Bilbao BBK Live is not only about music in Kobetamendi, it is the perfect excuse to discover Bilbao beyond the music stages. Between concerts, the city offers a range of experiences from the avant-garde of the Guggenheim Museum to the most authentic corners of the Old Town. If you’re going up the mountain to watch your favourite bands, save some energy to explore the streets because the city is home to architectural secrets, world-class gastronomy and, of course, the heart of a club that defines the identity of the whole population.
San Mames: the other “Cathedral” not to be missed
If there is one place that competes in magnetism with the stages of the festival, it is San Mames Stadium. You can’t say you’ve been to Bilbao without visiting San Mames from within. While BBK Live is rocking the hillsides, the stadium offers a haven of history and design that can’t be missed. The best way to understand why this building has won international awards is through the San Mames Tour, which enables you to step onto the pitch and feel the immensity of its empty stands before the music starts.
If you want to go one step further, the combination of Museum, Guided Tour and a visit to the changing rooms is undoubtedly the star plan for any visitor. Entering the changing rooms at San Mames, the sanctuary where the lions concentrate before each battle, is a privilege that few stadiums in the world offer in such detail. Furthermore, the AC Museum will immerse you in an interactive story on the unique philosophy of Athletic Club, being the perfect complement to understand the passion that drives this city.
Museums and corners of Bilbao: from Gehry to the Siete Calles (Seven Streets)
Bilbao is, above all, a city of contrasts. The Guggenheim Museum, with its organic titanium forms designed by Frank Gehry, is the ideal starting point for any riverside walk. But if you are looking for a broader view, the network of museums in Bilbao offers everything from the classicism of Fine Arts to the deep history of the Basque Museum. To ensure you don’t miss anything, consult the list of top 10 places to see in and around Bilbao, a perfect roadmap to make the most of your stay.
A stroll through the “Siete Calles” (Seven Streets) is a journey back to the origins of the city. Here, tradition is savoured at every bar in Plaza Nueva, where pintxos are accompanied by a glass of txakoli. It is the perfect place to recharge your batteries before heading up to the festival, surrounded by gems such as La Ribera Market, one of the largest food markets in Europe where the Art Deco architecture mixes with the hustle and bustle of fresh local produce.
Green spaces and excursions to extend your stay
If the festival leaves you wanting more, the area around Bilbao offers destinations that appear to have been taken straight out of a film. Visit Getxo and cross the Bizkaia Bridge or go to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe hermitage. If you would rather stay in the city, Bilbao’s parks and gardens, such as Doña Casilda, are true oases of peace where you can relax under the trees before the decibels rise again in Kobetamendi.Whatever your plan, remember that Bilbao is a city to walk around and feel it. The capital of Bizkaia guarantees that your time at BBK Live will be much more than just a list of concerts, proving that the festival is also a perfect opportunity to discover the city at a different pace; it will be a total immersion in a culture that is unique in the world, just like Athletic.
