Athletic Club (Athletic Bilbao) is a La Liga club based in Bilbao. Their home ground, nicknamed “La Catedral,” is San Mamés, with a capacity of around 53,331.
San Mamés is made up of Tribuna Principal (main), Tribuna Norte (two-tiered, main singing end), and Tribuna Este, including a safe-standing “Grada de Animación” section (around 4,000 seats).
Tickets
The safest way to buy tickets is directly through the club’s official website. Popular matches are often prioritized for season-ticket (abono) holders before general sale, so check availability as soon as your travel dates are set.
The club anthem, sung entirely in the Basque language since 1983, and the tradition of fans raising scarves and shouting “Athleeeeetic!” as players enter the pitch are both well known.
📍 Getting There
San Mamés · Rafael Moreno "Pitxitxi" Kalea, s/n, 48013 Bilbao
Tap the button below to see transit, walking, and driving directions from your current location to the stadium, via Google Maps.
💡 Insider Tips
🚌 Getting Around
The “Santimami/San Mamés” metro station (lines 1 and 2) is 230m from the stadium, and the Bilbao tram (Euskotran) also stops nearby with extra service starting 90 minutes before kickoff. The bus terminal (Intermodal) is a 2-minute walk.
🏨 Lodging
There are plenty of walkable hotels — Abba Euskalduna (a few minutes away), BYPILLOW San Mamés (3 minutes), and Ibis Budget Bilbao City (about 1km from the stadium).
🎟️ Tickets
Of the 53,331 total seats, about 44,000 belong to season ticket holders (socios), leaving only about 9,000 for general/member sale — this is considered one of the hardest La Liga stadiums for foreign fans to get into. The “Club Athletic” membership, open to anyone, offers advance priority purchase, with premium tiers including 24-hour priority for European and derby matches plus free museum admission.
🎁 Club Perks
The stadium tour audio guide is available in English, Spanish, French, and Basque, and standard membership gives a 50% discount on museum admission.
💡 Insider Tips
The atmosphere (“Los Leones”) is famous for building starting about 45 minutes before kickoff. Enjoying pintxos (Basque tapas) on Pozas street about 2 hours before the match is a frequently cited local tip, and away fans are seated in the southeast corner.