✨ What makes it special
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Bilbao's major festival. Opening: "Txupinazo" (rocket launch) from Arriaga Theatre balcony. Daily: fire bull runs (toros de fuego)
📷 Photos
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Semana Grande/Aste Nagusia — main event
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Semana Grande/Aste Nagusia — atmosphere
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Semana Grande/Aste Nagusia — crowd
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Semana Grande/Aste Nagusia — detail
Photos coming soon
📅 Calendar of events
Times approximate. Check official programme.
👁 Where to watch
🐂On the route (Free)
Register at town hall. Genuinely dangerous — first-timers should watch, not run.
🏛Balconies on Calle Estafeta (Paid €40-80)
Best view, safely above the action. Book 6+ months ahead.
🎭Plaza de Toros entrance (Free)
See the dramatic finish. Arrive by 7am.
📺Watch on RTVE (Free)
Spanish TV broadcasts the full run live at 8am.
📖 Full description
Bilbao's major festival. Opening: "Txupinazo" (rocket launch) from Arriaga Theatre balcony. Daily: fire bull runs (toros de fuego), concerts, Basque rural sports (herri kirolak—stone lifting, wood chopping, hay bale tossing), fireworks competition (Concurso Internacional de Fuegos Artificiales), giant puppets (cabezudos). "Día de los Niños" (Children's Day) with reduced bull run hours. "Maríachi Mass" on final Sunday. Declared Fiesta of International Tourist Interest
✈️ How to get there
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By air
Bilbao Airport (BIO) — Bus A3247 to centre 30min.
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By train
Renfe from Madrid (5hr). EuskoTren across Basque Country.
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By bus
ALSA from Madrid. Termibús in city centre.
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By car
AP-8 from San Sebastián, AP-68 from Zaragoza.
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Getting around
Metro Bilbao, tram, buses. Casco Viejo walkable.
🎟 Tickets
Main events
Running itself is free. Balcony viewing on route: €30-80. Book months ahead.
Additional events
Daily bullfights from €10 (sunny side) to €80+ (shade). Book at taquilla.com.
⚠️ Important tip
Avoid touts outside the bullring — they charge 3-5x face value.
🏨 Where to stay
San Sebastián100km · 1hr
World-class food
Vitoria-Gasteiz65km · 45min
Basque capital
Santander100km · 1hr
Coastal city
💡 Insider tips
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Watch first, run later
The balconies on Calle Estafeta give a perfect view. Running blind your first time is how people get hurt.
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Arrive the night before
Hotels fill fast. Arriving the morning of is chaos.
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Phone in your pocket
You need both hands free at all times.