Bilbao help please

[The Hung Juror]

Planning on going to Bilbao in a few weeks for the weekend with my lad. Anyone any experience of getting tickets and going to an Atheltic game?

Also thinking of going to the Guggenheim.

Any tips or advice on this or in general on visiting Bilbao gratefully received. Thanks in advance.

[spanishclaret]

I've been to Bilbao only once, despite having relatives living nearby (which says more about the relatives than it does the city).

I'd recommend Casco Viejo, the old town - fantastic for bars and tapas.

[Longside4evr]

Only port of call when I have caught ferry over from Poole to Bilbao on many occasions
You should be able to pick tickets up ok, the old town of Casco Viejo is the best shout
Try and get up to San Sebastian its only an hour away easy accessable by train or bus stunning place right on the French Spanish boarder if you get chance it's a must hope you enjoy it

[iluva64]

Guggenheim is worth the visit. I found walking round the outside and looking at the building more interesting than some of the exhibits internally. For such a complicated structure the interior spaces didn't reflect the external elements which was a missed opportunity i thought. Nice atrium space.

Would second the trip to San Sebastian - best tapas in Spain to be found in the old market. Seek out the Whiskey Bar near the old town. they have some good malts and is an amazing place.

[J50]

We had a holiday last year about 2 hours drive along the cost west from Bilbao. I checked before going for a footy match on somewhere such as Gijon or Santander but the only one on that week was Bilbao vs Barca . Tickets were fairly easy to get, they came on sale on the Tuesday at about 10am before the match the following Sunday evening. Paid about 85 Euros a ticket.

So if there's a match on then check the website and they should tell you when they are on sale. If it's a relatively small team then should be even easier to get

I like the history of the club, there was s short program on Sky Sports about it. Only recruit from the area, never buy players. Watch out for some people wearing the historic kit as well... quarter blue and white shirt! I thought there were some ******* fans in the crowd

[J50]

Why can't you say B@stards

[The Hung Juror]

Thanks guys for the responses so far.

Cheers J50. Was thinking of going at the end of October when coincidently they play Barca. I presume you bought the tickets on their website. Hopefully will be able to get tickets so I'll keep an eye on the website for ticket information.

[Paul Waine]

I had a long w/end in Bilbao a few years back. The Guggenheim is absolutely fantastic, well worth the visit on its own. We also spent a day somewhere down the river estuary, Getxo, if I remember correctly. That was also a good place to visit (but, check I've got the right place name). The Basque "tapas" can be good, pintxos, I believe they are called. I think we were there on a local "feast day" - so, quite a few places were closed, including some of the restaurants.

Enjoy.

[J50]

Thanks guys for the responses so far.

Cheers J50. Was thinking of going at the end of October when coincidently they play Barca. I presume you bought the tickets on their website. Hopefully will be able to get tickets so I'll keep an eye on the website for ticket information.

Yes it was on their website. Not many available but I think I logged on just as they went on sale and could find a pair in the higher price range not in the lower prices. The stadium is great, in the city centre and easy to find where you are going - we parked in an underground car park not far away. Hardly anyone speaks English in northern Spain by the way.

[conyoviejo]

Don't forget to ask for "Deme una Mamada enseguida por favor señorita "

[Hendrickxz]

Lovely place. I was there when they were building the new stadium which is up near the transport excahnge, so really easy to get through. There were guys working at 40-50 feet up on the stand roof without hard hats or harnesses, absolutely no regard for H&S rules. It reminded me of the famous shot of the guys in the 30s scoffing their lunch on a suspended girder in New York. Like someone else said, the Guggenheim is better viewed from outside rather than in. The big repulic square in the old town is great for a drink and people watching, but a hotbed for the sneak theives. I was reading something while having a drink at a cafe table when I suddenly saw the bag at my feet disappearing from view. I turned round and there's a guy on a seat behind with my bag on his lap. I snatched it back then "gobbed" him with it and sent him off with an Anglo Saxon blessing! He was about half my age but he buggered off a bit quick. The astonishing thing was that we were surrounded by other people and none of them batted an eyelid at the commotion, which tells me it myust be extremely commonplace.

Enjoy yourself but keep an eye on yopur stuff.

[Lisbonclaret]

Don't forget to ask for "Deme una Mamada enseguida por favor señorita "

Funnily enough I did exactly that but in Lisbon when asking for a coffee(Bica). I asked for a Bico from the young girl behind the counter and walked directly to the bathroom and wondered why the room exploded into laughter behind me. None of my friends would tell me what the reaction was for about three months after.

[Hendrickxz]

For us uneducated in Portuguese and Spanish can you thrown some light on these hilarious faux par please? Youv'e aroused my curiosity....

[quoonbeatz]

love bilbao, its a great little city. san mames is a top stadium with a decent atmosphere. easy to get tickets as well. also worth checking the fixtures to see if there's a game at eibar while you're there; small town team in the top flight with nice little ground up on the road between bilbao and san sebastian - much like ourselves bar the location.

the guggenheim is amazing from the outside but definitely don't discount checking out the inside - i've seen brilliant basquiat and jeff koons exhibitions there and there was Richard Serra installation, Matter of Time, to wander round.

basque food is tremendous but its all about the pintxos - just stop at practically any bar in casco viejo, ask for a plate, take what you want from the selection on the bar and pay for it at the end with the bill generally worked out by the number and length of the cocktail sticks used. its so easy to bar hop and eat in almost every one. san sebastian is worth a visit if you like your food, its about an hour away on the bus (train takes longer). if you want to check out what pintxos is like over here, get yourself to baratxuri in rammy.

as said above, be aware there isn't much english spoken in this region; there's not actually much spanish spoken either.

[quoonbeatz]

stuff

do you drive a jag, perchance?

[Chobulous]

For us uneducated in Portuguese and Spanish can you thrown some light on these hilarious faux par please? Youv'e aroused my curiosity....

Not something you would ask a vegan senorita to do

[J50]

do you drive a jag, perchance?

No, sorry!

[quoonbeatz]

No, sorry!

don't apologise. i overtook a J50 BFC jag on the m66 before the palace game, thats all

[The Hung Juror]

Thank you for all your help, exerpiences and tips. Much appreciated.