San Mamés Stadium Tour
The football beacon of the Basque region in Spain
Bilbao is undoubtedly one of the lesser-known pearls for the Israeli traveler in Spain. The beautiful city, immersed in the amazing landscapes of the Basque Country in Spain, boasts a rich history, fascinating culture and vibrant cuisine. In this exciting city, there are many experiences that will take you on a journey through the Basque culture, one of which is a tour of the San Mames stadium, the home stadium of the Athletic Bilbao team. The football cathedral of the passionate and dedicated Athletic Bilbao fans will take you on an exciting tour of the Basque culture and reveal to you its resilience and its love for the world of football.
San Mames Stadium: the pride of Bilbao
The San Mames stadium represents a wonderful combination of tradition alongside modernization. The stadium, which was inaugurated in 2013, replaced the old and outdated San Mames Stadium, which served as Athletic Bilbao's home ground since 1913. This new version of the stadium is intended to put Athletic Bilbao on the map as a team with a modern stadium that gives its fans and players a world-class sporting experience.
The San Mames Stadium can accommodate about 53,000 spectators, and it contains modern elements that have been given a lot of thought, one of which is the design of the stadium, which includes a wave-like exterior, reflecting light, a look designed to reflect the tides of the Nervión River that flows right next door to the stadium
The iconic stadium got its name from a nearby church, named after Saint Mammes, a Christian saint who was thrown to the lions by the Romans. The story of St. Mams inspired the nickname of the club - the Lions (Los Leones).
Atlético Bilbao - Basque Lions:
Athletic Club Bilbao, the Basque Lions team, is one of the most recognizable and fascinating football clubs in Spain. Founded in 1898, the club boasts a rich history and glorious heritage that attracts many fans from the Basque Country and Spain.
The Athletic Bilbao team has a tremendous commitment to the Basque Country, and this is expressed in many areas and especially in its player recruitment policy. Unlike other clubs that recruit players from all over the world, Athletic Club Bilbao recruits players born in the Basque region - French or Spanish, or those who have trained in one of the football academies in the Basque region.
Despite these restrictions, which greatly reduce the potential to recruit football stars, the Athletic Bilbao club has a respectable record in the world of Spanish football. Along with Real Madrid and Barcelona, the team has never been relegated from La Liga, the top division of Spanish football.
The club won the title of the best team in Spain in La Liga 8 times throughout its years of existence, and won the Spanish King's Cup 23 times. The team produced world-class players, many of whom reached the Spanish national team.
The club's colors are red and white, and the club's symbol includes a tree and a cross, symbols taken from the world of the Basque Country.
A tour of the San Mamés football stadium - the home stadium of the Basque club Atlético Bilbao
A tour of the San Mames Stadium is more than just a tour of a football stadium. It is actually a fascinating journey into the world of the Basque Country combined with the beautiful world of Spanish football.
During the tour, you will get to see behind the scenes of the stadium - the players' tunnel leading from the field to the dressing rooms, where you can imagine the deafening roar of 53,000 passionate fans who visit the stadium during the team's home games. In addition, you will visit the team's dressing rooms, where the players prepare for games and celebrate their victories, and the press room, where the games are analyzed and the players and coach of the team are interviewed at the end of games.
The tour also includes a tour of the Saint-Mames Museum, an integral part of the stadium experience. The fascinating museum helps stadium visitors understand the rich history and cultural significance of the Basque Athletic Club.
The spaces of the museum will take you to trace the path of Athletic Club Bilbao, starting with its establishment in 1898. The modern museum includes innovative multimedia displays that bring the club's famous past to life.
Among the elaborate exhibits you will find the collection of the club's trophies, which stand as testimony to the team's success (remember again - despite the "restriction" on recruiting only Basque players or those who studied in the Basque academies for soccer).
The museum also includes no less than 500 objects and collectibles, starting with player jerseys, soccer shoes and a variety of interesting memorabilia of the team's players over the years.
In the players space in the museum you can be exposed to the team's legendary players and find their statues accompanied by descriptions of the highlights of their careers.
The innovative museum includes a variety of exhibits alongside interactive activities that create interest among visitors of all ages, including a virtual reality space, which allows you to experience the atmosphere of a game day at the stadium with the cheers of the enthusiastic crowd in the background.
The San Mames Museum provides a deep dive into the history and heritage of the ancient club, and it provides interest and action for its visitors, even if you are not a fan of the Basque team.
Tour of the San Mames stadium: important information
.: The San Mames stadium is located in the heart of the city of Bilbao, in the autonomous Basque Country in the north of Spain.
Stadium address: P. Rafael Moreno Pitxitxi, Bilbao, Biscay.
How to get to: The convenient way to get to the stadium for those arriving from the city of Bilbao is by taking the metro line to the "San Mamés" station, which is about a 2-minute walk from the stadium. You can also reach the "San Mamés" station by tram. For those who prefer to travel by bus, there are several lines that arrive near the stadium, including line 26, line 56, line 38 and line 10.
For those arriving by car from outside the city, there are several paid parking lots near the stadium. It is recommended to find free parking and from there get to the stadium using the city's convenient public transportation.
The tour: The tour is an independent tour, with a personal audio guide. This is not a guided tour with an attached guide, but a tour that gives you access to explore the spaces of the stadium independently. At the beginning of the tour you will receive an audio guide in English / Spanish of your choice, with which you can explore the stadium and the museum.
The audio guide is on your personal smartphone, so you must have a phone and headphones.
When to arrive: You can visit the stadium almost any day of the year, but it is recommended to avoid visiting on game days, when the stadium will be crowded with visitors and some of the stadium's spaces, such as the dressing rooms and the players' tunnel, may be closed to visitors.
Tickets must be ordered in advance
After the visit: Many of the visitors to the stadium come from the various cities in the Basque Country or Spain, and they only spend time in the stadium itself. If you have already arrived in the city of Bilbao, do not miss what the magical city has to offer. The stadium is in the center of the city and in addition to that, the city has convenient and efficient public transportation that allows access to many parts of the city quickly and comfortably. After visiting the stadium, you can stroll along the beautiful riverside walkways, explore Bilbao's thriving art scene in the city's various galleries or at the Guggenheim Museum (Guggenheim Bilbao Museum), a museum of modern art that has many branches around the world.
In conclusion, the San Mames stadium is a little more than a football stadium. The spectacular hall is a beacon of culture, history and passion, alongside a symbol of the pride and resilience of the city of Bilbao and the Basque Country. The fascinating visit will take you to a unique and authentic experience, which will give you a deep connection to the heritage of the Basque people. Whether you're a football fan or a curious traveler, the San Mames Stadium promises to excite and fascinate you.
