Bilbao has become an increasingly popular location for alternative stag do ideas in recent years. If you’re looking for something that goes beyond a simple booze fest, but still offers plenty of fun, Bilbao and Bizkaia could be the perfect choice.
IMPORTANT – Bilbao is still adjusting to recent increases in tourism levels. Locals are friendly, outgoing and have a great sense of humour, but extreme behaviour (especially excessive drunkeness) doesn’t go down well. Even if you opt for a more outlandish stag in Bilbao, remember to be polite and respectful towards the locals.
In summary, a good stag weekend in Bilbao should involve lots of pintxos, plenty of txuleton (steak), football matches, pub crawls, craft beers, Basque cider and moments to stitch up your groom.
Below are some ideas and an itinerary for a stag do weekend (Friday evening to Sunday evening) in Bilbao.
We begin after you’ve arrived to the city and checked in at your accommodation. At the end of the itinerary, we’ll provide advice on transport and places to stay.
Bilbao stag do itinerary
Friday
18:00 – Head to Plaza Nueva in Casco Viejo for some warm-up kañas (beers) and pintxos.
20:00 – Dinner at Galtzagorri cider house in Santutxu neighbourhood. Drink cider from the barrel and eat tender steak served on a hot plate.
22:30 – Pub crawl in Casco Viejo. Take in some of the Old Town’s finest establishments, with a beer or two of course. Check out areas like Calle Somera, Barrenkale and Barrenkale Barrena for decent bars and good vibes.
Saturday
*Our plan for Saturday is based on the idea that there’s a fixture at San Mames on Saturday night (21:00 kick-off). You might have to adjust accordingly if not.
10:00 – Breakfast at the Mercado de Ribera.
11:00 – Bilbao Walking tour
13:00 – Take the funicular train up to Mount Artxanda
14:00 – Go for a ‘menu del dia’ lunch at Clandestino (or one of our other recommendations)
16:00 – Coffee break and a rest for the night ahead.
18:30 – Hit the River Nervión on a Bilbao party boat.
19:45 – Pozas to soak-up the pre-match atmosphere, plus the pintxos and kañas, before the big game.
21:00 – San Mames Stadium to watch Athletic Club Bilbao.
23:00 – Finish the night at music venue/nightclub Kafe Antzokia (really good on Saturday night if you’re into rock music).
BIG TIP – We definitely recommend sending one of the party to an Athletic Club shop at some point to get a load of merchandise so you can dress the stag up like a ‘full-kit w**ker’. We have seen first hand that this goes down well with locals!
Sunday
Sundays tend to be quite relaxed in Bilbao and Bizkaia. Bars and cafes will be open during the morning and afternoon, but it’s very quiet at night time.
10:00 – Get some Spanish omelette to deal with the hangover.
11:00 – Take a trip to the seaside town of Plentzia (easy to reach on Bilbao metro) for a bit of fresh air. (alternative day trips)
13:00 – Some pintxos or a menu del día lunch in Plentzia.
15:00 – Get metro back to Bilbao.
17:00 – Bus to Bilbao Airport.
Further stag do ideas
If the groom is more into music than sports, you could try to see if there’s a concert on at a local venue instead of heading to San Mames.
Bilbao has a vibrant craft beer scene, check out one of our recommendations to get a taste of decent local beers.
If you have more time, it might be worth spending one of the days exploring the wider province of Bizkaia, especially if you’re stag is into history and culture. For example, you can easily visit Gernika, Mundaka and Bermeo on the same day. All have stops on the E4 Euskotren line, with trains leaving regularly from Casco Viejo’s San Nicolas Station.
Transport
Here’s some advice on getting to and from Bilbao Airport to the city centre as well as how to navigate Bilbao’s metro, buses and trains.
For cheaper travel, look at flying to Santander instead of Bilbao. Sometimes flights to there are less expensive and the coach across doesn’t cost too much.
Our main tip is that you get a Barik card if you plan on frequently using public transport in Bilbao.
If you’re flying in from the UK, bear in mind that Wizz Air are going to start a service from Luton to Bilbao in March 2026.
Accommodation
Bilbao has accommodation for all budgets. If you’re looking to keep costs down and save a bit more money for beer we recommend taking a look at local hostels.
Booking.com 2026 getaway deals
Booking.com are offering 15% off on stays across a range of Bilbao hotels when booked before April 2026.
Click the following link to take a look at which hotel are offering getaway discounts.
Basque language
Although no locals expect you to speak Basque, and everyone is more than happy to speak Spanish, or attempt to speak English, using a few words in Basque can help make a good impression with Bilbainos.
Bilbao itineraries
Need more inspiration? Looking for something else? Take a look at our different Bilbao itineraries for further ideas.
WIFI and mobile data in Bilbao
Bilbao has a free WIFI service with over 200 hotspots throughout the city, but the connection can be erratic in places. If you’re desperate for signal or data, head to a public building, such as a tourism office, and use the WIFI there. Likewise, most bars or cafes will be happy to let you connect to their WIFI as long as you purchase a small drink or a pintxo.
If you’re coming to Bilbao from another EU country, your existing mobile data plan should work, but check with your provider to see if they have any ‘fair usage’ limits.
UK tourists should check if their service includes ‘free EU roaming’. If not, you might need to purchase a pre-paid sim or e-sim before arriving or upon arrival.
*Before purchasing a pre-paid card or e-sim make sure it’s compatible with your phone model.
The main service provider in The Basque Country is Euskaltel, whilst other popular companies include Lowi, Yoigo, Movistar and Vodafone.
Those coming from outside the EU will have to purchase a pre-paid card or e-sim to avoid hefty roaming charges. Airalo is a well-reputed e-sim company that offers a range of packages to suit tourists’ varying requirements.
If you’re planning a stag-do, Airalo’s 3GB Guay Mobile sim might be a good choice. Take a look at their options here.
Airalo has published a list of supported devices on their website.
