angle-left Aste Nagusia

On Saturday, August 18th, Bilbao prepares itself to receive Marijaia, the symbol of Great Week and festival mascot. The nine-day non-stop fiesta begins with a txupinazo (a launching of a rocket and the reading of the proclamation of the fiesta) taking place in the Plaza del Teatro Arriaga. This 2018 is even more special since Aste Nagusia celebrates its 40th anniversary. It will really be a Great Week!

Street theatre, big concerts, some of the best fireworks in the world, cooking contests, games for children and all kinds of fun activities take place in various locations around Bilbao for this special 40th anniversary of Aste Nagusia.

The festivities start with the grand entrance of Marijaia, a symbol of the fiesta and a 4-meter-tall festival mascot with her arms raised into the air as a sign of joy. Her song “Badator Marijaia” (“Here comes Marijaia”) is the festivities anthem and can be heard hundreds of times all around town during the Great Week. The festivities come to an end on Sunday, August 26th when Marijaia is set on fire. 

Aste Nagusia has been celebrated since 1978 and includes comparsas – groups of singers, musicians and dancers that take part in the street festivities. There are 29 comparsas who put up their txosnas (stands and tents with food, drinks and music) on both sides of the Nervión River and around the streets of Casco Viejo (the Old Town) creating a spectacular atmosphere around Bilbao.

Tips

There are more than 300 different activities for everybody to enjoy. Among the most popular is the International Fireworks Competition, a spectacular fireworks display lighting the night sky every night at 10:45. The best area to see this magnificent fireworks show is the left bank of the Nervión River, from Navarra Street to Uribitarte. Make sure to get there early to pick a good spot to watch the show as it tends to get crowded.

How to reach us

Although there are activities that take place all around Bilbao, the largest number of festivities happens in the areas around the Arenal, the Town Hall, Plaza del Arriaga, Plaza Circular and Casco Viejo. You can get there by underground (Abando and Casco Viejo stations), by tram (Pío Baroja, Abando and Arriaga) and by Bilbobus that has various lines with numerous stops around the city centre.

Gastronomy

Where to eat

To replenish your strength after all the partying, you will need a good bite to eat. Every year the restaurants, bars and hotels open their doors and join the Aste Nagusia festivities by presenting their best culinary offer. Apart from their usual menus and succulent pintxos, they usually include some special festivities menus.
On top of that, txosnas are also a place where you can get food: if you don’t want to stop with the drinking and dancing, you can find a great selection of sandwiches there.

Accommodation

Where to sleep

In Bilbao, we wait for you with arms wide open. As a very popular tourist destination, there is wide variety of hotels (from 1- to 5-star hotels) with all sorts of amenities, hostels, guesthouses and tourist apartments in the city center (Abandoibarra, Abando, Indautxu and Casco Viejo) if you do not wish to leave the party atmosphere. 
If you wish to take a break from all the partying, you can stay in one of the neighborhoods located slightly away from the center. There is also an area for caravans in Kobetamendi.

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