Thousands of Manchester United and Tottenham fans will be finding their way to Bilbao for next Wednesday.
Manchester United fans have already travelled to Bilbao for the Europa League semi-finals this season, whereas it will be a completely new experience for a lot of Tottenham’s travelling support.
The Red Devils booked their place in the Europa League final after beating Real Sociedad, Lyon and Athletic Club in the latter stages. Tottenham had a more straightforward route after beating AZ Alkmaar, Eintracht Frankfurt and Bødo/Glimt.
It promises to be entertaining and all-English in Bilbao, with a lot of factors to consider for those making the eagerly awaited trip.
That is why we have put together a fan guide for those travelling to Bilbao.
Getting to Bilbao
Fans are having mixed experiences getting to and from Bilbao for the Europa League final. The main difficulty for many is finding accommodation due to the prices and lack of availability, with many choosing to stay in neighbouring towns like San Sebastian or Santander.
Those same fans have found many ways to fly to Bilbao, although not all of them were fortunate enough to get direct flights. Another possibility is to fly to Bordeaux before driving on French roads to Bilbao.
If you are still struggling to find accommodation in or near Bilbao, we recommend checking camping sites in the area.
Separate fan zones
The fan zones for Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur fans have been announced ahead of the final. United have got the fan zone in Etzebarria Park, while Tottenham have got the Pozas area which is nearer to the San Mames Stadium.
Places to eat
Bar snacks are popular in Spain. In Bilbao, these are called pintxos – and United fans are expected to try these over the course of next week. They involve a small slice of bread stabbed by a toothpick, with anything of the bar’s choosing attached. These usually involve jamon iberico, tuna paste, stuffed anchovies and chunks of chorizo.
People can also visit the largest covered food market in Europe, the Mercado de la Ribera, which was built in 1929. The elegant art deco building has a surface of 108,000 sq ft and is full of stalls selling local produce, from fresh fish to Basque cheese and cured meats.
It won’t come as a surprise that the biggest football club in Bilbao is Athletic Club. United fans know a great deal about their side already having knocked them out of the competition in the semi-final stages.
However, this time for the final, they will get a chance to mingle with some of the locals.
Top things to do in Bilbao
The first thing on everyone’s agenda next week will be making it to the final on Wednesday night. That will be the biggest show in town, but there will be plenty for people to do in the city ahead of the game or in the days that follow.
People can stroll from the Guggenheim museum to the casco Viejo as the Nervion bends toward the Arenal Bridge. You can also visit Plaza de las Mujeres to see the world go by.
Also take time to relax and enjoy your stay in the Basque region.