the most expensive, while mid-table La Liga fixtures are more affordable. Athletic allocate many tickets to their members, so the marquee games are in high demand. Secondary-market prices move with demand, so treat any figure as indicative.
Anywhere central in Bilbao works well, as the ground is right in the city and easy to reach on foot or by Metro. The old town, the Casco Viejo, and the streets around the estuary and the Guggenheim put you among the pintxo bars and restaurants, with a short walk or ride to the stadium and easy connections around the compact city.
Athletic issue tickets digitally or as a printed ticket depending on the fixture, scanned at the turnstile, and identification may be checked against the ticket for certain matches. Have the ticket and your identification ready before you arrive. Follow the delivery and entry instructions supplied with your order, as the requirements can vary by fixture.
Yes. The modern San Mames was chosen to host a recent European final, the showpiece of the second-tier continental competition, a mark of its quality as a venue. The old San Mames on the same site hosted matches at major tournaments over its century of life, giving the name a long history of big occasions.
The ground is central, so the sights of Bilbao are close at hand. The Guggenheim museum and the riverside walks are a short stroll away, along with the old town and its pintxo bars, the funicular up Mount Artxanda for the views, and the beaches and coast of the Basque Country a little further out, all rewarding a matchday trip.
The Basque derby is the meeting of Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad, the two great clubs of the Basque Country, one of the most passionate rivalries in Spain. Charged with regional pride, it is the fixture that means the most to both sets of supporters and fills San Mames, with the meetings against Deportivo Alaves another charged Basque local fixture.
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Sources: Athletic Club (athletic-club.eus), club matchday guidance, Metro Bilbao and Euskotran transport information, and stadium reference records such as football ground guides and stadium databases.